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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Storm-Trod Path: Invoking the Maruts of Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 38

📜 15 Verses

Act 1

Act I: The Father's Embrace and the Unknown Destination

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

कद्ध॑ नू॒नं क॑धप्रियः पि॒ता पु॒त्रं न हस्त॑योः । द॒धि॒ध्वे वृ॑क्तबर्हिषः ॥

káddha nūnám kadhapriyaḥ pitā́ putrám ná hástayoḥ ǀ dadhidhvé vṛktabarhiṣaḥ ǁ

Verse 2

क्व॑ नू॒नं कद्वो॒ अर्थं॒ गंता॑ दि॒वो न पृ॑थि॒व्याः । क्व॑ वो॒ गावो॒ न र॑ण्यंति ॥

kvá nūnám kádvo ártham gántā divó ná pṛthivyā́ḥ ǀ kvá vo gā́vo ná raṇyanti ǁ

Verse 3

क्व॑ वः सु॒म्ना नव्यां॑सि॒ मरु॑तः॒ क्व॑ सुवि॒ता । क्वो॒३॒॑ विश्वा॑नि॒ सौभ॑गा ॥

kvá vaḥ sumnā́ návyāṃsi márutaḥ kvá suvitā́ ǀ kvó víśvāni sáubhagā ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi opens this Sūkta with a deeply intimate and startlingly tender image: How now, O dear-to-storm Gods, do you hold your devotee as a father holds his son within his hands? The sacrificer has prepared the sacred barhis grass, setting the stage for a divine encounter, yet a profound mystery hangs in the air. Where in the vast expanse of heaven or earth are you truly heading, O Maruts? Where is your ultimate goal? Like cattle racing eagerly across pasturelands to an unseen destination, the movements of the storm deities defy ordinary human reckoning. The poet presses further, asking where their newest, freshest boons and forms of happiness reside. The Maruts are simultaneously fierce storm-powers and intimate nurturers, leaving the seeker suspended between awe and affection, questioning the very trajectory of divine grace.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: How now, O you who love the tempest, does a father hold his son within his hands, you who have laid out the sacred grass?

Verse 2: Where now, towards what goal are you going, from heaven or from earth? Where do your cattle find their joyous pasture?

Verse 3: Where are your newest blessings, O Maruts, where your well-beings, and where all your manifold prosperities?

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

While Sāyaṇa interprets these verses as direct inquiries about the Maruts' sacrificial destinations and physical paths, psychological interpreters like Sri Aurobindo view the 'cattle' and 'blessings' as elevated states of inner illumination seeking their proper spiritual pasture.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
कद्ध	kaddha	how now, in what manner
कधप्रियः	kadhapriyaḥ	dear to the tempest or storm
पिता	pitā	father
पुत्रम्	putram	son
हस्तयोः	hastayoḥ	in the two hands
वृक्तबर्हिषः	vṛktabarhiṣaḥ	those who have prepared the sacred strewn grass

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
क्व	kva	where
अर्थम्	artham	goal, purpose, or destination
गन्ता	gantā	goers, travelers
दिवः	divaḥ	from heaven
पृथिव्याः	pṛthivyāḥ	from earth
गावः	gāvaḥ	cows, rays of light
रण्यन्ति	raṇyanti	rejoice, take delight

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सुम्ना	sumnā	gracious gifts, happiness
नव्यांसि	navyāṃsi	newest, most recent
मरुतः	marutaḥ	O Maruts, storm deities
सुविता	suvitā	safe paths, well-being
विश्वानि	viśvāni	all
सौभगा	saubhagā	auspicious blessings, fortunes

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a child safely cupped in a father's hands while wild cattle charge across the plains toward a horizon no one can see.

