Rig Veda 7.57.5: Mandala 7, Sukta 57, Mantra 5
Sukta 7.57
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Marutāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
कृते चिदत्र मरुतो रणन्तानवद्यासः शुचयः पावकाः । प्र णोऽवत सुमतिभिर्यजत्राः प्र वाजेभिस्तिरत पुष्यसे नः ॥
kṛté cid átra marúto raṇantān avadyā́saḥ śúcayaḥ pāvakā́ḥ | prá no ’vata sumatíbhiḥ yajatrā́ḥ prá vājébhiḥ tirata púṣyase naḥ ||
Selbst wenn das Werk vollbracht ist, mögen hier die Maruts weiterdröhnen – tadellos, rein, reinigend. O Verehrungswürdige, schützt uns mit rechter Gesinnung; tragt uns hinüber mit Füllen an Kraft, damit unser Sein in Fülle wachse.
Word by Word
- कृते
- in the (ritual) performance / when it is doneNoun (used adverbially/locatively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-एकवचन (locative sg.)Role अधिकारण (time/condition: ‘in/at the doing; when done’)Root कृत (ppp of √कृ ‘to do, make’) → prātipadika ‘कृत’
- चित्
- indeed, evenIndeclinableemphatic particleRoot चित् (particle)
- अत्र
- hereIndeclinableadverb of placeRole अधिकारण (place)Root अत्र (deictic adverb)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मरुत् (prātipadika)
- रणन्त
- resound, roarVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन (present indicative 3pl) — Vedic form ‘रणन्त’Role कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot √रण्/√रन् (to resound, roar)
- अनवद्याः
- blamelessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (agreeing with मरुतः)Role कर्तृ (as qualifier)Root अनवद्य (a- + अवद्य ‘blameworthy’; prātipadika)
- शुचयः
- bright, pureAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (agreeing with मरुतः)Role कर्तृ (as qualifier)Root शुचि (prātipadika)
- पावकाः
- purifying (ones)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (agreeing with मरुतः)Role कर्तृ (as qualifier)Root पावक (from √पू ‘to purify’; prātipadika)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableupasarga (prefix) used with following verbRoot प्र (preverb)
- नः
- of us, ourPronounषष्ठी-बहुवचन (gen. pl.) ‘of us/our’ (Vedic enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (enclitic pronoun)
- अवत
- protect! help!Verbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन (imperative 2sg) — addressed to मरुतःRole क्रियाRoot √अव् (to protect, help)
- सुमतिभिः
- with good thoughts/favoursNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot सुमति (सु- + मति; prātipadika)
- यजत्राः
- O worshipful onesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (vocative-like address in RV often identical in form; here addressing Maruts)Role सम्बोधनRoot यजत्र (from √यज् ‘to worship/sacrifice’; prātipadika)
- प्र
- forthIndeclinableupasargaRoot प्र (preverb)
- वाजेभिः
- with prizes/strengths (victorious powers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot वाज (prātipadika)
- तिरत
- carry across! help (us) over!Verbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन (imperative 2sg) — Vedic injunctive/imperative form ‘तिरत’Role क्रियाRoot √तॄ (to cross over, carry through)
- पुष्यसे
- thou prosperest / for (our) thrivingVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन (present middle 2sg) — ‘thou prosperest/thrivest’Role क्रिया (purpose/benefit context)Root √पुष् (to thrive, prosper)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया-बहुवचन (acc. pl.) ‘us’ (Vedic enclitic)Role कर्मRoot अस्मद् (enclitic pronoun)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) ‘रणन्तानवद्याः’ = ‘रणन्त’ + ‘अनवद्याः’ (final -t before vowel a-; written together in saṃhitā). (2) ‘प्र णोऽवत’ = ‘प्र’ + ‘नः’ + ‘अवत’
- ‘नः + अवत’ → ‘नोऽवत’ by avagraha (o from aḥ + a). (3) ‘सुमतिभिर्यजत्राः’ = ‘सुमतिभिः’ + ‘यजत्राः’ (ḥ + y → r y in saṃhitā: visarga before y becomes ‘र्’). (4) ‘तिरत पुष्यसे नः’ kept as separate padas
- padas listed without accent marks
The meaning
Outer meaning
Even when the work is done, here let the Maruts still resound—blameless, pure, purifying. O adorable ones, protect us with right-mindedness; carry us beyond with plenitudes of force, so that we may thrive.
Inner meaning
The ‘work accomplished’ (kṛte) suggests that even after a successful effort or attainment, the divine energies must continue to vibrate in the being—otherwise inertia returns. The Maruts’ ‘resounding’ is the continuing dynamic mantra-force that keeps consciousness awake and progressing. Their purity indicates energies freed from ego-mixture; as pāvakāḥ they actively purify remaining residues. With sumati they protect the direction of the will; with vājāḥ (plenitudes of force) they help the seeker cross beyond limiting formations into a growing fullness (puṣyase).
Universal truth
Spiritual life is not a one-time achievement: after each accomplishment, sustaining force and purity are needed to prevent relapse and to grow into greater fullness.
Themes
protection, purification, spiritual increase, victory-force (vāja)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vāsiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 7.56, Rig Veda 7.57, Rig Veda 7.58
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Marut hymns stress disciplined dynamism—force that remains pure and serviceable to ṛta even after success.
Significance
The seer points to the necessity of sustained tapas under divine guidance: the roar of the powers must continue until the whole nature is purified and fulfilled.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutāḥ
- Epithets
- anavadyāsaḥ, śucayaḥ, pāvakāḥ, yajatrāḥ
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Sustainers of atmospheric energy; companions of Indra in releasing the waters and establishing movement.
Inner power
Persistent transforming force that keeps aspiration alive, purifies the vital, and carries consciousness across thresholds.
