Sukta 55
Sukta 5.55
Atri (Ātreya tradition) (traditional ascription for Mandala 5 Atri hymns; specific verse-level attribution follows the sukta)
Maruts
Triṣṭubh (probable; refrain-like cadence appears through the sukta)
يمدح هذا النشيدُ الماروتَ بوصفهم آلهةَ العاصفة المتألّقين، حَسَني التسليح، يندفعون سريعًا بخيلٍ محكمةِ النير، وتسيرُ مركباتُهم في طريقٍ ميمون. ويدعوهم إلى تبديد العداوة والضرر، وإرشاد العابدين إلى ما هو أفضل (vasyaḥ)، وقبول القربان لكي تنال الجماعةُ وفرةً (rayi) وعافيةً.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रयज्यवो मरुतो भ्राजदृष्टयो बृहद्वयो दधिरे रुक्मवक्षसः । ईयन्ते अश्वैः सुयमेभिराशुभिः शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
يا آلَ مَرُوت، يا مَن يَستحقّونَ اليَجْنَا المُتقدِّم، ذوو الرِّماحِ اللامعة، حاملو القُوى العظيمة، ذوو الصدورِ الذهبية؛ تَسيرونَ بخيلٍ مُحكَمةِ النِّير، سريعةٍ خاطفة. فلتَدُرْ مَراكِبُكم مُتَّبِعةً السَّبيلَ الميمون—نحوَ الخيرِ الباطن.
Mantra 2
स्वयं दधिध्वे तविषीं यथा विद बृहन्महान्त उर्विया वि राजथ । उतान्तरिक्षं ममिरे व्योजसा शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
بأنفسِكم تُقيمونَ بأسَكم، أيّها الواسعونَ العِظام؛ وتُشِعّونَ على مَدىً بعيدٍ في السَّعة. وبقوّتِكم تَقيسونَ الأنتَرِكشا (الفضاءَ البيني). فلتَدُرْ مَراكِبُكم مُتَّبِعةً السَّبيلَ الميمون.
Mantra 3
साकं जाताः सुभ्वः साकमुक्षिताः श्रिये चिदा प्रतरं वावृधुर्नरः । विरोकिणः सूर्यस्येव रश्मयः शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
وُلِدتُم معًا ونَمَوتُم معًا، يا مَرُوت—حَسَني الطَّلعة—فازددتُم قُدُمًا حتى لأجلِ البهاءِ، أيّها الرِّجالُ الأبطال. مُتألِّقينَ كأشعّةِ سُوريَا، فلتَدُرْ مَراكِبُكم مُتَّبِعةً السَّبيلَ الميمون.
Mantra 4
आभूषेण्यं वो मरुतो महित्वनं दिदृक्षेण्यं सूर्यस्येव चक्षणम् । उतो अस्माँ अमृतत्वे दधातन शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
يا آلَ ماروت، إنَّ عظمتَكم لَمَحبوبةٌ—ظاهرةٌ مُشتهىًةٌ كَبَصَرِ سُوريا. فاجعلونا نحنُ أيضًا في الخلود. ولتَسِرْ مراكبُكم على الطريقِ المبارك.
Mantra 5
उदीरयथा मरुतः समुद्रतो यूयं वृष्टिं वर्षयथा पुरीषिणः । न वो दस्रा उप दस्यन्ति धेनवः शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
أنتم ترفعون المياهَ من عُمقِ المحيط، يا آلَ ماروت؛ وتُهطِلون المطرَ، يا ذوي الفيضِ الغامر. لا تخذلكم السواقي المُغذّية، أيها العجيبون. ولتَسِرْ مراكبُكم على الطريقِ المبارك.
Mantra 6
यदश्वान्धूर्षु पृषतीरयुग्ध्वं हिरण्ययान्प्रत्यत्काँ अमुग्ध्वम् । विश्वा इत्स्पृधो मरुतो व्यस्यथ शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
حينَ نَيَّرْتُم الأفراسَ المُرقَّطةَ إلى أعمدةِ المراكب، وشددتم الزينةَ الذهبية، عندئذٍ بدَّدتم كلَّ عداوةٍ، يا آلَ ماروت. ولتَسِرْ مراكبُكم على الطريقِ المبارك.
Mantra 7
न पर्वता न नद्यो वरन्त वो यत्राचिध्वं मरुतो गच्छथेदु तत् । उत द्यावापृथिवी याथना परि शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
لا الجبالُ ولا الأنهارُ تَحُولُ دونكم؛ فأينما أدركتم السبيلَ، فهناك تمضون حقًّا، يا مَرُوت. وتطوفون حتى حول السماء والأرض. فلتجرِ مراكبُكم في إثر الطريق المبارك.
