Rig Veda 3.51.7: Mandala 3, Sukta 51, Mantra 7
Sukta 3.51
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Devata
- Indra-Marutvant
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्र मरुत्व इह पाहि सोमं यथा शार्याते अपिबः सुतस्य । तव प्रणीती तव शूर शर्मन्ना विवासन्ति कवयः सुयज्ञाः ॥
índra marutva ihá pāhi sómaṃ yáthā śāryā́te ápibaḥ sutásya | táva práṇītī táva śūra śármann ā́ vivāsanti kaváyaḥ su-yajñā́ḥ ||
మరుతులతో కూడిన ఓ ఇంద్రా! ఇక్కడ సోమాన్ని పానము చేయి; శార్యాతుని వద్ద నీవు సుత (నలిపిన) సోమాన్ని పానము చేసినట్లే. ఓ శూరా! నీ ప్రణీతి (నాయకత్వం) మరియు నీ శరణ-రూప శర్మన్ (ఆశ్రయం) వలన సుయజ్ఞులైన కవులు (ఋషులు) సమీపించి వెలుగులో నివసిస్తారు.
Word by Word
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुत्वः
- O (Indra) accompanied by the MarutsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: -वः)Role सम्बोधनRoot मरुत्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; मरुत् + वन्त्)
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot इह (अव्यय)
- पाहि
- drink / protect (here: drink)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root पा (धातु) ‘पिबति/रक्षति’
- सोमम्
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as, just asIndeclinableअव्ययRole (सम्बन्ध/उपमान) अव्ययRoot यथा (अव्यय)
- शार्याते
- in/at (the place/person) ŚāryāNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot शार्या (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री)
- अपि
- also, indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRole (निपात)Root अपि (अव्यय)
- अबिबः
- you drankVerbलुङ् (अorist/इमपरफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root पा (धातु) ‘पिबति’
- सुतस्य
- of the pressed (Soma)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सुत (कृदन्त; √सु ‘सवति/सुनोति’ → ‘pressed’)
- तव
- yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- प्रणीती
- guidance, leadingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (of ‘वि-वासन्ति’ as subject: ‘your guidance’)Root प्रणीति (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√नी ‘नेतुम्’ → ‘leading, guidance’)
- तव
- yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- शूर
- O heroNoun (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्मन्
- in (your) shelter/protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्गार्थे/निपात)Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- विवासन्ति
- they abide / resortVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root वि-√वस् (धातु) ‘वासयति/उपसेवते’ (वेदिक: ‘to dwell/abide, to resort to’)
- कवयः
- seers, poetsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुयज्ञाः
- well-sacrificing, performing good ritesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्ता (विशेषण of ‘कवयः’)Root सु-यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; सु + यज्ञ)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: मरुत्व इह → मरुत्वः इह (विसर्ग-लोप/वेदिक संधि before vowel)
- शर्मन्ना → शर्मन् + आ (नपुंसक -न् stem loc.sg ‘शर्मन्’ + निपात ‘आ’, with gemination/assimilation in saṃhitā)
- other forms largely already padapāṭha-like. Accent marks in saṃhitā (e.g., इन्द्र॑, पा॑हि, सोमं॒) are not repeated in the pada list but correspond to the given text
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra accompanied by the Maruts, drink the Soma here, as once you drank the pressed offering at Śāryāta’s. By your leading and shelter, O hero, the seers of good sacrifice draw near and dwell in the Light.
Inner meaning
Indra with the Maruts signifies illumined mind joined with the dynamic life-forces (Maruts) that execute inspiration in action. Soma is the pressed bliss-essence offered in the inner rite; when the higher mind drinks it, it becomes strength and joy for conquest. The remembered ‘Śāryāta’ episode functions as archetype: the god has responded before—there is a lineage of realizations in the soul. Under Indra’s leading (praṇīti) and protection (śarman), the kavayaḥ (seer-thinkers) of ‘good sacrifice’ (suyajñāḥ: rightly ordered inner offering) come to dwell (vivāsanti) in the Light—i.e., stable residence in illumination, not passing flashes.
Universal truth
When illumination joins dynamic energies and is nourished by inner delight, right practice becomes steady and the seeker’s consciousness can take up residence in clarity rather than visit it briefly.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Indra with Maruts, guidance and shelter, seer-approach
The seer
- Rishi
- Viśvāmitra Gāthina
- Lineage
- Viśvāmitra (Gāthina line)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 3.51.8, Rig Veda 3.52.5-3.52.6 (Indra-Marut themes, general), Rig Veda 3.53
Family tradition
Hymns of Indra’s victorious guidance; frequent Marut association showing the necessity of dynamic energies for realization.
Significance
The rishi emphasizes stable habitation in light—illumination must become a dwelling through right guidance and protective poise.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Marutvant (Indra with the Maruts)
- Epithets
- marutvaḥ (with Maruts), śūra (hero), netṛ (leader, implied by praṇīti)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Indra receives Soma and leads the hosts of storm-gods; together they shatter obstructions and set the movement of the worlds.
