Rig Veda 1.87.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 87, Mantra 2
Sukta 1.87
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Marutaḥ
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
उपह्वरेषु यदचिध्वं ययिं वय इव मरुतः केन चित्पथा । श्चोतन्ति कोशा उप वो रथेष्वा घृतमुक्षता मधुवर्णमर्चते ॥
upahvaréṣu yád acídhvam yayíṃ váya iva marutaḥ kéna cit pathā́ | ścótanti kóśā úpa vo rathéṣv ā́ ghṛtám ukṣatā mádhuvarṇam árcate ||
मरुत जब अपनी ताकत से चले, जैसे चिड़िया किसी राह पर उड़ती है। तब इनके रथों के बर्तन से घी टपकता है। यह शहद जैसा रंग डाल के गाते हैं। सब खुशी से भरे हैं।
Word by Word
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableupasarga/avyayaRoot उप
- ह्वरेषु
- in the hollows/valleys (low places)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot ह्वर (प्रा. ‘ह्वर’/‘ह्वरस्’)
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (सम्बन्ध/यद्-तद्)Root यद्
- अचिध्वम्
- you perceived/observedVerbलुङ् (आगम-रहित aorist); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot चिद् (चेतयति/चिनोति; वेद. ‘to notice, perceive’)
- ययिम्
- the moving one; traveller/wayfarerNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ययि (प्रा.)
- वयः
- a birdNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (काव्ये ‘वयः’ = पक्षी)Root वयस्
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मरुत्
- केन
- by what?Pronounपुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot किम्
- चित्
- indeed; even; somehowIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/indefinite)Root चित्
- पथा
- by a path/wayNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पथिन्/पथ
- श्चोतन्ति
- they drip, trickleVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot श्चुत्/च्युत् (वेद. ‘to drip, trickle’)
- कोशाः
- vessels/buckets; containersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot कोश
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/avyayaRoot उप
- वः
- of you/yourPronounषष्ठी (enclitic); बहुवचनRoot युष्मद्
- रथेषु
- in the chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot रथ
- आ
- towards; forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/avyayaRoot आ
- घृतम्
- ghee (clarified butter)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot घृत
- उक्षत
- sprinkle/pour!Verbलोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot वक्ष्/उक्ष् (वेद. ‘to sprinkle, pour’)
- मधुवर्णम्
- honey-colouredAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन (घृतम् विशेषणम्)Root मधु + वर्ण
- अर्चते
- he/it praises; is sungVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole KartāRoot अर्च्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरसन): उपह्वरेषु = उप + ह्वरेषु
- यदचिध्वं = यत् + अचिध्वम्
- वय इव = वयः + इव (विसर्ग-लोप)
- मरुतः केन = मरुतः + केन (विसर्ग-लोप)
- चित्पथा = चित् + पथा
- श्चोतन्ति = (एषा रूप-परम्परा ‘श्चुत्/च्युत्’ धातोः; पदे श्-आगम/संयोगः)
- कोशा उप = कोशाः + उप (विसर्ग-लोप)
- वो रथेष्वा = वः + रथेषु + आ (आ-आगमः; ‘रथेष्वा’ = ‘रथेषु आ’)
- घृतमुक्षता = घृतम् + उक्षत (m + u → mu)
- मधुवर्णमर्चते = मधुवर्णम् + अर्चते (m + a → ma)
The meaning
Outer meaning
When the Maruts kindle their moving force in the hollows, like birds along a path, the vessels on their chariots drip; they pour honey-hued ghee and the chant rises in delight.
Inner meaning
The ‘hollows’ are the inward recesses of the being (subconscient/vital depths). When the Maruts ignite movement there, the energies begin to flow in ordered currents (like birds finding a path). The dripping vessels are the inner containers of delight and clarity; ghee/honey-hued is the clarified offering—purified essence of experience—poured into the inner fire. The chant ‘arcate’ is the soul’s spontaneous glad expression when energy and delight begin to circulate.
Universal truth
When deeper layers of the psyche are awakened and mobilized, nourishment and sweetness naturally flow into the practice; right movement generates right offering, and joy becomes a sign of inner alignment.
Themes
abundance-flow, movement-and-release, delight-symbolism, storm-chariots
The seer
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.84, RV 1.85, RV 1.86, RV 1.87, RV 1.88
Family tradition
Gautama hymns often turn external imagery into a psychology of dhī and tapas—here, the ‘hollows’ and ‘dripping vessels’ become inner yogic processes.
Significance
The seer frames Marut-force as an initiator of inner flow (ghṛta/madhu), indicating a sādhanā where energy awakens delight and right utterance.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutaḥ
- Epithets
- yayiṃ (moving), patha-gā (path-finders, implied), ghṛta-sic (ghee-pourers, implied)
- Related deities
- Agni, Soma, Indra
Cosmic role
They stir the atmospheric spaces, bring rain and brightness; they accompany and empower the sacrificial movement.
Inner power
They activate prāṇa in the depths, open channels (nāḍī-like pathways), and cause the ‘essence’ (ghṛta/madhu) to flow upward into speech and aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut praise connected with Soma offering and ghṛta oblations.
