Mantra 18

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

वि तिष्ठध्वं मरुतो विक्ष्वि३छत गृभायत रक्षसः सं पिनष्टन। वयो ये भूत्वा पतयन्ति नक्तभिर्ये वा रिपो दधिरे देवे अध्वरे

IAST Transliteration

ví tiṣṭhadhvaṃ marúto vikhvícchata gṛbhā́yata rákṣasaḥ sám pinaṣṭana | váyo yé bhūtvā́ patáyanti naktábhir yé vā́ ripó dadhiré devé adhvaré ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Stand forth, O Maruts; scatter them abroad: seize ye the Rākṣasas, and crush them utterly—those who, becoming birds, fly in the nights, or those who, as deceiving foes, have set obstruction in the godward sacrifice.

Word by Word

विapart, forth (as a preverb)

तिष्ठध्वम्stand up / take your stand

मरुतःO Maruts (storm-gods)

विapart, asunder

इक्ष्विच्छतseek out / look for (disperse and search)

गृभायतseize, grasp

रक्षसःthe demons / harmful spirits

सम्together, completely

पिनष्टनcrush, pound, smash

वयःbirds (lit. winged creatures)

येwho

भूत्वाhaving become

पतयन्तिthey fly

नक्तभिःby night(s), at night

येwho

वाor

रिपःenemies, hostile ones

दधिरेthey have placed / have set

देवेin/at the god (divine sphere)

अध्वरेin the sacrifice, in the rite

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (anukramaṇī attribution varies)

Devata: Maruts (explicit)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; verify in metrical index)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"Mobilization → pursuit of disguised threats → uncompromising crushing → protection of rite.","listener_experience":"A surge of collective courage; sense of being backed by a powerful host.","intensity":7}