Rig Veda 1.166.3: Mandala 1, Sukta 166, Mantra 3
Sukta 1.166
- Rishi
- Agastya
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
यस्मा ऊमासो अमृता अरासत रायस्पोषं च हविषा ददाशुषे । उक्षन्त्यस्मै मरुतो हिता इव पुरू रजांसि पयसा मयोभुवः ॥
yasmā ūmāso amṛtā arāsata rāyaspoṣaṃ ca haviṣā dadāśuṣe | ukṣanty asmai maruto hitā iva purū rajāṃsi payasā mayobhuvaḥ ||
ಯಾರಿಗೆ ಅಮೃತ ಊಮಾಸರು (ಸಹಾಯಕ ದೇವರುಗಳು) ರಾಯಸ್ಪೋಷ ಮತ್ತು ವೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಿದರು—ಅವನು ಹವಿಷದಿಂದ ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿದ ಕಾರಣ—ಅವನಿಗೆ ಹಿತ ಇವ (ಹಿತೈಷಿಗಳು) ಮರುತರು ಹಾಲಿನಂತೆ ಪಯಸದಿಂದ ಅನೇಕ ರಜಾಂಸಿಗಳನ್ನು, ಅಸ್ತಿತ್ವದ ಬಹು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು, ಸುರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಮಯೋಭುವಃ ಆಗಿ ಆನಂದ-ಸೌಖ್ಯದ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳಾಗುತ್ತಾರೆ.
Word by Word
- यस्मै
- to whomPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊमासः
- the Ūmās (a Marut-group)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot ऊमा- (प्रातिपदिक; मरुत्-सम्बद्ध देवगण-नाम)
- अमृताः
- immortalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (ऊमासः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अ-मृत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरासत
- they granted / bestowedVerbलुङ् (अorist); परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot रास् (ददाति/प्रयच्छति) धातु
- रायः
- of wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot राय्/रायि- (प्रातिपदिक ‘wealth’)
- पोषम्
- nourishment, increaseNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पोष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- हविषा
- with oblationNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot हविस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ददाशुषे
- to the giver (the one who has given)Participle (agent) used substantivelyपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot दा (धातु) → ददाशु- (कृदन्त; परिपूर्ण-दानकर्ता)
- उक्षन्ति
- they sprinkle / pourVerbलट्; परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष; बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot उक्ष् (सिञ्चति/वर्षति) धातु
- अस्मै
- to himPronounचतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अयम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्मद्
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मरुत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- हिताः
- set in place / well-disposedAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (मरुतः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot हि (धातु ‘स्थापने/निधाने’) → हित- (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त) अथवा ‘हित’ (प्रातिपदिक ‘beneficial/placed’)
- इव
- as if, likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव
- पुरु
- manyAdjective(अव्ययवत्) ‘many/much’—qualifying रजांसिRole विशेषणRoot पुरु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजांसि
- regions, spaces (realms)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot रजस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पयसा
- with milk; with nourishing fluidNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot पयस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मयोभुवः
- delight-bringing, beneficentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (मरुतः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot मयस्- + भू (धातु) → मयो-भू- (प्रातिपदिक ‘bringing delight/benefit’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): यस्मा ऊमासः → यस्मै ऊमासः (चतुर्थी एकवचन ‘यस्मै’ before vowel)
- अमृता अरा॑सत → अमृताः अरासत (visarga before vowel)
- रायस्पोषम् → रायः पोषम् (षष्ठी ‘रायः’ + कर्म ‘पोषम्’)
- ददाशुषे (no external sandhi; internal kṛdanta from √दा)
- उक्षन्ति अस्मै → उक्षन्ति अस्मै
- मरुतो हिता इव → मरुतः हिताः इव (nom. pl. + adj. nom. pl.)