Act 2

Act II: Mortal Fragility and the Shadow of Nirṛti

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

यद्यू॒यं पृ॑श्निमातरो॒ मर्ता॑सः॒ स्यात॑न । स्तो॒ता वो॑ अ॒मृतः॑ स्यात् ॥

yádyūyám pṛśnimātaro mártāsaḥ syā́tana ǀ stotā́ vo amṛ́taḥ syāt ǁ

Verse 5

मा वो॑ मृ॒गो न यव॑से जरि॒ता भू॒दजो॑ष्यः । प॒था य॒मस्य॑ गा॒दुप॑ ॥

mā́ vo mṛgó ná yávase jaritā́ bhūdájoṣyaḥ ǀ pathā́ yamásya gādúpa ǁ

Verse 6

मो षु णः॒ परा॑परा॒ निर्ऋ॑तिर्दु॒र्हणा॑ वधीत् । प॒दी॒ष्ट तृष्ण॑या स॒ह ॥

mó ṣú ṇaḥ párāparā nírṛtirdurháṇā vadhīt ǀ padīṣṭá tṛ́ṣṇayā sahá ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Realizing the sheer magnitude of the Maruts—born of the spotted cow Pṛśni—the Ṛṣi reflects on human frailty. If you, O children of Pṛśni, were mere mortals like us, and your chanters were immortal, what a wondrous inversion that would be! But we are mortal, prone to stumbling, and the poet offers a passionate plea: let not the singer become unwanted, like a deer in the pasture abandoned by the hunters or straying helplessly onto the dreaded path of Yama, the lord of death. The terror of spiritual desolation deepens in verse six. The Ṛṣi begs that destructive Nirṛti—the force of decay, disintegration, and evil craft—do not strike him down from near or far. May catastrophe not trap him alongside unrelenting thirst and suffering, shielding the human soul from the brutal friction of existential collapse.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: If you, O children of Pṛśni, were mortals, and your chanter were immortal...

Verse 5: Let not your singer become like a deer in the pasture, unwanted, wandering onto the path of Yama.

Verse 6: Nor let destructive Nirṛti strike us down from near or far; may we not fall prey to her alongside thirst.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa focuses on literal physical survival and avoiding untimely death or starvation. Mystics see 'Nirṛti' and 'thirst' as inner states of spiritual dryness, ignorance, and egoistic deprivation.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पृश्निमातरः	pṛśni-mātaraḥ	having Pṛśni (the dappled cow/cloud) as mother
मर्तासः	martāsaḥ	mortals, subject to death
स्यातन	syātana	you might be
स्तोता	stotā	the praiser, singer
अमृतः	amṛtaḥ	immortal

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मृगः	mṛgaḥ	wild beast, deer
यवसे	yavase	in the pasture or meadow
जरिता	jaritā	the singer, reciter of hymns
अजोष्यः	ajoṣyaḥ	unwelcome, unenjoyed, discarded
यमस्य	yamasya	of Yama (lord of the dead)
पथा	pathā	by the path

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
परापरा	parāparā	from near and far, hither and thither
निर्ऋतिः	nirṛtiḥ	goddess of destruction, decay, and ruin
दुर्हणा	durhaṇā	malignant craft, harming power
वधीत्	vadhīt	may she slay or strike
पदीष्ट	padīṣṭa	may you/we fall
तृष्णया	tṛṣṇayā	with thirst or craving

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a lone deer hesitating at the edge of a lush meadow, looking anxiously down a dark, ominous trail toward the realm of shadows.

