Rig Veda 5.55.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 55, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.55
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स्वयं दधिध्वे तविषीं यथा विद बृहन्महान्त उर्विया वि राजथ । उतान्तरिक्षं ममिरे व्योजसा शुभं यातामनु रथा अवृत्सत ॥
svayáṃ dadhidhve tavíṣīṃ yáthā vida bṛhánmahānta urviyā́ ví rājatha | utā́ntárikṣaṃ mamire vyòjasā śúbhaṃ yātām ánu rathā́ avṛtsata ||
హే విశాలులారా, మహానుభావులారా! మీరు స్వయంగా మీ తవిషీ (పరాక్రమ-శక్తి)ని యథావిధిగా స్థాపిస్తారు; విస్తారమైన ఉర్వీయందు దూరదూరాల వరకు ప్రకాశిస్తారు. మీ వ్యోజస్ (బలం)తో అంతరిక్షాన్ని కొలుస్తారు. మీ రథాలు శుభమార్గాన్ని అనుసరించి సాగిపోవుగాక.
Word by Word
- स्वयम्
- by yourselves, of your own accordIndeclinableअव्यय (निपात)Role Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)Root स्वयम् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
- दधिध्वे
- you have placed/established (for yourselves)Verbलिट् (परस्मैपद/आत्मनेपद-वेदिक), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद-रूप: दधिध्वेRole क्रिया (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः: ‘यूयम्’)Root धा (डुधाञ्) / दधि- (धातोः पुनरुक्त-आदेशः)
- तविषीम्
- strength, mightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तविषी (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- यथा
- as, in such a way thatIndeclinableअव्यय (उपमान/प्रकार)Role Adverbial (उपमान/प्रकार)Root यथा (अव्यय)
- विद
- know!, perceive!Verbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-वेदिक आज्ञार्थ-रूप, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (आदेश/अनुज्ञा: ‘know/see!’)Role क्रिया (सम्बोधन-प्रयुक्त)Root विद् (विदँ ज्ञाने) / वेदिक-आज्ञार्थे ‘विद’
- बृहन्महान्तः
- the lofty and great (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (समास/द्वन्द्व-प्रायः: ‘बृहन्तश्च महान्तश्च’)Role KartāRoot बृहन्त् + महान्त् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिके)
- उर्विया
- with/through broadness, with wide expanseNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot उर्वी (स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, widely, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियायोगे)Role Preverb (क्रियाविशेषक)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- राजथ
- you rule, you shine forthVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: बृहन्महान्तः)Root राज् (राजृँ दीप्तौ/ऐश्वर्ये)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे निपातRole Discourse connectiveRoot उत (अव्यय)
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the midspace, atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्तरिक्ष (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- ममिरे
- they measured out, they apportionedVerbलिट्, तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: ते/मरुतः)Root मा (मा॒ङ् माने/मिमातेः; ‘मि’ माने/माने) → ममे (लिट्)
- वि
- apart, distinctlyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole PreverbRoot वि (उपसर्ग)
- ओजसा
- with might, by powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot ओजस् (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- शुभम्
- auspicious, splendidAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (याताम् इत्यस्य कर्म/विशेषण)Role Karma (or कर्मविशेषण)Root शुभ (नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
- याताम्
- go!, come!, proceed (you two)Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: ‘यूवाम्’—सम्बोधितौ)Root या (या॒ङ् गतौ) / याता (कृदन्त-आधार)
- अनु
- after, alongIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (अनुगमन-अर्थे)Role Adverbial/PreverbRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- रथाः
- chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रथ (पुंलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
- अवृत्सत
- they rolled/followed, they moved along (after)Verbलुङ् (अorist), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: रथाः)Root वृत् (वृतँ वरणे/वर्तने) + अव-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): स्वयम् | दधिध्वे | तविषीम् | यथा | विद | बृहन्महान्तः | उर्विया | वि | राजथ || उत | अन्तरिक्षम् | ममिरे | वि | ओजसा | शुभम् | याताम् | अनु | रथाः | अवृत्सत || 1) बृहन्महान्तः: संहितायां ‘बृहन्’ + ‘महान्तः’ इति द्वन्द्व/समाहार-प्रायः, लेखने एकपदत्वेन। 2) व्योजसा = वि + ओजसा (उपसर्ग-सन्धिः: इ/ओ → यो)। 3) यातामनु = याताम् + अनु (म् + अ → म् अ; संहितायां ‘म’ परे ‘अ’ इति अवग्रह-रहित-लेखनम्)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Maruts establish their own might, shine widely in the vastness, and measure the midspace by their force; may their chariots roll on the auspicious way.
Inner meaning
The life-powers, when awakened, self-organize (svayam dadhidhve) into a stable tapas (taviṣī). They widen the field of consciousness (urviyā vi rājatha) and ‘measure the antarikṣa’—the intermediate inner world between mind and body—mapping and mastering the prāṇic-mental space by force of soul-energy (ojas). This is the yogic ordering of the inner atmosphere so it can carry higher light without turbulence.
Universal truth
True power is self-established and self-governed: when energies are set in right order, the inner ‘midspace’ becomes measurable, navigable, and luminous—supporting steady progress on the auspicious path.
Themes
cosmic ordering, widening and shining, disciplined force
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.55.1, Rig Veda 5.55.3, Rig Veda 5.55.4, Rig Veda 5.55.5
Family tradition
Atri hymns often stress widening (bṛhat), luminous seeing, and the right ordering of inner powers to support the ascent.
