Rig Veda 3.26.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 26, Mantra 4
Sukta 3.26
- Rishi
- Kuśika / Viśvāmitra lineage
- Devata
- Agni and Maruts
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
प्र यन्तु वाजास्तविषीभिरग्नयः शुभे सम्मिश्लाः पृषतीरयुक्षत । बृहदुक्षो मरुतो विश्ववेदसः प्र वेपयन्ति पर्वताँ अदाभ्याः ॥
prá yantu vā́jās táviṣībhir agnáyaḥ śubhé sám-miślāḥ pṛ́ṣatīr ayukṣata | bṛhád-ukṣo marúto viśvá-vedasaḥ prá vepayanti párvatāṁ adā́bhyāḥ ||
Mögen die Füllen der Kraft mit den Feuern in ihrer Macht voranschreiten; zum leuchtenden Werk haben sie die scheckigen Energien angeschirrt. Die Maruts — stark wie Stiere, allwissend, unwiderstehlich — erschüttern die Berge und rühren die festen Massen unseres Wesens, dass sie erwachen und sich bewegen.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- यन्तु
- let (them) go/comeVerbloṭ (imperative), 3rd person plural, parasmaipadaRoot या (धातु)
- वाजाः
- prizes, strengths, spoilsNounmasculine, nominative pluralRole KartāRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- तविषीभिः
- with mights, with powersNounfeminine, instrumental pluralRole KaraṇaRoot तविषी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्नयः
- fires; AgnisNounmasculine, nominative pluralRole Kartā (apposition to वाजाः / or co-subject)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- शुभे
- in/for splendor, in beautyNounfeminine, locative singularRole AdhikaraṇaRoot शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root सम् (upasarga)
- मिश्लाः
- mingled, blendedAdjectivemasculine, nominative pluralRole Kartā (agreeing with अग्नयः)Root मिश्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृषतीः
- speckled (mares); dappled onesNounfeminine, accusative pluralRole KarmaRoot पृषती (प्रातिपदिक)
- अयुक्षत
- they yokedVerbluṅ (aorist), 3rd person plural, ātmanepada (Vedic)Root युज् (धातु)
- बृहदुक्षः
- great-bull-like; mightyAdjectivemasculine, nominative pluralRole Kartā (agreeing with मरुतः)Root बृहद्-उक्षन् (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुतः
- the Maruts (storm-gods)Nounmasculine, nominative pluralRole KartāRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्ववेदसः
- all-knowing, of universal knowledgeAdjectivemasculine, nominative pluralRole Kartā (agreeing with मरुतः)Root विश्व-विदस् (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root प्र (upasarga)
- वेपयन्ति
- they cause to tremble, they shakeVerblaṭ (present), 3rd person plural, parasmaipada, causativeRoot वेप् (धातु) [causative: वेपय-]
- पर्वतान्
- mountainsNounmasculine, accusative pluralRole KarmaRoot पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदाभ्याः
- unassailable, unconquerableAdjectivemasculine, nominative pluralRole Kartā (agreeing with मरुतः)Root अ-दाभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; neg. of √दभ् ‘to harm/deceive’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: प्र | यन्तु | वाजाः | तविषीभिः | अग्नयः | शुभे | सम् | मिश्लाः | पृषतीः | अयुक्षत । बृहदुक्षः | मरुतः | विश्ववेदसः | प्र | वेपयन्ति | पर्वतान् | अदाभ्याः ॥ 1) सम्मिश्लाः = सम् + मिश्लाः (anusvāra before m). 2) पर्वताँ (saṃhitā with Vedic nasalization/length mark) normalized to पर्वतान् (acc. pl.). 3) Accent marks in the prompt are not repeated in the pada forms
- analysis is morphological after sandhi-resolution
The meaning
Outer meaning
Let the gains/plenitudes go forth with the fires in their might; for the shining work they yoked the dappled mares. The Maruts, strong like bulls, all-knowing and irresistible, shake the mountains.
