Rig Veda 1.87.4: Mandala 1, Sukta 87, Mantra 4
Sukta 1.87
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Marutaḥ
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स हि स्वसृत्पृषदश्वो युवा गणोऽया ईशानस्तविषीभिरावृतः । असि सत्य ऋणयावानेद्योऽस्या धियः प्राविताथा वृषा गणः ॥
sá hí svasṛ́t pṛ́ṣadaśvo yúvā gaṇó' yā́ īśānáḥ taviṣī́bhir ā́vṛtaḥ | ási satyá ṛṇayā́vā anédyo'syā́ dhiyáḥ prāvitā́thā vṛ́ṣā gaṇáḥ ||
Kerana dia meluru dengan dorongan dirinya sendiri, berkuda belang, suatu pasukan muda; menempuh jalannya sendiri, berdaulat, dilingkungi oleh kekuatan-kekuatan. Dia benar, pembayar hutang (ṛṇa), tidak bercela—pelindung bagi dhī (wawasan suci) ini; maka sesungguhnya pasukan itu ialah daya-banteng.
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स
- हि
- indeed/forIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि (निपात)
- स्वसृत्
- self-rushing / rushing of itselfAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग-विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root स्वसृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्व’ + √सृ ‘to flow/run’)
- पृषदश्वः
- the speckled-horsed oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेष्यः)Root पृषदश्व (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहिः/कर्मधारयः: पृषद् ‘speckled’ + अश्व ‘horse’)
- युवा
- youngAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root युवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गणः
- troop/bandNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot गण (प्रातिपदिक)
- अयाः
- impulses/drivesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (समुच्चित-कर्तृ)Root अय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘going/drive/impulse’ in RV usage) अथवा √इ (गत्यर्थ) से व्युत्पन्न
- ईशानः
- ruling, being lordParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; वर्तमानकाले कर्तरिRole कर्तृRoot √ईश् (ईशते) → ईशान (कृदन्त, शानच्)
- तविषीभिः
- with powers/forcesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot तविषी (प्रातिपदिक)
- आवृतः
- encompassed/surroundedParticipleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि/स्थितिवाचकःRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root आ-√वृ (वृणोति/वर्तते) → आवृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √अस् (अस्ति)
- सत्यः
- trueAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋणयावान्
- bearing obligations/debts (i.e., bound by due order)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root ऋणयावन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ऋण’ + -यावन्, possessing/bringing debt/obligation; RV epithet) अथवा √ऋ (गत्यर्थ) से न, परम्परागत रूपेण ‘ऋण’ से
- इद्यः
- praiseworthyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root इद्य (प्रातिपदिक; √इ/√यज्?; RV में ‘पूज्य/स्तुत्य’ = ‘to be praised’)
- अस्याः
- of this (her/this)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्या
- धियः
- thoughts/insightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (RV में -यः बहुवचन-रूप)Role कर्मRoot धि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘thought, insight’)
- प्रावित
- protector/helperNoun/Participleपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot प्र-√अव् (अवते ‘to help/protect’) → प्रावित (कृदन्त, क्त/क्तवत्-प्रायः; RV में ‘protector’)
- अथा
- then/and soIndeclinableनिपातःRoot अथ (निपात)
- वृषा
- bull-like, mightyNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root वृषन्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull, mighty one’)
- गणः
- troop/bandNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot गण (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): स हि स्वसृत्-पृषदश्वः युवा गणः अयाः ईशानः तविषीभिः आवृतः । असि सत्यः ऋणयावान् इद्यः अस्याः धियः प्रावित अथा वृषा गणः ॥ 1) ‘ग॒णो॒ऽया’ = ‘गणः अयाः’ (विसर्गस्य लोपः, अवग्रहः)
- 2) ‘इद्यो॒ऽस्या’ = ‘इद्यः अस्याः’ (विसर्गस्य लोपः, अवग्रहः)
- 3) ‘स्व॒सृत्पृष॑दश्वो’ = ‘स्वसृत्-पृषदश्वः’ (समास/पदसंयोग; अन्त्यत् + प्- आरम्भ)
- 4) ‘धि॒यः प्रा॑वि॒त’ = ‘धियः प्रावित’ (पदसंयोग; कोई विशेष सन्धि-परिवर्तन नहीं)
The meaning
Outer meaning
He is self-rushing, dappled-horsed, a youthful troop, moving in his own way, lordly, encompassed with powers. He is true, a payer of the debt, blameless—protector of this vision; thus that troop is a bull-force.