Act 3

Act III: The Tempest Unleashed and Earth Trembles

Verses 7, 8, 9, 10

Verse 7

स॒त्यं त्वे॒षा अम॑वंतो॒ धन्व॑ञ्चि॒दा रु॒द्रिया॑सः । मिहं॑ कृण्वंत्यवा॒तां ॥

satyám tveṣā́ ámavanto dhánvañcidā́ rudríyāsaḥ ǀ míham kṛṇvantyavātā́m ǁ

Verse 8

वा॒श्रेव॑ वि॒द्युन्मि॑माति व॒त्सं न मा॒ता सि॑षक्ति । यदे॑षां वृ॒ष्टिरस॑र्जि ॥

vāśréva vidyúnmimāti vatsám ná mātā́ siṣakti ǀ yádeṣām vṛṣṭírásarji ǁ

Verse 9

दिवा॑ चि॒त्तमः॑ कृण्वंति प॒र्जन्ये॑नोदवा॒हेन॑ । यत्पृ॑थि॒वीं व्युं॒दंति॑ ॥

dívā cittámaḥ kṛṇvanti parjányenodavāhéna ǀ yátpṛthivī́m vyundánti ǁ

Verse 10

अध॑ स्व॒नान्म॒रुतां॒ विश्व॒मा सद्म॒ पार्थि॑वं । अरे॑जंत॒ प्र मानु॑षाः ॥

ádha svanā́nmarútām víśvamā́ sádma pā́rthivam ǀ árejanta prá mā́nuṣāḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The mood shifts abruptly into the majestic fury of the storm. Truly, these Rudriyas—the fierce sons of Rudra—are radiant, tempestuous, and full of mighty force, raising dust storms and driving mist even across the dry, barren desert wastes. Lightning flashes like a lowing cow bellowing for her calf, and the dark storm cloud follows close behind like a mother cow tending to her newborn just as the rains are let loose. In broad daylight, the Maruts create profound darkness with their water-bearing clouds, drenching the vast body of the earth. At the terrifying sound of the Maruts' thundering march, every terrestrial habitation quakes, and mortal men tremble with primal awe before the overwhelming majesty of nature in motion.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: Truly these fierce, mighty sons of Rudra raise a blinding mist even across the barren desert sands.

Verse 8: Lightning lows like a cow, a mother clings to her calf, when their surging rain is poured forth.

Verse 9: Even by day they create darkness with Parjanya, the cloud-bearer, as they drench the wide earth.

Verse 10: At the thunderous roar of the Maruts, every earthly dwelling quakes, and mortal men tremble.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa describes the actual meteorological phenomena of the Indian monsoon. Psychological commentators understand this storm as the sudden breaking of spiritual blockages, where divine force shatters inner aridity and drenches the soul with higher consciousness.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सत्यम्	satyam	truly, verily
त्वेषाः	tveṣāḥ	brilliant, violently agitated
अमवन्तः	amavantaḥ	possessing great power or impetuosity
धन्वन्	dhanvan	in the desert, dry land
रुद्रियासः	rudriyāsaḥ	the sons/hosts of Rudra
मिहम्	miham	mist, fog, drizzle
अवाताम्	avātām	windless mist or storm-haze

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वाश्रेव	vāśreva	like a bellowing or screaming cow
विद्युत्	vidyut	lightning
मिमाति	mimāti	bellows, cries out
वत्सम्	vatsam	calf
माता	mātā	mother
सिसक्ति	sisakti	clings to, follows closely
असर्जि	asarji	is let loose, discharged

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दिवा	divā	by day
तमः	tamaḥ	darkness
पर्जन्येन	parjanyena	with Parjanya (rain-god/cloud)
उदवाहेन	udavāhena	carrying water
व्युंदन्ति	vyundanti	they thoroughly wet or drench

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
स्वनात्	svanāt	from the sound or roar
मरुताम्	marutām	of the Maruts
विश्वम्	viśvam	every
सद्म	sadma	abode, dwelling
पार्थिवम्	pārthivam	earthly
अरेजन्त	arejanta	trembled, shook
मानुषाः	mānuṣāḥ	human beings, mortals

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine standing in the desert noon as a colossal wall of black clouds rolls in, blotting out the sun with lightning flashing like a desperate cow calling its young.

Act 4

Act IV: Chariots of Stone and the Hymn of Praise

Verses 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Verse 11

मरु॑तो वीळुपा॒णिभि॑श्चि॒त्रा रोध॑स्वती॒रनु॑ । या॒तेमखि॑द्रयामभिः ॥

máruto vīḷupāṇíbhiścitrā́ ródhasvatīránu ǀ yātémákhidrayāmabhiḥ ǁ

Verse 12

स्थि॒रा वः॑ संतु ने॒मयो॒ रथा॒ अश्वा॑स एषां । सुसं॑स्कृता अ॒भीश॑वः ॥

sthirā́ vaḥ santu nemáyo ráthā áśvāsa eṣām ǀ súsaṃskṛtā abhī́śavaḥ ǁ

Verse 13

अच्छा॑ वदा॒ तना॑ गि॒रा ज॒रायै॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिं॑ । अ॒ग्निं मि॒त्रं न द॑र्श॒तं ॥

