Rig Veda 5.59.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 59, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.59
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Marutaḥ
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
को वो महान्ति महतामुदश्नवत्कस्काव्या मरुतः को ह पौंस्या । यूयं ह भूमिं किरणं न रेजथ प्र यद्भरध्वे सुविताय दावने ॥
kó vo mahā́nti mahatā́m úd aśnavat kás kā́vyā marutaḥ kó ha paúṃsyā | yūyáṃ ha bhū́miṃ kiráṇaṃ na réjatha prá yád bháradhve suvitā́ya dā́vane ||
مَن مِنكم يَنالُ الأعمالَ العِظامَ لِلعظيم، يا ماروت—مَن يَبلُغُ الحِكمةَ المُلهَمة، ومَن يَبلُغُ القُوّةَ الرُّجولية؟ فأنتم تُرجِفونَ الأرضَ كالشُّعاعِ المُتَناثِر، حينَ تَندَفِعونَ مُتَقَدِّمينَ لِحُسنِ العُبور، ولِلعَطاء.
Word by Word
- कः
- who?Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot किम् (प्रातिपदिक) सर्वनाम
- वः
- for you / of youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक) — ‘of you/for you’Role SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- महान्ति
- great (deeds/things)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- महताम्
- of the great onesAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसक-सम्भवः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदश्नवत्
- attained / wonVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot अश् (धातु) ‘to attain, obtain, eat’ + उद् (उपसर्ग)
- कः
- who?Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot किम् (प्रातिपदिक) सर्वनाम
- काव्याः
- (your) poetic skills / inspirationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot काव्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘poetic wisdom/skill’
- मरुतः
- O MarutsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role SambodhanaRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कः
- who?Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot किम् (प्रातिपदिक) सर्वनाम
- ह
- indeed / thenIndeclinableनिपातः (बलार्थ/प्रश्नार्थ)Root ह (निपात)
- पौंस्याः
- manly powers / prowessNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot पौंस्य (प्रातिपदिक) ‘manly power, prowess’
- यूयम्
- you (pl.)Pronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- ह
- indeedIndeclinableनिपातःRoot ह (निपात)
- भूमिम्
- the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
- किरणम्
- a ray / a scattering (stream)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot किरण (प्रातिपदिक) ‘ray/stream; scattering’
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययम्Root न (अव्यय)
- रेजथ
- you shake / make trembleVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KriyāRoot रिज्/रेज् (धातु) ‘to shake, tremble’
- प्र
- forth / forwardIndeclinableउपसर्गः (प्रवृत्त्यर्थ)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यत्
- when / that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (सम्बन्ध/यदा-तदा) अथवा अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगः ‘when/that which’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- भरध्वे
- you bear / bringVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role KriyāRoot भृ (धातु) ‘to bear, bring’
- सुविताय
- for welfare / for good successNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot सुवित (प्रातिपदिक) ‘good passage, welfare, success’
- दावने
- for giving / for bestowalNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (वेदिक-रूप) / दातृ-अर्थे ‘for giving’Role SampradānaRoot दावन (प्रातिपदिक) ‘giving, gift’ (< दा ‘to give’)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: को वो महान्ति महतामुदश्नवत्कस्काव्या मरुतः को ह पौंस्या । यूयं ह भूमिं किरणं न रेजथ प्र यद्भरध्वे सुविताय दावने ॥ पद-विच्छेदः (मुख्य): कः | वः | महान्ति | महताम् | उदश्नवत् | कः | काव्याः | मरुतः | कः | ह | पौंस्याः | यूयम् | ह | भूमिम् | किरणम् | न | रेजथ | प्र | यत् | भरध्वे | सुविताय | दावने | विशेष-सन्धि: (1) महताम् + उदश्नवत् → महतामुदश्नवत् (अनुस्वार-लोप/संधि-संयोग)
- (2) उदश्नवत् + कः → उदश्नवत्कः (व्यञ्जन-संधि)
- (3) कः + काव्याः → कस्काव्याः (विसर्गः → स्, ततः क्-संयोग)
- (4) यत् + भरध्वे → यद्भरध्वे (त् → द् परे घोषे भ्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The seer asks: who among the Maruts reaches the great deeds of the Great—who has inspired wisdom, who manly power? They make the earth tremble like a scattering beam when they surge forward for good passage and for giving.