Inner meaning
The Marut host is seen as a single integrated puissance in the seeker. ‘Self-rushing’ indicates spontaneous, self-existent energy once the soul’s consent is given. The ‘dappled horses’ are varied vital powers (ashva) carrying mixed impulses now mastered and harmonized. ‘Lordly, encompassed with powers’ shows prāṇa gathered under a higher sovereignty. ‘Payer of the debt’ signifies restoring balance: energies repay what they owe to Truth by becoming instruments of dharma/ṛta. As protector of dhī, this force guards the inspired thought from dispersion. The bull-force is the virile, steadfast spiritual strength that can bear and accomplish.
Universal truth
True power is not mere impulse but integrated energy under truth and responsibility. When force protects vision and repays its debt to the higher law, it becomes a stable strength capable of right action.
Themes
truth-aligned-force, cosmic-balance, protection-of-vision, marut-gaṇa
The seer
- Rishi
- Gautama Rāhūgaṇa
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.87
Family tradition
The Gautama line often stresses dhī and truth-governed force; this verse explicitly links Marut-power with protection of dhī and satya.
Significance
The rishi offers an ethical-spiritual criterion for power: it must be satya, responsible (ṛṇa), and a guardian of vision—an inner discipline rather than mere storm-energy.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutaḥ (gaṇa as a single integrated power)
- Epithets
- svasṛt (self-rushing), pṛṣadaśva (dappled-horsed), īśāna (sovereign), satya (true), ṛṇayāvā (debt-payer), anedya (blameless), vṛṣā (bull-force)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Maruts as organized host that supports Indra and maintains dynamic order in the mid-world (antarikṣa).
Inner power
Integrated vital energy under truth; protector-force that sustains aspiration and prevents leakage of will.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut praise in Soma liturgy; also protective recitation for safeguarding the ‘dhī’ of the sacrificer.
स हि स्व॒सृत्पृष॑दश्वो॒ युवा॑ ग॒णो॒३॒॑ऽया ई॑शा॒नस्तवि॑षीभि॒रावृ॑तः । असि॑ स॒त्य ऋ॑ण॒यावाने॑द्यो॒ऽस्या धि॒यः प्रा॑वि॒ताथा॒ वृषा॑ ग॒णः ॥
सः । हि । स्व॒ऽसृत् । पृष॑त्ऽअश्वः । युवा॑ । ग॒णः । अ॒या । ई॒शा॒नः । तवि॑षीऽभिः॑ । आऽव् ऋतः । असि॑ । स॒त्यः । ऋ॒ण॒ऽयावा॑ । अने॑द्यः । अ॒स्याः । धि॒यः । प्र॒ऽअ॒वि॒ता । अथ॑ । वृषा॑ । ग॒णः ॥
saḥ | hi | sva-sṛt | pṛṣat-aśvaḥ | yuvā | gaṇaḥ | ayā | īśānaḥ | taviṣī-bhiḥ | āv ṛtaḥ | asi | satyaḥ | ṛṇa-yāvā | anedyaḥ | asyāḥ | dhiyaḥ | pra-avitā | atha | vṛṣā | gaṇaḥ
48
4 × ~12 syllables
Majestic and steady; conveys sovereignty and contained power rather than mere turbulence.
Stabilizes the listener; evokes a sense of gathered strength and moral clarity.
