Rig Veda 5.52.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 52, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.52
- Rishi
- Śyāvāśva
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
ते हि स्थिरस्य शवसः सखायः सन्ति धृष्णुया । ते यामन्ना धृषद्विनस्त्मना पान्ति शश्वतः ॥
té hí sthirásya śávasas sakhā́yaḥ sánti dhṛ́ṣṇu-yā́ | té yā́mann ā́ dhṛṣádvinas tmánā pā́nti śáśvataḥ ||
ఎందుకంటే వారు స్థిర శక్తికి సఖులు, ధృష్ట బలానికి సహచరులు. యాత్రలో వారు—వేగవంతులు—తమ స్వంత ఆత్మబలంతో ఎల్లప్పుడూ రక్షిస్తారు.
Word by Word
- ते
- theyPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed, forIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि (निपात)
- स्थिरस्य
- of the firm/steadfastAdjectiveपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- शवसः
- of strength, of mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root शवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सखायः
- friends, companionsNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot सखि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सन्ति
- areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनम्Root अस् (धातु)
- धृष्णुया
- with boldness, boldlyAdjective (instrumental used adverbially)स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (भावे/रीत्या)Role करण (रीत्यर्थे)Root धृष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bold, daring’)
- ते
- theyPronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यामन्ना
- in the course/at the going, on the wayNounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (वैदिकः रूपभेदः: यामनि → यामन्ना)Role अधिकरणRoot यामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धृषद्विनः
- the bold assailants/attackersNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot धृषद्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bold/impetuous assailant’)
- त्मना
- by themselves, with their own powerNoun (instrumental used adverbially)पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘self, own person/power’)
- पान्ति
- protectVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनम्Root पा (धातु, ‘to protect’)
- शश्वतः
- always, continuallyAdjective (acc. used adverbially)पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया बहुवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role कर्म (क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः)Root शश्वत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘everlasting, continual’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: ते हि स्थिरस्य शवसः सखायः सन्ति धृष्णुया । ते यामन्ना धृषद्विनः त्मना पान्ति शश्वतः ॥ 1) यामन्ना = यामनि (सप्तमी एकवचन) इत्यस्य वैदिक-सन्धि/रूपभेदः
- -नि + (पदविराम/स्वर-संयोग) → -न्ना इति प्राचीन-वैदिक-प्रयोगः। 2) अन्यत्र स्पष्ट बाह्यसन्धिः विशेषतः न
- ‘स्थिरस्य शवसः’ इति द्वयोः षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः (genitive chain) ‘firm strength’ इत्यर्थे।
The meaning
Outer meaning
They are comrades of firm strength, companions in bold force; on the journey the impetuous protect by their own nature always.
Inner meaning
The Maruts are stable allies of enduring power—not chaotic impulses but organized energies. In the inner journey (yāman), the ‘dhṛṣadvinaḥ’ (daring, rushing forces) protect the ascent by their very being (tmanā): when rightly invoked, they become self-sustaining guardians of progress, holding the seeker through turbulence and transition.
Universal truth
When life-energy is purified and organized, it becomes a constant protector of growth; true strength is both steadfast and dynamic.
Themes
protection, companionship of powers, enduring strength, Marut dynamism
The seer
- Rishi
- Śyāvāśva (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.52.1, RV 5.53 (Marut continuations)
Family tradition
Atri-line Marut hymns repeatedly pair steadiness (sthira) with impulsion (dhṛṣad), indicating a yogic ideal: stable strength that can act swiftly.
Significance
The seer’s insight is that divine vitality is not mere excitement; it is a loyal companionship that protects the long journey.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- sakhāyaḥ (comrades), dhṛṣadvinaḥ (impetuous), sthira-śavas (of stable strength, as companions of it)
- Related deities
- Indra, Rudra
Cosmic role
Guardians and movers of the mid-world; allies in battles against obstruction.
Inner power
Protective prāṇa that is both steady and swift—courage that persists.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation/description within Marut praise; protection of the rite and the sacrificer
ते हि स्थि॒रस्य॒ शव॑स॒: सखा॑य॒: सन्ति॑ धृष्णु॒या । ते याम॒न्ना धृ॑ष॒द्विन॒स्त्मना॑ पान्ति॒ शश्व॑तः ॥
ते । हि । स्थि॒रस्य॑ । शव॑सः । सखा॑यः । सन्ति॑ । धृ॒ष्णु॒ऽया । ते । याम॑न् । आ । धृ॒ष॒त्ऽविनः॑ । त्मना॑ । पा॒न्ति॒ । शश्व॑तः ॥
te | hi | sthirasya | śavasaḥ | sakhāyaḥ | santi | dhṛṣṇu-yā | te | yāman | ā | dhṛṣat-vinaḥ | tmanā | pānti | śaśvataḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Strong, balanced cadence—steadiness with thrust.
