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Ancient Scripture: Rig Veda (Hymns 1.36 - 1.40: Part 8 of Mandala 1)
- A. Royden D'Souza
- Jun 17
- 18 min read
Maṇḍala 1 is the largest book of the Rig Veda, containing 191 hymns. It is a collection of songs from multiple seer families, and its themes cover a wide range of deities; Agni, Indra, the Ashvins, Varuna, Mitra, and many others. It opens, fittingly, with an invocation to Agni, the god of fire, who acts as the divine messenger between humans and gods.
Rig Veda: Hymn 1.36 – To Agni (with the Maruts)
Seer (Ṛṣi): Kaṇva Ghaura
Deity (Devatā): Agni (accompanied by the Maruts)
Meter (Chandas): Gāyatrī (verses 1–20), with some variations
Verses
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्द्यावा॒ नाम॑ बृह॒ती सप्र॑थस्ता ।
यस्य॑ व्र॒ते विश्वे॒ सं यन्ति॑ धी॒राः स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcandyāvā nāma bṛhatī saprathastā |
yasya vrate viśve saṃ yanti dhīrāḥ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||1||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, the two (Heaven and Earth) named “vast” and “wide-extending”—under whose ordinance all the wise gather together, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ नमो॒भिः सु॒प्रती॑कम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥२॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ namobhiḥ supratīkam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||2||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni with homage, the beautiful-faced one—who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्यज॑त्रं दे॒वं मी॒ळ्हुषे॑ अ॒ग्निम् ।
यो दे॒वेषु॒ वरु॑णो मि॒त्रो अ॒ग्निः स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥३॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcan yajatraṃ devaṃ mīḻhuṣe agnim |
yo deveṣu varuṇo mitro agniḥ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||3||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to the worshipful god, Agni, for the liberal one—he who among the gods is Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ स॒मुद्रे॒ वरु॑णस्य योनौ ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥४॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ samudre varuṇasya yonau |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||4||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, in the sea, in the womb of Varuṇa—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्नि॒मन्नं॑ गृ॒हप॑तिं पु॒रोहि॑तम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥५॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agnim annaṃ gṛhapatiṃ purohitam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||5||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the food, the lord of the house, the domestic priest—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ घृ॒तेन॑ हवि॒षा स॑मि॒धान॑म् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥६॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ ghṛtena haviṣā samidhānam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||6||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, kindled with ghee as oblation—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॒ साम्ना॑ यज॒माना॑स ऊ॒तये॑ ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥७॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ sāmnā yajamānāsa ūtaye |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||7||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni with a Sāman chant, worshipping for aid—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ सह॒स्रं वि॑श्वतस्परि॒भूत॑म् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥८॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ sahasraṃ viśvatas paribhūtam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||8||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the thousandfold, encompassing on all sides—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ होता॑रं प्रथ॒मं यज॑त्रम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥९॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ hotāraṃ prathamaṃ yajatram |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||9||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the first Hotṛ, the worshipful—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ पु॒रूणि॒ वार्या॒ वसू॑नि ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१०॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ purūṇi vāryā vasūni |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||10||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the many desirable goods—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ रथी॑नां प्रथ॒मं यज॑त्रम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥११॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ rathīnāṃ prathamaṃ yajatram |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||11||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the first of charioteers, the worshipful—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ वि॒श्वेषां॑ वि॒शां राजा॑नम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१२॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ viśveṣāṃ viśāṃ rājānam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||12||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the king of all peoples—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ स॒म्राजं॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रम॒ग्निम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१३॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ samrājaṃ varuṇaṃ mitram agnim |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||13||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the universal king, Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ सू॒र्यं पृ॑थि॒वीं द्यां स्व॒स्तये॑ ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१४॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ sūryaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyāṃ svastaye |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||14||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the Sun, Earth, and Sky for well-being—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॒ होता॑रमृ॒त्वियं॑ पु॒रोहि॑तम् ।
यो दे॒वानां॒ सुह॑वानि॒दानीं॒ स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१५॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ hotāram ṛtviyaṃ purohitam |
yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||15||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the Hotṛ, the seasonable, the domestic priest—he who is now the easily invoked of the gods, may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ सू॒र्यं पृ॑थि॒वीं द्यां स्व॒स्तये॑ ।
स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१६॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ sūryaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyāṃ svastaye |
sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||16||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the Sun, Earth, and Sky for well-being—may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ वि॒दथे॑षु प्र॒युक्त॑म् ।
स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१७॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ vidatheṣu prayuktam |
sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||17||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, yoked in the ritual assemblies—may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ रथी॑नां प्रथ॒मं यज॑त्रम् ।
स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१८॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ rathīnāṃ prathamaṃ yajatram |
sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||18||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the first of charioteers, the worshipful—may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ वि॒श्वेषां॑ वि॒शां राजा॑नम् ।
स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥१९॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ viśveṣāṃ viśāṃ rājānam |
sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||19||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the king of all peoples—may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
प्र वो॑ य॒ज्ञेषु॑ देव॒यन्तो॑ अर्च॒न्नग्निं॑ स॒म्राजं॒ वरु॑णं मि॒त्रम॒ग्निम् ।
स नो॑ अ॒ग्निर्म॒रुद॑ग्निर्भवतु ॥२०॥
pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcann agniṃ samrājaṃ varuṇaṃ mitram agnim |
sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu ||20||
Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices, to Agni, the universal king, Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni—may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours.