In ritual
Where it is used
Protective and prosperity petition within Marut-stotra; suitable in concluding movements of offerings where continued support ‘even after completion’ is sought
कृ॒ते चि॒दत्र॑ म॒रुतो॑ रणन्तानव॒द्यास॒: शुच॑यः पाव॒काः । प्र णो॑ऽवत सुम॒तिभि॑र्यजत्रा॒: प्र वाजे॑भिस्तिरत पु॒ष्यसे॑ नः ॥
कृ॒ते । चि॒त् । अत्र॑ । म॒रुतः॑ । र॒ण॒न्त॒ । अ॒न॒व॒द्यासः॑ । शुच॑यः । पा॒व॒काः । प्र । नः॒ । अ॒व॒त॒ । सु॒म॒तिऽभिः॑ । य॒ज॒त्राः॒ । प्र । वाजे॑भिः । ति॒र॒त॒ । पु॒ष्यसे॑ । नः॒ ॥
kṛte | cit | atra | marutaḥ | raṇanta | anavadyāsaḥ | śucayaḥ | pāvakāḥ | pra | naḥ | avata | sumati-bhiḥ | yajatrāḥ | pra | vājebhiḥ | tirata | puṣyase | naḥ
44
4 × ~11
Forward-driving with a ‘continuation’ feel; well-suited to the idea of sustained resounding after completion.
Energizes perseverance; evokes a steady onward push rather than a final closure.
- कृते (kṛte)
- Literal: when done, accomplished. Symbolic: after attainment or successful effort; post-victory vigilance
- रणन्त (raṇanta)
- Literal: they resound, roar. Symbolic: continuing vibration of awakened energies; mantra-force sustaining progress
- अनवद्याः (anavadyāsaḥ)
- Literal: blameless. Symbolic: energies free from distortion, ego, or wrong movement
- शुचयः (śucayaḥ)
- Literal: pure. Symbolic: clarity and sincerity in life-force and mind
- पावकाः (pāvakāḥ)
- Literal: purifiers. Symbolic: active cleansing of subconscious residues
- सुमतिभिः (sumatibhiḥ)
- Literal: with right-mindednesses. Symbolic: many-sided guidance: clear thought, right will, harmonious intention
- वाजेभिः (vājebhiḥ)
- Literal: with vāja—prize, strength, plenitude. Symbolic: spiritual energies and capacities that win the inner battle
- तिरत (tirata)
- Literal: carry across. Symbolic: help to cross beyond limitation, ignorance, and resistance
- पुष्यसे (puṣyase)
- Literal: to thrive, grow, prosper. Symbolic: increase of being, integration, and fullness of consciousness
Protective and prosperity petition within Marut-stotra; suitable in concluding movements of offerings where continued support ‘even after completion’ is sought
As stuti to maintain the invoked force through and beyond the main offering sequence; also appropriate near the conclusion to ‘carry across’ the sacrificer.
Praise + request for protection and victorious crossing; offerings continue in spirit even after the main act.
Chant after completing a task or milestone to stabilize gains, purify pride, and invoke further growth.
raṇanta from √raṇ ‘to resound/cry’—the Maruts as vibrating energies in the being. pāvaka from √pū ‘to purify’ (brightness and cleansing). vāja: from √vaj/√vaj ‘be strong, impel’—not merely ‘prize/food’ but ‘plenitude of effective force’; hence ‘carry us across with vājāḥ’ = with victorious energies that enable passage beyond limitation. tirat from √tṝ ‘to cross’ (cf. ‘tīrtha’).
crossing beyond limitation (√tṝ), purification (pāvaka), growth/augmentation (puṣ)
Blameless/pure powers are those that move according to ṛta, not personal desire.
Sumati is truth in the mind’s movement; it protects the direction of evolution.
Progressive perfection: purification leading to increase (puṣṭi) and fullness of being.
Integral Yoga perspective: continuous transformation after each attainment.
Storm-roar = awakened prāṇa; rain-wash = cleansing of the vital/subconscious; ‘crossing’ = transition between states of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘helpers who ferry across’ mythologem: divine powers protect and ‘carry over’ the human. Inwardly, the Maruts are purifying energies that continue operating beyond the ritual act, enabling a crossing into greater fullness (puṣṭi).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṝ ‘cross’ is part of a widespread IE semantic domain of passage (river/ford metaphors). The valor/force term vāja belongs to an archaic Indo-Iranian heroic lexicon where ‘strength’ and ‘prize’ interpenetrate in hymn diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi asks not only for momentary aid but sustained guardianship and inner rectitude (sumati). The Maruts are invoked as purifiers whose force becomes the practitioner’s means of transition into a more abundant state.
Stabilize gains; invoke continued dynamic purification and growth.
Maṇipūra (force and perseverance) with Anāhata (purity and harmony)
Brisk-energetic but even breathing (e.g., 6–6) for 7–12 cycles, then rest in stillness.
Sustained tapas—quietly intense, forward-moving.
After any success, chant once or thrice; on ‘anavadyāsaḥ śucayaḥ pāvakāḥ’ offer remaining imperfections; on ‘tirata’ feel a crossing to a wider poise.
Tri-svara; emphasize the sonic quality on raṇanta with a clear udātta rise; keep final requests steady, not clipped.
Let ‘kṛte cid atra’ be measured; give weight to epithets in pāda 2; slight lift on ‘pra’ openings (pra ṇo’vata / pra vājebhiḥ).
raṇanta: retroflex ṇ, anavadyāsaḥ: articulate v-dy cluster, pāvakāḥ: long ā in pā, puṣyase: clear ṣy conjunct
Firm, resonant, sustained; a ‘roaring’ undertone without shouting.
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