Rig Veda 8.20.13: Mandala 8, Sukta 20, Mantra 13
Sukta 8.20
- Rishi
- Sobharī Kāṇva
- Devata
- Marutāḥ
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
येषामर्णो न सप्रथो नाम त्वेषं शश्वतामेकमिद्भुजे । वयो न पित्र्यं सहः ॥
yéṣām árṇo ná sa-práthो nā́ma tvéṣaṃ śáśvatām ékam íd bhujé | váyo ná pitryáṃ sáhaḥ ||
इनकी ताकत ऐसे है जैसे बड़ा पानी उबहलता है, चारों तरफ फैलता है। इनका नाम हमेशा चमकने वाली ताकत है। यह अकेला है जिसे अपनाना चाहिए। इनकी ताकत पुरखो जैसी है जो संभालती है।
Word by Word
- येषाम्
- of whom / whosePronounषष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → य-
- अर्णः
- flood, surge, waveNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्ता (as subject of implied ‘is/exists’)Root अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपात (comparative particle)Root न (निपात)
- सप्रथः
- broad-spreading, widely extendedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with अर्णः)Role विशेषण (of subject)Root स-प्रथस् (प्रातिपदिक); प्रथस् < √प्रथ् (विस्तारे)
- नाम
- nameNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य (appositional: ‘as to name’)Root नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वेषम्
- fierce, impetuous, blazingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (predicative/appositional)Role विशेषणRoot त्वेष (प्रातिपदिक)
- शश्वताम्
- of the perpetual/everlasting (ones)Adjective (used substantively)पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitival: ‘of the ever-lasting/continual ones’)Root शश्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- एकम्
- one, singleNumeral/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole विशेषणRoot एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअवधारण/बलार्थक निपातRoot इत् (निपात; emphatic)
- भुजे
- in the arm; on the armNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (भुजा), सप्तमी एकवचन (Vedic loc. ‘in/on the arm’)Role अधिकरण (locus)Root भुज् (प्रातिपदिक/नामधातु-आधार: ‘arm’)
- वयः
- vigor, strength; vital powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्ता/कर्म (context-dependent; here as a compared term)Root वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न (निपात)
- पित्र्यम्
- paternal, ancestralAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with वयः)Role विशेषणRoot पितृय (प्रातिपदिक) < पितृ
- सहः
- might, force, powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्ता/कर्म (appositional to ‘vigor/strength’)Root सहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (minimal): त्वे॒षं → त्वेषम् (anusvāra before ś becomes m in pada analysis)
- एक॒मिद्भु॒जे → एकम् + इत् + भुजे (it is the Vedic emphatic particle; no further internal sandhi). Other items are already in pada-like form. Accent marks (udātta/svarita) are retained in the source but not encoded per-word here
The meaning
Outer meaning
Their force is like a swelling, wide-spreading flood; their name is the ever-bright Power, one to be embraced; their might is like ancestral sustaining strength.
Inner meaning
The Marut energies, when released in right rhythm, are like a vast surge (arṇaḥ) that spreads through the being, washing away constriction. Their ‘name’ as tveṣa (blazing force) is the perennial dynamic Shakti that the seeker must ‘embrace’ (bhuje)—not resist. Their power is ‘pitrya’ (ancestral): the deep, original life-force in the human line, but now reclaimed and uplifted to support the divine work rather than habitual impulse.
Universal truth
What appears as overwhelming force becomes sustaining power when embraced consciously; the primal energies of life can be converted into an enduring ally of growth.
Themes
expansive-force, ekam motif, ancestral might, integration (bhuj)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.20.12, Rig Veda 8.20.14, Rig Veda 8.20.15, Rig Veda 8.20.16
Family tradition
Kaṇva-associated anthology context; seer identity uncertain in the supplied metadata.
Significance
The seer articulates the yogic principle of ‘embracing’ force—integrating the vital surge into a single enduring power for the path.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutāḥ
- Epithets
- tveṣam (blazing force), śaśvatām ekam (the perennial One Power—implied)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
They expand and propel; as storm-hosts they spread through the mid-region and assist Indra’s victories.
Inner power
Expansive prāṇa that becomes luminous and unified when accepted by the conscious will.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation of Marut-force in praise sequences; supportive to rites seeking expansion, protection, and victorious energy.
