Rig Veda 2.34.3: Mandala 2, Sukta 34, Mantra 3
Sukta 2.34
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उक्षन्ते अश्वाँ अत्याँ इवाजिषु नदस्य कर्णैस्तुरयन्त आशुभिः । हिरण्यशिप्रा मरुतो दविध्वतः पृक्षं याथ पृषतीभिः समन्यवः ॥
ukṣánte aśvā́n atyā́n ivā́jiṣu nadásya kárṇais turayanta āśúbhiḥ | híraṇya-śiprā maruto dáv idhvataḥ pṛkṣáṃ yātha pṛ́ṣatībhiḥ sa-manyavaḥ ||
พวกเขากระตุ้นม้าของตนดุจนักแข่งในสนามประลอง; ด้วยหูแห่งเสียงคำราม พวกเขาขับเคลื่อนด้วยพลังอันฉับไว. โอมารุตผู้มีกรามทอง ผู้สั่นสะเทือนด้วยฤทธิ์เดช ท่านทรงม้าแต้มลาย ทั้งเจตจำนงและความฮึกเหิมเป็นหนึ่งเดียวกัน.
Word by Word
- उक्षन्ते
- they sprinkle/they pour forthVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), आत्मनेपदम्, प्र. 3, बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root उक्ष् (वर्षणे/सिञ्चने)
- अश्वान्
- horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्यान्
- swift steedsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (अश्वान् इति विशेषण/समन्वयः)Root अत्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift/steed’)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययम्Role (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)Root इव
- अजिषु
- in races/contestsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अजि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘race/contest’)
- नदस्य
- of the roaring (one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (कर्णैः इत्यस्य)Root नद (प्रातिपदिक; ‘roar/stream’)
- कर्णैः
- with (their) earsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- तुरयन्ते
- they hasten/they speed onVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), आत्मनेपदम्, प्र. 3, बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root तुर् (शीघ्रीकरणे/प्रेरणे)
- आशुभिः
- with the swift (ones)/swiftlyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग (मरुतः इत्यस्य), तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot आशु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift’)
- हिरण्यशिप्राः
- golden-jawedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot हिरण्य-शिप्र (बहुव्रीहि-प्रातिपदिक; ‘golden-jawed/with golden cheek-pieces’)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दविध्वतः
- shaking/brandishing (their weapons)Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (मरुतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root दविध्वत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; intensive/iterative sense from √धू/धुन् ‘to shake’ as used in RV: ‘shaking, brandishing’)
- पृक्षम्
- refreshment/sprinkling (draught)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sprinkling/mixture; refreshment’ RV usage)
- याथ
- you have gone/you goVerbलिट्/परिपूर्ण-भूत (RV perfect), परस्मैपदम्, म. 2, बहुवचनम् (वैदिक रूपम्)Role (क्रिया)Root या (गत्यर्थे)
- पृषतीभिः
- with the spotted (does/mares)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot पृषती (प्रातिपदिक; ‘spotted doe/antelope’; also ‘spotted mares’ in RV imagery)
- समन्यवः
- of one accord in fury/with united ardorAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (मरुतः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root समन्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having the same wrath/impulse’; bahuvrīhi)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (मुख्यः): उक्षन्ते | अश्वान् | अत्यान् | इव | अजिषु | नदस्य | कर्णैः | तुरयन्ते | आशुभिः || हिरण्यशिप्राः | मरुतः | दविध्वतः | पृक्षम् | याथ | पृषतीभिः | समन्यवः || 1) अश्वाँ अत्याँ इव → अश्वान् अत्यान् इव (anusvāra/ँ = -न् before vowel). 2) कर्णैस् तुरयन्ते → कर्णैः तुरयन्ते (visarga before dental). 3) आशुभिः । हिरण्य-… → pāda break
- treated as finite verb here
The meaning
Outer meaning
They spur their horses like racers in contests; with the ears of the roaring they drive on with swift forces. O Maruts of golden jaws, vibrating, you ride dappled steeds, united in will and ardor.
Inner meaning
The ‘horses’ are vital energies disciplined for the soul’s race (ājis). The Maruts govern these powers, sharpening them by the ‘roar’—the awakening vibration that breaks inertia. ‘Golden jaws’ suggests a luminous force of expression and command (speech/drive) that ‘chews’ and assimilates experience into power. Riding the dappled steeds indicates mastery over mixed nature (light and shadow in the vital), made effective by unity of intention (saman-yu: one will).
Universal truth
Energy becomes a vehicle of progress when it is trained, unified, and guided by a higher vibration; otherwise it runs scattered. Unity of will is the key to swift advancement.
Themes
Divine chariot and steeds, Speed and victorious striving, Unified will, Luminous speech-force
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada Bhārgava
- Lineage
- Bhārgava
- Other hymns
- RV 2.11, RV 2.23, RV 2.33, RV 2.34
Family tradition
Bhrigu line: emphasis on transforming life-force into effective instrument of the yajña (inner offering).
Significance
This verse shows the yogic ‘training’ of energy: the Maruts as leaders of prāṇa who make the aspirant swift, united, and victorious in the inner battle.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- hiraṇyaśiprāḥ (golden-jawed), āśu (swift), pṛṣadaśva (dappled-steeded, implied), samanyavaḥ (one-willed)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Indra, Vāyu
Cosmic role
Storm-host riding the winds; impellers of movement, sound, and lightning; allies in the victory for light.
Inner power
They govern the nervous-vital dynamism, intensify tapas, and bring unity of impulsion so action serves illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut invocations in Soma liturgy; also in rites seeking speed, force, and victorious movement.
