Rig Veda Sukta 87
Mandala 5Sukta 879 Mantras

Sukta 87

Sukta 5.87

Devata

Maruts (with Vishnu as associated power)

Chandas

Trishtubh (likely; typical for Marut hymns—needs syllable verification)

Is mantra mein Maruton ko bulaya ja raha hai. Ye pahadon se paida hue toofani sena hain. Inki chamakdamak aur taakat bahut badi hai. Yeh log yagya mein bethne layak hain aur apni dhamak se raksha karte hain. Inki taakat Vishnu ke chalne ki taakat se judi hai. Pukar sunke yeh yagya ki raksha karte hain. Yeh jaap karne wale ko dushmano se bachate hain.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.87

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र वो महे मतयो यन्तु विष्णवे मरुत्वते गिरिजा एवयामरुत् । प्र शर्धाय प्रयज्यवे सुखादये तवसे भन्ददिष्टये धुनिव्रताय शवसे ॥

Bade bade khayal aage badho, Vishnu ke paas jao. Marut log pahad se paida hue hain. Yeh log puja ke layak hain, khushi dete hain, taakat wale hain. Jo log bhajan karte hain, unko pasand karte hain. Badal garajte hain, aisi taakat hai inmein.

Mantra 2

प्र ये जाता महिना ये च नु स्वयं प्र विद्मना ब्रुवत एवयामरुत् । क्रत्वा तद्वो मरुतो नाधृषे शवो दाना मह्ना तदेषामधृष्टासो नाद्रयः ॥

Yeh log bade ban ke paida hue hain. Khud hi apni badaai karte hain, kyunki inhe pata hai. Marut log, tumhari ichcha aur taakat se koi tumhe rok nahi sakta. Yeh itna dete hain, isliye bade hain. Patthar jaise pakke khade rehte hain, koi inhe hila nahi sakta.

Mantra 3

प्र ये दिवो बृहतः शृण्विरे गिरा सुशुक्वानः सुभ्व एवयामरुत् । न येषामिरी सधस्थ ईष्ट आँ अग्नयो न स्वविद्युतः प्र स्यन्द्रासो धुनीनाम् ॥

Marut devta aage badhte hain. Woh asmaan se sunte hain jab log unki prarthana karte hain. Woh chamakte hain aur achi tarah taiyaar rehte hain. Unki taakat kabhi kam nahi hoti. Woh aag ki tarah chamakte hain, bijli ki tarah chamakdaar. Unki taakat ke chamakne se sab jagah chamak uthata hai.

Mantra 4

स चक्रमे महतो निरुरुक्रमः समानस्मात्सदस एवयामरुत् । यदायुक्त त्मना स्वादधि ष्णुभिर्विष्पर्धसो विमहसो जिगाति शेवृधो नृभिः ॥

Woh bade sthaan se aage nikle hain. Woh apni jagah se uth ke chale aaye hain. Jab usne apni taakat ko joda, tab usne dushmano par jeet paayi. Woh badi rukawaton ko paar kar gaya. Woh logon ke liye bhalai laata hai.

Mantra 5

स्वनो न वोऽमवान्रेजयद्वृषा त्वेषो ययिस्तविष एवयामरुत् । येना सहन्त ऋञ्जत स्वरोचिषः स्थारश्मानो हिरण्ययाः स्वायुधास इष्मिणः ॥

Marut devta ki taakat ek bail ki tarah sabko hila deti hai. Woh tej hain, tezi se aate hain, bade balwaan hain. Unki taakat se woh jeet te hain aur chamakne lagte hain. Woh sone jaisi chamak rakhte hain, apne aap taiyaar rehte hain, badi taakat wale hain.

Mantra 6

अपारो वो महिमा वृद्धशवसस्त्वेषं शवोऽवत्वेवयामरुत् । स्थातारो हि प्रसितौ संदृशि स्थन ते न उरुष्यता निदः शुशुक्वांसो नाग्नयः ॥

Marut devta ki mahima ka koi end nahi hai. Unki taakat din ke saath badhti rehti hai. Unki tej taakat humein bachaaye. Woh aage badhne mein pakke rehte hain, sabko dikhayi dete hain. Humein boli lagaane walon se bachaao. Woh aag ki tarah chamakte hain.

Mantra 7

ते रुद्रासः सुमखा अग्नयो यथा तुविद्युम्ना अवन्त्वेवयामरुत् । दीर्घं पृथु पप्रथे सद्म पार्थिवं येषामज्मेष्वा महः शर्धांस्यद्भुतैनसाम् ॥

Rudra devta yagya mein acche hain, aag ki tarah chamakte hain, badi chamak wale hain. Woh humein bachaayein. Unhone dharati par lamba aur chauda ghar bana liya hai. Unke saath bade sena chalti hai, woh ascharya taakat wale hain, koi dosh nahi.

Mantra 8

अद्वेषो नो मरुतो गातुमेतन श्रोता हवं जरितुरेवयामरुत् । विष्णोर्महः समन्यवो युयोतन स्मद्रथ्यो न दंसनाप द्वेषांसि सनुतः ॥

Maruts, hamare paas aao, koi dushmani nahi honi chahiye. Hamari awaaz suno, hum jo gaana ga rahe hain. Vishnu ki badi taakat ke liye tum ek ho ke aao. Hamein nafrat se bachao, jaise koi driver gaadi sahi chalata hai. Hamein dushmani ke paar le jao.