Mantra 8
यत्पूर्व्यं मरुतो यच्च नूतनं यदुद्यते वसवो यच्च शस्यते । विश्वस्य तस्य भवथा नवेदसः शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
ما كان فيكم قديماً، يا مَرُوت، وما كان مولوداً حديثاً؛ وما ينهض اندفاعاً طريّاً، يا فَسُو، وما يُعلَن ويُنشَد—فأنتم لِكُلِّ ذلك عارفون متجدّدون أبداً. فلتتبع مراكبُكم الطريق المبارك ولتنثنِ إلينا هاهنا.
Mantra 9
मृळत नो मरुतो मा वधिष्टनास्मभ्यं शर्म बहुलं वि यन्तन । अधि स्तोत्रस्य सख्यस्य गातन शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
ارحمونا، يا مَرُوت، ولا تضربونا. وابسطوا لنا حمايةً وسلاماً واسعَين. قِفوا فوق ترنيمتنا وفوق مودّتنا؛ فلتتبع مراكبُكم الطريق المبارك ولتنثنِ نحونا.
Mantra 10
यूयमस्मान्नयत वस्यो अच्छा निरंहतिभ्यो मरुतो गृणानाः । जुषध्वं नो हव्यदातिं यजत्रा वयं स्याम पतयो रयीणाम् ॥
يا آلَ ماروت، قودونا إلى ما هو أَفضل، وأبعِدونا عن الضيق والأذى، ونحن نُسبّحكم. تقبّلوا منّا عطيةَ القُربان، أيّها الجديرون بالعبادة، لكي نصير سادةَ الرَّيِي (rayi)—فيضَ الخيرات وتمامَ الوجود.
Inside Sukta 55
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by depicting the Maruts’ splendor and readiness for sacrifice—shining spears, golden adornment, vast vitality, and swift movement.
- Development
It elaborates their chariots, harnessing, and disciplined force, emphasizing their capacity to drive away conflicts and make the way auspicious for the worshipper.
- Climax
The central prayer intensifies into a direct appeal that all hostilities be cast away and that their chariots roll on the śubha path, aligning cosmic storm-power with human welfare.
- Where it settles
It concludes with a moral-spiritual request: lead us to what is better, remove constriction and harm, accept our offering-gift, and grant mastery of plenitudes (rayi).
The deity: Maruts
- In the VedaThe Maruts are youthful, radiant, spear-bearing companions of Indra, roaring like storms, adorned with gold, and riding in chariots with swift horses. They are invoked as mighty helpers who scatter foes, bring invigorating force, and move in disciplined, well-yoked formations.
- Cosmic functionThey embody and direct the powers of wind, storm, thunder, and the life-giving release of waters; they clear obstruction, energize the atmosphere, and support Indra’s victory over resistance.
- Inner significancePsychologically, the Maruts signify the surge of inspired energies—courage, clarity, and collective will—that drives away inner constriction (aṃhas) and leads the seeker toward a higher, more harmonious course (śubham).
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri gotra) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rig Veda; the Ātreyas are especially known for powerful hymns of praise and protection, including celebrated solar and healing motifs in the wider Atri corpus.
Famous verses
śubhaṃ yātām anu rathā avṛtsata
viśvā it spṛdho maruto vy asyatha
nayata vasyo acchā
Attributes of the deity
- Radiant and golden-adorned
- Swift charioteers with well-yoked steeds
- Spear-bearing, formidable, and protective
- Dispellers of hostility and obstruction
- Collective/host-like deities (gaṇa) moving in disciplined unity
- Allied with Indra and atmospheric powers
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 5 (many hymns traditionally ascribed to the Ātreya family)
- Hymns to Agni and Soma in the Ātreya collection (Mandala 5)
- Later Vedic memory preserves Atri among the great seers (saptarṣi tradition) and as an ancestral figure of the Ātreyas
The rite, step by step
- Establish the sacred fire (Agni) and prepare a clean ritual space.
- State the intention: protection from harms (aṃhas) and guidance toward the better (vasyaḥ).
- Recite the sukta (or selected verses) as an āhvāna (invocation), visualizing the Maruts’ chariots arriving on the auspicious way (śubham).
- Offer oblations while praising their radiance, speed, and power to scatter hostility.
- Conclude with a direct petition for guidance, acceptance of the offering, and bestowal of rayi (plenitude).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Grain-cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa, as per rite)
- Water and fragrant offerings (as customary adjuncts)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Maruts are a group of powerful storm deities—radiant, swift, and well-armed—who protect, energize, and scatter obstacles. They are often linked with Indra and the forces of wind and thunder.
The hymn asks the Maruts to drive away hostility and harm, to guide the worshippers toward what is better (vasyaḥ), and to grant abundance and strength (rayi).
Rayi means “plenitude” or “wealth,” including material prosperity, strength, and supportive resources. In a deeper sense it also suggests fullness of life and flourishing.
Ask anything about Sukta 55 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