Inner meaning
The ‘vājāḥ’ are plenitudes of force and accomplishment released when multiple inner fires (agnayaḥ) act together—powers of will in different parts of the being. For the ‘śubha’ work (the bright, auspicious action of yoga), the ‘pṛṣatīḥ’—dappled energies—are yoked: mixed vital-mental forces disciplined into a single movement. The Maruts appear as dynamic storm-powers: the impetuous life-forces and nervous energies purified to become ‘viśvavedasaḥ’ (all-knowing in their right action). They ‘shake the mountains’: they break the fixed inertias and hardened structures (parvata) of our nature—habit, tamas, subconscient resistance—so the being can move.
Universal truth
True progress requires mobilizing many energies under a higher aim; when dynamic forces are disciplined, they can break the inertia of old structures and release new capacities.
Themes
Maruts dynamism, Harnessing forces, Transformation of inertia, Nature-to-divinity transition
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra / Kuśika seers
- Lineage
- Kuśika
- Other hymns
- RV 3.26.5 (Maruts), RV 3.54 (Marut/Indra dynamics, thematic)
Family tradition
Integration of Agni with Marut powers—mobilizing dynamism to overcome inertia; practical yoga of force and breakthrough.
Significance
The seer emphasizes that illumination needs accompanying force: Marut dynamism must cooperate with Agni’s will to transform the ‘mountains’ of habit.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni and Maruts
- Epithets
- agnayaḥ (many fires), Marutaḥ, bṛhadukṣaḥ, viśvavedasaḥ, adābhya
- Related deities
- Indra (leader of Maruts), Rudra (source of Marut force), Uṣas (illumination for śubha work)
Cosmic role
Agni initiates and directs; Maruts execute with dynamic force, clearing obstacles and energizing the ascent.
Inner power
Coordinated will plus purified vital dynamism that can dislodge entrenched inertia.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut-associated invocations within Agni rites; energizing chants during offerings seeking strength and obstacle-breaking.
प्र य॑न्तु॒ वाजा॒स्तवि॑षीभिर॒ग्नय॑: शु॒भे सम्मि॑श्ला॒: पृष॑तीरयुक्षत । बृ॒ह॒दुक्षो॑ म॒रुतो॑ वि॒श्ववे॑दस॒: प्र वे॑पयन्ति॒ पर्व॑ताँ॒ अदा॑भ्याः ॥
प्र । य॒न्तु॒ । वाजाः॑ । तवि॑षीभिः । अ॒ग्नयः॑ । शु॒भे । सम्ऽमि॑श्लाः । पृष॑तीः । अ॒यु॒क्ष॒त॒ । बृ॒ह॒त्ऽउक्षः॑ । म॒रुतः॑ । वि॒श्वऽवे॑दसः । प्र । वे॒प॒य॒न्ति॒ । पर्व॑तान् । अदा॑भ्याः ॥
pra | yantu | vājāḥ | taviṣībhiḥ | agnayaḥ | śubhe | sam-miślāḥ | pṛṣatīḥ | ayukṣata | bṛhat-ukṣaḥ | marutaḥ | viśva-vedasaḥ | pra | vepayanti | parvatān | adābhyāḥ
48
4 × ~12 syllables
Rolling and propulsive; suitable for imagery of marching forces and shaking mountains.
Builds momentum and courage; evokes a sensation of inner movement and clearing.
