Sukta 18
अरायक्षयणमस्यरायचातनं मे दाः स्वाहा
arā́ya-kṣáyaṇam asyárā́ya-cā́tanam me dāḥ svā́hā
Grant me, with svāhā, the wasting of this hostile one, the expulsion of the hostile power.
Rishi: Atharvanic/Anukramaṇī attribution for AV 2.18 (to be confirmed per śaunakīya anukramaṇī in the working edition).
Devata: Arā́y(a)-repulsion (apotropaic force); functionally addressed to the operative power behind the rite (often treated as a generalized protective agency).
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh or a short mixed pāda-form; requires metrical confirmation against a pada-counted edition.
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"From sensed threat to controlled courage and cleansing.","listener_experience":"A ‘clearing’ sensation; fear becomes targeted and then released.","intensity":6}