Rig Veda 5.56.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 56, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.56
- Rishi
- Atri, probable for RV 5.56
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
यथा चिन्मन्यसे हृदा तदिन्मे जग्मुराशसः । ये ते नेदिष्ठं हवनान्यागमन्तान्वर्ध भीमसंदृशः ॥
yáthā cit mányase hṛdā́ tád ín me jagmur āśásaḥ | yé te néd̥iṣṭhaṃ hávanāny ā́gaman tā́n vardha bhīmá-sandṛśaḥ ||
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।
Word by Word
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/उपमानार्थ अव्ययम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot यथा (avyaya-prātipadika)
- चित्
- even, indeedIndeclinableनिपातः (अवधारण/अपि-अर्थ)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot चित् (avyaya)
- मन्यसे
- you think, you supposeVerbलट्, मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role KartāRoot मन् (मन्यते) धातु
- हृदा
- with (your) heart, in the heartNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- just, indeedIndeclinableअवधारणार्थ निपातःRole AdhikaraṇaRoot इत्/इद् (निपात)
- मे
- to me / of mePronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचनम् (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- जग्मुः
- they have come, they cameVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot गम् धातु
- आशसः
- hopes, expectationsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot आशस् (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
- ये
- who, which (those who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (enclitic)Role SampradānaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम)
- नेदिष्ठम्
- the nearest, the closestAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (superlative)Role KarmaRoot नेदिष्ठ (superlative prātipadika from *निद/नेद* ‘near’)
- हवनानि
- invocations, calls (to the gods)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot हवन (नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; from √हू ‘to call/invoke’)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आगमन/समन्तात्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- गमन्
- they cameVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot गम् धातु
- तान्
- those (them)Pronounपुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- वर्ध
- increase!, strengthen!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role KartāRoot वृध् धातु
- भीम
- terrible, formidableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (तान् इति विशेषयति)Role KarmaRoot भीम (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- संदृशः
- of fearful aspect, terrible-lookingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (आशसः/ये इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot संदृश् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘of like appearance/looking’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): यथा॑ चि॒न्मन्य॑से → यथा + चित् + मन्यसे
- हृ॒दा तदिन्मे॑ → हृदा + तत् + इत् + मे
- जग्मुरा॒शस॑: → जग्मुः + आशसः
- ये ते॒ नेदि॑ष्ठं॒ हव॑नान्या॒गम॒न्तान्व॑र्ध → ये + ते + नेदिष्ठम् + हवनानि + आ + गमन् + तान् + वर्ध
- भी॒मसं॑दृशः → भीम + संदृशः
- (Accents retained as in saṃhitā; pada analysis given on resolved forms.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
As you intend in your heart, so my hopes have reached you. The invocations that have come nearest—strengthen them, O formidable one.
Inner meaning
The seeker addresses the Marut power as a conscious force with a ‘heart-intention’ (hṛdā manyase). Aspiration (āśasaḥ) rises and touches the nearest point of contact (nediṣṭham). The prayer is that the mantra-calls (havanāni) become strengthened channels—so the descending force does not remain a momentary excitement but becomes an established inner passage for power and guidance. ‘Bhīmasaṃdṛśaḥ’ indicates the awe-inspiring vision: the force that can confront inner darkness without compromise.
Universal truth
When aspiration aligns with the deeper intention of the Spirit, the call becomes effective; sustained invocation strengthens the channel by which higher power acts in life.
Themes
aspiration, mantric proximity, strengthening the invocation, awe-inspiring divine presence
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.40, RV 5.44, RV 5.52–5.60
Family tradition
Ātreya hymns often emphasize the efficacy of mantra as a bridge between human aspiration and divine intention.
Significance
Atri’s approach is relational and yogic: the gods are powers that respond to sincerity of heart and precision of invocation, strengthening the inner instrument.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- bhīmasaṃdṛśaḥ (formidable-seeing), nediṣṭha (near) (by implication of closeness to the call)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Rudra
Cosmic role
They intensify and propel; they are the collective force that makes the movement effective and victorious.
Inner power
A strengthening current that makes aspiration operative—turning wish into force, and force into steady action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation and strengthening of calls within Soma/Marut offerings; reinforcement of stotra/śastra efficacy
यथा॑ चि॒न्मन्य॑से हृ॒दा तदिन्मे॑ जग्मुरा॒शस॑: । ये ते॒ नेदि॑ष्ठं॒ हव॑नान्या॒गम॒न्तान्व॑र्ध भी॒मसं॑दृशः ॥
यथा॑ । चि॒त् । मन्य॑से । हृ॒दा । तत् । इत् । मे॒ । ज॒ग्मुः॒ । आ॒ऽशसः॑ । ये । ते॒ । नेदि॑ष्ठम् । हव॑नानि । आ॒ऽगम॑न् । तान् । व॒र्ध॒ । भी॒मऽस॑न्दृशः ॥
yathā | cit | manyase | hṛdā | tat | it | me | jagmuḥ | āśasaḥ | ye | te | nediṣṭham | havanāni | āgaman | tān | vardha | bhīma-sandṛśaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Conversational yet forceful; a prayer-logic moving in firm steps
Creates intimacy (heart-intention) followed by empowerment (vardha); helps stabilize aspiration.
