Rig Veda 10.78.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 78, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.78
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Jagatī/Triṣṭubh mixture possible
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अग्निर्न ये भ्राजसा रुक्मवक्षसो वातासो न स्वयुजः सद्यऊतयः । प्रज्ञातारो न ज्येष्ठाः सुनीतयः सुशर्माणो न सोमा ऋतं यते ॥
agnír na yé bhrā́jasā rukmá-vakṣaso vātā́so na sva-yújaḥ sadyá-ūtayaḥ | pra-jñātā́ro na jyéṣṭhāḥ su-nītáyaḥ su-śármāṇo na sómā ṛtáṃ yaté ||
അഗ്നിയെപ്പോലെ അവർ തേജസ്സോടെ ജ്വലിച്ച്, രുക്മവക്ഷസ്—സ്വർണ്ണവക്ഷസ്ഥലം—ധരിക്കുന്നു; വാതങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ അവർ സ്വയുജ്—സ്വയം ബന്ധിതർ—ആയി, ഉടൻ സഹായിക്കാൻ വേഗമുള്ളവർ. ജ്യേഷ്ഠ പ്രജ്ഞാതാക്കളെപ്പോലെ അവർ സുനീതിയാൽ മാർഗ്ഗനിർദ്ദേശം നൽകുന്നു; സോമനെപ്പോലെ അവർ സുഷർമാ—ആനന്ദകരമായ സംരക്ഷണം—ആയി, ഋതത്തിന്റെ പഥത്തിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു.
Word by Word
- अग्निः
- Agni (fire-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot अग्नि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थे/तुलनार्थेRoot न (निपात)
- ये
- who (those who)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)
- भ्राजसा
- with radiance, by brillianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot भ्राजस्- (प्रातिपदिक; तेजस्)
- रुक्मवक्षसः
- having golden breasts/chestsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रुक्म-वक्षस्- (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- वातासः
- windsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वात- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableतुलनार्थेRoot न (निपात)
- स्वयुजः
- self-yoked, self-harnessedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot स्व-युज्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्वयं युज्यन्ते’)
- सद्यऊतयः
- having immediate help/protection; prompt aidsNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सद्यः-ऊति- (समास; ऊति- ‘सहायता/रक्षा’)
- प्रज्ञातारः
- knowers, discernersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot प्र-ज्ञा-तृ- (कृदन्त; तृच् प्रत्यय; √ज्ञा ‘जान’)
- न
- likeIndeclinableतुलनार्थेRoot न (निपात)
- ज्येष्ठाः
- eldest, foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ज्येष्ठ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुनीतयः
- good guidances/leadingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सु-नीति- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुशर्माणः
- of good shelter/protectionAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सु-शर्मन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableतुलनार्थेRoot न (निपात)
- सोमाः
- Soma-juices (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सोम- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतम्
- ṛta (truth/cosmic order)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऋत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- यते
- strives, exerts (himself)Verbलट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRoot √यत् (यतते) ‘प्रयत्न’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): अग्निर्न → अग्निः न
- भ्राज॑सा (तृतीया एकवचन)
- रु॒क्मव॑क्षसो॒ → रुक्मवक्षसः
- वाता॑सो॒ → वातासः
- स्व॒युज॑: → स्वयुजः
- स॒द्यऊ॑तयः (सद्यः+ऊतयः; विसर्ग-लोप/स्वर-सन्धि)
- प्र॒ज्ञा॒तारो॒ → प्रज्ञातारः
- ज्येष्ठा॑: → ज्येष्ठाः
- सु॒शर्मा॑णो॒ → सुशर्माणः
- सोमा॑ → सोमाः. उच्चारण-चिह्न (उदात्त/स्वरित/अनुदात्त) मूलपाठानुसार सुरक्षित
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Maruts are praised through a chain of similes: they blaze like Agni with golden breasts; they move like winds, self-yoked and instantly helpful; they guide like elder knowers; they protect joyfully like Soma, moving on the path of ṛta.
