Rig Veda 5.59.1: Mandala 5, Sukta 59, Mantra 1
Sukta 5.59
- Rishi
- Atri — traditional attribution for RV 5.59
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्र वः स्पळक्रन्त्सुविताय दावनेऽर्चा दिवे प्र पृथिव्या ऋतं भरे । उक्षन्ते अश्वान्तरुषन्त आ रजोऽनु स्वं भानुं श्रथयन्ते अर्णवैः ॥
prá vaḥ spáḷ akran suvitā́ya dā́vane’rcā́ divé prá pṛthivyā́ ṛtáṃ bhare | ukṣánte áśvān tárūṣanta ā́ rájo’nu sváṃ bhā́nuṃ śráthayante arṇaváiḥ ||
Vorwärts seid ihr gesprungen — zum heilsamen Gang und zum Geben; ich bringe den Gesang zu Himmel und Erde und trage das Ṛta, die rechte Ordnung. Eure Rosse schwellen von Kraft; sie stürmen durch die lichten Räume und lösen entlang ihres eigenen Glanzes die ozeanischen Fluten.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasargaRoot प्र (upasarga)
- वः
- of you (your)Pronoungenitive pluralRole सम्बन्ध (possessive)Root युष्मद्
- स्पळ्क्रन्त्
- stepping forth, stridingVerb (participle)present active participle, nominative plural masculine (Vedic form)Role कर्तृRoot √क्रम्
- सुविताय
- for good progress/welfareNoundative singular neuterRole सम्प्रदानRoot सुवित (सु-√इ ‘to go’ > ‘good going, welfare, good course’)
- दावने
- for giving, for bestowalNoundative singular (Vedic dative in -e), masculine/neuter stemRole सम्प्रदानRoot दावन (from √दा ‘to give’)
- अर्चा
- sing/praise!Verbimperative, 2nd person singular, parasmaipadaRoot √अर्च्
- दिवे
- to/for heavenNoundative singular feminineRole सम्प्रदानRoot दिव्
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableupasargaRoot प्र (upasarga)
- पृथिव्याः
- from the earthNounablative singular feminine (Vedic also overlaps with genitive in form)Role अपादानRoot पृथिवी
- ऋतम्
- ṛta: truth, cosmic orderNounaccusative singular neuterRole कर्मRoot ऋत
- भरे
- I bear/bringVerbpresent indicative, 1st person singular, parasmaipadaRoot √भृ
- उक्षन्ते
- they grow strong / they are invigoratedVerbpresent indicative, 3rd person plural, ātmanepadaRoot √वक्ष्/√उक्ष् (Vedic ‘to grow strong; to pour/sprinkle; to wax’)
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounaccusative plural masculineRole कर्मRoot अश्व
- तरुषन्तः
- impetuous, rushingAdjective (participle-like)nominative plural masculineRole कर्तृ (as qualifier)Root √तृष्/तरुष् (Vedic adj. ‘eager, impetuous, rushing’)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableupasargaRoot आ (upasarga)
- रजः
- the airy space, regionNounaccusative singular neuter (Vedic also used for ‘space/region’)Role कर्म/अधिकारण (goal-region)Root रजस्
- अनु
- along, afterIndeclinablepreverb/adverbRoot अनु (upasarga/avyaya)
- स्वम्
- their ownAdjective/Pronounaccusative singular neuter (agreeing with भानुम्)Role कर्म (as qualifier)Root स्व
- भानुम्
- beam, radianceNounaccusative singular masculineRole कर्मRoot भानु
- श्रथयन्ते
- they loosen/unbindVerbpresent indicative, 3rd person plural, ātmanepada (causative sense ‘loosen, unbind’)Root √श्रथ्
- अर्णवैः
- with floods/waves (waters)Nouninstrumental plural masculineRole करणRoot अर्णव
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved: दावनेऽर्चा → दावने + अर्चा
- रजोऽनु → रजः + अनु. Accent marks in the prompt are retained in the source but not reproduced per-pada here
- forms are given as pada-words after sandhi-splitting
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Maruts surge forth for a fortunate journey and generous giving; the poet offers a hymn to Heaven and Earth bearing ṛta. Their horses grow strong, rush through the midspace, and by their own radiance they loosen the waters/floods.