Mantra 9

गन्ता नो यज्ञं यज्ञियाः सुशमि श्रोता हवमरक्ष एवयामरुत् । ज्येष्ठासो न पर्वतासो व्योमनि यूयं तस्य प्रचेतसः स्यात दुर्धर्तवो निदः ॥

Maruts, hamari puja mein aao, tum iske haqdaar ho. Shanti se hamari awaaz suno aur use bacha ke rakhna. Tum aasman mein bade pahad jaise ho, jo sabse upar rehte hain. Tum sachchai jaante ho. Koi bura shakti tumhe nahi hila sakti, tum mazboot ho.

Inside Sukta 87

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn begins by sending ‘great thought-forces’ forward to Vishnu who is ‘with the Maruts,’ immediately framing Marut power as purposeful, directed movement.

  2. Development

    It elaborates the Maruts as a fierce yet ordered host—self-luminous, golden-rayed, self-armed—whose force shakes and brightens the worlds, and whose energy makes the sacrificer prevail.

  3. Climax

    The prayer turns to direct ritual protection: the Maruts are asked to come to the yajña, hear the call in peace, and guard the rite, making the worshipper hard to assail.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes by affirming their lofty, mountain-like steadiness in the wide heaven and asking that hostile cries and denial be rendered ineffective before their conscious power.

The deity: Maruts

  • In the VedaThe Maruts are a radiant, many-formed host—fierce, swift, and self-armed—whose thunder, wind, and flashing brilliance shake the worlds; they are repeatedly praised as golden, strong-rayed, and sacrifice-worthy.
  • Cosmic functionThey energize the atmosphere with storm and life-force, clear and quicken the paths, support Indra’s victories, and uphold cosmic order by driving away obstruction and bringing luminous expansion.
  • Inner significanceThey represent the surge of disciplined powers within the seeker—impulses and energies made harmonious—so that aspiration becomes forceful, bright, and protected against doubt, inertia, and hostile voices.

The seer

  • Atri BhāumaĀtreya (Atri-gotra) · Atri is one of the great Vedic seer-families; the Ātreyas are especially known for powerful hymns to the Maruts, shaping their image as luminous, well-ordered storm-powers allied to cosmic law (ṛta).

Famous verses

viṣṇave marutvate
Verse 5.87.1Programmatic opening: it unites Marut dynamism with Vishnu’s forward-striding power and defines the Maruts as a sacrifice-worthy host with ‘thunderous discipline.’Read verse 5.87.1 →
स्वनो न वोऽमवान्रेजयद्वृषा त्वेषो ययिस्तविष एवयामरुत् । येना सहन्त ऋञ्जत स्वरोचिषः स्थारश्मानो हिरण्ययाः स्वायुधास इष्मिणः ॥
Verse 5.87.5Iconic portrayal of Marut energy: the ‘bull-like’ force that shakes all, their self-luminous brightness, golden rays, and self-armed impetus—capturing their storm-and-light theology.Read verse 5.87.5 →
śrotā havam arakṣa
Verse 5.87.9Ritual culmination: explicit invitation to the sacrifice, request to hear and protect the call, and a prayer for unassailability against hostile speech—central to practical liturgical use.Read verse 5.87.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • storm-host (śardha)
  • mountain-born (girijāḥ)
  • thunderous discipline (dhuni-vrata)
  • radiant/self-luminous (svarociṣ)
  • golden, firm-rayed (hiraṇyaya; sthāraśmāna)
  • swift, impelling, mighty (tveṣa; yayí; taviṣa)
  • protectors of the sacrifice (arakṣa)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 5 (many hymns traditionally ascribed to the Ātreyas)
  • Marut hymns emphasizing brilliance (svarociṣ), protection (rakṣ), and the disciplined host (śardha)

The rite, step by step

  • Establish the sacred fire and seat the intention: invite the Marut-host as a unified company (śardha).
  • Recite the opening verses to align thought-forces toward Vishnu-with-the-Maruts (invoking wide, forward movement).
  • Offer oblations while praising their brilliance, weapons, and firm rays—asking for strengthening and glad ease.
  • Petition for protection of the yajña: ‘hear the call, guard it,’ and for unassailability against hostile speech.
  • Conclude with a final invitation for their presence at the sacrifice and sealing of protection (rakṣ) and victory (saha).

Offerings

  • ghee (ājya)
  • Soma (where applicable)
  • oblations of grains/cakes (puroḍāśa) in associated rites
  • water/clarified offerings with Marut praises

Frequently Asked Questions

The Maruts are a powerful host of storm and wind deities, described as radiant, swift, and well-armed. In this hymn they are also protectors of the sacrifice and bringers of victorious energy.

Vishnu represents wide, forward-striding expansion. The hymn links the Maruts’ dynamic force to that expansive movement, so their power becomes purposeful—driving the rite and the seeker forward.

It asks the Maruts to come to the yajña, hear the invocation in peace, guard the ritual, and make the worshipper hard to overcome—especially against hostile speech and obstructing forces.

Ask anything about Sukta 87 of the Rig Veda

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