What Does This Hymn Say?
This hymn is a long, insistent litany that identifies Agni with all the great cosmic powers while simultaneously uniting him with the Maruts, the storm‑gods. The refrain “sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu” (may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours) anchors every verse.
Verses 1–15 begin each with “pra vo yajñeṣu devayanto arcan” (Singing, O you who love the gods, in sacrifices…) and then add a different title or aspect of Agni: he is the one under whose ordinance the wise gather (v.1), the beautiful-faced (v.2), Varuṇa and Mitra (v.3), born in the womb of Varuṇa’s sea (v.4), the food and lord of the house (v.5), kindled with ghee (v.6), worshipped with Sāman chants (v.7), thousandfold (v.8), the first Hotṛ (v.9), the giver of all desirable goods (v.10), the first of charioteers (v.11), the king of all peoples (v.12), the universal king identical with Varuṇa and Mitra (v.13), and the Sun, Earth, and Sky for well-being (v.14).
Verse 15 repeats the Hotṛ and purohita title. The second half-line of these verses is “yo devānāṃ suhavān idānīṃ” (he who is now the easily invoked of the gods), followed by the refrain.
Verses 16–20 shorten the pattern, dropping the middle line, and simply name Agni in various aspects—the Sun, Earth, Sky (v.16), yoked in assemblies (v.17), first of charioteers (v.18), king of all peoples (v.19), universal king (v.20)—and close directly with the refrain.
The hymn is thus a comprehensive declaration that Agni, accompanied by the Maruts, embodies every divine function: sovereign, priest, warrior, sun, cosmos, and the easily invoked friend of the worshipper.
Understanding Agni and the Maruts: The Storm‑Kindled Fire
Hymn 1.36 is Kaṇva Ghaura’s opening statement, and it sets a distinctive tone. The constant repetition of “Agni with the Maruts” (marud agniḥ) creates a compound deity: the stationary altar‑flame united with the racing, roaring wind‑gods.
The Refrain and Its Meaning: The refrain “sa no agnir marud agnir bhavatu” (may that Agni, Agni with the Maruts, be ours) is not merely a request for presence but a declaration that the true Agni—the one who is king, priest, sun, and sky—is never alone.
He is always accompanied by the Maruts. The fire that burns on the altar is fanned by the wind; the sacrifice ascends through the air stirred by the storm‑gods. By pairing them, the seer invokes the complete elemental power of the ritual: heat and motion, flame and breath.
Agni as All Gods: Many verses identify Agni with Varuṇa, Mitra, Sūrya, Earth, and Sky. This is a continuation of the “henotheistic” tendency seen in earlier hymns: Agni is not just a god among gods; he is the single divine reality that manifests as all the others. For Kaṇva Ghaura, a priest of the Kaṇva family, Agni is the lens through which all divinity is seen.
The Maruts in the Background: Although the Maruts are named in every refrain, they do not receive direct description in this hymn. Their presence is assumed, a constant thrum behind the verses. The next three hymns (1.37–1.39) will bring them fully into the foreground.
