Rig Veda 5.3.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 3, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.3
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
तव श्रिये मरुतो मर्जयन्त रुद्र यत्ते जनिम चारु चित्रम् । पदं यद्विष्णोरुपमं निधायि तेन पासि गुह्यं नाम गोनाम् ॥
táva śríye marúto marjayanta rudra yát te jánima cā́ru citrám | padáṃ yád víṣṇor upamáṃ nidhā́yi ténā pā́si gúhyaṃ nā́ma gónām ||
Vì vinh quang rực rỡ của Ngài, các Marut tự làm mình chói sáng, hỡi Rudra, bởi sự giáng sinh của Ngài vừa khả ái vừa kỳ diệu. Khi bước chân vô song của Viṣṇu được đặt xuống, nhờ đó Ngài gìn giữ danh xưng bí mật của các tia sáng—những bò cái của ánh quang.
Word by Word
- तव
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रिये
- for (your) splendor / prosperityNounचतुर्थी (Dat.), एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot श्री (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुतः
- the MarutsNounप्रथमा (Nom.), बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मरुत् (पुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्जयन्त
- they cleanse / adornVerbलट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन (Vedic injunctive-like form used for 3pl)Role क्रियाRoot मृज् (धातु)
- रुद्र
- O RudraNoun (vocative)सम्बोधन (Voc.), एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot रुद्र (पुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- that whichPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (relative)Role कर्म (of implied verb ‘to be/exists’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जनिम
- birth / originNounप्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म/विषयRoot जनि (नपुं. प्रातिपदिक; ‘birth, origin’)
- चारु
- beautifulAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (जनिम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role विशेषणRoot चारु (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्रम्
- bright / wondrousAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (जनिम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role विशेषणRoot चित्र (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- पदम्
- the step / footprint / stationNounद्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पद (नपुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- whichPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (पदम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role विशेषण (relative)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विष्णोः
- of ViṣṇuNounषष्ठी (Gen.), एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot विष्णु (पुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- उपमम्
- highest / supreme (lit. ‘most excellent’)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (पदम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role विशेषणRoot उपम (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- निधायि
- was placed / was set downVerbलुङ्/आओरिस्ट (aorist), आत्मनेपद; 3 पुरुष, एकवचन (Vedic aorist: ‘was placed/has been set’)Role क्रियाRoot नि-धा (धातु)
- तेन
- by that / with thatPronoun (demonstrative)तृतीया (Instr.), एकवचनRole करणRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पासि
- you protectVerbलट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 2 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot पा (धातु; ‘to protect’)
- गुह्यम्
- hidden / secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (नाम इति विशेष्यस्य)Role विशेषणRoot गुह्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; from √गुह् ‘to hide’)
- नाम
- nameNounद्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नामन् (नपुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- गोनाम्
- of the cows (cattle)Nounषष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot गो (स्त्री./पुं. प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved/confirmed padapāṭha-style segmentation: तव | श्रिये | मरुतः | मर्जयन्त | रुद्र | यत् | ते | जनिम् | चारु | चित्रम् || पदम् | यत् | विष्णोः | उपमम् | निधायि || तेन | पासि | गुह्यम् | नाम | गोनाम् । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) यत्ते = यत् + ते (त् + त → त्त)
- (2) यद्विष्णोः = यत् + विष्णोः (त् + व → द्व्)
- (3) विष्णोरुपमम् = विष्णोः + उपमम् (ः + उ → रु; visarga before vowel)
- (4) गुह्यं नाम = गुह्यम् + नाम (म् + न → ंन, anusvāra before nasal)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Maruts brighten themselves for Rudra’s splendor because his birth is lovely and wondrous. When Viṣṇu’s unsurpassed step is set down, by that Rudra/Agni guards the hidden name of the cows (rays).
Inner meaning
Agni is praised through a network of allied powers: Rudra (forceful purifier of the inner nature) and the Maruts (storm-gods as dynamic life-energies) become radiant when aligned to the divine splendor—because the awakening (‘birth’) of this power in us is beautiful and transformative. When Viṣṇu’s supreme step (the wide stride of consciousness to the highest plane) is established in the being, that very establishment becomes the safeguard of the ‘hidden name’ of the rays—i.e., the secret source-code of illuminations. The higher station once founded prevents the light from being lost to turbulence; the Rudra-Agni force protects the inner illumination against relapse into obscurity.
Universal truth
Illumination is stabilized when higher consciousness is firmly founded; dynamic energies become luminous when they serve the inner divine, and the secret source of knowledge is protected by a settled height of awareness.
Themes
interlocking deities, guarding secret knowledge, expansion through Viṣṇu, refinement of energies
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.56 (Maruts), RV 7.46 (Rudra), RV 7.99 (Viṣṇu)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s hymns frequently bind multiple deities into one psychological process—Agni as the operative flame supported by Maruts and guided by Viṣṇu’s vastness.
Significance
The seer emphasizes that force (Rudra/Maruts) must be founded on wideness and height (Viṣṇu’s step) to protect true illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (praised through Rudra–Marut–Viṣṇu relations)
- Epithets
- śrīmat (splendid, implied), guhya-nāma-pā (guardian of the secret name), viṣṇu-pada-ni-dhāyin (he in whom the step is set)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Maruts, Viṣṇu
Cosmic role
Ignites and maintains the ascent; coordinates purifying force (Rudra), dynamic energies (Maruts), and the wide steps of consciousness (Viṣṇu).
Inner power
A flame that purifies and stabilizes illumination by anchoring the being in a higher station.
In ritual
Where it is used
Agni praise in soma-related sequences; also suitable as a protective verse (rakṣaṇa) within offerings.