Inner meaning
The Maruts are the dynamic powers of the Life-force (prāṇa/tejas) when they become allies of the inner sacrifice. They carry the “golden breast” of luminous power (hiraṇya-tejas) and, like self-yoked winds, act without outer compulsion—spontaneous, swift impulses of right action. As “elder knowers,” they are not mere emotion-storms but seasoned intuitions that lead the being by su-nīti (happy/right guidance). As Soma-like protectors, they bring a glad wideness and safeguard the seeker while the consciousness moves in ṛta—right order—so that force serves truth, not ego.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires power that is luminous, self-governed, and aligned with truth: energy (force of action) must be yoked to inner guidance and sustained by joy, so that movement becomes orderly (ṛta) rather than chaotic.
Themes
Syncretic identification of powers, Maruts as multi-functional energies, Inner yoga of forces (sva-yujaḥ)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.78.1-6 (same hymn context: Marut-stuti with layered similes)
Significance
The anonymity itself suits the Marut-force: these verses read like a collective yogic perception of energies rather than a personal signature—describing how life-powers become illumined, guided, and bliss-protected when aligned with ṛta.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- ṛtajāta (born of ṛta, implied by ṛtaṃ yate), svayujaḥ (self-yoked), sadyaūtayaḥ (swift helpers), bhrājasaḥ (splendid ones)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Soma, Rudra, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Storm-gods and companions of Indra: they break stagnation, release the waters/cows (powers of light), and enforce movement in the worlds.
Inner power
Purifying and energizing life-force that, when illumined, becomes courageous, swift, and rightly guided—turning emotional-vital turbulence into divine dynamism.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut offerings within Soma sacrifice sequences (general Marut-stuti usage)
अ॒ग्निर्न ये भ्राज॑सा रु॒क्मव॑क्षसो॒ वाता॑सो॒ न स्व॒युज॑: स॒द्यऊ॑तयः । प्र॒ज्ञा॒तारो॒ न ज्येष्ठा॑: सुनी॒तय॑: सु॒शर्मा॑णो॒ न सोमा॑ ऋ॒तं य॒ते ॥
अ॒ग्निः । न । ये । भ्राज॑सा । रु॒क्मऽव॑क्षसः । वाता॑सः । न । स्व॒ऽयुजः॑ । स॒द्यःऽऊ॑तयः । प्र॒ऽज्ञा॒तारः॑ । न । ज्येष्ठाः॑ । सु॒ऽनी॒तयः॑ । सु॒ऽशर्मा॑णः । न । सोमाः॑ । ऋ॒तम् । य॒ते ॥
agniḥ | na | ye | bhrājasā | rukma-vakṣasaḥ | vātāsaḥ | na | sva-yujaḥ | sadyaḥ-ūtayaḥ | pra-jñātāraḥ | na | jyeṣṭhāḥ | su-nītayaḥ | su-śarmāṇaḥ | na | somāḥ | ṛtam | yate
Triṣṭubh with Jagatī influence (Cadence suggests mixed late style)
44
4 pādas; likely 11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh), with occasional Jagatī (12) substitution typical in Book 10
Driving, wave-like propulsion created by repeated ‘na’ similes and rapid consonant clusters (svayujaḥ, sadyaūtayaḥ).
Builds a sense of swift gathering force that then resolves into right-ordered movement (ṛta)—invoking both vigor and alignment.
