Rig Veda 8.20.6: Mandala 8, Sukta 20, Mantra 6
Sukta 8.20
- Rishi
- Sobharī Kāṇva
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अमाय वो मरुतो यातवे द्यौर्जिहीत उत्तरा बृहत् । यत्रा नरो देदिशते तनूष्वा त्वक्षांसि बाह्वोजसः ॥
amā́ya vo maruto yā́tave dyáur jihī́ta uttárā bṛhát | yátrā nárō dédiśate tanū́ṣv ā́ tvákṣāṃsi bāhv-ójasah ||
मरुत्स, तुम किसी को धोखा नहीं देते। तुम्हारे आने के लिए आसमान ऊपर खुल जाता है, बहुत बड़ा हो जाता है। जहाँ बड़े लोग अपनी बॉडी में चमकते हैं, वहाँ ताकतवाले लोग अपने हाथ में पावर बना लेते हैं। यह इंसान के काम के लिए टूल्स हैं।
Word by Word
- अमाय
- near, together; at homeIndeclinableअव्यय (अर्थे: ‘समीपे, सह, घर/गृहे’)Role Adhikaraṇa (समीप/स्थान-निर्देश) / सहार्थे सहकारक-सदृशRoot अमा (अव्यय) / अम् (धातु, ‘समीपे/सह’ अर्थे) → अमा
- वः
- for you / of youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘वः’ = ‘of you/for you’)Role Sampradāna (यातवे इत्यस्य लाभार्थ-सम्बन्धः) / सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (जिहीत इत्यस्य कर्ता) / सम्बोधनार्थे अपि सम्भवःRoot मरुत्
- यातवे
- to go, to comeVerb-derived infinitiveतुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तः (इन्फिनिटिव्), ‘गन्तुम्’ अर्थेRole Prayojana (उद्देश्य/हेतु) / क्रियार्थRoot या (धातु) → यातु (गमन) + तुमुन्
- द्यौः
- the Sky (Dyaus)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिके प्रायः), प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (जिहीत इत्यस्य कर्ता) / विषयRoot द्यौ (द्याव्) / द्यौस्
- जिहीत
- let (her/it) withdraw / yieldVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया) — ‘let … go/withdraw’Root हा (धातु) ‘त्यागे/विसर्जने’ (वैदिक रूप: जिहीत) / √हि (गत्यर्थ-आदेश)
- उत्तरा
- higher, upperAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (द्यौः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) / वैदिके ‘उत्तरा’ = ‘उत्तरतरा/उपरि’Role Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण) / विशेषणRoot उत्तर
- बृहत्
- great, vastAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-सम्भव, प्रथमा एकवचन (उत्तरा द्यौः इत्यर्थे विशेषणवत्)Role Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa / विशेषणRoot बृहन्त्
- यत्र
- whereIndeclinableअव्यय (देशवाचक)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थान)Root यत्र (अव्यय)
- नरः
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Kartā (देदिशते इत्यस्य कर्ता)Root नर
- देदिशते
- shine forth, blazeVerbलट्, आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन (द्वित्व-आवृत्तिः: ‘देदिश-’ = ‘प्रदीप्यन्ते/प्रकाशन्ते’)Role KriyāRoot दिश् (धातु) ‘दीप्तौ/दर्शने’ → देदिश् (पुनरुक्त/द्वित्व) + आत्मनेपद
- तनूषु
- in (their) bodies, personsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (आश्रय/अन्तःस्थान: ‘in their bodies/persons’)Root तनू
- आ
- towards, fullyIndeclinableअव्यय; उपसर्गार्थे ‘आ-’ = ‘towards, fully’Role Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) / उपसर्गभावRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- त्वक्षांसि
- skins, coverings; (fig.) formsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole Karma (आ-… [धारयन्ति/बिभ्रति] इत्यर्थे—कर्मपदम्) / विषयRoot त्वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) / त्वच्-सम्बद्ध
- बाह्वोजसः
- (men) of arm-strength; strong-armedNoun (compound) / Adjectival nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (ओजस्), प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन? (वैदिके -असः बहुवचन/षष्ठी एकवचन-सम्भावना); अर्थतः ‘बाहु-ओजस्’ = ‘whose strength is in the arms / arm-strength’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे अपि)Role Viśeṣaṇa (नरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) / सम्बन्धRoot बाहु-ओजस् (समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सम्भव) → बाह्वोजस्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): अमाय | वः | मरुतः | यातवे | द्यौः | जिहीत | उत्तरा | बृहत् | यत्र | नरः | देदिशते | तनूषु | आ | त्वक्षांसि | बाह्वोजसः । 1) ‘अमाय’ = अमा + इति (वैदिके दीर्घ/यति-प्रभावः) — अमा ‘समीपे/सह’ अर्थे। 2) ‘तनूष्वा’ पाठे संधिः: तनूषु + आ → तनूष्वा (उ + आ → वा, वैदिक संधि-प्रयोगः)। 3) ‘बाह्वो॑जसः’ = बाहु + ओजस्
- उ + ओ → व्-आगमः (बाह्वोजस्-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Without deceit, O Maruts, for your coming the heaven widens upward into the Vast. Where the heroes blaze in their bodies, there the strong-armed shape their powers.
