Rig Veda 7.40.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 40, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.40
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Maruts, with Agni and Sarasvatī as co-impellers
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सेदुग्रो अस्तु मरुतः स शुष्मी यं मर्त्यं पृषदश्वा अवाथ । उतेमग्निः सरस्वती जुनन्ति न तस्य रायः पर्येतास्ति ॥
séd ugró astu marutaḥ sá śuṣmī yáṃ martyáṃ pṛṣadaśvā avātha | utém agníḥ sárasvatī junánti ná tásya rāyáḥ paryetā́sti ||
मरुत, जिस इंसान को तुम बचा लेते हो, वो बहुत ताकतवाला बन जाता है। तुम्हारी मदद से वो दुनिया में दमदार हो जाता है। अग्नि और सरस्वती भी उसको आगे बढ़ाते रहते हैं। उसके पास जो कुछ है, उसकी कोई हद नहीं होती, वो इतना कुछ पा लेता है कि उसका कोई अंत नहीं।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (स-आदेशः) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातः (अर्थ-प्रबलक/एव)Root इत् (निपात) अव्यय
- उग्रः
- fierce, mightyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्तु
- let (him) beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/आशीर्लिङ्ग-प्राय), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root अस् (असँ) धातु
- मरुतः
- O MarutsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, बहुवचनम् (वेदे रूप-साम्यं)Role SambodhanaRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (स-आदेशः) सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- शुष्मी
- strong, vigorousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot शुष्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक; शुष्म ‘बल’ + इन्)
- यम्
- whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- मर्त्यम्
- mortal manNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृषदश्वाः
- the dappled-horsed (Maruts)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot पृषदश्व (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय: ‘पृषत्-रश्मि/चित्त्र’ + अश्व)
- अवाथ
- you have helped/protectedVerbलिट् (परोक्स-भूत), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Root अव + अव्/अव् (रक्षण-गत्यर्थ) धातु
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थकःRoot उत (निपात) अव्यय
- इम्
- indeed, alsoIndeclinableएव/अपि-प्रायः (वेदिक-निपात)Root इम् (निपात) अव्यय
- अग्निः
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सरस्वती
- SarasvatīNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
- जुनन्ति
- they impel, quickenVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Root जु (जुव्/जु) धातु (प्रेरणे/त्वरणे)
- न
- notIndeclinableनिषेधार्थकःRoot न (निषेध) अव्यय
- तस्य
- of himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक
- रायः
- of (his) wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः (वेदे), षष्ठी/प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (अत्र: ‘धनस्य’ = षष्ठी)Role SambandhaRoot राय्/राय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘धन’)
- परि
- around, beyondIndeclinableउपसर्गः/अव्ययम्Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- एता
- going, passingParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (कृदन्त-विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot इ (ए) धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘एत’ (गतम्)
- अस्ति
- there isVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root अस् (असँ) धातु
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (संहितायाः): सः इत् उग्रः अस्तु मरुतः । सः शुष्मी यम् मर्त्यम् पृषदश्वाः अवाथ । उत इम् अग्निः सरस्वती जुनन्ति । न तस्य रायः परि-एताऽस्ति → परि एता अस्ति (पर्येतास्ति इति संधिः: परि + एता + अस्ति)। ‘सेदुग्रो’ = ‘सः इत् उग्रः’
- ‘उतेम’ = ‘उत इम्’
- ‘अवा॑थ’ = अव + (लिट्) आथ (मध्यम.बहु.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The mortal protected by the Maruts (dappled-horsed storm-gods) becomes formidable and powerful. Agni and Sarasvatī also impel him; his plenitude/wealth has no circumscribing boundary.
Inner meaning
When the dynamic life-powers (Maruts) protect and discipline the aspirant, he becomes ‘ugra’—formidable to inner resistance—and ‘śuṣmī’—filled with force. Their ‘dappled horses’ signify mixed but swift vital energies brought under divine governance. Agni (divine will) and Sarasvatī (inspired flow of truth-word and right discernment) urge the seeker onward so that his rāyas—plenitude of being (knowledge, force, joy)—is no longer limited by habitual boundaries. The verse describes an inner empowerment where will, inspired intelligence, and vital dynamism cooperate to produce boundless growth.
Universal truth
Protection and guidance of higher forces turn raw energy into courageous power. When will and inspired clarity lead the life-force, human capacity expands beyond self-imposed limits.
Themes
Empowerment, Protection, Inspired speech, Boundless plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.32 (Indra and victorious force), RV 7.39–7.41 (multi-deity harmonizations around ṛta and protection)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha hymns frequently show how ṛta-backed powers (Adityas, Agni, Indra, Maruts) cooperate to build an integrated, victorious inner life.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s emphasis here is the disciplined empowerment of the human instrument: vital force (Maruts) must be protected and urged by will (Agni) and truth-flow (Sarasvatī) to become boundless.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts (primary), with Agni and Sarasvatī
- Epithets
- pṛṣadaśvāḥ (dappled-horsed), ugrāḥ (formidable, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (often leader of Maruts), Bṛhaspati (inspired word, allied to Sarasvatī)
Cosmic role
Maruts: atmospheric dynamism, storm-clearing energies; Agni: sacrificial mediator and kindling force; Sarasvatī: river of inspiration and ordered intelligence.
Inner power
Maruts stabilize and energize prāṇic-vital movements; Agni concentrates will; Sarasvatī gives clear, flowing discrimination—together producing fearless, expansive capacity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut-related recitations in Soma rites and protective invocations for strength; also used to support journeys/battles in older contexts.