Builds confidence and a sense of being ‘held’ by force; good for overcoming fear and wavering.
- sthirasya śavasaḥ
- Literal: of stable strength. Symbolic: enduring spiritual force that does not collapse under pressure
- sakhāyaḥ
- Literal: friends, comrades. Symbolic: supporting powers within the being that collaborate with the soul’s intent
- dhṛṣṇuyā
- Literal: boldly. Symbolic: fearless ardor that sustains progress
- yāman
- Literal: journey, course. Symbolic: the path of sādhanā through stages of consciousness
- dhṛṣadvinaḥ
- Literal: impetuous, daring ones. Symbolic: dynamic prāṇic forces that break inertia and resistances
- tmanā
- Literal: by themselves, by their own being. Symbolic: self-existent support—inner protection that arises from established alignment
- pānti
- Literal: they protect. Symbolic: guarding the ascent from dispersal, fear, and relapse
- śaśvataḥ
- Literal: always, perpetually. Symbolic: continuity of support once the forces are harmonized
Invocation for protection and steadfast force during ritual ‘journey’ (yāman), also applicable to literal travel and campaign blessings
During Marut offerings or when seeking protection in the rite’s progress
Recitation to establish protective circle of forces
Chant when beginning a long project or recovery process—invoke ‘stable strength’ and ‘always-protecting’ energy.
sthirá ‘firm’ related to √sthā ‘stand’ (PIE *steh₂-). śávas ‘strength’ (Vedic key term for force). sakhā ‘friend/companion’ from √sakh (IE friendship lexicon). tmán- ‘self’ (cf. Avestan tman-), marking reflexive self-sustained agency. dhṛṣat- from √dhṛṣ ‘to dare, be bold’.
steadfast force (sthira śavas), self-sustained power (tmanā), guardianship of the path (yāman)
Protection ‘on the journey’ implies right-guided progression rather than random motion.
Steadiness (sthira) is a mark of truth-established force.
Yoga-oriented Vedic psychology: prāṇa as ally when aligned to higher will.
Breath-force that becomes a loyal guardian, preventing collapse into inertia or dispersion.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Maruts as comrades and guardians’ mythologem: the storm-powers are not chaotic but allied companions of firm strength who protect the course (yāman). Inner sense: the awakened energies, when rightly yoked, become enduring protectors of the aspirant’s movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- sthira- from √sthā reflects PIE *steh₂- ‘stand’. tmán- ‘self’ has Indo-Iranian cognacy (Avestan tman-), indicating an inherited reflexive ‘selfhood’ concept used for autonomous power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi emphasizes intimacy and alliance (sakhāyaḥ): these are not distant gods but comrades of the inner work. The reciprocity is trust: by invoking them in boldness (dhṛṣṇu-yā), one receives their perpetual protection (śaśvataḥ) in the ongoing journey.
Establish ‘protective prāṇa’: feel breath as a circle of guardians around the heart and spine during inner work.
Anāhata (protected heart-courage) and Maṇipūra (steady force)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for steadiness; then chant once on a long exhale.
Collected, courageous steadiness.
Recall a recurring weakness; chant, then sit 2 minutes sensing ‘tmanā pānti’—protection arising from your aligned being, not from external control.
Triṣṭubh with steady udatta on ‘sthirasya’, ‘śavasaḥ’, ‘pānti’; avoid over-accenting ‘dhṛṣad-’ so it remains controlled power.
Pause lightly after ‘sakhāyaḥ santi’; emphasize ‘yāman’ and ‘tmanā’ as the pivot of meaning.
sthirasya: dental ‘th’; keep ‘sth’ cluster clear, śavasaḥ: ‘śa’ palatal; short ‘a’ in -saḥ, dhṛṣadvinaḥ: retroflex ‘ṣ’; articulate ‘dv’ cleanly, tmanā: consonant cluster ‘tm’; keep ‘ā’ long, śaśvataḥ: repeat ‘śa’ clearly; final visarga softened
Firm and rounded; protective tone rather than aggressive.
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