Mantra 3
Sukta 28
यः प्रथमः प्रवतमाससाद बहुभ्यः पन्थामनुपस्पशानः । यो३स्येशे द्विपदो यश्चतुष्पदस्तस्मै यमाय नमो अस्तु मृत्यवे
yáḥ práthamaḥ pravátam āsasā́da bahúbhyaḥ pánthām anupaspaśānáḥ | yó ’syéśe dvipádo yáś cátuṣpadas tásmai yamā́ya námo astu mṛtyáve ||
He who, the first, hath reached the steep descent, who, for the many, hath espied and traced the pathway; who hath dominion over this—over the two-footed and the four-footed: to him, to Yama, be reverence; reverence to Death.
Rishi: Traditionally Atharvanic/Angirasa attribution for Yama-Mṛtyu material (exact r̥ṣi assignment depends on anukramaṇī).
Devata: Yama and Mṛtyu (personified Death; overlord of bipeds and quadrupeds).
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; long pādas with ~11 syllables; confirm by padic count in critical edition).
{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhayankara","emotional_arc":"From awe/fear to solemn acceptance and appeasement.","listener_experience":"A dignified stillness; less panic, more composure.","intensity":6}