Mantra 21
Sukta 4
एकं पादं नोत्खिदति सलिलाद्धंस उच्चरन्। यदङ्ग स तमुत्खिदेन्नैवाद्य न श्वः स्यान्न रात्री नाहः स्यान्न व्युऽछेत् कदा चन
ékaṃ pā́daṃ nótkhìdati salilā́d dháṃsa uccáran | yád aṅgá sá tám utkhidén naivā́dya ná śváḥ syān ná rā́trīr ná́haḥ syān ná vyùcchet kadā́ caná ||
One foot he dislodgeth not, the Swan uprising from the waters. If, verily, he should dislodge that, then neither to-day nor morrow would be; neither nights nor days would be, nor would dawn break forth at any time.
ਜਲਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਉੱਠਦਾ ਹੰਸ ਇੱਕ ਪੈਰ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹਿਲਾਂਦਾ। ਜੇ ਉਹ ਸੱਚਮੁੱਚ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਹਿਲਾ ਦੇਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਨਾ ਅੱਜ ਰਹੇ ਨਾ ਕੱਲ੍ਹ; ਨਾ ਰਾਤ ਰਹੇ ਨਾ ਦਿਨ; ਅਤੇ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਉਸ਼ਾ ਦਾ ਉਜਿਆਲਾ ਨਾ ਫੁੱਟੇ।
Rishi: Atharvanic seer(s) of the Prāṇa/Haṃsa speculation
Devata: Haṃsa (as Prāṇa/Sūrya/Ātman principle)
Chandas: Jagatī/irregular long meter is plausible; Atharvanic cosmological verses often resist strict RV metrical classification
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Threat-vision of total collapse → relief through recognition of the unwavering support.","listener_experience":"A sobering sense of stakes, followed by grounding calm; strengthens resolve to keep rhythm intact.","intensity":7}