तव॑ श्रि॒ये म॒रुतो॑ मर्जयन्त॒ रुद्र॒ यत्ते॒ जनि॑म॒ चारु॑ चि॒त्रम् । प॒दं यद्विष्णो॑रुप॒मं नि॒धायि॒ तेन॑ पासि॒ गुह्यं॒ नाम॒ गोना॑म् ॥
तव॑ । श्रि॒ये । म॒रुतः॑ । म॒र्ज॒य॒न्त॒ । रुद्र॑ । यत् । ते॒ । जनि॑म । चारु॑ । चि॒त्रम् । प॒दम् । यत् । विष्णोः॑ । उ॒प॒ऽमम् । नि॒ऽधायि॑ । तेन॑ । पा॒सि॒ । गुह्यम् । नाम॑ । गोना॑म् ॥
tava | śriye | marutaḥ | marjayanta | rudra | yat | te | janima | cāru | citram | padam | yat | viṣṇoḥ | upa-mam | ni-dhāyi | tena | pāsi | guhyam | nāma | gonām
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Energetic, ascending; well-suited to describing birth, stride, and guarding.
Invokes uplift and steadying; a felt ‘step’ or placement in the rhythm that supports inner ascent.
- मरुतः (marutaḥ)
- Literal: Maruts. Symbolic: dynamic life-forces, pranic energies that can become luminous allies
- रुद्र (rudra)
- Literal: Rudra. Symbolic: purifying, forceful divine power that breaks resistance and heals
- श्रि (śrī)
- Literal: splendor, beauty, fortune. Symbolic: radiance of awakened consciousness; divine brilliance
- जनिम (janima)
- Literal: birth, origin. Symbolic: awakening/manifestation of a divine power in the sādhaka
- विष्णोः पदम् (viṣṇoḥ padam)
- Literal: Vishnu’s step/footprint. Symbolic: established higher plane; wide extension of consciousness
- उपमम् (upamam)
- Literal: unsurpassed, highest. Symbolic: supreme status of awareness beyond ordinary mind
- गुह्यं नाम (guhyaṃ nāma)
- Literal: secret name. Symbolic: hidden law/essence of illumination
- गोनाम् (gonām)
- Literal: of the cows. Symbolic: of the rays of knowledge/light
Inter-deity linkage hymn: integrates storm-force (Maruts), Rudra-power, and Viṣṇu’s highest step into Agni’s guarding function; ritually supports protective and expansive action in the sacrifice.
When invoking allied powers for protection and brightness; before or during soma pressing/offerings (general thematic fit).
Recitation to kindle Agni and call supportive forces (Maruts/Rudra) while establishing ‘Viṣṇu’s step’ as the high seat of the rite.
Use when seeking protection of clarity amid strong emotions: ‘set the step’ (choose a higher standpoint), then let force-energy purify without scattering the light.
√mṛj ‘wipe/polish’ → marjayanta: the Maruts ‘brighten’ themselves for Rudra’s śrī—dynamic energies refined for higher force. Viṣṇu’s padam is the archetype of expansive station (often linked to the highest step). go as ray/illumination: ‘name of the cows’ = secret law/identity of light-powers. √pā ‘protect’ frames guardianship of hidden knowledge.
highest station (parama padam motif), hidden name as esoteric essence, illumination (go as rays)
Maruts become ‘bright’ when aligned to divine splendor—energies conform to ṛta rather than impulsive turbulence.
The ‘hidden name of the rays’ suggests satya concealed; protected by the higher footing of consciousness.
Birth of divine force in man; establishment of higher plane; safeguarding of light—an inner evolution sequence.
Integral Yoga reading: ascent (Viṣṇu) + purification (Rudra) + dynamism (Maruts) serving illumination (go).
dawn/morning (implicit via increasing brightness)
Storm = pranic surge; stride = expansion to higher consciousness; rays = thoughts of illumination guarded from dispersion.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘highest step’ and the guarded rays: Viṣṇu’s supreme station is established, and thereby the hidden name of the luminous herds is protected. Mythically it evokes the securing of light/knowledge; psychologically it is stabilization in a higher wideness that safeguards inner illuminations from dispersion.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- pada ‘step’ is IE (Latin pēs/pedis). √pā ‘protect’ has Indo-Iranian parallels (Avestan pā-). nāma again is IE. The imagery of ‘step/station’ as cosmic measure aligns with archaic IE poetics of spatialized sovereignty.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi presents a hierarchy of forces: refined energies (Maruts) serve splendor; expansive consciousness (Viṣṇu’s step) provides the stable plane; the invoked divine power (through Agni’s function) protects the secret illuminations. The human aspiration is for safeguarded, enduring light.
Establish a ‘higher footing’ (witness + wideness) and let purifying force brighten the energies without losing the rays of insight.
ajna (higher footing/witness)
Ujjayi 12 breaths, then a brief kumbhaka after exhale to feel the ‘placement’ (padaṃ nidhāyi) as inner still point.
Widened, elevated, protected clarity amid dynamism.
Visualize a luminous footprint/step above the head descending to the brow; invite Rudra to purify agitation; let Marut energies become radiant servants of the light; conclude by guarding one key insight (‘guhya nāma’) from distraction.
Vedic recitative with clear udatta peaks (e.g., táva, marúto, rúdra, víṣṇoḥ, gúhyaṃ).
Keep the second pāda energetic (janima cāru citram); give a deliberate ‘placing’ pause at padaṃ… nidhāyi.
maruto: light dental ‘t’, not retroflex., viṣṇoḥ: clear retroflex ‘ṣṇ’., gonām: long ‘ā’ sustained; do not nasalize excessively.
Bright, uplifted, slightly forceful on Rudra/Marut words; steady and wide on Viṣṇu-pada phrase.
3
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
