Sukta 56
Sukta 5.56
Atri (Ātreya), probable for RV 5.56
Trishtubh (probable)
This hymn calls the Maruts—the storm-host of Indra—down from the luminous heaven into the human community, with Agni invoked as the mediator who conducts their descent and makes their presence ritually effective. It praises their compact unity, brilliance, and irresistible forward drive, asking that their arrival release abundance, right impulse, and generous fortune for the sacrificer.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्ने शर्धन्तमा गणं पिष्टं रुक्मेभिरञ्जिभिः । विशो अद्य मरुतामव ह्वये दिवश्चिद्रोचनादधि ॥
अग्नि से दुआ है कि आज मरुत की सेना बुलवा दे। यह सब मिलकर एक जैसी ताकत हैं, सोना पहन के चमक रहे हैं। आसमान की रोशनी से यहाँ आएँ और हमारे बीच सही काम शुरू करें।
Mantra 2
यथा चिन्मन्यसे हृदा तदिन्मे जग्मुराशसः । ये ते नेदिष्ठं हवनान्यागमन्तान्वर्ध भीमसंदृशः ॥
जो भी तुम्हारे दिल में है, मेरी उम्में वही तक पहुँची हैं। जो पुकार तुम्हारे सबसे करीब गई है, उसे और मज़बूत करो। तुम्हारी नज़र बड़ी ताकतवाली है, इसलिए वो पुकार सीधा काम करेगी।
Mantra 3
मीळ्हुष्मतीव पृथिवी पराहता मदन्त्येत्यस्मदा । ऋक्षो न वो मरुतः शिमीवाँ अमो दुध्रो गौरिव भीमयुः ॥
जैसे धरती को हिला के झुकाया जाता है, वैसे ही एक ताकत हमारी तरफ आ रही है। मरुत की ताकत जैसे भालू है, न रुकती है, बैल जैसी तेज़ है, और देखने में बड़ी भयानक है।
Mantra 4
नि ये रिणन्त्योजसा वृथा गावो न दुर्धुरः । अश्मानं चित्स्वर्यं पर्वतं गिरिं प्र च्यावयन्ति यामभिः ॥
यह अपनी ताकत से सबको हिला देते हैं, जैसे बैल जो रुके नहीं। पहाड़ भी, पत्थर भी, जो आसमान की तरफ जाता है, उसे भी अपनी राह से हिला देते हैं। हमारे अंदर के रुकावटों को भी हटा देते हैं।
Mantra 5
उत्तिष्ठ नूनमेषां स्तोमैः समुक्षितानाम् । मरुतां पुरुतममपूर्व्यं गवां सर्गमिव ह्वये ॥
अब उठो, क्योंकि स्तुति से इनकी ताकत बढ़ गई है। मैं मरुत को बुलाता हूँ, बहुत बड़ी ताकत, जैसे गाय खुल के निकल आएँ। यह रोशनी की तरह है जो बाहर आ रही है।
Mantra 6
युङ्ग्ध्वं ह्यरुषी रथे युङ्ग्ध्वं रथेषु रोहितः । युङ्ग्ध्वं हरी अजिरा धुरि वोळ्हवे वहिष्ठा धुरि वोळ्हवे ॥
लाल घोड़े रथ में जोड़ो। रथ पे लाल घोड़े जोड़ो। तेज़ घोड़े आगे लगा के चलाओ। सबसे अच्छे घोड़े हैं यह, आगे लगा के चलाओ। भगवान की शक्ति को सही दिशा में लगाओ।
Mantra 7
उत स्य वाज्यरुषस्तुविष्वणिरिह स्म धायि दर्शतः । मा वो यामेषु मरुतश्चिरं करत्प्र तं रथेषु चोदत ॥
यह लाल घोड़ा बहुत ताकतवर है और आवाज़ भी ज़ोर की करता है। यह सामने दिख रहा है। मरुत, इसको सफर में मत रोखो। रथ पे इसको आगे बढ़ाओ। तेज़ चलनेवाली चीज़ रास्ते में कोई रुकावत न आने दे।
Mantra 8
रथं नु मारुतं वयं श्रवस्युमा हुवामहे । आ यस्मिन्तस्थौ सुरणानि बिभ्रती सचा मरुत्सु रोदसी ॥
अब हम मरुत की शक्ति को बुलाते हैं। यह रथ जीतने वाली खबर लाता है और नाम रोशन करता है। आसमान और धरती दोनों इसमें आ के खड़े हो जाते हैं। दोनों खुश होकर मरुत के साथ चलते हैं।
Mantra 9
तं वः शर्धं रथेशुभं त्वेषं पनस्युमा हुवे । यस्मिन्त्सुजाता सुभगा महीयते सचा मरुत्सु मीळ्हुषी ॥
तुम्हारी सेना को बुलाते हैं जो रथ पे चमक रही है। यह तेज़ है और सही काम के लिए तैयार है। इसमें एक शक्ति बड़ी होती है जो अच्छे घर से आयी है। वो मरुत के साथ मिल के देती है।
Inside Sukta 56
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is addressed first, asked to bring down the unified, golden-bright Marut-host from the luminous heaven into the human community.
