Rig Veda 6.66.7: Mandala 6, Sukta 66, Mantra 7
Sukta 6.66
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अनेनो वो मरुतो यामो अस्त्वनश्वश्चिद्यमजत्यरथीः । अनवसो अनभीशू रजस्तूर्वि रोदसी पथ्या याति साधन् ॥
anéno vo maruto yā́mo astv anaśváś cid yám ájati arathī́ḥ | anaváso anabhīśū́ rajastū́r ví ródasī pathyā́ yāti sā́dhan ||
ข้าแต่เหล่ามารุต (Maruts) ขอให้วิถีของท่านไม่ขาดตอน—แม้ไร้ม้าก็ขับเคลื่อนได้ แม้ไร้รถศึกก็แล่นไปได้. ไร้บังเหียน ไร้แส้ ผู้ข้ามผ่านห้วงอากาศก็เคลื่อนไป; เขาสร้างหนทางระหว่างสองโลกให้เป็นไปได้ และทำกิจให้สำเร็จ.
Word by Word
- अनेन
- by/with this (means)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole करणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एतद्
- वः
- for you / of youPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्प्रदानRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुतः
- O MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यामः
- course/going, marchNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot याम (प्रातिपदिक; from √या ‘to go’)
- अस्तु
- let it beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √अस् (भू-सत्तायाम्)
- अनश्वः
- horselessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (यामः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अन्- + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- यम्
- which (him/that)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अजति
- drives/impelsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √अज् (गत्यर्थे/क्षेपे)
- अरथीः
- without a charioteer / without a chariotAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (यामः इति विशेषणम्; वैदिक-रूप)Role कर्तृRoot अ- + रथिन्/रथी (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनवसः
- unclad / without garmentsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (मरुतः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अन्- + वस्/वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनभीशूः
- without reinsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (मरुतः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अन्- + अभीशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रजः
- the airy space/region, mistNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तूर्वि
- swiftly, with forceIndeclinableअव्ययRoot तूर्वि (अव्यय/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘swiftly/strongly’)
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्विवचन-शब्द), द्वितीया विभक्ति, द्विवचनRole कर्मRoot रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; ‘heaven-and-earth’)
- पथ्याः
- path-going, moving on pathsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन (मरुतः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot पथ्य (प्रातिपदिक; from पथ ‘path’)
- याति
- goes, proceedsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √या (गत्यर्थे)
- साधन्
- accomplishing, effecting (successfully)Participleवर्तमाने शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (साधन्त्), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (यामः इति विशेषणम्; वैदिक-रूप ‘साधन्’)Role कर्तृRoot √साध् (सिद्धौ/साधने) → साधन्त् (वर्तमाने कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): अनेनः/अनेन + वः
- मरुतो (सम्बोधन-बहु) + यामः
- अस्तु + अनश्वः + चित् + यम् + अजति + अरथीः। द्वितीयपादे: अनवसः + अनभीशूः
- रजः + तूर्वि
- रोदसी
- पथ्याः
- याति
- साधन्। प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) ‘अनेनो’ = ‘अनेन’ + ‘उ’ (वः-पूर्ववर्ती उदात्त-प्रभाव/पदपाठ-परम्परा; संहितायां ओ-आदेशः), (2) ‘अस्त्वनश्वः’ = ‘अस्तु’ + ‘अनश्वः’ (उ + अ → व्-अगमः), (3) ‘चिद्यम्’ = ‘चित्’ + ‘यम्’ (द् + य → द्य्), (4) ‘यामो अस्तु’ में ओ + अ hiatus (संहितायां पृथक्), (5) ‘रजस्तूर्वि’ = ‘रजः’ + ‘तूर्वि’ (विसर्ग-लोपः/स्-आदेशः), (6) ‘तूर्वि रोदसी’ hiatus, (7) ‘याति साधन्’ पृथक् (कृदन्त-विशेषण)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
May your course be unbroken, O Maruts—though without horses it drives, though without chariot. Without reins, without lash, the traverser of the midspace goes; it makes a path between the two worlds, accomplishing its work.
Inner meaning
The Marut movement is the spontaneous divine impulsion in the prāṇa: it proceeds without the usual instruments of action (horses/chariot/reins/whip). In inner terms, the yogic Force acts without ego-driven control-mechanisms; it is self-guided by the Truth within. The ‘traverser of the midspace’ (rajastūr) is the life-force moving in the intermediate plane between mind and body; when divinized, it creates a ‘path’ (pathyā) between the two worlds—opening channels so higher light can descend and lower nature can ascend. ‘Sādhan’ indicates effective accomplishment: the force is not merely ecstatic but fulfills the work of transformation.
Universal truth
The highest action is not compulsive control but truth-guided spontaneity: when inner force is aligned, it creates pathways between higher vision and embodied life and accomplishes the needed work without violence.
Themes
Unhindered course, Self-propelled power, Making the path
The seer
- Rishi
- Bharadvāja
- Other hymns
- RV 6.66.6, RV 6.66.8, RV 6.16
Family tradition
Āṅgirasa; practical mysticism—emphasis on effective force that ‘accomplishes’.
Significance
Bharadvāja frames divine action as self-driven and precise: the true force creates its own path and completes the inner work.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- rajastūḥ (midspace-traverser), pathyā-kṛt (path-maker, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra, Vāyu, Agni
Cosmic role
Winds that move in the atmosphere; open pathways for rains and accompany Indra.
