Rig Veda 2.34.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 34, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.34
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
पृक्षे ता विश्वा भुवना ववक्षिरे मित्राय वा सदमा जीरदानवः । पृषदश्वासो अनवभ्रराधस ऋजिप्यासो न वयुनेषु धूर्षदः ॥
pṛkṣé tā́ viśvā́ bhúvanā vavakṣire mitrā́ya vā sád amā́ jīrá-dānavaḥ | pṛ́ṣad-aśvāso anavabhra-rā́dhasa ṛjipyā́so ná vayúneṣu dhū́ḥ-sadaḥ ||
Zur Stärkung haben sie alle Welten getragen, die stets in Bewegung sind; um Mitras Eintracht willen kommen sie zum Sitz. Mit scheckigen Rossen, mit ungetrübten Reichtümern, geradlenkend, stehen sie fest in den Wirkungen der Unterscheidung.
Word by Word
- पृक्षे
- in/at the ‘pṛkṣa’ (contact/mixture; here: in the encounter/pressing context)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot पृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) / पृक्ष् (धातु, ‘सम्पर्के/संयोगे’ इत्यादि) — यहाँ नामरूप
- ताः
- those (they)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वाः
- allAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (ताः इति विशेषण)Role KartāRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनानि
- worlds, beings/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
- ववक्षिरे
- they have borne/carried (have made to grow)Verbपरस्मैपद; लिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्शभूत); 3 पुरुष; बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √वक्ष् (वक्षति; ‘वहने/वर्धने’), परस्मैपद
- मित्राय
- for MitraNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- or/indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot वा (निपात)
- सदमा
- seat, abode, dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: सदमा)Role KarmaRoot सद्मन्/सद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- जीरदानवः
- the ‘swift-giving/quick-bestowing’ ones (epithet of the Maruts)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot जीर-दानु (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- पृषदश्वासः
- having dappled/spotty horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पृषद्-अश्व (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- अनवभ्रराधसः
- whose bounty does not fail / of unfailing generosityAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (मरुतः इत्यर्थे)Role KartāRoot अन-अपभ्र-राधस् (समास; राधस् ‘दान/समृद्धि’)
- ऋजिप्यासः
- straight/true in drinking (or: straight-going, eager)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ऋजि-प्य (समास/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न (उपमा-निपात)
- वयुनेषु
- in the workings/ways, in the orderly operationsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot वयुन (प्रातिपदिक)
- धूर्षदः
- sitting on the yoke-pole / yoked charioteers (epithet)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot धूर्षद् (प्रातिपदिक; धूर् ‘धुरी/रथधुरा’ + सद् ‘आसीन/स्थित’)
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद: (1) पृक्षे ताः → पृक्षे + ताः (संधि नहीं, पद-सीमा). (2) ता विश्वा भुवना → ताः + विश्वाः + भुवनानि (वैदिक पाठ में भुवना = भुवनानि, नपुंसक द्वि. बहु.). (3) ववक्षिरे मित्राय → ववक्षिरे + मित्राय. (4) वा सदमा → वा + सदमा (सद्मन् का वैदिक द्वि. एक. रूप). (5) जीरदानवः / पृषदश्वासः / अनवभ्रराधसः / ऋजिप्यासः / धूर्षदः — समासबद्ध विशेषण/उपाधियाँ
- बाह्य संधि न्यून. (6) वयुनेषु धूर्षदः → वयुनेषु + धूर्षदः (संधि नहीं)
The meaning
Outer meaning
For strengthening they have borne all the worlds; for Mitra’s harmony they come always to the seat. With dappled steeds, with unclouded riches, straight-driving, they stand in the workings of discernment.
Inner meaning
The Maruts do not merely ‘storm’; they uphold and enlarge the inner worlds (levels of consciousness) for growth (pṛkṣe). They come to Mitra’s seat—Mitra as harmony, right relation, and luminous concord—meaning these energies are to be integrated into a balanced order, not left as turbulence. ‘Unclouded riches’ are clear capacities and powers not obscured by confusion. They ‘stand in the workings of vayuṇa’—discriminative arrangement, skill in right functioning—helping the seeker organize life-energies according to truth.
Universal truth
Power must be harmonized and intelligently ordered. True progress bears and widens one’s inner worlds, unites strength with harmony, and establishes discernment in action.
Themes
Cosmic support, Harmony and order, Unclouded spiritual wealth, Disciplined harnessing
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.27 (Mitra-Varuṇa), RV 2.34
Family tradition
Bhrigu tradition integrating force (Maruts) with order (Mitra/Ṛta).
Significance
This verse reveals the mature aim: not only breakthrough but integration—Marut-force seated in Mitra’s harmony and expressed as discernment in works.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts (with Mitra as associated power)
- Epithets
- jīradānavaḥ (ever-giving), pṛṣadaśvāsaḥ (dappled-steeded), anavabhrarādhasaḥ (unclouded-rich), ṛjipyāsaḥ (straight-driving), dhūrṣadaḥ (firm-standing)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Varuṇa, Indra, Rudra
Cosmic role
Bearers of worlds in the mid-region; bring movement that supports cosmic functioning and social harmony under Mitra.
Inner power
They stabilize dynamic energy inside harmonious order; they empower right discrimination and effective execution.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invoked to establish harmony and right functioning in the rite; Maruts as supporters of the ‘worlds’ of the sacrifice and allies of Mitra’s order.
