Rig Veda 2.34.13: Mandala 2, Sukta 34, Mantra 13
Sukta 2.34
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Maruts/Rudras
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Raudra (fury)
ते क्षोणीभिररुणेभिर्नाञ्जिभी रुद्रा ऋतस्य सदनेषु वावृधुः । निमेघमाना अत्येन पाजसा सुश्चन्द्रं वर्णं दधिरे सुपेशसम् ॥
té kṣoṇī́bhir aruṇébhir nā́ñjibhī rudrā́ ṛtásya sádanēṣu vāvṛdhuḥ | niméghamānā́ átyena pā́jasā suścandrám várṇaṃ dadhire supéśasam ||
وہ ردر دیوتا، اپنے سرخ زمینی فاضلوں اور روشن زیوروں کے ساتھ، سچائی کے مقاموں میں بڑھتے ہیں۔ گرجتے ہوئے، گھوڑے جیسی توانائی کی قوت سے، وہ ایک چمکدار، خوبصورت صورت دھارتے ہیں، یعنی منظم قوت کی خوبصورتی۔
Word by Word
- ते
- they (those)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृ (रुद्राः इत्यस्य विशेषण-सम्बन्धः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षोणीभिः
- with/using (their) chariots/vehiclesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot क्षोणी- (स्त्री)
- अरुणेभिः
- ruddy, tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (क्षोणीभिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot अरुण-
- नाञ्जिभिः
- with harnesses/bridlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot नाञ्जि- (स्त्री; ‘नाञ्जि’ = लगाम/अङ्कुश/रेणुका?; RV-प्रयोगः ‘harness/bridle’)
- रुद्राः
- the RudrasNounपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot रुद्र-
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (सदनेषु इत्यस्य षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)Root ऋत-
- सदनेषु
- in the seats/dwellingsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी बहुवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot सदन-
- वावृधुः
- have grown/strengthenedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = रुद्राः)Root √वृध् (वर्धने)
- निमेघमानाः
- raining down, pouringParticipleपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्, वर्तमानकालिकः शतृ (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृ (रुद्राः; विशेषणम्)Root नि- + √मिह्/√मेह् (सिञ्चने/वर्षणे; ‘to rain, to sprinkle’) → मेघमान (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
- अत्येन
- with a steed/horseNounपुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot अत्य- (पुं; ‘steed, horse’)
- पाजसा
- with might/forceNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot पाजस्- (नपुं; ‘strength, might, brilliance’)
- सुश्चन्द्रम्
- very bright, fair-shiningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (वर्णम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (दधिरे इत्यस्य)Root सु- + चन्द्र-
- वर्णम्
- color, appearanceNounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वर्ण-
- दधिरे
- have assumed/put onVerbलिट् आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = रुद्राः)Root √धा (धारणे/स्थापने) — (दधिरे = आत्मनेपद-रूपम्)
- सुपेशसम्
- well-adorned, of beautiful formAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (वर्णम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (वर्णम् सह)Root सु- + पेशस्- (नपुं; ‘form, adornment, beauty’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: ते | क्षोणीभिः | अरुणेभिः | नाञ्जिभिः | रुद्राः | ऋतस्य | सदनेषु | वावृधुः || निमेघमानाः | अत्येन | पाजसा | सु-चन्द्रम् | वर्णम् | दधिरे | सु-पेशसम् । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) अरुणेभिः + नाञ्जिभिः → अरुणेभिर्नाञ्जिभिः (विसर्ग/र्-आदेशः)
- (2) रुद्राः + ऋतस्य → रुद्रा ऋतस्य (आः + ऋ → आ ऋ; पदान्त-दीर्घः, संहितायां ‘आ’ स्थिरः)
- (3) सुश्चन्द्रम् = सु + चन्द्रम् (उपसर्ग-समास/सन्धि)
- (4) सुपेशसम् = सु + पेशसम्
- (5) निमेघमाना अत्येन → निमेघमाना अत्येन (स्वर-संहितायां दीर्घ/प्लुत-प्रभावः; व्यञ्जन-सन्धि न विशेषः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Rudras (Maruts), with ruddy earth-spaces and bright ornaments, grow in the seats of ṛta. Thundering down with the power of a steed, they assume a shining, well-fashioned form.