Inner meaning
The Maruts respond to amāyā—sincerity without inner crookedness. When sincerity calls them, ‘heaven’ (dyauḥ)—the mind and higher consciousness—opens upward into the Vast (bṛhat): a natural widening of awareness. In that widened field, the ‘heroes’ (narāḥ) blaze in the body (tanūṣu): the embodied instruments become luminous. Then the strong-armed energies (bāhvojasaḥ) ‘fashion’ (tvakṣ-) the tools and capacities for the divine work—refining faculties, habits, and skills into effective instruments of the soul.
Universal truth
Sincerity is the condition for wideness; wideness enables embodiment; embodiment becomes effective when inner powers consciously shape the instruments of action.
Themes
ascent-to-vast, truth-force, forging-capacities
The seer
- Rishi
- Sobharī Kāṇva
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.20.2, Rig Veda 8.20.3, Rig Veda 8.20.4, Rig Veda 8.20.5
Family tradition
Kāṇva poetry often links ethical-spiritual condition (sincerity) to experiential results (widening of heaven) and practical embodiment (shaping instruments).
Significance
Sobharī gives a clear yogic law: amāyā (sincerity) invites the powers; the result is bṛhat (vastness) and the crafting of effective embodied capacities.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- amāya (approached in sincerity), bāhvojasaḥ (strong-armed), dediśate (blazing ones, by effect)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Indra, Agni, Vishvakarman (as archetype of crafting/forging)
Cosmic role
They expand heaven, energize heroic action, and craft the effective powers of manifestation in the worlds.
Inner power
Sincere-force that widens consciousness and forges capacities for right action—transforming aspiration into skill and strength.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut invocation emphasizing sincerity and empowerment; suitable in śrauta contexts where right intention (amāyā) is prerequisite for effective rite.
अमा॑य वो मरुतो॒ यात॑वे॒ द्यौर्जिही॑त॒ उत्त॑रा बृ॒हत् । यत्रा॒ नरो॒ देदि॑शते त॒नूष्वा त्वक्षां॑सि बा॒ह्वो॑जसः ॥
अमा॑य । वः॒ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । यात॑वे । द्यौः । जिही॑ते । उत्ऽत॑रा । बृ॒हत् । यत्र॑ । नरः॑ । देदि॑शते । त॒नूषु॑ । आ । त्वक्षां॑सि ब॒हुऽओ॑जसः ॥
amāya | vaḥ | marutaḥ | yātave | dyauḥ | jihīte | ut-tarā | bṛhat | yatra | naraḥ | dediśate | tanūṣu | ā | tvakṣāṃsi bahu-ojasaḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Ascending movement in the first half (widening upward), then a forging cadence—steady, constructive power.
Gives a sense of uplift and then consolidation; helpful for turning inspiration into organized capacity.