ácchā vadā tánā girā́ jarā́yai bráhmaṇaspátim ǀ agním mitrám ná darśatám ǁ

Verse 14

मि॒मी॒हि श्लोक॑मा॒स्ये॑ प॒र्जन्य॑ इव ततनः । गाय॑ गाय॒त्रमु॒क्थ्यं॑ ॥

mimīhí ślókamāsyé parjánya iva tatanaḥ ǀ gā́ya gāyatrámukthyám ǁ

Verse 15

वंद॑स्व॒ मारु॑तं ग॒णं त्वे॒षं प॑न॒स्युम॒र्किणं॑ । अ॒स्मे वृ॒द्धा अ॑सन्नि॒ह ॥

vándasva mā́rutam gaṇám tveṣám panasyúmarkíṇam ǀ asmé vṛddhā́ asannihá ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta culminates in a dynamic vision of the Maruts charging past riverbanks with unshakeable hands and tireless, ever-flowing paths. Their chariots have firm wheel-rims, swift horses, and well-crafted harnesses designed for unstoppable journeys. The Ṛṣi then turns inward to guide the worshipper's own spiritual practice: address Brahmanaspati—the lord of prayer—with a flowing, continuous song of praise, as radiant and compelling as Agni or Mitra. Fashion your inspired word deep within your mouth like Parjanya swelling with rain, and chant the sacred gāyatrī hymn of praise. Finally, bow in adoration before the brilliant, singing, energetic host of the Maruts, praying that these great and ancient forces may grow strong within us right here on earth.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 11: O Maruts with firm hands, travel past the variegated riverbanks with your tireless paths.

Verse 12: May your chariot-rims be firm, your chariots swift, your horses steady, and your reins well-fashioned.

Verse 13: Speak forth toward Brahmanaspati with a flowing hymn for your aging, like Agni, like Mitra, radiant and visible.

Verse 14: Shape the word of praise in your mouth as Parjanya expands; sing the gāyatrī hymn worthy of utterance.

Verse 15: Adore the Marut host, brilliant, laudable, and full of song; may they grow great within us here.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa outlines the ritual mechanics of chanting the Gāyatrī to Brahmanaspati during the Soma rites. Spiritual commentators emphasize this act as the ultimate harmonization of human speech with the cosmic breath of the divine storm.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वीळुपाणिभिः	vīḷupāṇibhiḥ	with firm or strong hands
चित्राः	citrāḥ	variegated, bright, wonderful
रोधस्वतीः	rodhasvatīḥ	having steep banks (rivers)
अखिद्रयामभिः	akhidrayāmabhiḥ	with tireless or unwearied journeys

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
स्थिराः	sthirāḥ	firm, steady
नेमयः	nemayaḥ	felloes or rims of wheels
रथाः	rathāḥ	chariots
अश्वासः	aśvāsaḥ	horses
सुसंस्कृताः	susaṃskṛtāḥ	well-prepared, well-crafted
अभीशवः	abhīśavaḥ	reins

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अच्छ वद	accha vada	speak toward, invoke
तना गिरा	tanā girā	with an extended, flowing voice or song
ब्रह्मणस्पतिम्	brahmaṇaspatim	lord of prayer and sacred speech
दर्शतम्	darśatam	visible, brilliant, beautiful to behold

Verse 14

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मिमीहि	mimīhi	measure out, fashion
श्लोकम्	ślokam	song of praise, resounding verse
आस्ये	āsye	in the mouth
ततनः	tatanaḥ	you may spread or expand
गायत्रम्	gāyatram	the Gāyatrī meter/hymn
उक्थ्यम्	ukthyam	worthy of recitation or praise

Verse 15

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वन्दस्व	vandasva	praise, adore, bow to
मारुतम् गणम्	mārutam gaṇam	the Marut host or troop
त्वेषम्	tveṣam	brilliant, vehement
पनस्युम्	panasyum	praiseworthy, wonderful
अस्मे	asme	in us
वृद्धाः	vṛddhāḥ	grown great, magnified

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a magnificent war-chariot with iron-rimmed wheels roaring down a riverbank while a poet inside crafts a golden chant, shaping words like rain.