A Note on the Seer: Kaṇva Ghaura
With Hymn 1.36, the voice shifts again. The seer is Kaṇva Ghaura, a descendant of the Kaṇva clan through a sage named Ghora. The title “Ghaura” means “son of Ghora,” marking him as a member of a branch of the large priestly family that also produced Medhātithi Kāṇva.
The Vedic Introduction: Kaṇva Ghaura is known from five hymns in the first Maṇḍala: 1.36–1.40. His work is a concentrated burst of storm‑poetry. Four of the five hymns are addressed to the Maruts, the roaring, glittering storm‑troop who accompany Indra, and one (1.36) is addressed to Agni with the Maruts.
His hymns are filled with the flash of spears, the gleam of gold, the thunder of hooves, and the wild song of the youthful storm‑gods. No personal story emerges from the verses themselves; the seer is present only as the singer who delights in invoking the Maruts to the Soma‑ritual.
The Purāṇic and Epic Introduction: Later tradition preserves little about Kaṇva Ghaura as an individual. The name Ghora appears in some genealogical lists of sages, and the Kaṇva lineage is prominent throughout Vedic and epic literature, but no major legend attaches to this particular seer. His legacy remains his hymns, which capture the Maruts in their most vivid and energetic form.
Hymn 1.37 – To the Maruts
Seer (Ṛṣi): Kaṇva Ghaura
Deity (Devatā): Maruts
Meter (Chandas): Gāyatrī
Verses
प्र या॑त॒ शिभ॑मा॒शुभि॒: सना॑ रोच्य॒ रोच॑ना ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥१॥
pra yāta śibham āśubhiḥ sanā rocya rocanā |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||1||
Come forth quickly with your swift steeds, O Maruts, shining with ancient brilliance. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र वे॑पयन्ति॒ पर्व॑तान् वि॒ष्वञ्चो॒ वि मु॒च्यध्व॑म् ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥२॥
pra vepayanti parvatān viṣvañco vi mucyadhvam |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||2||
You make the mountains tremble; scattered abroad, you are unleashed. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र या॑त॒ मरु॑तो॒ रथे॒ वृष॑ण्वन्ता॒ वृष॑ण्वतीम् ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥३॥
pra yāta maruto rathe vṛṣaṇvantā vṛṣaṇvatīm |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||3||
Come forth, O Maruts, on your chariot, the powerful (horses) drawing the powerful (chariot). The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र या॑त मरुतो रथे॒ रथे॑षु॒ रथे॑षु च ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥४॥
pra yāta maruto rathe ratheṣu ratheṣu ca |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||4||
Come forth, O Maruts, on your chariot, on your chariots, on your many chariots. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र या॑त मरुतो॒ रथे॒ सह॑स्रेण स॒हस्र॑शः ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥५॥
pra yāta maruto rathe sahasreṇa sahasraśaḥ |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||5||
Come forth, O Maruts, on your chariot, by thousands, thousandfold. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र या॑त॒ शिभ॑मा॒शुभि॒: सना॑ रोच्य॒ रोच॑ना ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥६॥
pra yāta śibham āśubhiḥ sanā rocya rocanā |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||6||
Come forth quickly with your swift steeds, O Maruts, shining with ancient brilliance. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र या॑त॒ मरु॑तः सोमं पिबत वृषभासः ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥७॥
pra yāta marutaḥ somaṃ pibata vṛṣabhāsaḥ |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||7||
Come forth, O Maruts, bulls; drink the Soma. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
What Does This Hymn Say?
This hymn is a rapid, rhythmic call to the Maruts, built on repetition and mounting energy. The refrain “maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata” (the sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here) closes every verse.
Verses 1–3 set the scene: come swiftly, shaking mountains, on your powerful chariot. Verse 4 playfully multiplies the chariots: “on your chariot, on your chariots, on your many chariots,” capturing the Maruts’ countless, swarming numbers. Verse 5 calls them by thousands, thousandfold. Verse 6 repeats verse 1, giving the hymn a circular structure. Verse 7 closes with a direct imperative: “Come forth, O Maruts, bulls; drink the Soma.”
The hymn is not a description but a summoning; every line is an imperative, every word designed to pull the roaring troop into the sacrifice.
