Mantra 3
Sukta 48
यत् किं चेदं पतयति यत् किं चेदं सरीसृपम्। यत् किं च पर्वतायासत्वं तस्मात् त्वं रात्रि पाहि नः
yát kíṃ cédáṃ patáyati yát kíṃ cédáṃ sarīsṛpám | yát kíṃ ca párvatāyā́ḥ tváṃ tásmāt tváṃ rā́tri pāhi naḥ ||
Whatsoever here flitteth on the wing, whatsoever here is creeping thing; whatsoever of the mountain’s brood—therefrom, O Night, do thou preserve us.
Rishi: Traditionally associated with Atharvanic seers; in this hymn-cycle Night is addressed in a protective register (exact r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī tradition)
Devata: Rātri (Night), as protective goddess
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (predominant in AV protective verses; metrical exactness may vary by pada division)
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Acknowledges fear-categories → resolves into trust in Night’s protection.","listener_experience":"Settled vigilance; reassurance against unseen movement.","intensity":4}