Rig Veda 10.13.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 13, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.13
- Devata
- Indeterminate/Composite
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सप्त क्षरन्ति शिशवे मरुत्वते पित्रे पुत्रासो अप्यवीवतन्नृतम् । उभे इदस्योभयस्य राजत उभे यतेते उभयस्य पुष्यतः ॥
saptá kṣáranti śíśave marútvate pitré putrā́so ápy avīvatan ṛtám | ubhé íd asyóbháyasya rājata ubhé yatete ubháyasya púṣyataḥ ||
सात धारें बहती हैं उस बच्चे के लिए, उस पिता के लिए जिसके पास मरुत शक्तियाँ हैं। बेटों ने भी सचाई को आगे बढ़ाया है। उसके दोनों पहलू चमकते हैं, दोनों मेहनत करते हैं, दोनों पूरे बनते हैं।
Word by Word
- सप्त
- sevenIndeclinableसंख्या; अव्ययवत् (अव्यय-प्रयोग)Role विशेषण (संख्या-विशेषण) / कर्म-विशेषणRoot सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षरन्ति
- they flow, they streamVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √क्षर् (क्षरणे)
- शिशवे
- to/for the childNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (दत्तिव), एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुत्वते
- to the Marut-possessing one (attended by the Maruts)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (शिशवे इति सह विशेषण)Root मरुत्वन्त् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; मरुत् + वत्)
- पित्रे
- to/for the fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (शिशवे इति सह समन्वयः)Root पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुत्रासः
- the sonsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपि
- also, moreoverIndeclinableनिपात/अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/उपपद-निपातRoot अपि (निपात)
- अवीवतन्
- they caused to blow/stir; they set in motionVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन; कारणार्थक-प्रयोगःRole क्रियाRoot √वी (वे/वायने/विगमने; कारणे-प्रयोगः) / √वय् इति परम्परया व्याख्येयम्
- ऋतम्
- ṛta (cosmic order, truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- उभे
- both (two)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot उभ (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातRole सम्बन्ध (बलार्थक)Root इद्/इत् (निपात; emphatic)
- अस्य
- of this (one)Pronounषष्ठी, एकवचन (पुं/नपुं)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- उभयस्य
- of both, of the twofoldNoun/Adjectiveषष्ठी, एकवचन (पुं/नपुं)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजत
- they two shine, are resplendentVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot √राज् (दीप्तौ/शोभायाम्)
- उभे
- both (two)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot उभ (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- यतेते
- they two strive/press onVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot √यत् (प्रयत्ने) + √इ (गत्यर्थ; आत्मनेपद) (यत्-इते इति द्विधा व्याख्या)
- उभयस्य
- of bothNoun/Adjectiveषष्ठी, एकवचन (पुं/नपुं)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुष्यतः
- they two prosper/nourish, they two make thriveVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रियाRoot √पुष् (पुष्टौ/वर्धने)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (पद-आधार): सप्त | क्षरन्ति | शिशवे | मरुत्वते | पित्रे | पुत्रासः | अपि | अवीवतन् | ऋतम् || उभे | इत् | अस्य | उभयस्य | राजत | उभे | यतेते | उभयस्य | पुष्यतः । (अप्य॑वीवतन् = अपि + अवीवतन्; इद॑स्य = इत् + अस्य)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Seven streams flow for the child, for the father endowed with the Maruts; the sons have made ṛta move forward. Both sides of his dual nature shine; both strive; both are nourished.
Inner meaning
A hymn of dynamic integration. ‘Seven’ signals a complete set of powers/streams (often the seven rivers, seven rays, seven energies). The ‘child’ (śiśu) is the nascent divine formation in the seeker—newborn consciousness. The ‘father with Maruts’ indicates a governing power supported by Marut-force (storm-gods = vital dynamism, impulsion, pranic energies disciplined for the divine work). ‘Sons’ are the active powers/impulses that, when aligned, make ṛta effective in life. ‘Both’ (ubhe… ubhayasya) points to a duality to be harmonized—heaven/earth, knowledge/action, soul/nature, inner/outer. The mantra affirms that when both poles strive together under ṛta, both are fostered into fullness rather than one suppressing the other.
