Rig Veda 5.52.5: Mandala 5, Sukta 52, Mantra 5
Sukta 5.52
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अर्हन्तो ये सुदानवो नरो असामिशवसः । प्र यज्ञं यज्ञियेभ्यो दिवो अर्चा मरुद्भ्यः ॥
árhanto ye sudā́navo náro asā́mi-śavasaḥ | prá yajñáṃ yajñíyebhyo divó arcā marúdbhyaḥ ||
അർഹന്മാരാണ് ആ സുദാനവഃ, ഉദാരനായ നര-വീരർ—അസാമിശ (അമിശ്ര) ശവസുള്ളവർ. യജ്ഞിയർക്കായി യജ്ഞത്തെ മുന്നോട്ട് കൊണ്ടുവരുക; ദിവോയുടെ പ്രകാശമുള്ള ഉയരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മരുദ്ഭ്യഃക്കായി അർച്ചാ (സ്തുതി) പാടുക.
Word by Word
- अर्हन्तः
- the worthy onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अर्हत् (प्रातिपदिक; √अर्ह् ‘to be worthy’)
- ये
- whoPronoun (relative)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (correlative to अर्हन्तः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सुदानवः
- good givers, bountiful onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root सु-दानु (प्रातिपदिक; सु- ‘good’ + दानु ‘giver/benefactor’)
- नरः
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- असामिशवसः
- of unmixed strength; of pure mightAdjective (bahuvrīhi/tatpuruṣa-like compound; used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (apposition)Root अ-सामिशवस् (प्रातिपदिक; अ- ‘not’ + सामिश ‘mixed/impure’ + वस्/वसस् ‘might, vigor’)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableRole (preverb to the verb)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- यज्ञम्
- the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
- यज्ञियेभ्यः
- to/for the worship-worthy (ones)Adjective (substantivized: ‘the worship-worthy ones’)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot यज्ञिय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘worthy of sacrifice/adoration’)
- दिवः
- from heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः); षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Apādāna (source sense: ‘from heaven’)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक ‘sky, heaven’)
- अर्च
- praise!, sing!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √अर्च् (अर्चति) ‘to praise, sing’
- मरुद्भ्यः
- to/for the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): अर्हन्तः | ये | सुदानवः | नरः | असामिशवसः | प्र | यज्ञम् | यज्ञियेभ्यः | दिवः | अर्च | मरुद्भ्यः । मुख्य संधि: (1) अर्हन्तो॒ → अर्हन्तः (visarga before य-)
- (2) नरो॒ → नरः (visarga before vowel a-)
- (3) मरुद्भ्य॑: → मरुद्भ्यः (visarga normalization)
- Accent marks in the Saṃhitā text are retained in recitation but do not change the pada forms listed
The meaning
Outer meaning
The hymn praises the Maruts as worthy, generous heroes of unmixed strength, and urges the singer/priest to bring forward the sacrifice and chant from the luminous height (heaven) to them.
Inner meaning
The “generous heroes” are the Marut-powers in the seeker: vigorous, purifying, and unalloyed energies that support the inner yajña. To “bring forward the sacrifice” is to advance the offering of works, breath, and thought into a clearer, higher consciousness (“divaḥ”—the luminous mind-plane). The mantra is a call to raise aspiration and articulate the soul’s chant so the life-forces become godward, disciplined, and luminous.
Universal truth
When our energies are purified and unified (unmixed), they become worthy instruments of the Divine; then inner offering naturally rises to a higher clarity, and the powers of transformation respond.
Themes
Praise as power, Generosity/boon, Purity of force, Yajña-forwarding
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.52, RV 5.51, RV 5.54, RV 5.40
Family tradition
Atri’s line is associated with luminous insight and the harmonizing of inner powers; RV 5 is largely attributed to the Ātreyas.
Significance
Atri represents the seer-mind that can host intense dynamic forces (Maruts) without losing clarity; his vision integrates force with light, making the inner sacrifice effective.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- naraḥ (heroes), sudānavaḥ (generous), asāmiśavasaḥ (unmixed in strength), yajñiyāḥ (sacrifice-worthy)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Rudra, Soma
Cosmic role
Storm and wind-gods who accompany Indra; they break obstructions, bring rain/lightning, and energize the worlds.
Inner power
Purifying, invigorating life-forces that clear resistance, intensify aspiration, and make the will swift and luminous.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut-invocations within Soma and Indra-related sequences (general Śrauta usage; also as praise in recitation).
