Rig Veda Sukta 88
Mandala 1Sukta 886 Mantras

Sukta 88

Sukta 1.88

Rishi

Gautama (RV 1.88 traditionally Gautama Rāhūgaṇa)

Devata

Maruts

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Ten hymn jest dynamicznym zaproszeniem dla Marutów, by przybyli szybko na swoich lśniących jak błyskawica rydwanach i wylali obfitość, wigor oraz ochronną moc w przestrzeń składającego ofiarę. Podkreśla, że poeci (Gotamowie) wznoszą skuteczną siłę mantry (brahman), która „podnosi” źródło rozkoszy, aby Maruci mogli pić i z kolei wzmocnić społeczność wzrostem oraz prawidłowo ukierunkowaną energią.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.88

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ विद्युन्मद्भिर्मरुतः स्वर्कै रथेभिर्यात ऋष्टिमद्भिरश्वपर्णैः । आ वर्षिष्ठया न इषा वयो न पप्तता सुमायाः ॥

Przybądźcie, o Maruci, waszymi rydwanami pełnymi błyskawic i jaśniejącymi jak słońce, z mocami niosącymi włócznie i skrzydlatymi końmi. Przybądźcie z waszym najobfitszym pędem; jak ptaki, lećcie do nas, o wy pięknych dzieł, przynosząc wzrost siły życiowej.

Mantra 2

तेऽरुणेभिर्वरमा पिशङ्गैः शुभे कं यान्ति रथतूर्भिरश्वैः । रुक्मो न चित्रः स्वधितीवान्पव्या रथस्य जङ्घनन्त भूम ॥

Idą do pięknego celu z mocami czerwonawymi i brązowymi, z końmi szybkimi w pędzie rydwanu. Jak jasna ozdoba, wspaniała, i jak niosący topór, moc cięcia, obręcze rydwanu uderzają o ziemię, ugniatając to, co stawia opór.

Mantra 3

श्रिये कं वो अधि तनूषु वाशीर्मेधा वना न कृणवन्त ऊर्ध्वा । युष्मभ्यं कं मरुतः सुजातास्तुविद्युम्नासो धनयन्ते अद्रिम् ॥

Dla blasku, na waszych ciałach dźwięczny głos i moc umysłu wznoszą się, jak lasy rosnące ku górze. Dla was, o dobrze zrodzeni Maruci, bogaci w rozległą świetlistą moc, zdobywają kamień, wyciągając ukryte zachwycenie i siłę.

Mantra 4

अहानि गृध्राः पर्या व आगुरिमां धियं वार्कार्यां च देवीम् । ब्रह्म कृण्वन्तो गोतमासो अर्कैरूर्ध्वं नुनुद्र उत्सधिं पिबध्यै ॥

Dzień po dniu, chciwi jak sępy, przybyli do was ze wszystkich stron, ta myśl, to boskie natchnienie kształtujące. Gotamowie, tworząc moc mantry swymi hymnami, popchnęli ją ku górze, źródło siedziby, do picia zachwycenia.

Mantra 5

एतत्त्यन्न योजनमचेति सस्वर्ह यन्मरुतो गोतमो वः । पश्यन्हिरण्यचक्रानयोदंष्ट्रान्विधावतो वराहून् ॥

To zaprawdę jest to nieporównywalne zaprzężenie, które się objawiło, o Maruci, gdy Gotama was ujrzał, o złotych kołach, o kłach z żelaza, dziki pędzące: nieodparte moce rozrywające przeszkody.

Mantra 6

एषा स्या वो मरुतोऽनुभर्त्री प्रति ष्टोभति वाघतो न वाणी । अस्तोभयद्वृथासामनु स्वधां गभस्त्योः ॥

To jest wasza towarzyszka i wspierająca, o Maruci, ten głos, który odpowiada swym śpiewem jak mowa czciciela. Zabrzmiał melodiami w swobodnym przepływie, podążając za waszym własnym prawem mocy, w waszych uchwytujących dłoniach, gdzie energie są trzymane i prowadzone.

Inside Sukta 88

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A vivid summons: the Maruts are called to come with lightning-laden, sun-bright chariots and spear-bearing power, flying like birds toward the worshippers (1.88.1).