Significance
The seer’s emphasis here is on inner mastery of the ‘antarikṣa’—a key Aurobindonian theme: the intermediate plane must be purified and measured for higher realization.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- bṛhan (vast), mahāntaḥ (great), ojasa (of force)
- Related deities
- Indra, Vāyu, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Regulators of the atmospheric region; movers of winds and rains; allies who clear the path for Indra’s illumination.
Inner power
Forces that expand and structure the vital plane; they bring disciplined dynamism and wideness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut praise within Soma rites; invoked for force, protection, and successful progression of the yajña.
स्व॒यं द॑धिध्वे॒ तवि॑षीं॒ यथा॑ वि॒द बृ॒हन्म॑हान्त उर्वि॒या वि रा॑जथ । उ॒तान्तरि॑क्षं ममिरे॒ व्योज॑सा॒ शुभं॑ या॒तामनु॒ रथा॑ अवृत्सत ॥
स्व॒यम् । द॒धि॒ध्वे॒ । तवि॑षीम् । यथा॑ । वि॒द । बृ॒हत् । म॒हा॒न्तः॒ । उ॒र्वि॒या । वि । रा॒ज॒थ॒ । उ॒त । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । म॒मि॒रे॒ । वि । ओज॑सा । शुभ॑म् । या॒ताम् । अनु॑ । रथाः॑ । अ॒वृ॒त्स॒त॒ ॥
svayam | dadhidhve | taviṣīm | yathā | vida | bṛhat | mahāntaḥ | urviyā | vi | rājatha | uta | antarikṣam | mamire | vi | ojasā | śubham | yātām | anu | rathāḥ | avṛtsata
44
4 × ~11 syllables; strong caesura supports declarative statements.
Measured, expansive, with a surveying movement matching ‘measuring the midspace’.
Creates a sense of breadth and structured force; steadies scattered energy.
- स्वयम् (svayam)
- Literal: by yourselves. Symbolic: self-acting divine energies within; spontaneous organization when aligned to truth
- दधिध्वे (dadhidhve)
- Literal: you place/establish. Symbolic: stabilizing force; fixing the inner powers into a right formation
- तविषी (taviṣī)
- Literal: might, vehement force. Symbolic: tapas-shakti, concentrated spiritual energy in the vital
- उर्विया (urviyā)
- Literal: in breadth, widely. Symbolic: widening of consciousness; expansion beyond narrow ego
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- Literal: midspace, atmosphere. Symbolic: inner vital-mental field where impulses, emotions, and energies circulate
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by vigor, strength. Symbolic: essential energy-substance supporting endurance and transformation
- शुभम् (śubham)
- Literal: auspicious good. Symbolic: right movement aligned to ṛta
Invocation emphasizing Maruts’ cosmic ordering power; suitable in offerings seeking stabilization and right measure of energies
During recitations to secure energetic support and wideness for the rite; as part of Marut-related stotras.
Stuti (praise) and niyoga (directing the gods’ powers) toward auspicious movement.
For practitioners: recite when feeling scattered—use it to ‘measure’ and calm the inner atmosphere before meditation or important decisions.
taviṣī from √tav ‘be strong’. urvī ‘broad’ (wideness motif). √rāj ‘shine’ used as manifestation. √mā ‘measure’ indicates ordering/form-giving (Ṛta as measure). antarikṣa as intermediate domain (psychologically vital-mental).
Ṛta as measure (√mā), manifestation of power (taviṣī, ojas), widening consciousness (urvī, bṛhat)
Right order appears as self-established might and measured midspace—energies acting according to law rather than whim.
Wide shining (vi rājatha) suggests truth-manifestation as luminous clarity in the inner field.
Cosmic ‘measurement’ as creation: establishing boundaries and order in the intermediate world.
Aurobindonian psychological Veda: antarikṣa as inner vital plane to be mastered for ascent.
Atmosphere = prāṇic-mental field; measuring = gaining conscious mastery; wide shining = expansion of awareness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ordering of the midspace: Maruts as powers that ‘measure’ and structure the intermediate world by force—cosmic architecture translated into inner regulation of the vital-mental field.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ is a core IE root for order and formation; its use for cosmic structuring is pan-IE. √rāj ‘shine’ ties sovereignty with radiance, another widespread IE semantic.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes the Maruts’ self-established might and asks their movement along śubha. The implicit request is that their measuring power (√mā) also measure and order the sacrificer’s inner midspace.
Widen the inner field and stabilize force: feel a broad, bright ‘midspace’ between head and navel becoming ordered.
Anahata–Manipura axis (breath-field and will-field)
Box breathing (sama-vṛtti) 4-4-4-4 for 7 cycles, then chant once with awareness in the chest-space.
Wide, steady, forceful equanimity.
On ‘antarikṣam mamire’, scan the inner atmosphere: name and release turbulence; then affirm a calm, measured wideness before continuing practice.
Follow Vedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; emphasize the lift on key power-words (taviṣīm, ojasā) without over-stressing.
Keep pāda breaks clear; let ‘antarikṣam mamire’ be slightly more measured to mirror the meaning.
‘taviṣīm’ pronounce ta-vi-ṣīm with clear ṣ., ‘urviyā’ keep rvi cluster: ur-vi-yā., ‘vy ojasā’ articulate the sandhi as vyó-jasā (light y-glide).
Steady, expansive, resonant; less martial than 5.55.1, more ‘measured’ authority.
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