Inner power
Self-propelled yogic energy that does not need ego-control; it opens channels between planes and fulfills transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocation for safe, unobstructed movement and protection; Marut hymns used to secure right passage and effective action in rites.
अ॒ने॒नो वो॑ मरुतो॒ यामो॑ अस्त्वन॒श्वश्चि॒द्यमज॒त्यर॑थीः । अ॒न॒व॒सो अ॑नभी॒शू र॑ज॒स्तूर्वि रोद॑सी प॒थ्या॑ याति॒ साध॑न् ॥
अ॒ने॒नः । वः॒ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । यामः॑ । अ॒स्तु॒ । अ॒न॒श्वः । चि॒त् । यम् । अज॑ति । अर॑थीः । अ॒न॒व॒सः । अ॒न॒भी॒शुः । र॒जः॒ऽतूः । वि । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । प॒थ्याः॑ । या॒ति॒ । साध॑न् ॥
anenaḥ | vaḥ | marutaḥ | yāmaḥ | astu | anaśvaḥ | cit | yam | ajati | arathīḥ | anavasaḥ | anabhīśuḥ | rajaḥ-tūḥ | vi | rodasī iti | pathyāḥ | yāti | sādhan
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Swift yet controlled; repeated negations (an-) create a striking, liberating cadence.
Produces a feeling of effortless propulsion; encourages trust in a higher guidance of energy.
- यामः (yāmaḥ)
- Literal: course, going. Symbolic: movement of the sadhana; progressive inner travel
- अनेनः (anenaḥ)
- Literal: unbroken, not slack. Symbolic: continuous aspiration/force without lapse
- अनश्वः (anaśvaḥ)
- Literal: horseless. Symbolic: action not dependent on vital impulses as ‘mounts’
- अरथीः (arathīḥ)
- Literal: without chariot. Symbolic: without external supports/ego-constructs for action
- अनवसः (anavasaḥ)
- Literal: without reins. Symbolic: not ruled by mental coercion; inner law guides
- अनभीशुः (anabhīśuḥ)
- Literal: without lash/whip. Symbolic: no forceful compulsion; tapas without violence
- रजस्तूः (rajastūḥ)
- Literal: traverser of midspace. Symbolic: prāṇa moving between mind and body; intermediary force
- वि रोदसी (vi rodasī)
- Literal: between the two worlds. Symbolic: opening channels between higher and lower consciousness
- पथ्याः (pathyāḥ)
- Literal: a path. Symbolic: inner passage, nāḍī-like channel for descent/ascent
- साधन् (sādhan)
- Literal: accomplishing. Symbolic: effective realization; force that completes the work
Invokes unobstructed movement of Marut-force; applicable where swift effective aid and path-making between planes is sought
When seeking unobstructed progress of the rite and harmonizing of the ‘two worlds’ through sacrifice.
Recitation as an invocation/blessing (āśīr) for uninterrupted course.
Mantra for ‘effortless effort’: before travel, before a difficult conversation, or before meditation to let force move without coercion.
yā́ma from √yā ‘go’ (PIE *h1ey-). rajas ‘region, midspace’. sādh- ‘accomplish’ (PIE *seh2dʰ- ‘set straight/achieve’). The privatives (an-aśva, a-rathī, an-avasa, an-abhīśu) emphasize autonomous divine motion.
Autonomous divine action (without external instruments), Path-making between Heaven and Earth (integration)
The ‘unbroken course’ is ṛta in motion—right progression.
Truth-guided action needs no whip: guidance comes from inner light.
Path-making between planes—establishing channels for manifestation of higher consciousness.
Yoga of works in Vedic form: divinized prāṇa acting under inner truth.
Wind = prāṇa; midspace = vital-mental interface; path = opened nāḍīs / conscious linkage between planes.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The vehicle-less storm-host that still drives and makes paths between worlds: mythic autonomy of divine movement. Inner sense: higher energies act directly in consciousness without reliance on outer supports, carving channels (pathyāḥ) for the descent/ascent and accomplishing the work (sādhan).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The motion-root √yā and accomplishment-root √sādh are old; the rhetorical use of privative compounds (a-/an-) is a common IE intensification strategy to mark transcendence of ordinary conditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi prays for an ‘unbroken course’—i.e., that the Marut-force in him move without obstruction or coercion, establishing true pathways between higher and lower parts of the being.
Let the inner Force move without ego-control; feel it opening a path between higher awareness and the body.
Ajna-to-Manipura channeling (guidance to force); also Sushumna imagery (path between worlds).
Smooth ujjayi-like breathing; on exhale chant each pāda; feel breath moving as a ‘horseless chariot’.
Effortless dynamism: action arising from still guidance.
Notice where you ‘use a whip’ (strain, harsh self-control). Replace with clear intention and surrender; repeat until the movement becomes continuous and self-propelled.
Triṣṭubh; repeated ‘an-’ phrases should be crisp and even; keep svara peaks natural on key nouns.
Mark pāda breaks clearly; maintain a slight emphasis on ‘vi rodasī pathyā’.
aneno: three clear syllables a-ne-no, maruto: dental t; o longish, anaśvaḥ: ś palatal; vaḥ with visarga, arathīḥ: long īḥ, anabhīśuḥ: bhī long ī; śuḥ with visarga, rajastūḥ: long ūḥ; keep j soft, pathyā: th aspirated; yā long
Smooth, flowing, wind-like; avoid harsh attack.
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