उ॒प॒ह्व॒रेषु॒ यदचि॑ध्वं य॒यिं वय॑ इव मरुत॒: केन॑ चित्प॒था । श्चोत॑न्ति॒ कोशा॒ उप॑ वो॒ रथे॒ष्वा घृ॒तमु॑क्षता॒ मधु॑वर्ण॒मर्च॑ते ॥
उ॒प॒ऽह्व॒रेषु॒ । यत् । अचि॑ध्वम् । य॒यिम् । वयः॑ऽइव । म॒रु॒तः॒ । केन॑ । चि॒त् । प॒था । श्चोत॑न्ति । कोशाः॑ । उप॑ । वः॒ । रथे॑षु । आ । घृ॒तम् । उ॒क्ष॒त॒ । मधु॑ऽवर्ण॑म् । अर्च॑ते ॥
upa-hvareṣu | yat | acidhvam | yayim | vayaḥ-iva | marutaḥ | kena | cit | pathā | ścotanti | kośāḥ | upa | vaḥ | ratheṣu | ā | ghṛtam | ukṣata | madhu-varṇam | arcate
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4 × ~12 syllables
Gliding and processional; apt for imagery of flight-paths and dripping flow.
Encourages a felt sense of circulation—downward depth awakening and upward offering; supports smooth breath and sustained tone.
- उपह्वरेषु (upahvareṣu)
- Literal: in hollows/valleys. Symbolic: inner recesses; subconscient/vital depths where energy is latent
- अचिध्वम् (acidhvam)
- Literal: you kindle/ignite. Symbolic: awakening and setting in motion dormant forces
- ययिम् (yayiṃ)
- Literal: moving, going. Symbolic: the traveling prāṇa; dynamic life-force seeking its true path
- वयः इव (vayaḥ iva)
- Literal: like birds. Symbolic: thought-forces and prāṇic currents that learn free but ordered flight
- कोशाः (kośāḥ)
- Literal: vessels/containers. Symbolic: inner sheaths/containers of experience; reservoirs of rasa/energy
- रथेषु (ratheṣu)
- Literal: on the chariots. Symbolic: the psycho-physical system as vehicle of the gods
- घृतम् (ghṛtam)
- Literal: ghee. Symbolic: clarified will/essence offered to Agni; luminous substance of mind
- मधुवर्णम् (madhuvarṇam)
- Literal: honey-colored. Symbolic: bliss-tincture in the offering—Soma-like sweetness in consciousness
- अर्चते (arcate)
- Literal: sings/praises. Symbolic: mantric vibration rising when energies are harmonized
Imagery of ghṛta pouring and chariot-vessels aligns with Soma ritual abundance; inwardly, the Maruts’ movement releases honeyed luminous essence into the being, raising the chant.
During Soma rites and Marut-invocations where ghee is prominent; also in preparatory chants to ‘set the energies moving’.
Recitation accompanying ghṛta offering; inviting Maruts to energize the rite and make the Soma/oblations fruitful.
Use before meditation to awaken sluggishness: chant while sensing breath moving through the ‘hollows’ (lower belly, pelvic base) and rising as sweetness to the heart/throat.
: upa-hvara- ‘hollow, depression’ (also symbolic recess). √ ‘sprinkle’ (cf. uksan ‘bull’ separate). : ghṛta- from √ ‘to shine/sprinkle’ (Vedic ghṛta is luminous richness, not only ritual butter). : honey/sweetness (PIE *médʰu, cf. English mead). √ ‘praise/shine’ indicates the identity of hymn and radiance.
ghṛta as luminous essence (clarified consciousness), madhu as delight (ānanda-tone), mantra as radiance (arc)
‘Some path’ becomes the finding of the right inner channel—movement in ṛta rather than random agitation.
Honey-hued ghṛta symbolizes truth-essence: what remains after purification.
From depths to expression: awakened force causes essence to ‘drip’ into manifestation (speech/chant).
Integral yoga psychology: conversion of prāṇa into a bearer of ananda and luminous will.
Valleys = inner depths; birds = free currents of thought/prāṇa; dripping vessels = spontaneous flow of rasa/clarity into the system.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The storm-host releasing ‘dripping vessels’ and pouring ghṛta: mythically, rain and richness; inwardly, dynamic forces open the hidden recesses and let the honeyed luminous essence flow, so that the hymn itself ‘shines’ (arcate).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- madhu is a textbook IE inheritance (PIE *médʰu), widely attested (Skt madhu, Av maδu, Gk méthy ‘wine’, Eng mead). The coupling of sweetness with radiance and praise is a shared archaic poetic mapping.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi observes and invites a divine process: when the Maruts kindle motion in hidden places, abundance naturally ‘drips’ and the chant rises. The relationship is participatory—human praise becomes the channel through which divine sweetness is poured.
Awaken the ‘moving force’ in the depths and guide it along a calm inner path; offer clarified intention (ghṛta) into inner fire.
svādhiṣṭhāna to viśuddha (depth-to-voice ascent)
Nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 counts, then chant on a long exhale to feel ‘dripping’ sweetness in the throat.
Flow-state with uplifted devotion; energized calm.
Visualize a quiet hollow within; on each repetition, kindle a small steady fire there; feel a honey-colored stream rising to the heart and becoming mantra-sound.
Chant with clear udātta lift on key verbs (acidhvam, ukṣata) as per śākala tradition; keep svarita falls clean on sandhi junctions.
Do not rush ‘upahvareṣu’—let the first pāda settle like entering a hollow; then brighten on ‘ghṛtam ukṣata’.
: pronounce ‘hv’ as a single breathy cluster (upah-va-)., : ‘dhv’ cluster—lightly voiced, not ‘davam’., : initial ‘śc’ cluster—articulate ś + ca., : retroflex ṇ in varṇam; keep ‘madhu’ soft d+h.
Warm, flowing, slightly resonant in the throat (to embody madhu/ghṛta).
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