- स्वसृत् (svasṛt)
- Literal: self-flowing/self-rushing. Symbolic: spontaneous divine dynamism in the vital once aligned
- पृषदश्वः (pṛṣadaśvaḥ)
- Literal: dappled-horsed. Symbolic: multiple vital energies (ashva) with mixed colors/qualities, harmonized
- युवा गणः (yuvā gaṇaḥ)
- Literal: youthful troop. Symbolic: fresh, renewing force in the being; ever-young energy
- ईशानः (īśānaḥ)
- Literal: lord, sovereign. Symbolic: higher governance over the life-force
- तविषीभिः (taviṣībhiḥ)
- Literal: with powers/strengths. Symbolic: collected capacities—courage, endurance, intensity
- सत्यः (satyaḥ)
- Literal: true. Symbolic: aligned with the truth of being (satya) not ego-demand
- ऋणयावा (ṛṇayāvā)
- Literal: payer of the debt. Symbolic: restorer of balance; force that ‘pays’ what is due to ṛta
- अनेद्यः (anedyaḥ)
- Literal: blameless, not to be reproached. Symbolic: purified energy without crooked motive
- धियः प्राविता (dhiyaḥ prāvitā)
- Literal: protector of the vision/thought. Symbolic: guarding the inspired mind from distraction and relapse
- वृषा गणः (vṛṣā gaṇaḥ)
- Literal: bull troop. Symbolic: stable virile power—spiritual strength that can accomplish
Affirmation of Marut legitimacy: they are ‘satya’ and ‘anedyá’; ritually secures their auspicious presence; inwardly, establishes that dynamic force must be truth-aligned and protective of dhī (inspired understanding).
When invoking Maruts as guardians and strength-givers; before key offerings or when seeking steadiness of intention.
Recitation to establish protective force around the rite and the priest’s inspired speech.
Chant as a ‘protector of intention’ before study, meditation, or difficult conversations—aligning power with truth and responsibility.
: sva ‘self’ + √ ‘run/flow’. : √ ‘to rule/possess’ (PIE *h₁eis-? debated). : ‘force’ (Vedic). : ‘debt’ (balance owed), from √ ‘to go, fit’ with juridical/cosmic extension; ṛṇa-yāva ‘one who pays the debt’ = restores equilibrium (ṛta). ī: inspired thought/vision; central RV term for illumined intelligence.
satya as truth-being, ṛṇa (debt) as cosmic balance restored (ṛta), dhī as inspired intelligence needing protection, vṛṣan/bull symbolism as generative force
ṛṇayāvā: the cosmic bookkeeping—energies must serve ṛta, repaying imbalance created by ignorance.
Power is validated by satya and blamelessness (anedya).
Integration: many powers become one gaṇa under īśāna (higher sovereignty).
Dharma/ṛta-based psychology of force; consonant with Integral Yoga’s insistence on purification of motive.
Horses = vital energies; bull = stable spiritual strength; youth = ever-renewing dynamism of the divine life-force.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Marut host as lawful power: not chaotic storm but ‘satya’, ‘anedyá’, restoring balance (‘ṛṇa-yāva’) and protecting dhī. Mythically, the troop moves with lordly might; inwardly, dynamic energies become legitimate only when they pay the ‘debt’ to ṛta—re-establishing right order and guarding illumined intelligence.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘yoke/host/steed’ storm complex is pan-IE in poetic diction; while specific lexemes vary, the underlying formula (divine troop + horses + mastery) is archaic. The dawn/brightness sphere earlier in the hymn (usrā) and the truth-order sphere (satya/ṛta) together mirror IE cosmic dual mappings: light/order vs. obstruction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi demands ethical-metaphysical reliability from the divine force: it must be satya and a protector of dhī. The reciprocity is elevated—Maruts are not asked merely for outer boons but to uphold the inner seeing; in return, they are ‘juṣṭa’ (welcomed) and given a seat in the human work.
Gather scattered energies into one sovereign force that protects the inner vision (dhī).
maṇipūra (integrated will) and ājñā (protected vision)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for containment; then chant with steady diaphragmatic support.
Collected strength (saṃhati) with truth-alignment.
Before chanting, set a vow of satya (truthfulness) for the day; chant 11 times, ending each repetition with a brief silence to feel the protective sheath around the mind.
Keep a dignified contour: clear udātta on īśānaḥ, satyaḥ; let svarita falls be gentle, not dramatic.
Slightly broaden tempo on ‘asi satya ṛṇayāvā’ to let the ethical force register; avoid clipping conjuncts.
: pronounce ṣ (retroflex) distinctly; ‘pṛ’ with vocalic ṛ., : long ī; ś as palatal, not s., : vocalic ṛ; keep ṇ retroflex., : ‘prā’ long ā; v soft, not w.
Firm, even, protective warmth; avoid harshness.
11
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