Inner meaning
The mantra probes differentiation within the collective energies: which movement in us embodies ‘greatness’ (mahat), which carries inspired intuition (kāvyā), which bears heroic capacity (pauṃsyā). The Maruts ‘tremble the earth’—they shake the physical-vital foundation (bhūmi) like a ray scattering darkness, disturbing fixed habits so a new order can arise. Their forward surge is for suvitā—an inner ‘good passage’: a clear path through difficulty toward right becoming; and for dāvana—bestowal of inner gifts (strength, openings, joy).
Universal truth
True transformation requires discernment among our forces: inspiration, wisdom, and power must be recognized and harmonized. When aligned to a higher aim, even upheaval serves a beneficent passage and a generous outcome.
Themes
Marut-might, Inspiration and hero-force, Progress on the path, Bestowal
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri Ātreya
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.59.1-10, RV 5.58.2 (Marut host)
Family tradition
Atri’s questioning style often serves discrimination (viveka) in the inner journey—separating powers and assigning their true function under Ṛta.
Significance
The seer is not merely praising force; he is educating the consciousness to recognize inspired wisdom and true power within the dynamism of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutaḥ
- Epithets
- mahatām (belonging to the Great), kavi-bearing (kāvyā), pauṃsyavant (manly-powerful)
- Related deities
- Indra, Rudra, Agni
Cosmic role
Agents of upheaval that prepares release—shaking the earth/atmosphere so waters and light can emerge; allies in the great cosmic deeds.
Inner power
Discriminating dynamism: the ability of inner force to both disturb the lower basis and carry forward toward a clear path and beneficent giving.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut praise within Soma ritual cycles; also suitable as an invocation for ‘suvitā’ (auspicious passage) in journeys and undertakings.
को वो॑ म॒हान्ति॑ मह॒तामुद॑श्नव॒त्कस्काव्या॑ मरुत॒: को ह॒ पौंस्या॑ । यू॒यं ह॒ भूमिं॑ कि॒रणं॒ न रे॑जथ॒ प्र यद्भर॑ध्वे सुवि॒ताय॑ दा॒वने॑ ॥
कः । वः॒ । म॒हान्ति॑ । म॒ह॒ताम् । उत् । अ॒श्न॒व॒त् । कः । काव्या॑ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । कः । ह॒ । पौंस्या॑ । यू॒यम् । ह॒ । भूमि॑म् । कि॒रण॑म् । न । रे॒ज॒थ॒ । प्र । यत् । भर॑ध्वे । सु॒वि॒ताय॑ । दा॒वने॑ ॥
kaḥ | vaḥ | mahānti | mahatām | ut | aśnavat | kaḥ | kāvyā | marutaḥ | kaḥ | ha | paiṃsyā | yūyam | ha | bhūmim | kiraṇam | na | rejatha | pra | yat | bharadhve | suvitāya | dāvane
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4 pādas of ~12 syllables
Interrogative drive with expansive sweep; questions intensify the forward momentum.
Stimulates discernment and courage; feels like a surge that breaks stagnation while pointing to a higher aim.
