Rig Veda 3.16.2: Mandala 3, Sukta 16, Mantra 2
Sukta 3.16
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Agni with the Maruts
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इमं नरो मरुतः सश्चता वृधं यस्मिन्रायः शेवृधासः । अभि ये सन्ति पृतनासु दूढ्यो विश्वाहा शत्रुमादभुः ॥
imáṃ naro marutaḥ saścata vṛ́dhaṃ yásmin rāyáḥ śé-vṛdhāsaḥ | abhí yé sánti pṛ́tanāsu dū́ḍhyo viśvā́hā śátrum ādabhúḥ ||
ఓ నరులారా, ఓ మరుతులారా, వృద్ధి చెందుతున్న ఈ శక్తితో కలిసి సాగండి; ఇందులో రాయ (సంపద) పుష్టి చెందుతుంది. యుద్ధాలలో దృఢంగా నిలిచేవారు—అన్ని దినములలో శత్రువును అణచివేస్తారు.
Word by Word
- इमम्
- this (him/this one)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नरः
- menNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक: नर)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (नरः इति सह समन्वयः)Root मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सश्चत
- follow / accompanyVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्गार्थे वैदिके), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot सश्च् (धातु; ‘सह गच्छति/अनुगच्छति’)
- वृधम्
- the growing/strengthening oneAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (इमम् … वृधम्)Root वृध् (धातु) → वृध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक ‘वर्धमान/वर्धक’)
- यस्मिन्
- in whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रायः
- of wealthNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम् (वैदिक रूप)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root राय्/रयि (प्रातिपदिक: राय ‘wealth’)
- शेवृधासः
- prosperity-increasing / wealth-enhancingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (मरुतः/नरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root शेवृध (प्रातिपदिक; ‘शे/शिव’ + वृध ‘increasing’)
- अभि
- towards, againstIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role क्रियाविशेषण (अभिमुख्य/अभिगमन)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- ये
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सन्ति)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्ति
- areVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक ‘battle/host’)
- दूढ्यः
- hard to overcome / formidableAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (ये … दूढ्यः)Root दूढ्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दृढ/दूढ’ = firm, hard-to-overcome)
- विश्वाहा
- always, all daysIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role कालाधिकरण (क्रियाविशेषण)Root विश्व + अह (अव्ययीभाव)
- शत्रुम्
- enemyNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
- आदभुः
- they have crushed/overpoweredVerbलिट् (परस्मैपदम्; वैदिक परोक्ष/पूर्णभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot दभ् (धातु; ‘हानौ/वञ्चने’), उपसर्गः आ-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इमम् | नरः | मरुतः | सश्चत | वृधम् | यस्मिन् | रायः | शेवृधासः || अभि | ये | सन्ति | पृतनासु | दूढ्यः | विश्वाहा | शत्रुम् | आदभुः || 1) यस्मिन् + रायः → यस्मिन् रायः (सन्ध्यभावः/पदविरामः)
- 2) पृतनासु + दूढ्यः → पृतनासु दूढ्यः (विसर्ग/उदात्त-प्रभावे पदविरामः)
- 3) शत्रुम् + आदभुः → शत्रुमादभुः (मकार-आकार संधिः: म् + आ → मा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A call to the Maruts (storm-gods) and the men of the sacrifice to accompany a growing power (Agni/force of the rite) in whom riches increase; those who are steadfast in battles overcome the enemy day after day.
Inner meaning
The seeker invokes the Marut-powers (dynamic life-forces that aid aspiration) to move with the increasing inner Fire (Agni as evolving Will). When the right energies “accompany” the flame of aspiration, the inner riches (rāyaḥ: luminous capacities, wideness, right enjoyments) become self-increasing. The “battles” are the recurring inner confrontations with resistance (habit, inertia, fear, obscurity). Steadfast powers—disciplined prāṇa and courageous mind—overpower the inner adversary continuously (viśvāhā).
Universal truth
Growth in consciousness requires aligned forces: aspiration (Agni) supported by regulated energies (Maruts). When these are harmonized, inner resources multiply and persistent resistance is overcome through sustained practice over time.
Themes
Maruts supporting Agni, growth of inner power, victory over hostile forces, thriving riches
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Gāthina (Kauśika/Viśvāmitra lineage in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 3.1, RV 3.2, RV 3.3, RV 3.4, RV 3.14, RV 3.15, RV 3.17
Family tradition
Mandala 3 is predominantly Viśvāmitra’s family collection, emphasizing the ascent by Agni and Indra toward light and victory.
Significance
Viśvāmitra’s vision often joins force (śakti) with illumination: disciplined energy (Maruts) must serve the inner Fire to win the light. This verse reflects his yogic insistence on sustained conquest (viśvāhā) rather than episodic enthusiasm.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (with Maruts as supporting powers)
- Epithets
- vṛdha (the growing one), leader of the adhvara (inner path of offering)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Bṛhaspati, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Agni is the mediator and awakener: he carries the offering upward and builds the link between human and divine worlds; the Maruts are the executive forces that clear and energize the ascent.