- vājāḥ
- Literal: prizes, powers, gains. Symbolic: plenitudes of force and capacities released by spiritual effort
- agnayaḥ
- Literal: fires. Symbolic: multiple flames of will/aspiration in mind, life, and body working together
- taviṣībhis
- Literal: with mights. Symbolic: intensities of force; tapas in action
- śubhe
- Literal: for the shining/auspicious (work). Symbolic: the luminous action aligned with truth-consciousness
- sammiślāḥ
- Literal: mingled. Symbolic: mixed constituents of nature needing harmonization
- pṛṣatīḥ
- Literal: dappled mares. Symbolic: variegated energies (vital-mental) yoked to the divine movement
- bṛhadukṣaḥ
- Literal: strong-bull. Symbolic: massive vital power uplifted and made serviceable
- marutaḥ
- Literal: storm-gods. Symbolic: dynamic life-powers that purify, energize, and break resistance
- viśvavedasaḥ
- Literal: all-knowing. Symbolic: forces acting with a wider intelligence when aligned to the divine
- parvatān
- Literal: mountains. Symbolic: fixed inertias, hardened formations of the subconscient/physical nature
- adābhyāḥ
- Literal: unassailable. Symbolic: irresistible divine energies when rightly invoked
Processional/energizing verse: calls forth powers for the shining work; can accompany invocations to Maruts and the kindling/strengthening of Agni in soma rites
When calling dynamic assistance for the rite’s success; during moments requiring ‘force’ and ‘breakthrough’.
Recitation with offerings; symbolic yoking of energies to the sacrificial work.
Use when stuck in lethargy or habitual patterns: chant to mobilize disciplined energy and break inertia (parvata) in behavior or mind.
√yuj ‘yoke’ (ayukṣata) is PIE *yeug- (Latin iugum, English yoke), central to IE ritual metaphor: harnessing powers. marut as storm-god group becomes inner dynamic life-forces. parvata ‘mountain’ symbolizes the fixed, hardened structures of consciousness; shaking indicates transformation. vāja again as plenitude/force rather than mere ‘prize’.
Harnessing energies (yoga/√yuj) toward R̥ta-work (śubhe), Breaking inertia (parvata as fixedness), Invincibility of truth-forces (adābhya)
‘śubhe’ implies action aligned with auspicious order; force must serve right work.
All-knowing (viśvavedasaḥ) indicates forces guided by a wider truth, not blind impulse.
Dynamic powers reshape fixed forms—creative destruction enabling new formation.
Vedic dynamism: transformation through coordinated divine powers (Agni-Marut synergy).
unspecified
unspecified
Storm = cleansing prāṇa; mountains = subconscious fixities; yoked mares = disciplined energies; fires = multiple centers of aspiration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The storm-host (Maruts) shaking mountains: a classic dynamism myth where irresistible powers move the fixed earth. Psychologically it is the descent/rush of energized forces that break rigid formations of habit and ignorance, enabling the ‘shining work’ (śubhe) of transformation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj ‘yoke’ is PIE *yeug- (yoke/iugum), a core IE metaphor for discipline and harnessing. Motion verb √yā and trembling √vep are part of a shared IE poetic physiology of movement and quake, used to depict divine power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi calls for coordinated operations: multiple ‘fires’ (agnayaḥ) and the Marut host are to be harnessed for the auspicious luminous action. The human aspiration seeks not spectacle but inner reformation: the invincible powers must shake the ‘mountains’ of fixed nature so the being can align with R̥ta.
Invoke disciplined dynamism to break inertia; feel multiple inner fires coordinating toward a bright work.
svadhisthana
kapalabhati (mild, if suitable) then settle into slow breathing; chant once to seal the energy into calm direction
Activated force with widening awareness; clearing and forward movement.
Before chanting, set an intention: ‘May my energies be yoked for the śubha work.’ After chanting, act immediately on one clear step—channel Marut-force into right action.
Accents highlight vājās, agnayaḥ, marutaḥ, viśvavedasaḥ, parvatān; keep the climactic lift on ‘pra vepayanti’.
Mark the repeated ‘pra’ with a clean forward push; avoid dragging consonant clusters (sm, pr, sv).
pṛṣatīḥ: vocalic ṛ; long īḥ ending, sammiślāḥ: double m; śl cluster clear, bṛhadukṣaḥ: bṛha- with vocalic ṛ; kṣ as ‘kṣ’ not ‘kh’, adābhyāḥ: long ā; bhy cluster light but distinct
Forceful, rhythmic, like a marching chant; keep articulation sharp.
3
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