Universal truth
Wholeness comes by harmonizing dualities through the truth-law. The full set of energies must flow toward the newborn higher consciousness; then both inner realization and outer life are nourished.
Themes
Ṛta-realization, Sevenfold powers, Inner birth and maturation, Integration of dualities
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.13.3, Rig Veda 10.13.4
Significance
The seer articulates an integral psychology: not escape from duality but a luminous mutual fostering of both sides under ṛta—characteristic of a synthesis-oriented Vedic vision.
The deity
- Devata
- Composite Father–Son powers with Marut-force; Ṛta as governing principle
- Epithets
- Marutvat (possessing the Maruts)
- Related deities
- Maruts, Indra (often leader of Maruts), Agni (child/son motif, newborn fire), Bṛhaspati (ṛta through word)
Cosmic role
Maruts drive and purify the atmospheric energies; the Father principle governs; the Sons execute; ṛta is the law that makes their movement right and fruitful.
Inner power
Harnessed vital dynamism (Marut-force) serving the governing will; capacity to integrate opposites and nourish both inner and outer life.
In ritual
Where it is used
General ṛta-supporting invocation; could accompany offerings seeking harmony of forces (Marut/Indra atmosphere)
स॒प्त क्ष॑रन्ति॒ शिश॑वे म॒रुत्व॑ते पि॒त्रे पु॒त्रासो॒ अप्य॑वीवतन्नृ॒तम् । उ॒भे इद॑स्यो॒भय॑स्य राजत उ॒भे य॑तेते उ॒भय॑स्य पुष्यतः ॥
स॒प्त । क्ष॒र॒न्ति॒ । शिश॑वे । म॒रुत्व॑ते । पि॒त्रे । पु॒त्रासः॑ । अपि॑ । अ॒वी॒व॒त॒न् । ऋ॒तम् । उ॒भे इति॑ । इत् । अ॒स्य॒ । उ॒भय॑स्य । रा॒ज॒तः॒ । उ॒भे इति॑ । य॒ते॒ते॒ इति॑ । उ॒भय॑स्य । पु॒ष्य॒तः॒ ॥
sapta | kṣaranti | śiśave | marutvate | pitre | putrāsaḥ | api | avīvatan | ṛtam | ubhe iti | it | asya | ubhayasya | rājataḥ | ubhe iti | yateteiti | ubhayasya | puṣyataḥ
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4 × ~11 syllables
Flowing, iterative (‘ubhe… ubhe… ubhayasya’) producing a balancing rhythm
Energizes while stabilizing; evokes a sense of two currents coming into harmony.
- सप्त (sapta)
- Literal: seven. Symbolic: totality of powers; sevenfold energies/streams/rays
- क्षरन्ति (kṣaranti)
- Literal: flow, stream. Symbolic: movement of energies/consciousness toward growth
- शिशवे (śiśave)
- Literal: for the child. Symbolic: newborn higher consciousness/psychic formation
- मरुत्वते (marutvate)
- Literal: endowed with Maruts. Symbolic: supported by disciplined life-force dynamisms
- पित्रे (pitre)
- Literal: for the father. Symbolic: governing conscious principle (leader in the being)
- पुत्रासः (putrāsaḥ)
- Literal: sons. Symbolic: active powers/impulses that execute the will
- ऋतम् (ṛtam)
- Literal: truth-order. Symbolic: right law that makes energies effective and harmonious
- उभे / उभयस्य (ubhe/ubhayasya)
- Literal: both / of both. Symbolic: two poles of nature to be integrated
General recitation context; adaptable to rites invoking ṛta and the ‘seven streams’ motif (e.g., soma/āhuti contexts emphasizing right-order and vitality)
When invoking dynamic support for right action; in rites emphasizing Marut/Indra energies or truth-establishment
Recitation alongside oblation requesting right movement of energies and mutual fostering
For balancing inner/outer life: chant when torn between contemplation and action; use as a harmonizing affirmation before work.