  2. Development

    Praise intensifies into a theology of effective speech: the Gotamas craft brahman with hymns and drive the ‘wellspring-seat’ upward for drinking—linking poetic work to divine response (notably 1.88.4).

  3. Climax

    Mantra becomes the key instrument: inspired thought and chant are portrayed as the force that draws, lifts, and channels Marut energy into the rite and community.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by presenting the poet’s voice as the Maruts’ attendant and supporter, sounding freely yet in accord with their svadhā, within their ‘grasping hands’—energies contained and guided (1.88.6).

The deity: Maruts

  • In the VedaThe Maruts are the youthful, fierce, many-born storm-gods who ride in shining chariots, armed with spears, accompanied by lightning and roaring winds, and famed for their splendid, well-wrought powers (sumāyāḥ). They move like swift birds, filling the world with sound, brilliance, and invigorating force.
  • Cosmic functionThey animate the atmosphere with wind, thunder, and rain, break open stagnation, and support the cosmic order by energizing the midspace where waters and life-force are released and circulated.
  • Inner significanceThey represent surging prāṇa-like energies—courage, momentum, and disciplined force—that can either scatter disorder or uphold inner law (svadhā) when guided by clear intention and mantra.

The seer

  • Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (Gotama family)Gautama gotra (Gotamāsaḥ) · A prominent early Ṛgvedic seer associated with the Gotama lineage, noted for hymns that combine vivid storm-imagery with a strong doctrine of brahman (mantra as effective power) and inspired speech (dhī).

Famous verses

ā vidyunmadbhir marutaḥ svarkai rathebhir yāta
Verse 1.88.1Sets the hymn’s tone with a direct, image-rich invitation—Maruts as lightning-bearing, radiant, swift, and life-increasing; it frames the central request for abundant impetus and vitality.Read verse 1.88.1 →
brahma kṛṇvanto gotamāso arkaiḥ
Verse 1.88.4Highlights the Gotama family’s ritual-poetic doctrine: brahman (mantra-force) is actively made and ‘driven upward’ as a wellspring for drinking delight—an explicit statement of hymn as operative power.Read verse 1.88.4 →
एषा स्या वो मरुतोऽनुभर्त्री प्रति ष्टोभति वाघतो न वाणी । अस्तोभयद्वृथासामनु स्वधां गभस्त्योः ॥
Verse 1.88.6Concludes by identifying the responding voice/chant as the Maruts’ attendant, emphasizing disciplined energy (svadhā) held ‘in their hands’—a compact statement of guided power through speech.Read verse 1.88.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Storm and wind powers
  • Lightning-bright radiance
  • Swift chariots and martial imagery (spears)
  • Collective/divine host (gaṇa)
  • Bestowers of vigor, increase, and protection
  • Respond to hymn, chant, and inspired speech

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns attributed to the Gautamas (including the Marut-focused cluster around RV 1.85–1.90 in traditional attribution)
  • Participation in the broader Gotama family corpus praising Indra, Agni, and the Maruts, emphasizing poetic craft (arká) and inspired thought (dhī)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a focused, orderly ritual space.
  • Recite the opening invitation calling the Maruts with their shining chariots and abundant impulse.
  • Offer oblations while chanting verses that praise their powers and request increase of life-force and protection.
  • Raise and ‘set in motion’ the brahman (mantra-force) through repeated hymns/arkas, aligning the rite with the Maruts’ svadhā (their own operative law).
  • Conclude with a sealing praise that presents the poet’s voice as the Maruts’ attendant/support, affirming their grasp and guidance of energies.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma libations (where the broader rite includes Soma)
  • Optional grains/cakes (puroḍāśa) depending on the śrauta setting

Frequently Asked Questions

The Maruts are a powerful group of storm-deities—youthful, radiant, and fierce—who move with wind and lightning and are asked to bring protection, strength, and abundance.

The hymn asks the Maruts to come quickly to the rite, energize the worshippers with life-force and increase, and uphold them with their protective, disciplined power.

Here “brahman” means effective mantra-power. The Gotama poets say their hymns actively raise and channel divine energy, making the ritual a place where the Maruts can ‘drink’ delight and then bless the people.

Ask anything about Sukta 88 of the Rig Veda

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