Inner meaning
The Maruts are the dynamic storm-forces of the inner life (pranic-mental energies) that leap forward for the soul’s “good going” (suvitāya)—the progressive movement of sadhana. The seer offers the mantra as an act of inner sacrifice that establishes ṛta (right harmony) in both the higher mind (Dyaus) and the embodied nature (Pṛthivī). The “steeds” are energized life-forces that, moving in the luminous inner spaces (rajas), follow their innate light (bhānu) and break open the held-back currents (arṇavaiḥ)—releasing plenitudes of consciousness that clear the path.
Universal truth
When aligned with truth and right order, awakened energies in the being dissolve inner blockages and release stored potential; illumination naturally opens the flow of life and makes progress effortless.
Themes
Invocation and forward movement, Waters-release motif, Expansion and energizing of forces, Heaven-Earth integration
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.59, RV 5.40, RV 5.44, RV 5.52, RV 5.74
Family tradition
Atrayas—seer-family associated with inner fire, illumination, and the harmonizing of cosmic powers in the sacrifice.
Significance
Atri’s vision often stresses the conversion of force into light: dynamic powers (like the Maruts) are made servants of ṛta, so that energy becomes an instrument of illumination rather than turbulence.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- Rudrāḥ, Śardha (host), Pr̥śnayaḥ (speckled), Śubhāḥ (bright), Taruṣantaḥ (impetuous)
- Related deities
- Indra, Rudra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Storm and midspace powers that drive the atmosphere, bring rains, and accompany Indra in releasing the waters.
Inner power
Upward-driving energies of aspiration and courageous action that shatter inertia, open the inner currents, and intensify the seeker’s movement toward truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut offerings within Soma and Agni-centered śrauta sequences (invocations for force, rain, victory, and protection).
प्र व॒: स्पळ॑क्रन्त्सुवि॒ताय॑ दा॒वनेऽर्चा॑ दि॒वे प्र पृ॑थि॒व्या ऋ॒तं भ॑रे । उ॒क्षन्ते॒ अश्वा॒न्तरु॑षन्त॒ आ रजोऽनु॒ स्वं भा॒नुं श्र॑थयन्ते अर्ण॒वैः ॥
प्र । वः॒ । स्पट् । अ॒क्र॒न् । सु॒वि॒ताय॑ । दा॒वने॑ । अर्च॑ । दि॒वे । प्र । पृ॒थि॒व्यै । ऋ॒तम् । भ॒रे॒ । उ॒क्षन्ते॑ । अश्वा॑न् । तरु॑षन्ते । आ । रजः॑ । अनु॑ । स्वम् । भा॒नुम् । श्र॒थ॒य॒न्ते॒ । अ॒र्ण॒वैः ॥
pra | vaḥ | spaṭ | akran | suvitāya | dāvane | arca | dive | pra | pṛthivyai | ṛtam | bhare | ukṣante | aśvān | taruṣante | ā | rajaḥ | anu | svam | bhānum | śrathayante | arṇavaiḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (with Vedic resolutions/variations possible)
Propulsive, marching cadence suited to force and forward motion.
Builds inner momentum and confidence; the rhythm supports a felt ‘surge’ that matches the Marut energy and helps break tamasic heaviness.
- मरुत् (Marut)
- Literal: storm-god/host of Rudra. Symbolic: dynamic powers of aspiration, pranic-mental energies that enforce progress
- सुवित (suvita)
- Literal: good going, happy journey. Symbolic: right movement of yoga; progressive passage of consciousness
- दावन (dāvana)
- Literal: giving, largesse. Symbolic: outpouring of inner riches; generosity of the awakened being
- ऋत (ṛta)
- Literal: cosmic right, order. Symbolic: truth-law organizing thought, life, and action
- द्यौः/पृथिवी (dyauḥ/pṛthivī)
- Literal: heaven/earth. Symbolic: higher mind and embodied nature to be harmonized
- अश्व (aśva)
- Literal: horse. Symbolic: vital force/energy of action yoked to the divine movement
- रजस् (rajas)
- Literal: midspace, luminous region. Symbolic: inner subtle field between mind and life where forces move
- भानु (bhānu)
- Literal: radiance, beam. Symbolic: self-born light of discernment guiding energy
- अर्णव (arṇava)
- Literal: flood, oceanic wave. Symbolic: vast streams of consciousness/bliss released when coverings break
Opening verse for Marut praise: establishes ṛta-bearing hymn as offering to dyāvāpṛthivī and summons Marut-force for su-viti (right progress) and dāna (inner giving/plenitude) within Soma ritual sequences.