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- Literal: fire. Symbolic: divine will and the inner priest that kindles aspiration and transforms nature
- भ्राजसा (bhrājasā)
- Literal: with splendor. Symbolic: radiant consciousness; illumined energy
- रुक्मवक्षसः (rukmavakṣasaḥ)
- Literal: golden-breasted. Symbolic: bearing the solar/luminous heart-power; tejas held in the chest-center
- वातासः (vātāsaḥ)
- Literal: winds. Symbolic: currents of prāṇa; swift movements of life-energy
- स्वयुजः (svayujaḥ)
- Literal: self-yoked. Symbolic: self-disciplined force; energy governed from within by the soul’s intent
- सद्यऊतयः (sadyaūtayaḥ)
- Literal: immediate helpers. Symbolic: instant responsiveness of the awakened energies to the call of aspiration
- प्रज्ञातारः (prajñātāraḥ)
- Literal: knowers, the discerning. Symbolic: intuitive discriminations that recognize truth from falsehood
- सुनीतयः (sunītayaḥ)
- Literal: good leadings, happy guidance. Symbolic: right inner direction (nīti) arising from the illumined mind
- सोमाः (somāḥ)
- Literal: Soma. Symbolic: divine bliss/nectar that protects and enlarges consciousness
- ऋतम् (ṛtam)
- Literal: cosmic right order. Symbolic: truth in action; harmony of thought, will, and life with the divine law
- यते (yate)
- Literal: they go, they move. Symbolic: progressive inner journey; disciplined advance on the path
Calling the Maruts as swift helpers and right-guiders in soma pressing and offering; inner function: to intensify will (Agni), vital movement (Vāta), and delight (Soma) under ṛta
During Marut-related śastras/stotras or ancillary praises in Soma-yajña; also as devotional recitation for invoking energetic support
Praise-invocation (stuti) to summon Marut aid, swiftness, and right guidance
Use as a ‘rightly-yoked energy’ mantra before work, travel, or decisive action—invoking swift help without losing inner alignment.
bhrājas ‘splendour’ from √bhrāj ‘to shine’. rukma ‘gold’ (luminous) + vakṣas ‘breast’ (seat of force/heart). vāta from √vā ‘to blow’. yuj ‘to yoke’ (PIE *yeug-). ūti ‘help’ from √av/√u? (Vedic ūti ‘aid, favour’). pra-jñā from √jñā (PIE *ǵneh₃- ‘know’). nīti from √nī ‘to lead’. śarman ‘shelter, peace’. ṛta from √ar ‘fit, join’ → ‘that which is properly joined/ordered’.
Ṛta (truth-order as path), Right guidance (su-nīti), Immediate grace/help (sadyá-ūti)
Explicit: ‘ṛtaṃ yate’—their movement is measured by cosmic order, not impulse.
Prajñātāraḥ and sunītayaḥ imply truth-discernment guiding force.
From luminous fire and flowing wind arises ordered progression—energy becomes a builder of worlds when yoked to ṛta.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral Yoga-friendly reading (Aurobindo): transformation of the vital by illumination and bliss.
Fire = will; wind = prāṇic movement; gold = solar illumination in the heart; Soma = bliss that protects; ṛta = right law of inner growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘confluence of deities’ mythologem: a single divine host is hymned as carrying the functions of Agni (will-flame), Vāta (swift life-force), and Soma (delight), all harmonized by ṛta. Mythically, it is the gathering of cosmic instruments for the ascent of the sacrifice.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sva-yujaḥ contains √yuj (PIE *yeug-), a core Indo-European ‘yoke/join’ concept used for both chariotry and yogic joining. √jñā (PIE *ǵneh₃-) and √nī (lead) sustain inherited metaphors of ‘knowing/leading’ as governance of the journey.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not merely outer aid but an inner reconstitution: the devatā is invoked as immediate helper, right leader, and bearer of peace, so that the human journey (yā) proceeds in ṛta rather than in mixed or errant vital motions.
Invite the ‘Marut-force’ to become self-yoked: energize the system while remaining aligned with inner truth (ṛta).
Anāhata (golden breast/heart-tejas) and Maṇipūra (fire-will)
Rhythmic nāḍī-śodhana or 4-4-6 breathing to ‘yoke the winds’ before recitation
Dynamic stillness—force in motion held by inner guidance
Chant once, then feel the breath as wind; kindle a steady will in the heart; affirm that all action moves only in ṛta (right order).
Mixed; follow śākala accenting with udatta on marked syllables and svarita on following falls (exact full svara requires pada-svara text).
Keep the simile pivots ‘… na …’ lightly separated; emphasize the power-words: bhrājasā, svayujaḥ, sadyaūtayaḥ, sunītayaḥ, ṛtam.
ṛ in ṛtaṃ: short vocalic ‘r’ (not ‘ri’), svayujaḥ: ‘sva-yu-jaḥ’ with clear y/j, rukmavakṣasaḥ: keep kṣ as ‘kṣa’ cluster, sadyaūtayaḥ: split ‘sadya-ūtayaḥ’ (long ū)
Bright, forward, and steady (tejas with control)
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