Key terms: (1) kṣáranti < √kṣar ‘flow, stream’: suggests outpouring of energies/streams of consciousness rather than mere liquids. (2) ṛtám < √ar/ṛ ‘to fit, set in motion rightly’ (semantic field of right order, articulated rhythm): here ‘made operative/active’ (avīvatan) indicates ṛta is not only a law but a dynamic realization. (3) rājataḥ < √rāj ‘shine, rule’: sovereignty as luminosity—psychologically, the governing clarity of the awakened order. (4) yatete < √yat ‘strive, rein in, extend’: disciplined effort of both complementary powers. (5) puṣyataḥ < √puṣ ‘thrive, nourish’: growth into plenitude; the result of alignment with ṛta.
Ṛta (truth-order, right rhythm), duality integrated (ubhaya / ubhe: complementary principles brought to harmony), nourishment and increase (puṣṭi) as spiritual plenitude
Explicit: ṛta is made to ‘move forward’—truth becomes operative in life.
The shining of both sides indicates truth-manifestation in both poles, not one-sidedness.
Growth of the ‘child’ consciousness nourished by full-spectrum energies.
Integral synthesis: harmonization of opposites under truth-order (Aurobindonian emphasis).
Streams = currents of prāṇa/knowledge; storm = dynamic purification; child = emerging higher self; duality = inner/outer or knowledge/action to be integrated.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘sevenfold outflow’ that activates ṛta: a recurring Vedic pattern where a plenary set of powers (sapta) pours/descends to establish the right order. In inner terms, the seeker’s new birth (‘child’) receives the seven streams of force/knowledge; the derivative powers (‘sons’) collaborate to make ṛta effective in life, so that the being’s dual principles can shine and be nourished together.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √rāj ‘shine/rule’ aligns with PIE *h₃reǵ- (rule; cf. Latin rēx), preserving the Vedic sense that rulership is grounded in radiance/rightness. √puṣ ‘thrive’ relates to Indo-Iranian nourishment/prosperity semantics (cf. Avestan pəš- ‘to prosper’). ṛtá is cognate in function with Avestan aša (truth/order), reflecting a shared Indo-Iranian concept of cosmic-ethical order realized as an active rhythm.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The voice does not bargain for outer goods; it witnesses a process: divine powers ‘flow’ and ‘nourish’ the being when ṛta is set in motion. The reciprocity is implicit—human/emanated powers (‘sons’) cooperate with the originating consciousness (‘Father’ with Marut-force). The offering is the alignment and striving (yatete) of both aspects of the person; the return is radiance (rājataḥ) and increase (puṣyataḥ).
Visualize seven currents rising and converging to nourish a newborn light in the heart; consciously reconcile a personal duality (e.g., stillness/action) under ṛta.
anahata (integration)
7 rounds of steady breathing; on inhale feel ‘streams’ rising, on exhale feel ‘both sides’ equalizing
Dynamic equilibrium; courageous harmony
Name your ‘two sides’ (inner aspiration/outer duty). Offer both to ṛta: choose one right action today that does not violate inner peace, and one inner practice that strengthens outer clarity.
Needs Śākhā svara; avoid conjecture.
Drive the repetitions clearly: sápta kṣáranti | śíśave | marútvate | ṛtám | úbhe… úbhe…
‘kṣaranti’ keep kṣ conjunct crisp, ‘marutvate’ pronounce -tva- as one unit, not ‘tuva’, Sustain long vowels minimally but clearly (e.g., putrāsaḥ)
Bright, forward, rhythmic; keep balance on repeated ‘ubhe’
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