Rig Veda 1.85.8: Mandala 1, Sukta 85, Mantra 8
Sukta 1.85
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa
- Devata
- Marutās
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शूरा इवेद्युयुधयो न जग्मयः श्रवस्यवो न पृतनासु येतिरे । भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना मरुद्भ्यो राजान इव त्वेषसंदृशो नरः ॥
śū́rā ivaéd yuyúdhayo ná jágmayaḥ śravasyávo ná pṛ́tanāsu yetire | bháyante víśvā bhúvanā marúdbhyo rājāna iva tveṣásandṛśo nárāḥ ||
واقعی بہادر جنگجوؤں کی طرح، شان کے طلبگار لڑائیوں میں بڑھتے ہیں۔ تمام جہان مروت سے کانپتے ہیں، جیسے بادشاہوں سے, وہ جو تیز اور جلتی نظر والے مرد ہیں۔
Word by Word
- शूराः
- heroes, valiant onesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- इद्
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिश्चय/एव-अर्थे निपातRoot इद् (निपात)
- युयुधयः
- fighters, battle-eagerAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; (युध् धातोः पुनरुक्त/इच्छार्थ-प्रायः ‘युयुध’ = ‘युद्धे प्रवृत्त/योधक’)Role कर्तृRoot युध् (धातु) → युयुध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- जग्मयः
- goers, swift-movingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; ‘जग्म’ (गम्-धातोः परिपूर्ण/भूतार्थ-आधारित विशेषण) = ‘गन्तारः/गतिशीलाः’Role कर्तृRoot गम् (धातु) → जग्म (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रवस्यवः
- seekers of fameNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot श्रवस्यु (प्रातिपदिक; श्रवस् ‘यशस्’ + यु प्रत्यय)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)
- येतिर॑े
- they have gone / they wentVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/भूतार्थ); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole कर्तृRoot या (धातु)
- भयन्ते
- they fearVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRole कर्तृRoot भी (धातु)
- विश्वा
- allAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; बहुवचन (भुवनानि इति सह)Role कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवना
- worlds, beings/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक; भू धातोः)
- मरुद्भ्यः
- from the Maruts / because of the MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी; बहुवचनRole अपादानRoot मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजानः
- kingsNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- त्वेषसंदृशः
- of fierce/bright appearanceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; समासः (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः) = ‘तेजसा/उग्रतया संदृश’Role कर्तृRoot त्वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + संदृश् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; दृश् धातोः)
- नरः
- men, heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विग्रह): शूराः इव इद् युयुधयः न जग्मयः । श्रवस्यवः न पृतनासु येतिरे । भयन्ते विश्वा भुवना मरुद्भ्यः । राजानः इव त्वेष-संदृशः नरः । 1) इवेद् = इव + इद् (निपात-सन्धि)
- 2) मरुद्भ्यः: मरुत् + भ्यस् → मरुद्भ्यः (त्→द् परे भ्)
- 3) त्वेषसंदृशो नरः: त्वेषसंदृशः + नरः (विसर्ग-सन्धि; ओ/अन्त्यस्वर-लेखनं संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Maruts advance like heroic warriors and glory-seekers in battle; all worlds tremble before them like before kings, for they appear as men of fierce, blazing aspect.
Inner meaning
The Maruts are the storm-powers of the inner life: dynamic forces of aspiration and purified vitality that rush into the field of sadhana. They are ‘fighters’ because they attack inertia, fear, and obscurity. The trembling of the worlds signifies that when these divine energies descend, every layer of our nature—physical, vital, mental—must rearrange itself under a higher law. Their ‘blazing vision’ is the lightning-like intuition that compels transformation.
Universal truth
True spiritual progress is not passive; it is a courageous advance of higher forces within us. When the powers of truth and aspiration move, the entire inner system is shaken out of old habits so a new order can be established.
Themes
Invictory, Battle against obstruction, Divine awe and sovereignty
The seer
- Rishi
- Gotama Rāhūgaṇa
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 1.84, RV 1.85, RV 1.86, RV 1.87
Family tradition
Angirasa-related seer-line emphasizing illumination (light/vision) and the release of inner riches through inspired speech.
Significance
Gotama’s Marut hymns often portray the divine forces as allies of the seer’s ascent—helpers who break obstruction and bring the ‘spring’ of inspiration and the ‘rays’ of knowledge.
The deity
- Devata
- Marutās
- Epithets
- śūrāḥ (heroes), yuyudhayaḥ (fighters), citrabhānavaḥ (bright-flaming), sudānavah (bountiful), vṛṣaṇaḥ (strong/bulls)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Soma, Rudra
Cosmic role
Atmospheric and dynamic powers that accompany Indra; they stir the worlds, bring rain/lightning, and enforce movement in the cosmic order.
Inner power
Courageous impulsion, energetic purification, and the lightning-flash of intuitive force that breaks tamas and compels progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut-focused stotras within Soma rites and Indra–Marut offerings (contextual use in śrauta liturgy).