Understanding the Maruts: The Roaring Host
Hymn 1.37 is the first of Kaṇva Ghaura’s hymns focused entirely on the Maruts, and it gives us the Maruts in their purest form: a rushing, glittering, thunderous host.
The Nature of the Maruts: The Maruts are the storm‑gods, sons of Rudra and the speckled cow Pṛśni. They are young, wild, and beautiful. They ride chariots drawn by swift, powerful horses, or sometimes by antelopes. They carry spears, axes, and flashing lightning.
Their breasts are adorned with gold; their voices are the roaring wind and the crashing thunder. They are singers and dancers, and their coming shakes the mountains and scatters the clouds.
The Repetitive Structure: The hymn’s repetitive, hammering rhythm mimics the Maruts’ own nature: relentless, driving, and overwhelming. Each verse is a fresh wave of invocation, like gusts of a storm. The refrain “the sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here” anchors the wild energy in the ritual: the storm is tamed, brought into the sacred space, and offered the cup of hospitality.
The Maruts and Soma: The Maruts, like Indra, are Soma‑drinkers. Their intoxication is not gentle; it is the wild joy that drives storms and inspires warriors. By offering them Soma, the worshipper invites not just their presence but their power—the power to shake obstacles, to shatter stagnation, and to fill the world with rain and vitality.
Hymn 1.38 – To the Maruts
Seer (Ṛṣi): Kaṇva Ghaura
Deity (Devatā): Maruts
Meter (Chandas): Gāyatrī
Verses
वि व॑स्य रथ्यान्पु॒रो मरु॑तः सु॒यमाँ॑ अश्वान् ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥१॥
vi vasya rathyān puro marutaḥ suyamām̐ aśvān |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||1||
Unharness your well‑guided chariot horses, O Maruts. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
वि व॑स्य रथ्यान्पु॒रो वि र॒श्मीँरि॑व॒ यच्छ॑त ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥२॥
vi vasya rathyān puro vi raśmīm̐r iva yacchata |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||2||
Unharness your chariot horses; loosen them like reins. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
अति॑ वारान्क॒विर॑श्वानती॒वारं॑ वाजि॒नो य॑था ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥३॥
ati vārān kavir aśvān atīvāraṃ vājino yathā |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||3||
The poet (drives) the horses beyond the obstacles, beyond all hindrance, like the prize‑winning steeds. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
अति॑ वारान्वाजि॒नो य॑था॒ वारा॑नति॒ वाजि॑नो यथा ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥४॥
ati vārān vājino yathā vārān ati vājino yathā |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||4||
Beyond obstacles, like prize‑winning steeds; obstacles, beyond, like prize‑winning steeds. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
अति॑ वारान्क॒विर॑श्वानति॒ वारा॑न्क॒विर॑श्वान् ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥५॥
ati vārān kavir aśvān ati vārān kavir aśvān |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||5||
The poet (drives) the horses beyond obstacles; the poet (drives) the horses beyond obstacles. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
अति॑ वारान्वि वा॑र॒याथो॒ अति॑ वारान्वि वा॑रय ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥६॥
ati vārān vi vārayātho ati vārān vi vāraya |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||6||
Beyond obstacles, you drive them wide; beyond obstacles, drive them wide. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
अति॑ वारा॒नति॑ द्वि॒षोऽति॒ वारा॒नति॒ त्विषः॑ ।
वाशी॑मान्रथ्या॒ वृष्णो॑ मरुतो॒ मरु॑तां ग॒णैः ॥७॥
ati vārān ati dviṣo 'ti vārān ati tviṣaḥ |
vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ ||7||
Beyond obstacles, beyond enemies; beyond obstacles, beyond violent attacks. (Drive) your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts.
What Does This Hymn Say?
This short, intense hymn is a series of commands to the Maruts to drive their chariots forward, overcoming all obstacles. The refrain “vāśīmān rathyā vṛṣṇo maruto marutāṃ gaṇaiḥ” (drive your chariot with the roaring, powerful ones, O Maruts, with the troops of Maruts) ends every verse.
Verse 1 commands the Maruts to unharness and then re‑harness? Actually, “vi vasya” means to unharness or drive forth, then “vāśīmān” means “drive your chariot with the roaring ones.” The overall sense is: unleash your horses, drive with your roaring, powerful troop. Verse 2 repeats the command, adding “loosen the reins like rays (of light).”