- महान्ति…महताम् (mahānti…mahatām)
- Literal: great deeds of the Great. Symbolic: actions aligned with the higher Self/Truth-consciousness
- काव्या (kāvyā)
- Literal: seer-wisdom, inspired thought. Symbolic: intuitive inspiration (kavi-power) guiding action
- पौंस्या (pauṃsyā)
- Literal: manly power. Symbolic: heroic will, capacity to endure and conquer
- भूमिम् (bhūmim)
- Literal: earth. Symbolic: physical-vital base; habitual foundation of nature
- किरणं (kiraṇaṃ)
- Literal: ray, scattering beam. Symbolic: illumining force that disperses darkness and rigidity
- रेजथ (rejatha)
- Literal: you make tremble. Symbolic: purifying upheaval; shaking out inertia
- सुविताय (suvitāya)
- Literal: for good passage. Symbolic: clear inner path, right movement toward the goal
- दावने (dāvane)
- Literal: for giving. Symbolic: bestowal of inner boons—strength, light, joy
Invocation to empower the rite’s forward movement (suvitā) and to solicit Marut-bestowal (dāvana) during Soma offerings.
When seeking protection, successful passage, and the boon of strength; in hymnic sequences to Maruts/Indra-Maruts.
Recitation with intent of removing impediments; offering and calling the powers to ‘bear forward’.
Use before transitions (travel, exams, life changes) to invoke ‘good passage’ and the right kind of power guided by inspiration.
ud-√aś ‘to reach upward/attain’; √rej ‘to tremble, shake’; pauṃsya from pumān ‘man’ indicates virile force; kāvya from kavi ‘seer’ marks inspired cognition. suvitá ‘good course’ (su- + vitá) in Vedic often denotes fortunate movement/progress, hence inner ‘right passage’ under ṛta.
Greatness/mahat as spiritual wideness, inspiration (kāvya) and power (pauṃsya) as twin necessities, suvitā (right progress under ṛta)
The Maruts’ upheaval is justified when it serves suvitā—the right passage in Ṛta.
Great deeds are measured by alignment with the Great (truth-principle), not by outer magnitude.
Creation advances through crisis and release: shaking the base to open new channels of light and giving.
Integral Yoga lens: transformation of the physical-vital foundation through descent of higher force guided by intuitive wisdom.
Earth = embodied habit; trembling = purification; ray = insight; forward surge = evolutionary push toward a clearer inner road.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘trembling earth’ motif: the Maruts’ advent shakes the established order so a new, greater order can manifest. Mythically storm-gods; psychologically the disruptive-yet-liberating energies that break inertia and carry the seeker toward suvitā (right passage).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dā ‘give’ is PIE *deh₃- (cf. Greek didōmi via reduplication patterns; Latin dōnum). √sthā is absent here, but √rej (shake) fits a common IE semantic field of trembling. The parallelism ‘kó…kás…kó…’ is an inherited rhetorical device for enumerating divine capacities.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi interrogates not from ignorance but from reverent discernment—seeking to recognize which Marut-force brings which gift (kāvya, pauṃsya). The hymn thus trains the consciousness to differentiate powers, so their ‘giving’ becomes precise and usable for inner progress.
Discriminate and invoke: ‘Let inspiration (kāvyā) guide my power (pauṃsyā) for the right passage (suvitā).’
Muladhara (earth/base transformation) and Manipura (heroic will)
Moderate breathing with a strong exhale on ‘pra’; feel obstacles shaken out on exhale, steadiness returning on inhale.
Courageous clarity; dynamic steadiness after upheaval.
Journal after chanting: identify which inner impulse is truly ‘kavi’ (inspired) vs. merely restless; then act only from the inspired-current.
Maintain interrogative peaks on kó / kás / kó; these often carry udātta emphasis in recitation (confirm with svara text).
Let the three questions be clearly separated; pause lightly after each to preserve meaning and rhythm.
ko vo: keep vo (v + o) clear, not ‘bo’, kāvyā: long ā; palatal y, pauṃsyā: nasalization on ‘ṃ’; pronounce ‘sy’ cluster cleanly, kiraṇaṃ: retroflex ṛ; nasal ṇ, rejatha: soft jh? (here ‘j’), keep th aspirated
Firm, questioning, then surging on ‘pra yad bharadhve’.
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