- पुरू रजांसि → पुरु रजांसि (Vedic lengthening in saṃhitā)
- पयसा मयोभुवः (no external sandhi). Accents in the saṃhitā text are preserved on the original forms
- after sandhi-splitting, accent may not be shown on every pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
To the giver of oblation, the immortal helpers grant wealth, increase, and nourishment. The Maruts, kindly disposed, pour out many regions as with milk, becoming bringers of joy.
Inner meaning
The ‘immortal helpers’ are powers of the higher consciousness that respond to sincere offering (haviṣā dadāśuṣe). They grant expansion (rāyas) and growth (poṣa) not merely as outer gain but as increase of inner capacities. The Maruts ‘milk’ many rajāṃsi—planes/fields of experience—into the seeker: wider consciousness, richer life-energies, and supportive conditions. Their milk (payas) is the nourishing substance of clarified vital force and delight, producing ease (mayo-bhuvaḥ) rather than strain.
Universal truth
What we consistently offer with sincerity returns as inner enlargement: new capacities, supportive forces, and a more joyful ease in life’s movement.
Themes
gift-and-return, pouring of abundance, planes of consciousness, Marut benefaction
The seer
- Rishi
- Agastya
- Lineage
- Agastya (traditional)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.166.1, RV 1.166.7, RV 1.167.1-3
Family tradition
Agastya’s vision often emphasizes reciprocity of offering and descent: the yajña as an inner exchange where higher powers ‘pour’ widenings into the human vessel.
Significance
He articulates the law of inner increase: sacrifice (consecration) opens the being to immortal nourishment and expansion.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts (with immortal helpers)
- Epithets
- hitāḥ (well-disposed), mayobhuvaḥ (gladness-bringers)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Agni, Aditi (wideness)
Cosmic role
Givers of rain-like increase, wideners of space, allies that make growth possible in worlds and beings.
Inner power
They widen consciousness (rajāṃsi) and nourish the vital with a pure, glad energy (payas), turning struggle into supported progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Praise within Marut/Indra sequences in Soma offering cycles; celebrating the fruit of giving.
यस्मा॒ ऊमा॑सो अ॒मृता॒ अरा॑सत रा॒यस्पोषं॑ च ह॒विषा॑ ददा॒शुषे॑ । उ॒क्षन्त्य॑स्मै म॒रुतो॑ हि॒ता इ॑व पु॒रू रजां॑सि॒ पय॑सा मयो॒भुव॑: ॥
यस्मै॑ । ऊमा॑सः । अ॒मृताः॑ । अरा॑सत । रा॒यः । पोष॑म् । च॒ । ह॒विषा॑ । द॒दा॒शुषे॑ । उ॒क्षन्ति॑ । अ॒स्मै॒ । म॒रुतः॑ । हि॒ताःऽइ॑व । पु॒रु । रजां॑सि । पय॑सा । म॒यः॒ऽभुवः॑ ॥
yasmai | ūmāsaḥ | amṛtāḥ | arāsata | rāyaḥ | poṣam | ca | haviṣā | dadāśuṣe | ukṣanti | asmai | marutaḥ | hitāḥ-iva | puru | rajāṃsi | payasā | mayaḥ-bhuvaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Expansive yet firm; suitable for ‘pouring’ and ‘widening’ imagery.
Creates a sense of inner spaciousness and nourishment; steadies aspiration with confidence in support.