During stotra/śastra segments addressing Maruts; also in rites seeking energetic purification and successful ‘going’.
Recitation/chant with oblations; calling the Marut host to aid the sacrifice and open the paths.
Use as a mantra for energizing sadhana, clearing lethargy, and invoking disciplined force before work, travel, or demanding inner practice.
√kram ‘stride’ (akran) gives the archetypal ‘divine advance’. su-viti ‘good finding/way’ frames progress as a discovered right path. ṛta is carried (√bhṛ) by the hymn (arc), showing speech as a vehicle of order. √ukṣ ‘sprinkle/increase’ applied to aśva indicates energizing the life-forces. √śrath ‘loosen’ + arṇava ‘flood’ yields the image of ‘unbinding the waters’—a standard Vedic release motif, innerly the freeing of obstructed currents of consciousness.
Ṛta as actionable order, Su-viti (right/felicitous path), Release of waters as liberation of consciousness
Explicit: the seer ‘bears ṛta’ to Heaven and Earth—establishing right law across planes.
Radiance (bhānu) as truth-light guiding the release of plenitudes.
Release of the waters as a recurring creation-motif: opening of hidden abundance by force guided by light.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent and transformation through harmonized force and light.
Pranic-mental energies surge through the subtle field, guided by inner light, releasing blocked currents of consciousness and capacity.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘release of the waters’ motif in Marut mode: by their radiance and rush through rajas, the powers ‘loosen the floods’ (arṇavaiḥ śrath-). Innerly, the hymn bears ṛta to heaven and earth, enabling obstructed streams of force/knowledge to flow for su-viti (right progress).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kram ‘stride’ reflects inherited ‘step/stride’ imagery for divine advance (cf. PIE motion roots seen across IE). √bhṛ ‘bear’ (PIE *bher-) again links offering/bringing. The ‘unbinding’ verb √śrath parallels a cross-IE poetic theme of loosening bonds to release waters/wealth (a common mythic grammar in IE traditions).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions his speech as an act that ‘carries ṛta’ to the cosmic poles (heaven/earth), and in return calls the Maruts to enact su-viti and dāna. The exchange is: right-word (arc) and right-order (ṛta) offered → divine energies awaken, rush, and unbind the inner floods.
Invoke disciplined inner force to move in truth; feel energies aligning to a central light that opens the flow.
Manipura (force/will) with an ascent toward Ajna (guiding light).
Moderate ujjayi or segmented inhale-exhale (3–3 or 4–4) while feeling ‘surge → release’.
Dynamic concentration (tapas) stabilizing into luminous flow.
Begin with a brief centering; chant while sensing a column of light (bhānu) in the head guiding pranic horses in the torso; end in silence to receive the ‘released waters’ as peace/clarity/creative flow.
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita per Rigvedic accent; preserve udātta on key roots (e.g., ṛtáṃ, bhā́num) as per pada tradition.
Keep the main lift on ṛtám and bhā́num; avoid flattening the cadence across pādas—let each 11-syllable unit ‘drive’ forward.
ṛ in ṛtáṃ is vocalic ‘r’ (not ri/ru), bhānuṃ: long ā; final anusvāra lightly nasalized, aśvān: ś is palatal; keep ‘aś-’ crisp, arṇavaiḥ: retroflex ṇ; aiḥ as a diphthong ending
Bright, firm, forward-placed; minimal vibrato; end each pāda with a clean release.
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