पृ॒क्षे ता विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना ववक्षिरे मि॒त्राय॑ वा॒ सद॒मा जी॒रदा॑नवः । पृष॑दश्वासो अनव॒भ्ररा॑धस ऋजि॒प्यासो॒ न व॒युने॑षु धू॒र्षद॑: ॥
पृ॒क्षे । ता । विश्वा॑ । भुव॑ना । व॒व॒क्षि॒रे॒ । मि॒त्राय॑ । वा॒ । सद॑म् । आ । जी॒रऽदा॑नवः । पृष॑त्ऽअश्वासः । अ॒न॒व॒भ्रऽरा॑धसः । ऋ॒जि॒प्यासः॑ । न । व॒युने॑षु । धूःऽसदः॑ ॥
pṛkṣe | tā | viśvā | bhuvanā | vavakṣire | mitrāya | vā | sadam | ā | jīra-dānavaḥ | pṛṣat-aśvāsaḥ | anavabhra-rādhasaḥ | ṛjipyāsaḥ | na | vayuneṣu | dhūḥ-sadaḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables
More measured and ‘settling’ than earlier verses; still strong but with a stabilizing cadence.
Helps integrate energy into calm competence; supports clear decisions and harmonious relationships.
- पृक्षे (pṛkṣe)
- Literal: for nourishment/strengthening. Symbolic: for growth of the being by right increase
- विश्वा भुवना (viśvā bhuvanā)
- Literal: all the worlds. Symbolic: multiple planes/parts of the consciousness (physical–vital–mental–higher)
- ववक्षिरे (vavakṣire)
- Literal: they have borne, carried. Symbolic: they uphold and widen the inner range
- मित्राय (mitrāya)
- Literal: for Mitra. Symbolic: for harmony, right relation, luminous balance
- सदम् (sadam)
- Literal: seat, session. Symbolic: stable poise/state of consciousness
- जीरदानवः (jīradānavaḥ)
- Literal: ever-giving, swift-bestowing. Symbolic: powers that continually supply progress and renewal
- अनवभ्रराधसः (anavabhrarādhasaḥ)
- Literal: with unclouded wealth. Symbolic: clear, unobscured inner resources
- ऋजिप्यासः (ṛjipyāsaḥ)
- Literal: straight-driving. Symbolic: aligned movement toward truth
- वयुनेषु (vayuneṣu)
- Literal: in the workings/skills. Symbolic: in discernment, right arrangement, practical wisdom
- धूर्षदः (dhūrṣadaḥ)
- Literal: they take their stand. Symbolic: they establish a firm presence in the inner operations
Stabilizing and harmonizing invocation: aligns Marut-force with Mitra’s order in the sacrificial ‘seat’ (sadas)
When seeking steadiness, prosperity without obstruction, and concord among participants/powers.
Recitation to ‘seat’ the invoked powers and stabilize the sacrificial field.
Chant before meetings/conflict resolution or before important decisions to unite strength with harmony and discernment.
: from √pṛc/√pṛkṣ (Vedic) ‘to strengthen, mix, nourish’—increase of substance/force. : perfect of √vah/√vax (to carry/bear). Mitra: ‘contract/harmony’ (root √mi ‘to bind’ in interpretive tradition), representing right relation. : ‘skill, discernment, ordered working’ (often linked with √vi ‘to discern/separate’). : a-na-vabhra ‘not-clouded’ (abhra ‘cloud’).
Mitra as harmony/right relation, vayunāni as discernment and ordered intelligence, support of worlds (cosmic upholding)
‘Bearing the worlds’ and ‘straight-driving’ depict the maintenance of ṛta across planes.
Unclouded riches correspond to clarity of truth in the instruments.
World-support and integration: dynamic energies become pillars of a harmonized cosmos within the individual.
Vedic integralism: powers must be coordinated (Mitra) and rightly arranged (vayuṇa) for transformation.
Worlds = layers of being; clear sky = unobscured mind; horses = energies placed in right order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Maruts as world-bearers and order-establishers: not merely storm-noise but powers that uphold the ‘worlds’ and take their seat within Mitra’s harmony—mythic cosmic support translated into inner stabilization of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘bearing/carrying’ verb family (√vah) is a robust IE inheritance (cf. Latin veh-). The poetic idea of gods ‘upholding worlds’ is widespread in IE hymnody, expressing sovereignty as support/maintenance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not only force but force placed in right relation (Mitra) and in discernment (vayuna). The implied exchange: hymn establishes alignment; Maruts grant unclouded ‘wealth’—clarity and capacity for ordered action.
Bring vigorous energy into a harmonious ‘seat’: feel breath and attention settle in the heart-center; let decisions arise from calm discernment.
Anahata (Mitra/harmony)
Coherent breathing 5–5 (inhale 5, exhale 5) while chanting softly; pause after exhale to feel ‘sadas’ (seat).
Sattvic stability—energy organized and peaceful.
Chant 4 or 8 times; after each recitation, pause and ask: ‘What is the straight (ṛju) next step?’ Write one clear action that preserves harmony without losing truth.
Vedic accents; keep a calmer contour—let svarita glides be smooth, not sharp.
Slight emphasis on ‘mitrāya’ and ‘vayuneṣu’ to highlight harmony and discernment; maintain even pacing across pādas.
: vavak- with clear v; avoid ‘babak’, : long ī; ‘dā’ long ā, : keep bhra cluster; do not drop aspiration, : vocalic ṛ; palatal yā, : retroflex ṣ; long ū
Steady, rounded, less forceful than earlier verses; aim for clarity and balance.
4
Ask anything about this verse
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.
