Mantra 1
Sukta 17
ब्रह्मजाया। तेऽवदन् प्रथमा ब्रह्मकिल्बिषेऽकूपारः सलिलो मातरिश्वा । वीडुहरास्तप उग्रं मयोभूरापो देवीः प्रथमजा ऋतस्य
brahmajā́yā | té ’vadan prathamā́ brahmakilbíṣe ’kū́pāraḥ saliló mātaríśvā́ | vīḍúharās tápa ugráṃ mayobhū́r ā́po devī́ḥ prathamajā́ ṛtásya
‘The Brahman’s Wife’: thus have they declared. First, in the sin against holy power, there is a shoreless flood—Mātariśvan. Shame-removers, fierce is the ardour, well-being-bearing: the Waters, goddesses, first-born of Order.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (anonymous/collective; transmitted as a prāyaścitta formula)
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), with Mātariśvan as purifier; Ṛta as the underlying principle
Chandas: Mixed/irregular (Atharvanic prose-verse tendency; not securely fixed as a single classical meter)
{"primary_rasa":"karuna","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Grave recognition of offence → invoking vast cleansing powers → settling into restored order.","listener_experience":"Sobriety, release of shame, cooling relief, renewed dignity.","intensity":6}