अर्ह॑न्तो॒ ये सु॒दान॑वो॒ नरो॒ असा॑मिशवसः । प्र य॒ज्ञं य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्यो दि॒वो अ॑र्चा म॒रुद्भ्य॑: ॥
अर्ह॑न्तः । ये । सु॒ऽदान॑वः । नरः॑ । असा॑मिऽशवसः । प्र । य॒ज्ञम् । य॒ज्ञिये॑भ्यः । दि॒वः । अ॒र्च॒ । म॒रुत्ऽभ्यः॑ ॥
arhantaḥ | ye | su-dānavaḥ | naraḥ | asāmi-śavasaḥ | pra | yajñam | yajñiyebhyaḥ | divaḥ | arca | marut-bhyaḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Driving, martial, forward-thrusting cadence suited to invocation of force-powers.
Builds inner momentum and courage; helps gather scattered energies into a single upward movement of offering.
- अर्हन्तः (arhantaḥ)
- Literal: worthy, deserving. Symbolic: fit powers/impulses in us that can carry the Divine work without distortion
- सुदानवः (sudānavo)
- Literal: good-givers, generous. Symbolic: energies that freely pour strength, courage, and uplift into the sadhana
- नरः (naraḥ)
- Literal: men, heroes. Symbolic: heroic soul-forces; dynamic capacities of action
- असामिशवसः (asāmiśavasaḥ)
- Literal: of unmingled strength. Symbolic: pure force not mixed with ego, desire, or tamas
- यज्ञम् (yajñam)
- Literal: sacrifice, offering. Symbolic: inner consecration of works, breath, and thought to the Divine
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: of heaven, from the luminous realm. Symbolic: from the illumined mind / higher clarity
- अर्च (arca)
- Literal: sing, praise, flame up in hymn. Symbolic: mantric utterance that kindles inner fire and calls down power
- मरुद्भ्यः (marudbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the Maruts. Symbolic: to the storm-powers of purification and victorious dynamism
Stuti to empower the yajña; recited to intensify offering and invoke Marut-strength
During stotra/śastra contexts praising Maruts; when calling for force, protection, and purification in the rite.
Recitation/chanting to invite Marut powers to the yajña and strengthen the offering.
Use before work/effortful practice to align vitality with aspiration; chant to purify motivation and invoke disciplined strength.
arhantaḥ: from √arh ‘to be worthy, to deserve’. sudānav-: su- ‘good’ + dā́nu ‘giving/portion’ (linked to √dā ‘to give’) → bestowers of abundance (inner rayi). asāmi-śavas-: śavas ‘strength’ (vital might); asāmi ‘not mixed/without equal’ → undivided potency. arca: √arc ‘to shine, praise’—praise as a shining utterance.
fitness/adhikāra (arhantaḥ) as condition for reception, śavas (vital strength) purified, speech as luminous act (arc)
Maruts uphold Ṛta by driving out disorder and energizing right movement.
“divaḥ” suggests ascent toward truth-consciousness where speech becomes effective mantra.
Transformation through dynamic purification: force becomes a builder of higher order.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent to higher mind and descent of force into life.
Winds/storms = surging prāṇa and life-force purified; heaven = illumined mind-plane from which inspired speech descends.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘worthy heroes’ as a divine war-band who both receive and enable sacrifice: the Maruts are framed as fit recipients whose pure strength advances the yajña into effective manifestation.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dā ‘give’ is a core PIE root *deh₃- ‘to give’ (broad IE reflexes). √arc ‘shine/praise’ preserves the ancient link between radiance and laudatory speech (poetic ‘brightness’), a common Indo-European poetics feature.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi ‘brings forward’ the yajña via praise (arcā): speech is the offering that calls down undivided śavas. The Maruts, as sudānavah, reciprocate by giving abundance of force and successful progression of the inner rite.
Unify and purify vital energy; offer action to the higher light; invoke disciplined courage.
maṇipūra (will/force) with uplift toward ājñā (luminous guidance)
Moderate, rhythmic ujjāyī or counted breathing (e.g., 4-4-6) while repeating the mantra.
Dynamic concentration (tapas) with upward aspiration.
Before chanting, set intention: ‘Let my strength be unmixed.’ Feel the breath rising to the brow/sky; on ‘arca’ let speech become clear, bright, and fearless.
Use Vedic svara as per śākhā tradition; generally maintain clear udatta peaks on accented syllables and soften anudatta; avoid flattening into monotone.
Lean into the lift on key words: arhánto, sudā́navo, asā́miśavasaḥ, yajñám, dívo, árca, marúdbhyaḥ (exact accents depend on recension).
Keep retroflex ṭ/ḍ/ṇ distinct; in marudbhyaḥ articulate -dbh- clearly., In asāmiśavasaḥ, separate the compound: a-sāmi-śavasaḥ; avoid swallowing vowels., Maintain clear visarga/ḥ at ends where present (arhantaḥ).
Bright, firm, forward-projected; like a call that gathers force.
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