- मन्यसे (manyase)
- Literal: you think/intend. Symbolic: Divine intention shaping the movement of forces in consciousness
- हृदा (hṛdā)
- Literal: with the heart. Symbolic: The psychic center; sincere will and truth-feeling
- आशसः (āśasaḥ)
- Literal: hopes, aspirations. Symbolic: Upward-reaching will of the soul toward the higher power
- नेदिष्ठम् (nediṣṭham)
- Literal: nearest. Symbolic: Closest point of contact—moment of receptivity or opening
- हवनानि (havanāni)
- Literal: invocations, calls. Symbolic: Mantric formations that build pathways in consciousness
- वर्ध (vardha)
- Literal: increase, strengthen. Symbolic: Make the channel stable, widen receptivity and force-capacity
- भीमसन्दृशः (bhīmasaṃdṛśaḥ)
- Literal: of formidable appearance/vision. Symbolic: Power that inspires awe; uncompromising force of truth-seeing
Efficacy statement about invocation (havana) in the yajña; aligns with moments where the priest asserts that the call has reached the gods and asks for reinforcement of the channel.
After initial calling, when seeking confirmation/strengthening of the invoked presence
Verbal reinforcement of the invitation; ensuring the deity’s approach and support
Use when intentions feel scattered: recite to align heart-intent with higher will and to strengthen resolve and receptivity.
mányase: 2sg middle/present of √man ‘to think, intend’—here divine intentionality. hṛdā́: instrumental of hṛd ‘heart’, locus of inner knowing. āśásaḥ: ‘hopes/aspirations’ from ā-√śaṃs/√āśās ‘wish, hope’ (traditional). néd̥iṣṭha: superlative of nédīyas ‘nearer’ from √nid/near-deictic base; ‘most proximate’. hávana: from √hū ‘call/invoke’. vardha: imperative of √vṛdh ‘increase’. bhīmá-sandṛś: ‘terrible to behold’—bhīma ‘awe’ + sandṛś ‘appearance/vision’ (√dṛś).
alignment of human aspiration with divine intention, mantra efficacy (havana reaching the deity), growth of force (vṛdh)
Right invocation aligns personal will with Ṛta; the Maruts strengthen what is true and effective.
‘Heart-intention’ as the truth-seed; when true, it is met by power.
Formation of effective channels between higher and lower—mantra as creative bridge.
Integral-psychological Vedic reading: aspiration (āśā) + receptivity (nediṣṭha) = descent of force.
Storm-force corresponds to intensified prāṇa; ‘nearest’ corresponds to a subtle opening/threshold in consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘near-reaching call’—a mythic-ritual trope where invocations travel to the gods and return empowered. Psychologically, aspiration (āśas) is said to have touched the divine intention (manyase hṛdā), and the request is to magnify that contact.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man ‘think’ is a classic Indo-European root (cf. Latin mens, English mind). The √dṛś ‘see’ in sandṛś reflects inherited ‘vision’ language for divine epiphany. The superlative nediṣṭha shows archaic comparative/superlative morphology typical of early Indo-Aryan.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions himself in synchrony with the gods: his hopes move where the deity’s heart-intention moves. The reciprocity is subtle—human aspiration seeks alignment; the Maruts are asked to intensify the very invocations that enable their descent.
Align heart-intention with higher guidance; strengthen the mantric channel.
anāhata (heart)
Heart-centered breathing: inhale 5, exhale 5 while mentally repeating key phrase; feel ‘nearest opening’ on the pause after exhale
Receptive calm with a steady will
Before chanting, set a clear inner intention; chant slowly enough to feel sincerity in the heart; after each recitation, pause and sense whether the call has ‘come near’—then offer the silence to be strengthened.
Rigvedic accents; emphasize udatta on meaningful pivots (hṛdā, nediṣṭham, vardha).
Keep ‘yathā cit’ light; give weight to ‘tad in me’; let ‘vardha’ be a clear imperative; end with firm cadence on ‘bhīmasaṃdṛśaḥ’.
yathā: long ā at end, hṛdā: vocalic ṛ; avoid ‘ri’, nediṣṭham: retroflex ṣṭh cluster, articulate cleanly, bhīmasaṃdṛśaḥ: long ī; nasal ‘ṃ’ before dṛ; final ‘ḥ’ audible
Intimate, centered, then slightly more forceful on the imperative
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