Inner power
Agni as conscious Will and aspiration; Maruts as regulated dynamisms that break inertia and support courageous progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agniṣṭoma/Soma-yāga sequences and general Agni hymns used in Śrauta offerings (as stotra/śastra contexts vary by school)
इ॒मं न॑रो मरुतः सश्चता॒ वृधं॒ यस्मि॒न्राय॒: शेवृ॑धासः । अ॒भि ये सन्ति॒ पृत॑नासु दू॒ढ्यो॑ वि॒श्वाहा॒ शत्रु॑माद॒भुः ॥
इ॒मम् । न॒रः॒ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । स॒श्च॒त॒ । वृध॑म् । यस्मि॑न् । रायः॑ । शेऽवृ॑धासः । अ॒भि । ये । सन्ति॑ । पृत॑नासु । दुः॒ऽध्यः॑ । वि॒श्वाहा॑ । शत्रु॑म् । आ॒ऽद॒भुः ॥
imam | naraḥ | marutaḥ | saścata | vṛdham | yasmin | rāyaḥ | śe--vṛdhāsaḥ | abhi | ye | santi | pṛtanāsu | duḥ-dhyaḥ | viśvāhā | śatrum | ādabhuḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Forward-driving, martial cadence suited to exhortation and victory imagery.
Builds resolve and coordinated energy; the beat supports steadiness in ‘battle’ and a sense of collective movement with the divine force.
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: Maruts, storm-gods. Symbolic: dynamic life-energies; impulsions that aid aspiration and purification
- सश्चत (saścatā)
- Literal: accompany, follow closely. Symbolic: yoking one’s energies to the soul’s will; coordinated effort
- वृधम् (vṛdham)
- Literal: growing, increasing. Symbolic: the expanding inner Fire/Power; progressive intensification of tapas
- रायः (rāyaḥ)
- Literal: riches, wealth. Symbolic: luminous abundance—capacities of consciousness, right joy, wideness
- शेवृधासः (śevṛdhāsaḥ)
- Literal: making prosper/ thrive. Symbolic: powers that foster increase of inner plenitude
- पृतनासु (pṛtanāsu)
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner struggles against ignorance and fragmentation
- दूढ्यः (dūḍhyaḥ)
- Literal: firm, solid, well-founded. Symbolic: steadfast will and stable nerves; unshaken endurance
- शत्रुम् (śatrum)
- Literal: enemy. Symbolic: the inner adversary—darkness, doubt, inertia, hostile impulses
Invocation of Marut-aid to strengthen Agni’s growth and victory; used where collective divine forces are summoned for overcoming obstacles
At kindling/praise of Agni and when invoking supporting deities (Maruts) for strength and protection.
Offering of ghee/oblations while reciting to strengthen Agni and invoke victorious powers.
Use as a mantra of perseverance: recite before demanding work/inner discipline to align energies with aspiration and sustain victory over recurring resistance.
: imperative from √sac ‘to accompany’ (PIE *sekʷ- ‘follow’ uncertain; Indo-Iranian solid). : from √vṛdh ‘to grow’ (PIE *werdʰ- ‘grow’, cf. Eng. worth in distant relation; Lat. virdis ‘green’ is different). : battle (possibly from √pṛt ‘to fight’). : from √dṛh/√dūḍh ‘firm, solid’ (cf. dṛḍha). : aorist of √dabh ‘to overpower/deceive’.
inner battle (pṛtanā) as purification, continuous victory (viśvāhā)
Victory ‘through all days’ implies alignment with Ṛta—steadfastness that maintains right movement against disorder.
Truth is implied as the stable foundation (dūḍhyaḥ) enabling real conquest, not temporary excitement.
Increase (vṛdha, śevṛdhāsaḥ) reflects the Vedic theme of expansion of being through the fire of aspiration.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-yogic reading (Aurobindo): ascent from obscurity to light through coordinated powers.
Fire = aspiration/will; winds = prāṇic dynamisms; battlefield = the psyche under transformation where habits resist the new order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘battle-companions’ motif: Maruts as the dynamic host that accompanies the growing Agni in the battles. Inner sense: the life-forces (Maruts) must ally with the awakened will-fire so that riches can thrive and the enemy (falsehood/hostile thought) is subdued continually.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ reflects PIE *werdʰ- ‘grow/increase’ (cf. Av. vərəz- etc.). The battle lexicon and the collective storm-gods align with Indo-Iranian shared poetics (Maruts ~ Iranian wind/warrior bands in function, though not direct cognate deity names).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi orchestrates a coalition: human powers (naraḥ) and Maruts are urged to ‘accompany’ Agni. The reciprocity is collective discipline—when the seeker’s energies align with the divine dynamisms, prosperity (rāy) increases and the adversary is held down across time (viśvāhā).
Unify aspiration (Agni) with disciplined energies (Maruts) to sustain daily victory over resistance.
Maṇipūra (fire/will) with support from Anāhata (courage/expansion)
Moderate rhythmic breathing (e.g., 4-4 or 4-6) while chanting to ‘yoke’ prāṇa to intention.
Vigilant, courageous concentration; steady tapas without strain.
Before practice, invoke the ‘growing fire’ in the heart/solar plexus; feel the breath-winds arrange themselves around it; then face one recurring weakness as the ‘enemy’ and persist ‘viśvāhā’—daily, patiently.
General Rigvedic accenting applies; follow pada text for udatta/anudatta/svarita as marked in a proper saṃhitā/padapāṭha edition (not fully recoverable from the plain transliteration here).
Keep the natural triṣṭubh lift at each pāda end; avoid flattening ‘viśvāhā śatrúm ādábhuh’—let the cadence land on the victory verb.
marutaḥ: clear dental ‘t’, visarga soft before sibilant, saścatā: pronounce ‘śc’ cluster distinctly (ś-ca), pṛtanāsu: vocalic ṛ short and crisp, dūḍhyaḥ: retroflex ḍh with breathy release, viśvāhā: long ā held, ādabhuḥ: initial ā long; bh voiced aspirate
Steady, rallying, chest-supported; not shouted—firm and even.
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