Sukta 172
Sukta 1.172
Maruts
Gayatri (3 pādas of 8 syllables typical for such concise Marut verses)
এই সংক্ষিপ্ত গায়ত্ৰী স্তোত্ৰত মৰুতসকলক দীপ্তিময়, মঙ্গলময় আগমনৰ বাবে আৰু তেওঁলোকৰ উজ্জ্বল, ৰক্ষাকাৰী সহায়ৰ বাবে আহ্বান কৰা হৈছে। শত্রুভাৱাপন্ন ক্ষেপণাস্ত্ৰ আৰু চেপি ধৰা আঘাত দূৰলৈ খেদাই পঠিয়াবলৈ, আৰু পৰি থকা ঘাঁহৰ গোট যেনেকৈ আঁতৰোৱা হয় তেনেকৈ চাৰিওফাল পৰিষ্কাৰ কৰি দিবলৈ প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰা হয়, যাতে উপাসক ‘ওপৰলৈ’ উঠি জীৱন আৰু কল্যাণত স্থিত হ’ব পাৰে।
Mantras
Mantra 1
चित्रो वोऽस्तु यामश्चित्र ऊती सुदानवः । मरुतो अहिभानवः ॥
হে সুদানৱ মৰুদগণ, তোমালোকৰ গমন চিত্ৰ-দীপ্ত হৌক, আৰু তোমালোকৰ সহায়ো চিত্ৰ-দীপ্ত হৌক; হে অহিভানৱ, সৰ্পৰ ঝলকনি সদৃশ তোমালোকৰ তেজ।
Mantra 2
आरे सा वः सुदानवो मरुत ऋञ्जती शरुः । आरे अश्मा यमस्यथ ॥
হে সুদানৱ মৰুদগণ, সেই ৰঞ্জিত (ৰঙা) শৰ তোমালোকৰ পৰা দূৰ হওক; আঘাত কৰা পাথৰো দূৰলৈ নিক্ষেপ কৰা—বৈৰী আঘাত আমাৰ পথৰ পৰা আঁতৰাওক।
Mantra 3
तृणस्कन्दस्य नु विशः परि वृङ्क्त सुदानवः । ऊर्ध्वान्नः कर्त जीवसे ॥
এতিয়া, যেন ঘাঁহৰ সৰি-পৰা গুচ্ছ আঁতৰাই পথ পৰিষ্কাৰ কৰা হয়, তেনেদৰে হে সুধানৱঃ (উদাৰ দাতা), তোমালোকে আমাৰ চৌপাশ পৰিষ্কাৰ কৰি দিয়া। জীৱনৰ বাবে আমাক ওপৰলৈ উঠোৱা—উন্নতিৰ পথত আমাৰ সত্তাক স্থাপন কৰা।
Inside Sukta 172
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A call for the Maruts’ radiant movement and radiant help—inviting their brilliant, irresistible presence.
- Development
The hymn turns protective: may the reddening dart and the striking stone be driven far away from the worshipper’s path.
- Climax
A vivid clearing image—like removing a fallen mass of grass—asking the Maruts to clear the whole surrounding field of obstruction.
- Where it settles
A final upward-turning blessing: “make us rise upward for life,” setting the devotee on an ascending, life-giving course.
The deity: Maruts
- In the VedaThe Maruts are the youthful storm-host—resplendent, swift-moving, loud, and generous—often pictured with flashing brilliance and weapon-like energy, accompanying Indra and stirring the skies with wind and thunder.
- Cosmic functionThey animate the atmosphere: raising winds, bringing rain, dispersing obstacles, and enforcing ṛta by driving away hostile forces and clearing the path for vitality and prosperity.
- Inner significanceThey symbolize surging life-force and courageous clarity that breaks inertia—an inner ‘storm’ that scatters fear, removes psychic clutter, and lifts consciousness upward toward strength and right direction.
The seer
- AnuktaThis hymn is transmitted without a firmly preserved seer-name; such anukta attributions commonly occur in short Marut invocations where the focus is on the deity’s swift protection rather than the poet’s self-identification.
Famous verses
चित्रो वोऽस्तु यामश्चित्र ऊती सुदानवः । मरुतो अहिभानवः ॥आरे सा वः सुदानवो मरुत ऋञ्जती शरुः । आरे अश्मा यमस्यथ ॥तृणस्कन्दस्य नु विशः परि वृङ्क्त सुदानवः । ऊर्ध्वान्नः कर्त जीवसे ॥Attributes of the deity
- Radiant and flashing (citra, ahi-bhānu-like brilliance)
- Swift-going and mobile (yāma)
- Protective—driving away darts and stones
- Generous givers (sudānavaḥ)
- Cleansing/clearing power that opens space
- Upward-lifting, life-promoting force
Also by this seer
- No additional, securely attributed hymns can be assigned on the basis of this sukta alone within the standard Anukramaṇī-style listings.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the fire (Agni) and seat the intention: protection, safe movement, and upliftment.
- Recite RV 1.172.1 to invite the Maruts’ radiant approach and aid.
- Recite RV 1.172.2 as an apotropaic prayer, sending far away weapons, harm, and hostile strikes.
- Recite RV 1.172.3 to request clearing of the surroundings and an upward course toward life.
- Conclude with a brief offering and silent assent (saṅkalpa) for steadiness and protection.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire
- Soma-libation where applicable (or symbolic offering in later practice)
- Water and fragrant fuel/woods as supportive offerings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Maruts are the Vedic storm-host—radiant, swift, and powerful—invoked here as protectors who clear obstacles and drive away harm.
It asks for the Maruts’ bright, supportive presence, for hostile weapons and blows to be sent far away, and for the worshipper to be lifted upward into life and well-being.
The grass image expresses removing clutter and obstruction from all sides; “rising upward” is a prayer for renewed vitality, progress, and a higher, safer course in life.
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