Inner meaning
The Maruts as Rudras are fierce purifiers: they grow “in the seats of ṛta”—in the established domains of truth-order within us (right discernment, right law of action). Their ‘ruddy earth-spaces’ suggest the vital-physical field suffused with dawn-like energy, no longer inert. Their ornaments (nāñjibhī) are inner formations—disciplines, luminous qualities—that beautify force. ‘Thundering down’ is the decisive descent of power that breaks tamas and falsehood. ‘Steed-force’ (atyena pājasā) is the swift pranic energy harnessed to truth. The result is suścandra varṇa, a shining complexion of consciousness: a well-shaped (supeśasam) ordered power—beauty born of right force, not chaos.
Universal truth
Energy becomes truly beautiful and effective when it is formed by truth-order. Purification is not suppression but a descent of power that reshapes life into luminous, well-crafted action.
Themes
Rudra-Marut purification, Truth-order stabilization, Luminous form of power
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu (Bhārgava)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.23 (Bṛhaspati), RV 2.33 (Rudra), RV 2.34
Family tradition
Bhārgava seers frequently emphasize ṛta as the seat where divine powers grow and become effective in human nature.
Significance
The seer frames Rudra/Marut force as a necessary purifier that must be established in ṛta—power without truth-order is not the Vedic aim.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts as Rudras
- Epithets
- rudrāḥ, ṛtasya sadaneṣu vāvṛdhuḥ (grow in ṛta’s seats), atyena pājasā (steed-might), supeśasa (well-formed)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Storm and thunder powers that uphold ṛta by destroying disorder and renewing the worlds with rain/energy.
Inner power
Transformative descent that purifies the vital-physical, brings disciplined strength, and shapes luminous embodiment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Marut śastra/stotra in Soma ritual contexts; praising Maruts’ power to uphold ṛta.
ते क्षो॒णीभि॑ररु॒णेभि॒र्नाञ्जिभी॑ रु॒द्रा ऋ॒तस्य॒ सद॑नेषु वावृधुः । नि॒मेघ॑माना॒ अत्ये॑न॒ पाज॑सा सुश्च॒न्द्रं वर्णं॑ दधिरे सु॒पेश॑सम् ॥
ते । क्षो॒णीभिः॑ । अरु॒णेभिः॑ । न । अ॒ञ्जिऽभिः॑ । रु॒द्राः । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । सद॑नेषु । व॒वृ॒धुः॒ । नि॒ऽमेघ॑मानाः । अत्ये॑न । पाज॑सा । सुऽच॒न्द्रम् । वर्ण॑म् । द॒धि॒रे॒ । सु॒ऽपेश॑सम् ॥
te | kṣoṇībhiḥ | aruṇebhiḥ | na | añji-bhiḥ | rudrāḥ | ṛtasya | sadaneṣu | vavṛdhuḥ | ni--meghamānāḥ | atyena | pājasā | su-candram | varṇam | dadhire | su-peśasam
44
4 x ~11
Strong downward accents and compact compounds; a ‘thunder-step’ feel.
Invokes forceful purification; stabilizes will and gives a sense of armored clarity.