येषा॒मर्णो॒ न स॒प्रथो॒ नाम॑ त्वे॒षं शश्व॑ता॒मेक॒मिद्भु॒जे । वयो॒ न पित्र्यं॒ सह॑: ॥
येषा॑म् । अर्णः॑ । न । स॒ऽप्रथः॑ । नाम॑ । त्वे॒षम् । शश्व॑ताम् । एक॑म् । इत् । भु॒जे । वयः॑ । न । पित्र्य॑म् । सहः॑ ॥
yeṣām | arṇaḥ | na | sa-prathaḥ | nāma | tveṣam | śaśvatām | ekam | it | bhuje | vayaḥ | na | pitryam | sahaḥ
Two-part cadence with a strong surge in the first hemistich matching ‘flood’ imagery.
Wave-like swell followed by a consolidating close—mirrors expansion then grasp/embrace.
Creates a felt sense of widening and then centering; helpful for transforming agitation into strength.
- arṇaḥ
- Literal: flood, wave, surge. Symbolic: rising life-energy and force of consciousness breaking limits
- sa-prathaḥ
- Literal: wide-spreading. Symbolic: expansion of being; consciousness enlarging beyond cramped ego
- tveṣa
- Literal: fiery, impetuous, bright. Symbolic: luminous dynamic power (śakti) that drives transformation
- śaśvatām
- Literal: everlasting, perennial. Symbolic: timeless presence of the divine force in evolution
- ekam
- Literal: one. Symbolic: one central Power behind the many movements
- bhuje
- Literal: to embrace, enjoy, take into oneself. Symbolic: conscious acceptance and integration of force
- pitryam sahaḥ
- Literal: ancestral strength. Symbolic: deep-rooted vital endurance transmuted into spiritual stamina
Contemplative praise highlighting unity (ekam) of the host; supports invocation for sustained power (sahaḥ) rooted in the ‘Fathers’—the established ṛta-lineage.
When calling dynamic allies to strengthen the yajña and the sacrificer’s ‘sahaḥ’ (endurance).
Recitation to invite and ‘hold’ (embrace) the deity-force within the rite.
Meditation for those feeling overwhelmed: reframe surge as energy to be integrated; cultivate endurance without suppression.
arṇa: ‘wave/flood’ (cf. √ar ‘to move, rise’ in watery imagery). pratha: from √prath ‘to spread, expand’ (PIE *pleth₂- ‘broad’ often compared). tveṣa: from √tviṣ ‘be excited, blaze’ (radiant/impetuous). bhuj: √bhuj ‘bend, enjoy, partake; embrace’ → taking into oneself. sahaḥ: from √sah ‘to endure, conquer’ → overcoming puissance.
unity-in-multiplicity (ekam), continuity of ṛta (śaśvat), ancestral foundation (Pitṛs as prior realizers)
The wide-spreading flood becomes beneficent when it follows ṛta—expansion without dispersion.
‘Ekam’ points to unity (satya) behind the multiplicity of Marut movements.
Evolution as periodic surges of force that widen the being and establish new stability.
Integral/psychological Veda: deities as conscious powers; unity behind multiplicity.
Flood = rising prāṇa and consciousness; wide-spreading = expansion of mind/heart; ancestral strength = deep vital endurance reoriented upward.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Maruts as a many-formed surge whose essence is one blazing power: a host that is simultaneously flood-like multiplicity and a single embraced energy. Psychologically, the scattered forces of life become one ‘tveṣa’ when integrated (bhuj) into the soul’s forward movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The expansion root √prath parallels IE imagery of breadth/plenitude; flood metaphors for power are pan-IE. The ‘one’ (ekam) behind a troop mirrors inherited poetic strategies: plural deities expressing a singular force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi seeks not external gain but inward possession: to ‘embrace’ the one perennial blazing force within the Maruts, drawing on pitrya-vayaḥ—an established ancestral current of strength.
Practice ‘embracing the surge’: allow energy to rise without scattering; gather it into one intention.
Svādhiṣṭhāna → Maṇipūra (transmutation of raw surge into will).
Even breathing with slight lengthening of exhale (1:1.5) to ‘hold’ expansion without overflow.
Expansive calm-power: widened field with a single center.
When intensity arises, repeat ‘ekam’ inwardly; feel many impulses returning to one luminous power; convert inherited habits (pitrya) into conscious endurance.
Accents not fully specified here; apply Rigvedic svara per recension if available.
Let the first hemistich swell (arṇo… sa-prathaḥ) and then slightly firm the tone on ekam id bhuje.
arṇaḥ: clear retroflex ṇ and visarga ḥ, sa-pratho: keep consonant cluster crisp, śaśvatām: articulate śa-śva-tām with long ā, pitr-yam: light glide between tr and y
Resonant and wave-like; avoid harshness—strength through breadth.
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