- Development
The hymn builds the image of the Maruts as a vigorous collective power awakened by stomas; their arrival is portrayed as a release of luminous energies—like cows (rays) streaming outward—bringing force and expansion.
- Climax
The call peaks in the direct summoning of their splendid, impetuous chariot-host, emphasizing their irresistible momentum and the worshipper’s urgent invitation.
- Where it settles
It ends with the assurance that in their fellowship a well-born, fortunate, bounteous power (mīḷhuṣī) grows great—signaling prosperity and generous giving as the hymn’s final fruit.
The deity: Maruts
- In the VedaThey are praised as mighty companions of Indra, swift and impetuous, yet also bringers of help, vigor, and bounty to the worshipper.
- Cosmic functionThey govern storm-power and atmospheric dynamism—winds, thunder, and the charging life-force that clears, quickens, and releases fertility and rain; their collective force renews movement between heaven and earth.
- Inner significancePsychologically, the Maruts signify the surge of prāṇa and courageous energies that break inertia, purify stagnation, and drive the being toward right action; with Agni as guide, this force becomes disciplined inspiration rather than mere turbulence.
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya gotra (Atri’s seer-family) · One of the great Vedic ṛṣis and a principal family-seer of the Rig Veda; celebrated for hymns of luminous vision and for establishing powerful sacrificial speech (stoma) that ‘invigorates’ the gods.
Famous verses
divaś cid rocanād adhi
gavāṃ sargam iva
तं वः शर्धं रथेशुभं त्वेषं पनस्युमा हुवे । यस्मिन्त्सुजाता सुभगा महीयते सचा मरुत्सु मीळ्हुषी ॥Attributes of the deity
- Storm-host; many in one (gaṇa/śardha)
- Brilliant, golden-adorned (rukma imagery)
- Swift, chariot-borne, impetuous (tveṣa)
- Companions and empowerers of Indra
- Bringers of vigor, protection, and abundance
- World-shaking sound and radiant movement
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 5 (many hymns of the Ātreyas, including prominent Agni and Indra praises)
- Atri is remembered in later tradition among the Saptarṣi and as a key ancestor of major Vedic lineages
- Associated in Vedic memory with hymnic mastery that calls divine forces from the ‘rocanā’ (luminous realms)
The rite, step by step
- Kindle/establish Agni and seat him as hotṛ and messenger (dūta) between humans and the gods
- Recite the opening invitation calling the ‘compact host’ of Maruts from the luminous heaven into the viś (community)
- Offer oblations while praising their unity, brilliance, and forward-driving force; request their ‘descent’ and aid
- Intensify the stoma (hymnic pressure) to ‘invigorate’ them and prompt their rising/arrival (ut tiṣṭha motif)
- Conclude by calling their splendid chariot-host and asking that bounteous fortune/abundance flourish in their company
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Soma (where applicable in the rite)
- Grain-cakes or simple oblations (as regional/practice variants)
- Hymns of praise (stoma) as the primary ‘offering’ of speech
Frequently Asked Questions
Agni functions as the divine messenger in Vedic ritual. By calling Agni first, the poet asks him to conduct the Maruts from the heavenly luminous realm into the sacrifice and the human community.
The Maruts are a group of storm and wind powers—many acting as one—known for speed, brilliance, and a roaring presence. They bring energizing movement, protection, and the conditions for rain and increase.
In Vedic poetry, “cows” often symbolize rays of light or streams of abundance. The hymn uses this image to say the Maruts’ coming releases luminous, life-giving energies outward into the world.
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