Inner power
Illuminated mind (Indra) directing energized vital forces (Maruts) to embody inspiration; protection that stabilizes realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering invitation to Indra with Maruts (pāhi somaṃ)
इन्द्र॑ मरुत्व इ॒ह पा॑हि॒ सोमं॒ यथा॑ शार्या॒ते अपि॑बः सु॒तस्य॑ । तव॒ प्रणी॑ती॒ तव॑ शूर॒ शर्म॒न्ना वि॑वासन्ति क॒वय॑: सुय॒ज्ञाः ॥
इन्द्र॑ । म॒रु॒त्वः॒ । इ॒ह । पा॒हि॒ । सोम॑म् । यथा॑ । शा॒र्या॒ते । अपि॑बः । सु॒तस्य॑ । तव॑ । प्रऽनी॑ती । तव॑ । शू॒र॒ । शर्म॑न् । आ । वि॒वा॒स॒न्ति॒ । क॒वयः॑ । सु॒ऽय॒ज्ञाः ॥
indra | marutvaḥ | iha | pāhi | somam | yathā | śāryāte | apibaḥ | sutasya | tava | pra-nītī | tava | śūra | śarman | ā | vivāsanti | kavayaḥ | su-yajñāḥ
44
4 x ~11
Inviting and then settling; first half calls, second half establishes dwelling.
Elicits a sense of descent of joy (Soma) followed by a protective calm where light can stabilize.
- मरुत्वः (marutvaḥ)
- Literal: with the Maruts. Symbolic: illumined mind supported by dynamic life-forces and inspirations
- सोम (soma)
- Literal: Soma drink. Symbolic: divine bliss/nectar; delight that empowers consciousness
- सुत (suta)
- Literal: pressed. Symbolic: essence extracted by tapas (inner pressing) from experience
- प्रणीति (praṇīti)
- Literal: leading, guidance. Symbolic: inner direction by the higher intelligence
- शर्मन् (śarman)
- Literal: shelter, protection. Symbolic: safe inner poise where forces can work without disturbance
- कवयः (kavayaḥ)
- Literal: seers/poets. Symbolic: inner faculties of vision and inspired discernment
- सुयज्ञाः (suyajñāḥ)
- Literal: good sacrificers. Symbolic: those who order the inner offering rightly (ṛta in practice)
Soma-pāna invitation in Soma sacrifice; recalling precedent (itihāsa-like reference) to strengthen efficacy of the present offering
At Soma libation moments; invocation for Indra’s presence with his hosts
Invite deity to drink Soma; strengthen communal rite and protection
Use before meditation to ‘invite’ inner joy and dynamic energy; helpful for lethargy or scattered will.
pra-nīti from √nī ‘lead’ shows Indra as inner guide of the ascent. śarman ‘shelter’ denotes peace-state established by divine protection. soma from √su ‘press’ outwardly; inwardly the pressed essence of delight/illumination. marutvat ties Indra’s mind-force with prāṇic/life dynamisms (Maruts) necessary for energetic realization.
right action (su-yajña) aligned with ṛta, divine guidance (praṇīti), protection/peace (śarman)
Suyajña indicates practice aligned with ṛta; then the seer-powers can ‘dwell’ in light.
Praṇīti is truth-leading; guidance that keeps the movement aligned with satya.
Soma as delight-substance empowering the gods to perform the universal work; light as a stable plane to inhabit.
Psychological cosmology: gods as powers in consciousness; dwelling in light anticipates Upaniṣadic ‘jyoti’ as inner home.
Maruts = dynamic prāṇic inspirations; Soma = bliss-essence; shelter = inner peace; dwelling in light = stabilized illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘Soma-drinking Indra’ accompanied by Maruts—divine-force entering the rite to empower victory and right movement. The remembered drinking ‘at Śāryāta’s’ functions as a paradigmatic successful descent of power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pā ‘drink’ is PIE *peh₃- (cf. Latin pōtus ‘drunk’, English ‘potable’ via Latin). √nī ‘lead’ continues PIE *neh₁- ‘to lead’ (cf. Latin ducere is not cognate; but Sanskrit naya- ‘leading’ is Indo-Iranian continuation). √vas ‘dwell’ is PIE *wes- ‘to dwell’ (English was/were is not; but ‘vestibule’ not; closer: Sanskrit vasati, Greek oíkos is different).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seers invite Indra to drink the inner delight (Soma) so his guidance and peace become active. Under that leading (praṇīti) the kavi-s can ‘arrive’—i.e., settle into the sacrificial consciousness—making the rite a stable dwelling of illumination.
Invite Indra-Maruts: clarity plus energized aspiration; receive Soma as inner sweetness in the heart and widen it upward to the brow.
anāhata (Soma sweetness) and ājñā (praṇīti guidance)
Inhale imagining Marut winds lifting; exhale offering Soma into the brow-heart axis. After chanting, sit 2 minutes in ‘śarman’: protective stillness.
Uplifted, guided, then quietly established.
Chant once to invoke; chant again feeling ‘tava praṇītī’ as an inner hand leading; finish with silent attention in the space of light above the head, letting the mind ‘dwell’ there.
Udatta emphasis on índra, marútvaḥ, sómam, práṇīti, śárman; allow gentle svarita falls to convey ‘shelter’.
Make ‘indra marutva iha pāhi somaṃ’ a clear invitation phrase; soften and broaden on ‘tava śūra śarman’. Slight pause before ‘ā vivāsanti’.
marutvaḥ: marut-vaḥ; keep tvaḥ crisp., pāhi: long ā; aspirate h lightly., śāryāte: śā-ryā-te with clear yā., vivāsanti: vi-vā-san-ti; long vā.
Inviting at first, then protective and soothing in the latter half.
3
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.
