Rig Veda 8.76.5: Mandala 8, Sukta 76, Mantra 5
Sukta 8.76
- Devata
- Indra
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
मरुत्वन्तमृजीषिणमोजस्वन्तं विरप्शिनम् । इन्द्रं गीर्भिर्हवामहे ॥
marútvantaṃ ṛjīṣíṇam ójasvantaṃ virapśínam | índraṃ gīrbhír havāmahe ||
Indra kami seru dengan kata-kata ilham kami—Indra yang berserta para Marut, lurus memacu di jalannya, penuh tenaga, luas dalam tindakan yang berkesan—agar ia meluaskan kekuatan menjadi kami.
Word by Word
- मरुत्वन्तम्
- Marut-possessing; accompanied by the MarutsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (हवामहे—आह्वानस्य विषयः)Root मरुत्वन्त् (मरुत् + वन्त्)
- ऋजीषिणम्
- with (bright) barley/pressing-stalks; associated with the soma-pressingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root ऋजीषिन्
- ओजस्वन्तम्
- mighty; full of strengthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root ओजस्वन्त् (ओजस् + वन्त्)
- विरप्शिनम्
- strong-armed / powerful-handedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root विरप्शिन्
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म (हवामहे—आह्वानस्य विषयः)Root इन्द्र
- गीर्भिः
- with hymns; with songs/words of praiseNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole करण (स्तुतिभिः/वचोभिः—आह्वानस्य साधनम्)Root गीर् (स्त्री) / गिर्
- हवामहे
- we invoke; we callVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √ह्वा (ह्वयति) / √हू (आह्वाने)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: मरुत्वन्तमृजीषिणमोजस्वन्तं विरप्शिनम् । इन्द्रं गीर्भिर्हवामहे ॥ पद-विभाग (सन्धि-विच्छेद): मरुत्वन्तम् + ऋजीषिणम् + ओजस्वन्तम् + विरप्शिनम् । इन्द्रम् + गीर्भिः + हवामहे । मुख्य सन्धि: (1) मरुत्वन्तम् + ऋजीषिणम् → मरुत्वन्तमृजीषिणम् (अ + ऋ = अर्/ऋ-आरम्भे संहितायाम् संयोगः; पदपाठे स्पष्ट-विच्छेदः) । (2) गीर्भिः + हवामहे → गीर्भिर्हवामहे (विसर्ग/रुत्व-आदेशः: -भिः + ह- → -भिर् + ह-) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
We invoke Indra with hymns—Indra accompanied by the Maruts, straight-driving, full of force, wide in effective action.
Inner meaning
The seeker calls the illumined divine Mind-Power (Indra) together with the dynamic life-forces that serve it (Maruts). “Straight-driving” is the will made direct toward the Truth; “forceful, wide-working” is the capacity of the awakened consciousness to act broadly and effectively in the whole being, not only in thought but in life and body.
Universal truth
When aspiration becomes articulate (gīḥ) and aligned, the higher intelligence joined with purified energies moves straight toward the goal and expands our effective power of transformation.
Themes
invocation by hymn, Indra’s strength, expansive action, Marut-aided force
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.76.1-12 (same sūkta context), Rig Veda 1.80 (Indra-Marut invocations), Rig Veda 5.87 (Maruts as allies of Indra)
Family tradition
Likely Kāṇva hymn-tradition of Indra-stuti emphasizing Indra-Marut cooperation (inner illumination with dynamic energies).
Significance
The anonymous seer-voice represents a universal yogic stance: the human mind offers inspired speech to call down a higher, stronger, wider action of consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (with Maruts)
- Epithets
- marutvant, ṛjīṣi, ojasvant, vi-rapśin
- Related deities
- Maruts, Agni (as priest and initiator of inner sacrifice), Soma (as delight that feeds illumination)
Cosmic role
Breaker of obstruction, opener of the luminous worlds, establisher of victorious movement in the sacrifice.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence with executive force—clarity that becomes effective action, aided by uplifted vital energies (Maruts).
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Soma praise within Soma-yajña sequences (general Indra-stuti; also suitable for morning pressing context)
म॒रुत्व॑न्तमृजी॒षिण॒मोज॑स्वन्तं विर॒प्शिन॑म् । इन्द्रं॑ गी॒र्भिर्ह॑वामहे ॥
म॒रुत्व॑न्तम् । ऋजी॒षिण॑म् । ओज॑स्वन्तम् । वि॒ऽर॒प्शिन॑म् । इन्द्र॑म् । गीः॒ऽभिः । ह॒वा॒म॒हे॒ ॥
marutvantam | ṛjīṣiṇam | ojasvantam | vi-rapśinam | indram | gīḥ-bhiḥ | havāmahe
Likely Triṣṭubh (common in Indra hymns; 4 padas of ~11 syllables)
44
4×11 (approx.)