उ॒क्षन्ते॒ अश्वाँ॒ अत्याँ॑ इवा॒जिषु॑ न॒दस्य॒ कर्णै॑स्तुरयन्त आ॒शुभि॑: । हिर॑ण्यशिप्रा मरुतो॒ दवि॑ध्वतः पृ॒क्षं या॑थ॒ पृष॑तीभिः समन्यवः ॥
उ॒क्षन्ते॑ । अश्वा॑न् । अत्या॑न्ऽइव । आ॒जिषु॑ । न॒दस्य॑ । कर्णैः॑ । तु॒र॒य॒न्ते॒ । आ॒शुऽभिः॑ । हिर॑ण्यऽशिप्राः । म॒रु॒तः॒ । दवि॑ध्वतः । पृ॒क्षम् । या॒थ॒ । पृष॑तीभिः । स॒ऽम॒न्य॒वः॒ ॥
ukṣante | aśvān | atyān-iva | ājiṣu | nadasya | karṇaiḥ | turayante | āśu-bhiḥ | h iraṇya-śiprāḥ | marutaḥ | davidhvataḥ | pṛkṣam | yātha | pṛṣatībhiḥ | sa-manyavaḥ
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4 pādas of ~11 syllables
Fast, galloping feel; many consonant clusters create a ‘hoofbeat’ effect.
Energizes and synchronizes the breath with a sense of forward motion; good for overcoming procrastination and scattered drive.
- अश्वान् (aśvān)
- Literal: horses. Symbolic: vital energies, powers of action
- अत्यान् इव (atyān iva)
- Literal: like racers/chargers. Symbolic: intensified life-force trained for the inner contest
- आजिषु (ājiṣu)
- Literal: in contests. Symbolic: the spiritual struggle for light and mastery
- नदस्य (nadasya)
- Literal: of the roaring. Symbolic: inner vibration/rumble of awakening force
- आशुभिः (āśubhiḥ)
- Literal: with swift ones/rapid energies. Symbolic: quickened prāṇa and decisive impulses
- हिरण्यशिप्राः (hiraṇyaśiprāḥ)
- Literal: golden-jawed. Symbolic: luminous power of command, assimilation, and inspired expression
- दविध्वतः (davidhvataḥ)
- Literal: quivering, vibrating. Symbolic: charged intensity; tapas in motion
- पृषतीभिः (pṛṣatībhiḥ)
- Literal: with dappled (steeds). Symbolic: mixed energies of nature brought under luminous control
- समन्यवः (samanyavaḥ)
- Literal: of one will/ardor. Symbolic: unified intention—alignment of life-force with soul-aim
Invocation for swift arrival and energizing of the rite; supports the sacrificer’s striving (āji) toward illumination
When calling Maruts as riders/impellers and allies in action.
Recitation accompanying offerings; symbolic ‘yoking’ of energies to the sacrifice.
Use before exercise, disciplined practice, or demanding tasks to unify will and harness vital energy without agitation.
: from √ukṣ ‘to sprinkle, strengthen; also ‘to urge on’ in chariot context. : ‘race/contest’ (striving). : ‘roar’ from √nad ‘to sound/roar’. /-: √tur ‘to hasten, overcome’. : ‘jaw/lip’ (seat of speech/command); hiraṇya ‘gold’ indicates luminous efficacy. : ‘speckled/dappled’—Nature’s mixed forces yoked to divine motion. : ‘same-minded’ (sam- ‘together’ + manyu ‘impulse/ardor’), manyu as force of spirited will.
tapas as striving (āji), harmonized manyu (unified ardor), discipline of life-energies (aśva)
The ‘straight, swift drive’ is right movement when governed by divine powers rather than desire.
Golden imagery indicates illumination guiding action.
Transformation of mixed nature (dappled) into a vehicle for higher purpose.
Yogic-psychological reading: aśva as prāṇic force; Maruts as regulators of dynamic nature.
Thunder/roar = awakening vibration; horses = disciplined energies; speed = decisive prāṇa aligned to the soul.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The storm-host as charioteers driving swift steeds: mythically the Maruts’ ride; psychologically the disciplined propulsion of life-forces (aśva) through inner contests (āji) toward the goal of light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Aśva ‘horse’ is a clear IE inheritance (PIE *h₁éḱwos). The race/contest motif (āji) and chariot poetics are pan-IE. Manyu as spirited impulse parallels IE ‘mind/anger/drive’ vocabularies used for heroic force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals to the Maruts as organizers of speed and harmony: their ‘one ardor’ becomes the model and aid for the human aspirant whose scattered impulses must become coordinated powers in the inner battle.
Feel the breath as the ‘horse’ and the will as the rider; invite Marut-force to unify scattered impulses into one direction.
Manipura (drive) and Ajna (unifying direction)
Rhythmic breathing with gentle internal ‘humming’ on exhale (bhrāmarī-like) to evoke ‘nada’ (roar) as inner vibration.
Focused dynamism—energetic yet governed.
Chant 7 times standing or seated upright; then sit still and observe whether impulses align into a single clear next action; act immediately on the clearest truthful impulse.
Standard Ṛgvedic accents; keep the momentum—avoid dragging svarita slides.
Slightly stress ‘ukṣante’, ‘aśvān’, ‘āśubhiḥ’, ‘hiraṇyaśiprā’, ‘samanyavaḥ’ to preserve the gallop-feel.
: kṣ cluster clean; nasalization minimal, : long ā; keep final n clear before vowel, : dental d; short a, : retroflex ṇ in hiraṇya; śiprā with ś not s, : vocalic ṛ; long ī
Crisp, rhythmic, slightly percussive consonants; steady volume.
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