Verses 3–5 use the image of the poet (kavi) driving horses beyond obstacles, likening the Maruts’ own chariots to prize‑winning steeds. Verse 6 shifts to “you drive them wide,” and verse 7 prays for the Maruts to go beyond obstacles, beyond enemies, beyond violent attacks.
The hymn is a spell for breakthrough: the Maruts’ storm‑energy smashes through every barrier—ritual, physical, and spiritual.
Understanding the Maruts: Beyond All Obstacles
Hymn 1.38 gives us the Maruts as the remover of obstacles (vārān). The word vāra means “barrier,” “obstacle,” “hindrance,” and it is repeated obsessively throughout the hymn. The Maruts’ chariot does not stop; it drives over, through, or beyond every barrier.
The Poet as Charioteer: The image of the kavi (poet, seer) driving horses beyond obstacles links the human singer with the divine Maruts. The hymn itself is a chariot; the words are the horses; the seer is the driver. By reciting this hymn, the priest symbolically joins the Marut‑troop, driving his own prayer‑chariot through all obstacles to reach the gods and win the spoils.
The Roaring Troop: The refrain’s word “vāśīmān” means “with the roaring ones.” The Maruts are noisy; their roar is the thunder, the wind, the battle‑cry. This sound is itself an obstacle‑breaker; it shatters silence, fear, and stagnation. The hymn’s repetitive, driving rhythm echoes that roar.
Hymn 1.39 – To the Maruts
Seer (Ṛṣi): Kaṇva Ghaura
Deity (Devatā): Maruts
Meter (Chandas): Gāyatrī
Verses
प्र ये धूमा॑सो अ॒ग्नयो॒ वि वा॒ता वान्ति॑ वृ॒त्रहा॑ ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥१॥
pra ye dhūmāso agnayo vi vātā vānti vṛtrahā |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||1||
Those (Maruts) before whom smoke‑bannered fires blaze, and the winds blow, O Vṛtra‑slayers. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र ये वज्रं॒ न नि यु॒वन्ति॒ वि विद्यु॑तो॒ न भ्राज॑न्ते ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥२॥
pra ye vajraṃ na ni yuvanti vi vidyuto na bhrājante |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||2||
Those who wield the thunderbolt like Indra, and flash like lightning. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र ये पृ॒श्निमा॑तरो॒ वि यो॒द्धारो॒ न वृ॑त्र॒हा ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥३॥
pra ye pṛśnimātaro vi yoddhāro na vṛtrahā |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||3||
Those who have Pṛśni as their mother, and who are fighters, like Vṛtra‑slayers. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र ये गावो॒ न व॒र्त्तयो॒ वि ये शत्रू॒न्न शोशु॑चन् ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥४॥
pra ye gāvo na varttayo vi ye śatrūn na śośucan |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||4||
Those who churn like cows, and who blaze like enemies (being burned). The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र ये म॒रुतः॒ प्रति॑ प्र य॒न्ति प्र ये पुनः॑ ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥५॥
pra ye marutaḥ prati pra yanti pra ye punaḥ |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||5||
Those Maruts who advance against (the enemy), and who advance again. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
प्र ये धूमा॑सो अ॒ग्नयो॒ वि वा॒ता वान्ति॑ वृ॒त्रहा॑ ।
म॒रुतो॑ मरु॒द्भ्यो अ॑ध्व॒रा इ॒ह सोमं॒ पिब॑त ॥६॥
pra ye dhūmāso agnayo vi vātā vānti vṛtrahā |
maruto marudbhyo adhvarā iha somaṃ pibata ||6||
Those before whom smoke‑bannered fires blaze, and the winds blow, O Vṛtra‑slayers. The sacrifices are for you, the Maruts; drink the Soma here.
What Does This Hymn Say?
This hymn, with the same refrain as 1.37, piles simile upon simile to describe the Maruts.
Verse 1 says the Maruts are preceded by smoke‑bannered fires and blowing winds; they are Vṛtra‑slayers. Verse 2 likens them to thunderbolt‑wielders, flashing like lightning. Verse 3 calls them sons of Pṛśni (their mother, the speckled cow‑cloud), fighters and Vṛtra‑slayers.