Forward-driving, martial and expansive cadence suited to invocation and increase of force.
Energizes aspiration; produces a sense of straight ascent and widening capacity—useful before effortful meditation or decisive action.
- मरुत्वन्तम् (marutvantam)
- Literal: possessing/companioned by the Maruts. Symbolic: illumined Mind supported by purified vital energies, courageous impulses, and breath-forces
- ऋजीषिणम् (ṛjīṣiṇam)
- Literal: straight-going/straight-driving. Symbolic: the direct movement of will and intelligence along the right (ṛju) line of Truth
- ओजस्वन्तम् (ojasvantam)
- Literal: full of ojas, strength. Symbolic: spiritual force/energy that sustains tapas and decisive progress
- वि-रप्शिनम् (vi-rapśinam)
- Literal: wide-working, of far-reaching action. Symbolic: a consciousness that can act in many parts of the being simultaneously; expansive effectiveness
- गीर्भिः (gīrbhiḥ)
- Literal: with hymns/utterances. Symbolic: mantric speech: inspired thought-forms that open and shape inner states
- हवामहे (havāmahe)
- Literal: we call/invoke. Symbolic: aspiration that summons the higher power into the field of practice (yajña)
Invocatory verse in Soma liturgy; calling Indra by hymns (gīrbhiḥ) to partake and empower the rite.
During Indra invocations accompanying Soma offering/pressing; also as a general call for strength and victory.
Recitation/chant with offering of Soma (or symbolic offering of intention) to invite Indra’s aid.
Use as a mantra of ‘aligned force’: chant before focused work, inner battle with inertia, or when needing clear decisive intelligence supported by calm energy.
(gīr) from √/√ (to sing/utter); in RV the inspired word that forms a channel for the deity. from strength-root complex; denotes vital-spiritual potency. ṛjīṣin connected with ṛjú 'straight' (PIE *h₁reǵ- 'straight, right' possible semantic link), indicating directness aligned with ṛta. virapśin: vi- 'wide' + rapśin (active/skillful), stressing breadth of effective workings.
inspired speech as a channel (mantra as formative power), ṛta-aligned straightness (ṛju/ṛjīṣin), wideness of action (vi- as expansion)
ṛjīṣiṇam expresses movement in the line of Ṛta—truth-directed progress.
Inspired speech (gīḥ) aims to embody truth in word so truth can act in life.
Widening action (vi-rapśin) mirrors the Vedic theme of expanding the field of consciousness/worlds.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent to higher mind and descent of force for transformation.
Storm = dynamic prāṇic energies; straight course = will aligned to truth; wide action = integrality across mind-life-body.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Not a single narrative deed but a typological portrait: Indra as Marut-aided, straight-moving, force-filled, wide-acting. The mythic function is the ever-available champion-power invoked through gīr (inspired speech) to expand the field of victory.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- gīr (song/utterance) participates in an IE poetics of 'praise-song' as efficacious speech (cf. Greek kleos as fame from praise; functional parallel). ṛju 'straight/right' aligns with inherited 'rightness' semantics across IE (Latin rēctus from *reg- 'straighten/rule').
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers gīr as the operative means of contact; the deity is characterized in terms that match the aspirant’s need—directness, strength, wideness—so the invoked presence can reorganize the inner energies toward victorious order.
Invoke illumined intelligence to lead the inner sacrifice; align will into a straight, truth-directed movement; widen effective action.
Ājñā (clarity/command) with support from Maṇipūra (ojas, executive force)
Moderate rhythmic breathing (sama-vṛtti) while chanting; feel Maruts as regulated prāṇa supporting Indra’s clear seeing.
Dynamic collectedness—alert, courageous, and spacious.
Chant 9–27 times; then sit and observe one ‘straight line’ intention. Let scattered energies (Maruts) gather behind that intention without strain.
Accent-sensitive Vedic chanting recommended; follow Padapāṭha accents (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as transmitted for this śākhā (not fully reconstructible from plain text here).
Keep udātta syllables slightly raised; svarita as a falling glide; avoid flattening compound accents (e.g., marutvántam, ojasvántam).
ṛ in ṛjīṣiṇam is vocalic ‘ri’ (short, crisp), Keep retroflex ṣ in ṛjīṣiṇam and dental s distinct, vi-rapśinam: articulate ‘pś’ cluster cleanly (p + ś) without inserting a vowel, gīrbhiḥ: lengthen ī; final ḥ is a soft visarga before havāmahe
Bright, firm, invoking; not harsh—let strength be steady.
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.