शूरा॑ इ॒वेद्युयु॑धयो॒ न जग्म॑यः श्रव॒स्यवो॒ न पृत॑नासु येतिरे । भय॑न्ते॒ विश्वा॒ भुव॑ना म॒रुद्भ्यो॒ राजा॑न इव त्वे॒षसं॑दृशो॒ नर॑: ॥
शूराः॑ऽइव । इत् । युयु॑धयह् । न । जग्म॑यः । श्र॒व॒स्यवः॑ । न । पृत॑नासु । ये॒ति॒रे॒ । भय॑न्ते । विश्वा॑ । भुव॑ना । म॒रुत्ऽभ्यः॑ । राजा॑नःऽइव । त्वे॒षऽस॑न्दृशः । नरः॑ ॥
śūrāḥ-iva | it | yuyudhayah | na | jagmayaḥ | śravasyavaḥ | na | pṛtanāsu | yetire | bhayante | viśvā | bhuvanā | marut-bhyaḥ | rājānaḥ-iva | tveṣa-sandṛśaḥ | naraḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Martial, driving cadence with forward-thrusting momentum suited to heroic imagery.
Energizes will and breath; produces a sense of advance and inner mobilization.
- म॒रुत् (marut)
- Literal: storm-god, Marut. Symbolic: impetuous divine life-forces that purify and propel the yoga
- पृतना (pṛtanā)
- Literal: battle. Symbolic: inner struggle against ignorance and resistance
- श्रवस्यु (śravasyu)
- Literal: seeking fame/glory. Symbolic: seeking the soul’s true renown: victory of truth-consciousness
- त्वेषसंदृश (tveṣa-saṃdṛś)
- Literal: of fierce appearance/vision. Symbolic: luminous-intuitive perception that is sharp, compelling, transformative
- भुवन (bhuvana)
- Literal: worlds, planes. Symbolic: levels of consciousness in the being
Recitation to summon the Maruts as victorious allies—invoking their kṣatra-like sovereignty to break inner and outer obstacles during Soma offerings.
Invocations praising the Maruts’ might and aid, especially when calling for force, protection, and victorious movement.
Recitation/chant as praise (stuti) to invite the Maruts’ presence and support.
Use as a ‘courage mantra’ before demanding inner work—breaking habits, beginning discipline, or entering a period of concentrated practice.
śūra ‘hero’ from √śūr/√śvi? (semantic: strong, valiant; Indo-Iranian heroic epithet). yuyúdha- (fighter) reduplicated intensive from √yudh ‘to fight’ (PIE *yeudh-). śrávas ‘fame, hearing, renown’ from √śru ‘hear’ (PIE *ḱleu- ‘hear; fame’ cf. Gk. κλέος, ‘kleos’). pṛ́tanā ‘battle’ possibly from √pṛt ‘to strive’ (martial field). tveṣá ‘fierce, impetuous’ from √tviṣ ‘to be excited, sparkle’.
Kṣatra (sovereign force) as divine attribute, R̥ta through victorious ordering of conflict
The Maruts embody ṛta as compelled movement—restoring right function by shaking what is stagnant.
Truth is experienced as an irresistible force that makes lower formations tremble and yield.
Worlds are stabilized by higher powers; upheaval precedes re-formation.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent through illumined force; also compatible with Sāṃkhya-like layered planes (bhuvana).
monsoon (suggestive)
Storm = cleansing descent of force; lightning = sudden intuition; trembling = reconfiguration of inner planes under higher pressure.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Maruts as a warrior-host whose advance shakes the worlds—an archetype of the divine battle-band (comitatus) enforcing cosmic order. Inner sense: the vehement forces of right impulsion enter the human field and the lesser formations (habits, fears, inertias) tremble.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śravas (renown) continues PIE *ḱléwos ‘fame’ (Greek kleos), a hallmark of Indo-European heroic diction; yudh- ‘fight’ continues PIE *yeudh-, showing the inherited martial lexicon used for both outer battle and inner struggle.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames the Maruts as sovereign allies: by acknowledging their awe-inspiring kṣatra, he invites them to assume command within the sacrificer’s being, turning the inner battles (pṛtanā) toward victory and luminous ‘fame’ (śravas) as manifestation of the truth-force.
Invite the ‘Marut-force’ to mobilize aspiration and cut through inertia.
manipura
brisk_energetic
Dynamic concentration with uplifted courage; readiness for decisive inner action.
Sit upright; feel a troop of luminous forces gathering behind the will. On inhalation, call their advance; on exhalation, offer fear and hesitation into their movement. End by resting in steady courage (no agitation).
Mixed udātta/anudātta with svarita on sandhi; preserve the triṣṭubh rise-fall with clear udātta peaks on emphatic words (e.g., marudbhyaḥ, viśvā).
Keep each pāda as one breath-unit if possible; emphasize the forward-driving caesura around the middle of each pāda.
Differentiate ś (palatal) in śūrāḥ/śravasyavaḥ from s (dental)., Hold long vowels: śūrāḥ, bhūvanā., Cluster care: tveṣa-saṃdṛśo (tve-ṣa; nasalization in saṃ-)., marudbhyaḥ: articulate -dbh- cleanly without inserting a vowel.
Bright, firm, slightly forceful; avoid harshness—power with clarity.
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