- रुद्राः (rudrāḥ)
- Literal: Rudras. Symbolic: fierce purifying powers; transformative storm-energy
- ऋतस्य सदनेषु (ṛtasya sadaneṣu)
- Literal: in the seats of ṛta. Symbolic: stable planes/centers of right order in consciousness
- क्षोणीभिः अरुणेभिः (kṣoṇībhir aruṇebhiḥ)
- Literal: with ruddy earth-spaces. Symbolic: vital-physical field lit by awakening energy
- अञ्जिभिः (añjibhiḥ)
- Literal: with ornaments. Symbolic: inner qualities/disciplines that ‘adorn’ force
- नि-मेघमानाः (ni-meghamānāḥ)
- Literal: thundering down, clouding/raining down. Symbolic: descent of force that breaks resistance and pours energy
- अत्येन पाजसा (atyena pājasā)
- Literal: with the might of a steed. Symbolic: swift pranic drive harnessed for truth-action
- सुश्चन्द्रं वर्णम् (suścandraṃ varṇam)
- Literal: bright-shining color/form. Symbolic: luminous state of being; clarified consciousness
- सुपेशसम् (supeśasam)
- Literal: well-fashioned, well-formed. Symbolic: ordered embodiment of power; harmonious force
Marut stotra within Soma rites; supports the ‘seat of ṛta’ (ṛtasya sadana) as the stabilized field for the offering.
When seeking force for victory over obstruction and establishment of right order in the rite.
Praise + offering accompaniment; calling the host to ‘descend’ into the work.
Chant when needing disciplined energy and purification (breaking inertia, clearing emotional turbulence) while holding to ethical clarity (ṛta).
ṛta- from √ar ‘fit, join, order’ → ‘that which is rightly joined/true order’. vāvṛdhuḥ from √vṛdh (PIE *werdh- ‘grow’). pājas ‘strength, glow’ connected to brightness/force. peśas ‘form, adornment’ (related to shaping/decoration). atyá ‘steed’ signals concentrated kinetic energy; psychologically, the driven prāṇa-force harnessed to ṛta.
Ṛta as seat/abode, Growth of divine powers within ordered consciousness, Manifestation (varṇa/peśas) of inner force
Explicit: their growth is in ṛta’s seats—power is legitimate only when rooted in right order.
Shining form indicates truth-light embodied.
Renewal by descent: force comes down, reshapes the field, and reveals a luminous form.
Integral yogic cosmology: descent of force into the vital-physical to form a ‘supeśas’ embodiment.
Thunder = decisive transformative power; clouds/rain = descent of energy; ruddy glow = awakened vital; ornaments = formed qualities; steed = swift prāṇa.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Maruts as Rudras who thunder and assume a radiant form while increasing in ṛta’s seats: the mythic storm-host establishing/strengthening the domain of Truth. Inwardly, fierce energies are not chaotic; they become beautifully formed (supéśas) when they grow within ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ is PIE *werdh- (cf. English worth via semantic shifts, German werden ‘become’). √dhṛ ‘hold/put on’ is PIE *dher- ‘hold’ (cf. Greek θρόνος in extended family, English firm via related developments). These inherited roots carry the sense of stabilizing growth and assumption of form.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi observes and affirms the Maruts’ lawful placement in ṛta (ṛtasya sadaneṣu). The reciprocity is: right recognition of their ordered role invites their increase and their bestowal of well-shaped power in the human field.
Invite a controlled descent of force to purify and organize the vital-physical under truth-order (ṛta).
Maṇipūra (power) regulated by Ājñā (right seeing/ṛta)
Power-breath with restraint: inhale 4, hold 2 (feel ‘ṛta-seat’), exhale 6 (descent and shaping).
Firm, luminous, armored calm.
Before chanting, establish a clear ethical intention (ṛta). During the second hemistich, feel the force descend through the spine into action-capacity; end by imagining a ‘well-fashioned’ luminous body of will around you.
Triṣṭubh with emphatic falls on descent imagery (ni-meghamānāḥ); keep udatta prominence on deity terms (rudrāḥ, ṛtasya).
Mark a slight pause after sadaneṣu; let the second hemistich accelerate like a ‘steed’ then resolve on supeśasam.
(kṣoṇībhiḥ): keep kṣ cluster crisp; long ī., (añjibhiḥ): palatal ñ; do not nasalize into n., - (ni-meghamānāḥ): clear gh; long āḥ ending., (atyena): palatal ty; avoid ‘achyena’., (suścandram): śc cluster; keep dental d.
Firm, slightly forceful, controlled (not shouted).
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