सेदु॒ग्रो अ॑स्तु मरुत॒: स शु॒ष्मी यं मर्त्यं॑ पृषदश्वा॒ अवा॑थ । उ॒तेम॒ग्निः सर॑स्वती जु॒नन्ति॒ न तस्य॑ रा॒यः प॑र्ये॒तास्ति॑ ॥
सः । इत् । उ॒ग्रः । अ॒स्तु॒ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । सः । शु॒ष्मी । यम् । मर्त्य॑म् । पृ॒ष॒त्ऽअ॒श्वाः॒ । अवा॑थ । उ॒त । ई॒म् । अ॒ग्निः । सर॑स्वती । जु॒नन्ति॑ । न । तस्य॑ । रा॒यः । प॒रि॒ऽए॒ता । अ॒स्ति॒ ॥
saḥ | it | ugraḥ | astu | marutaḥ | saḥ | śuṣmī | yam | martyam | pṛṣat-aśvāḥ | avātha | uta | īm | agniḥ | sarasvatī | junanti | na | tasya | rāyaḥ | pari-etā | ast i
44
4 × ~11
Energetic and martial; strong stresses suit ‘ugra/śuṣmī’ assertions.
Invokes courage and momentum; felt as a surge of protected power and widening.
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: Maruts, storm-gods. Symbolic: dynamic life-forces, impulsions that clear inertia and energize progress
- उग्र (ugra)
- Literal: fierce, formidable. Symbolic: spiritual intensity that can confront inner darkness and inertia
- शुष्मी (śuṣmī)
- Literal: full of strength/impetus. Symbolic: concentrated force of tapas in mind-life
- पृषदश्वाः (pṛṣadaśvāḥ)
- Literal: dappled-horsed. Symbolic: variegated vital energies (ashva) harnessed for divine action
- अवाथ (avātha)
- Literal: you protect, you help. Symbolic: guarding influence that keeps energy aligned
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- Literal: Agni, fire. Symbolic: divine will, inner leader of sacrifice
- सरस्वती (sarasvatī)
- Literal: Sarasvatī, goddess/river. Symbolic: inspired speech, discerning flow of truth-consciousness
- जुनन्ति (junanti)
- Literal: they impel, urge on. Symbolic: inner propulsion toward growth and right action
- रायः (rāyaḥ)
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: spiritual riches: wideness, knowledge, force, joy
- न...पर्येता अस्ति (na...paryetā asti)
- Literal: there is no boundary encircling it. Symbolic: limitlessness of the soul’s increase when aligned with higher powers
Invoked for strengthening and protection; appropriate in rites seeking energetic increase and inspired speech (Marut and Sarasvatī supports)
For invoking vigor, protection, and forward impetus; often in sequences praising Maruts with Indra/Agni links.
Offering with praise to enlist protective dynamism and inspired guidance.
Use before demanding work or sādhanā sessions: to harness vital energy under will and clarity, preventing scattered effort.
ugrá ‘strong’ (from √ugr/semantic ‘fierce’); śuṣmá ‘force, vigor’ (connected with √śvas ‘breathe’ in later associations; RV uses as dynamic power). junanti from √ju ‘to impel, hasten’. rayi- denotes ‘wealth’ but RV frequently implies ‘plenitude’ (root-field of ‘possession/fullness’).
śuṣma (dynamic force), rāyí as plenitude of being, protection as guardianship of ascent
Vital powers become beneficent when they move in right rhythm and protection—i.e., ordered by ṛta rather than impulse.
Sarasvatī’s urging suggests truth-guided movement; power without truth becomes merely violent.
Evolutionary enlargement: the human ‘martyam’ can become boundless in rāyas by divine impulsion.
Integral-psychological Vedism: deities as functional powers organizing mind-life for limitless growth.
monsoon/storm season (suggested by Maruts)
Storm = cleansing upheaval that breaks inertia; Fire = concentrated will; River = continuous stream of inspired discernment; Horses = vital energies disciplined for action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘initiation of the mortal into irresistible force’: the Maruts protect and thereby transfigure the human into ugra-śuṣmin (formidable, force-filled). Agni and Sarasvatī then drive the movement—will and inspired word combine—resulting in an unbounded rayi (plenitude).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ju ‘impel’ parallels archaic IE poetic diction of ‘driving’ powers. The motif ‘no boundary to wealth/plenitude’ uses a spatial metaphor (pary-√i ‘go around’) common in IE languages for conceptual limits.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer frames a law of inner consequence: divine protection by the Maruts produces strength; Agni and Sarasvatī then propel. The relationship is pedagogic—devatās are invoked as formative agencies of the seeker’s transformation.
Feel the life-force as a host of Maruts—many energies—then place them under Agni (steady will) and Sarasvatī (clear discerning flow).
Maṇipūra (force/will) supported by Ājñā (clarity) and Viśuddha (truth-flow).
Kapalabhāti (mild) or brisk bhastrikā (gentle) followed by quiet sitting—invoke Marut-force, then stabilize with slow exhalations.
Charged, protected dynamism; alert, courageous, expansive.
Before action, inwardly ‘yoke the horses’: name 2–3 key energies (desire, ambition, enthusiasm) and offer them to Agni; let Sarasvatī refine intention into a clear next step.
Rigvedic accents: raise on key predicates (ugro, śuṣmī) and divine names; keep pāda breaks crisp.
Emphasize ‘sa id ugro astu’ with firm udātta; do not rush ‘pṛṣadaśvāḥ’.
(sed u): sandhi—keep slight pause/glide, (ugraḥ): clear ‘gr’ cluster, (śuṣmī): retroflex ṣ; long ī, (pṛṣadaśvāḥ): retroflex ṛ and ṣ; aspirate śv, (junanti): dental n; short vowels, (paryetā): ‘rye’ glide, long ā
firm, bright, martial but controlled; end each pāda with grounded steadiness.
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