- ऊमा॑सः (ūmāsaḥ)
- Literal: helpers/companions. Symbolic: Assisting powers of the higher consciousness supporting the sādhanā
- अ॒मृताः (amṛtāḥ)
- Literal: immortal. Symbolic: Deathless energies of the soul-nature; enduring divine powers
- रा॒यः (rāyaḥ)
- Literal: wealth, plenitude. Symbolic: Inner richness: light, strength, right conditions
- पोषम् (poṣam)
- Literal: nourishment, increase. Symbolic: Growth of consciousness and stable power
- ह॒विषा (haviṣā)
- Literal: by oblation. Symbolic: By consecrated giving—offering of works, breath, attention
- उ॒क्षन्ति (ukṣanti)
- Literal: they sprinkle/pour. Symbolic: They infuse and fertilize the being with higher energy
- रजां॑सि (rajāṃsi)
- Literal: spaces/regions. Symbolic: Planes of consciousness; widenings of being
- पयसा (payasā)
- Literal: with milk. Symbolic: Nourishing essence—clarified life-force and delight
- मयो॒भुवः (mayobhuvaḥ)
- Literal: bringing gladness. Symbolic: Powers that create ease, harmony, Ananda
Used to invoke Marut beneficence for increase (poṣa) and rayi in Soma offerings; supports the sacrificer’s prosperity understood as growth of inner and outer order.
After/around oblations, to affirm increase (poṣa) and invoke further descent of supportive powers.
Recitation accompanying offering; mental visualization of ‘pouring’ blessings into the sacrificer and community.
A gratitude-and-receptivity mantra after charity, service, or meditation—affirming that true giving widens the being.
rayí- ‘wealth’ from √rā ‘to give’/‘to bestow’ (semantic field of gift and abundance): supports the inner sense of ‘plenitude bestowed’. póṣa from √puṣ ‘thrive, flourish’: growth of the soul’s substance. ukṣ- √ukṣ ‘sprinkle, wet’ (also used for rain/impregnation imagery): indicates infusion from above. rájas- ‘space, region’ (not ‘dust’ here): in RV frequently denotes wide realms/expanses—apt for ‘planes of being’. páyas ‘milk’ (nourishing sap): maps naturally to ‘nourishment of consciousness’.
reciprocity of offering and grace, plenitude (rayi) as fullness of being, nourishment (poṣa) as soul-growth
The lawful exchange: right offering aligns with Ṛta and brings orderly increase.
Growth comes to the truthful giver—integrity of intention sustains the descent.
Widening of worlds (rajāṃsi) through a nourishing outpouring—creation as expansion and fertilization.
Integral-Vedic psychology: planes of being opened by sacrificial consecration.
rainy/monsoon (suggested by pouring imagery)
Milk/rain = nourishing descent of force; regions/spaces = expanded consciousness; helpers = supporting inner faculties/powers.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘rain-of-boons’ mythologem: storm-gods pour nourishing essence (payas) that becomes prosperity and growth. Innerly it is the descent of higher-force that multiplies the seeker’s ‘regions’ (rajāṃsi)—capacities and widenesses of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- páyas ‘milk’ relates to Indo-European milk/nourishment imagery (cf. wider IE poetic use of ‘milk’ as divine nourishment). √dā ‘give’ is PIE *deh₃- (Latin dōnum, Greek didōmi), reinforcing the gift-economy structure: dadāśuṣe ‘to the giver’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A clear economy of inner sacrifice: the human ‘gives’ (dadāśuṣ) through havis, and the Maruts respond by ‘pouring’ wideness and nourishment. The relationship is pedagogic: offering trains the being to receive and hold abundance without distortion.
Receiving widenings: allow consciousness to expand beyond habitual boundaries; feel a ‘milk-like’ soothing descent.
vishuddha (flow/pouring, purification)
Inhale imagining spaciousness (rajāṃsi); exhale offering (havis) and receiving a cool nourishing flow (payas).
Receptive expansion with quiet joy.
After offering effort or service, sit and feel the subtle return: calm strength, wider perspective, gentler vital energy.
Maintain clear udātta on key lifts (yasmā́, amṛtā́, rāyás, poṣáṃ, ukṣánti, marútaḥ).
Let each pāda ‘open’ slightly in the middle—avoid clipping long vowels (ā, ī).
amṛtāḥ: clear vocalic ṛ, dadāśuṣe: retroflex ṣ; long ā twice, ukṣanti: kṣ conjunct, crisp release, mayobhuvaḥ: split mayo-bhuvaḥ, keep bh voiced aspirate
Nourishing, rounded tone; less martial, more flowing.
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