Mantra 4
Sukta 24
सर्पानुसर्प पुनर्वो यन्तु यातवः पुनर्हेतिः किमीदिनः । यस्य स्थ तमत्त यो वः प्राहैत् तमत्त स्वा मांसान्यत्त
sárpā́nusarpa púnar vo yantu yā́tavaḥ púnar hetíḥ kímīdinaḥ | yásya sthá tám atta yó vaḥ práhāit tám atta svā́ mā́ṃsāny atta
Creep on, O Serpent; back again let your malignant wanderers go; back again the weapon-stroke, the Kīmīdin devourers. Him whose ye are, devour ye him; he who hath smitten you forth—devour ye him; devour your own flesh.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Āṅgirasa attribution for rakṣoghna material; specific r̥ṣi for 2.24 is edition-dependent).
Devata: Serpent and allied noxious beings (yātus, kīmīdins) as addressed agents; the operative power is the mantra’s coercive speech.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm against pada-count in a critical metrical check).
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"vira","emotional_arc":"From fear (serpent/poison) to courageous command and expulsion.","listener_experience":"Immediate alertness, then relief through directive control.","intensity":8}