Mantra 18
Sukta 4
इन्द्रो जघान प्रथमं जनितारमहे तव । तेषामु तृह्यमाणानां कः स्वित् तेषामसद् रसः
índro jaghāna prathamáṃ janitā́ram ahé táva | téṣām u tṛhyámāṇānā́ṃ káḥ svít téṣām asád rásaḥ ||
Indra smote down first the begetter of thy serpent brood. Of them, now being crushed and pressed, who, pray, of them hath any sap remaining?
इन्द्रोऽग्रे तव सर्पकुलस्य प्रथमो जनितारं जघान। तेषां निपीड्यमानानां कः स्वित् तेषां कश्चिद् रसः शिष्यते?
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (hymn attributed in later indices to Atharvan/Angiras-type seers; consult Śaunaka anukramaṇī for exact assignment).
Devata: Indra (as serpent-slayer) and implicitly the anti-venom power.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (predominant; verse-length consistent with anuṣṭubh cadence).
{"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"raudra","emotional_arc":"From confident narration of Indra’s strike to a triumphant, dismissive question that seals defeat of venom.","listener_experience":"Surge of courage; sense of domination over threat.","intensity":7}