Sukta 56

Mantra 1

क ईं व्यक्ता नरः सनीळा रुद्रस्य मर्या अध स्वश्वाः ॥

Who indeed are those manifest powers, the heroic men of Rudra, dwelling together in one nest, now with their own swift steeds—who are they that come as a single force?

Mantra 2

नकिर्ह्येषां जनूंषि वेद ते अङ्ग विद्रे मिथो जनित्रम् ॥

None truly knows their births; yet, O friend, they know each other’s begetting. These powers are born in a mystery, but they move in a mutual knowledge and accord.

Mantra 3

अभि स्वपूभिर्मिथो वपन्त वातस्वनसः श्येना अस्पृध्रन् ॥

With their own purifying powers they work upon one another; like hawks with the roar of the wind they press forward, unopposed—energies of swift, luminous assault that clear the path.

Mantra 4

एतानि धीरो निण्या चिकेत पृश्निर्यदूधो मही जभार ॥

These things the steadfast seer perceives in the hidden places: when Pṛśni, the vast Mother, bore the udder (the nurturing source).

Mantra 5

सा विट् सुवीरा मरुद्भिरस्तु सनात्सहन्ती पुष्यन्ती नृम्णम् ॥

May that clan-settlement be rich in heroes with the Maruts—enduring from of old, conquering, increasing the force of manhood and luminous might (nṛmṇa).

Mantra 6

यामं येष्ठाः शुभा शोभिष्ठाः श्रिया सम्मिश्ला ओजोभिरुग्राः ॥

O Maruts, you are the foremost in the march of progress—beautiful, most radiant, blended with the power of splendour; formidable with your energies.

Mantra 7

उग्रं व ओजः स्थिरा शवांस्यधा मरुद्भिर्गणस्तुविष्मान् ॥

Fierce is your energy, firm your powers of might; then with the Maruts the troop becomes overwhelmingly strong.

Mantra 8

शुभ्रो वः शुष्मः क्रुध्मी मनांसि धुनिर्मुनिरिव शर्धस्य धृष्णोः ॥

Pure-bright is your impelling force, vehement; it shakes the minds—like a seer in ecstasy—of the daring host.

Mantra 9

सनेम्यस्मद्युयोत दिद्युं मा वो दुर्मतिरिह प्रणङ्नः ॥

From us drive far away the flashing stroke; let not ill-will, here, strike down upon us.

Mantra 10

प्रिया वो नाम हुवे तुराणामा यत्तृपन्मरुतो वावशानाः ॥

I call by the beloved name of you swift ones, so that you may come—O Maruts, eager in your joy—and be satisfied.

Mantra 11

स्वायुधास इष्मिणः सुनिष्का उत स्वयं तन्वः शुम्भमानाः ॥

Armed with their own weapons, impetuous, well-adorned with golden ornaments; and they themselves are beautifying their bodies.

Mantra 12

शुची वो हव्या मरुतः शुचीनां शुचिं हिनोम्यध्वरं शुचिभ्यः । ऋतेन सत्यमृतसाप आयञ्छुचिजन्मानः शुचयः पावकाः ॥

Pure are your offerings, O Maruts, of the pure; for the pure ones I set in motion the pure rite. By ṛta you come to the truth—O you who win by ṛta—pure-born, pure, blazing-purifiers.

Mantra 13

अंसेष्वा मरुतः खादयो वो वक्षस्सु रुक्मा उपशिश्रियाणाः । वि विद्युतो न वृष्टिभी रुचाना अनु स्वधामायुधैर्यच्छमानाः ॥

On your shoulders, O Maruts, are fastened the biting (weapons); on your chests the golden splendours rest. Shining out like lightnings with the rains, you move according to your own law, directing your weapons.

Mantra 14

प्र बुध्न्या व ईरते महांसि प्र नामानि प्रयज्यवस्तिरध्वम् । सहस्रियं दम्यं भागमेतं गृहमेधीयं मरुतो जुषध्वम् ॥

Forth rise your deep-founded greatnesses; forth your names—O you devoted to the offering—are spread abroad. Accept, O Maruts, this household share, rich in a thousand fullnesses, fit for the home.

Mantra 15

यदि स्तुतस्य मरुतो अधीथेत्था विप्रस्य वाजिनो हवीमन् । मक्षू रायः सुवीर्यस्य दात नू चिद्यमन्य आदभदरावा ॥

If you heed the praised one thus—of the inspired, vigorous offerer—then quickly grant the wealth of heroic plenitude; even now no other can diminish the one who is generous.