- अमाय (amāya)
- Literal: without deceit, without crookedness. Symbolic: Sincerity; straightness of will and motive
- द्यौः (dyauḥ)
- Literal: heaven, sky. Symbolic: Mind/higher consciousness capable of widening
- उत्तरा बृहत् (uttarā bṛhat)
- Literal: higher, the Vast. Symbolic: Ascending expansion into greater consciousness (bṛhat)
- नरः (narāḥ)
- Literal: men, heroes. Symbolic: Courageous soul-forces; purified capacities that can carry divine action
- देदिशते (dediśate)
- Literal: they blaze, shine. Symbolic: Awakened energies manifesting luminosity in the embodied nature
- तनूषु (tanūṣu)
- Literal: in the bodies. Symbolic: Instruments of embodiment—physical-vital sheath as field of practice
- त्वक्षांसि (tvakṣāṃsi)
- Literal: things fashioned, crafted works/skills. Symbolic: Refined faculties and instruments for the divine work
- बाह्वोजसः (bāhvojasaḥ)
- Literal: strong-armed, arm-strength. Symbolic: Power of effective action; executive force guided by inner truth
Invocation/praise linking Marut-arrival with bṛhat-expansion; relevant to Soma rite’s uplifting movement and inner ascent into the Vast.
At moments of invitation or praise where the sacrificer affirms purity of intention and seeks strengthening of instruments.
Āvāhana and stuti; inwardly aligns motive, then offers oblation for strength and skill.
Use as a ‘sincerity check’ mantra before meditation, study, or service: straighten motive, widen mind, then act with crafted effectiveness.
amāya (a- + māyā) here as 'without guile'—a demand for truth-aligned force (Rita). bṛhat is the key term of the Vedic triad satyam-ṛtam-bṛhat (vastness). √tvakṣ 'fashion, construct' (cf. Tvaṣṭṛ) indicates formation of capacities. Psychological sense: when Marut-force comes in truth, the higher consciousness expands and the embodied heroes forge instruments of action.
Bṛhat (Vast), Rita as truth-without-deceit (amāya), formation of powers (tvakṣ)
Tvakṣāṃsi (crafted powers) implies ṛta as skillful right-formation—energies shaped into lawful, effective action.
Amāyā is satya in motive: truthfulness as the gate for higher descent.
From vast consciousness to formed capacity: the movement from heaven widening to crafted instruments of manifestation.
Vedic yoga of transformation: ethical sincerity → expanded consciousness → embodied divine work.
Sky widening = expansion of mind into higher consciousness; blazing in bodies = descent of light into embodiment; forging = disciplined shaping of faculties.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The widening of Heaven into the Vast at the coming of the Maruts—storm-powers as catalysts of ascent; mythically cosmic expansion, psychologically the opening of higher consciousness (dyauḥ → bṛhat) enabling forged capacities (tvakṣ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bṛhat relates to √bṛh 'grow, expand' (PIE *bʰerǵʰ- 'rise, high' is sometimes compared), showing the inherited semantic of increase/vastness; privative a- again shows archaic morphology; the artisan-root √tvakṣ parallels Indo-European 'make/construct' root-fields though direct cognates are limited.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests a truthful (amāya) coming: the devatā’s entry must align with Rita; in exchange, the devatā opens the higher plane (bṛhat) and helps shape effective inner instruments of action.
Practice amāyā: align intention; invoke widening (bṛhat); then consciously ‘craft’ one faculty (speech, attention, courage) for divine use.
Viśuddha (truth/sincerity in expression) + Sahasrāra/Ājñā (widening upward)
Slow meditative breathing with an upward visualization on inhale (sky widening), and a grounding ‘forming’ intention on exhale (crafting instruments).
Clear sincerity → spacious uplift → calm strength.
Begin by naming your true motive (amāyā). Feel the mind open upward (dyauḥ…bṛhat). Then choose one concrete instrument—attention, speech, hands—and shape it through mindful, consecrated repetition.
Lift udatta on amāya, marutaḥ, dyauḥ, bṛhat; allow a broadened tone on uttarā bṛhat to evoke vastness; exact svara per śākhā tradition.
Give ‘amāya’ a clean, plain delivery (no dramatic flourish), then open resonance on dyauḥ…bṛhat; articulate tvakṣāṃsi with crisp consonants to convey ‘crafting’.
amāya: long ā; avoid ‘amaya’ shortening., jihīte: keep long ī and aspirated h., uttarā: double t clear., tvakṣāṃsi: cluster tv- and retroflex ṣ; keep long āṃ nasalized., bāhvojasaḥ: bāhvo- as bāhvo (not bāhu-o) with smooth sandhi feel.
Clear, sincere, spacious; slightly more resonant on ‘bṛhat’.
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