Mantra 16

अत्यासो न ये मरुतः स्वञ्चो यक्षदृशो न शुभयन्त मर्याः । ते हर्म्येष्ठाः शिशवो न शुभ्रा वत्सासो न प्रक्रीळिनः पयोधाः ॥

Like swift racers, the Maruts who move in their own right shine out like wondrous visions, young heroes making the being beautiful. Bright as children at home, like playful calves rich in milk, they pour the nourishing force within us.

Mantra 17

दशस्यन्तो नो मरुतो मृळन्तु वरिवस्यन्तो रोदसी सुमेके । आरे गोहा नृहा वधो वो अस्तु सुम्नेभिरस्मे वसवो नमध्वम् ॥

May the Maruts, giving us honor and widening our path, be gracious to us—those fair ones who serve the two worlds. Far from us be the slayer of light and the slayer of the soul; by your benevolent inspirations, O Vasus, bow toward us in help.

Mantra 18

आ वो होता जोहवीति सत्तः सत्राचीं रातिं मरुतो गृणानः । य ईवतो वृषणो अस्ति गोपाः सो अद्वयावी हवते व उक्थैः ॥

The Hotṛ, seated in the truth of the rite, calls you, O Maruts, praising you for the straight-going gift. He who is the impelling bull-force, the guardian of the rays, that undivided seeker calls you with inspired hymns.

Mantra 19

इमे तुरं मरुतो रामयन्तीमे सहः सहस आ नमन्ति । इमे शंसं वनुष्यतो नि पान्ति गुरु द्वेषो अररुषे दधन्ति ॥

These Maruts gladden the swift force; these powers of might bow down to the Might itself. These guard the praise of the seeker; for the hostile and furious they lay down a heavy hate, a weight that breaks the adversary.

Mantra 20

इमे रध्रं चिन्मरुतो जुनन्ति भृमिं चिद्यथा वसवो जुषन्त । अप बाधध्वं वृषणस्तमांसि धत्त विश्वं तनयं तोकमस्मे ॥

These Maruts drive forward even the slack and the stumbling, as the Vasus take delight in the right movement. O strong ones, thrust away the darknesses; establish in us the whole formation—our lineage and our growing powers.

Mantra 21

मा वो दात्रान्मरुतो निरराम मा पश्चाद्दघ्म रथ्यो विभागे । आ नः स्पार्हे भजतना वसव्ये यदीं सुजातं वृषणो वो अस्ति ॥

Do not cut us off, O Maruts, from your gifts; do not place us behind in the division on the chariot-road. Share with us the desirable wealth of the Vasus, since in you, O strong ones, there is the well-born power to give.

Mantra 22

सं यद्धनन्त मन्युभिर्जनासः शूरा यह्वीष्वोषधीषु विक्षु । अध स्मा नो मरुतो रुद्रियासस्त्रातारो भूत पृतनास्वर्यः ॥

When men, driven by wrath, strike together—heroes amid the strong streams, the plants, and the clans—then, O Maruts, Rudra-born, become our protectors in the battles, O noble ones.

Mantra 23

भूरि चक्र मरुतः पित्र्याण्युक्थानि या वः शस्यन्ते पुरा चित् । मरुद्भिरुग्रः पृतनासु साळ्हा मरुद्भिरित्सनिता वाजमर्वा ॥

Much have you done, O Maruts—those ancestral hymns that were sung to you even of old. With the Maruts the fierce one becomes a conqueror in battles; with the Maruts indeed the steed wins the plenitude of force.

Mantra 24

अस्मे वीरो मरुतः शुष्म्यस्तु जनानां यो असुरो विधर्ता । अपो येन सुक्षितये तरेमाध स्वमोको अभि वः स्याम ॥

In us, O Maruts, let there be a hero full of force—the Asura, the disposer among men. By him may we cross the waters toward a good dwelling; then may we come to our own home, in your presence.

Mantra 25

तन्न इन्द्रो वरुणो मित्रो अग्निराप ओषधीर्वनिनो जुषन्त । शर्मन्त्स्याम मरुतामुपस्थे यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

May Indra, Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, the Waters, the plants, and the forest-lords accept this for us. May we be in peace in the lap of the Maruts; do you guard us always with states of well-being.