Verse 4 compares them to churning cows and blazing enemies. Verse 5 describes their relentless advance: they go against the enemy, and again, and again. Verse 6 repeats verse 1, rounding the hymn back to its opening image of smoke and wind.
The entire hymn is a portrait painted in brief, vivid strokes: the Maruts are fire, wind, lightning, thunder, battle, and unstoppable motion.
Understanding the Maruts: The Sons of Pṛśni and the Vṛtra‑Slayers
Hymn 1.39 reveals more of the Maruts’ mythology. They are “pṛśni‑mātaraḥ”—having Pṛśni as their mother. Pṛśni is the speckled storm‑cloud, and the Maruts are born from the cloud‑womb, nourished by the rains.
They are also “vṛtrahā”—Vṛtra‑slayers—a title normally reserved for Indra. This sharing of Indra’s greatest epithet shows that the Maruts are not merely companions but co‑warriors, each a miniature Indra, each wielding a thunderbolt and flashing like lightning.
The similes of cows churning and enemies blazing capture the dual nature of the storm: it churns the earth and sky, bringing fertility, and it destroys enemies with fire and wind. For Kaṇva Ghaura, the Maruts are the full power of the storm in all its terror and generosity.
Hymn 1.40 – To Indra (with the Maruts)
Seer (Ṛṣi): Kaṇva Ghaura
Deity (Devatā): Indra (accompanied by the Maruts)
Meter (Chandas): Gāyatrī
Verses
इन्द्र॑ सोमं पिब वृत्रहन्सु॒तं सू॒रिभि॒रा ग॑हि ।
म॒रुत्वा॑न्सोमं पिब नो॒ गृहे॑ ॥१॥
indra somaṃ piba vṛtrahan sutaṃ sūribhir ā gahi |
marutvān somaṃ piba no gṛhe ||1||
O Indra, Vṛtra‑slayer, drink the Soma; come with the patrons. Accompanied by the Maruts, drink the Soma in our home.
त्वं हि शूरः॑ सनि॒ता वाज॑सा॒तमः॑ स॒हस्र॑धारो मरुतां॒ गणे॑न ।
स नो॑ वाजेषु पृत॒नासु॑ चोदय॒ रथो॑ यथा॒ मधु॑ना सोम्येन च ॥२॥
tvaṃ hi śūraḥ sanitā vājasātamaḥ sahasradhāro marutāṃ gaṇena |
sa no vājeṣu pṛtanāsu codaya ratho yathā madhunā somyena ca ||2||
For you are the hero, the winner, the best prize‑winner, thousand‑streamed with the Marut troop. Urge us on in contests and battles, like a chariot, with honey and Soma.
वृषा॑ ह्यसि॒ वर्ध॑नो मदा॑य सोम॒पीत॑ये ।
म॒रुत्वा॑न्सोमं पिब नो॒ गृहे॑ ॥३॥
vṛṣā hy asi vardhano madāya somapītaye |
marutvān somaṃ piba no gṛhe ||3||
For you are the bull, the increaser, for intoxication, for Soma‑drinking. Accompanied by the Maruts, drink the Soma in our home.
इन्द्रो॑ वा॒जेषु॑ नोऽव सहस्रप्रधनेषु च ।
उ॒ग्र उ॒ग्राभि॑रू॒तिभिः॑ ॥४॥
indro vājeṣu no 'va sahasrapradhaneṣu ca |
ugra ugrābhir ūtibhiḥ ||4||
Indra helps us in the contests and in the thousandfold battles—the mighty one, with mighty aids.
What Does This Hymn Say?
This short, four‑verse hymn closes Kaṇva Ghaura’s cycle by returning to Indra, the master of the Maruts. The refrain “marutvān somaṃ piba no gṛhe” (accompanied by the Maruts, drink the Soma in our home) anchors verses 1 and 3.
Verse 1 invokes Indra with his two core titles: Vṛtra‑slayer and Marut‑companion. Verse 2 is a longer, Triṣṭubh‑like line praising Indra as the hero, the best prize‑winner, thousand‑streamed with his troop, and asking him to urge the worshippers in battle like a chariot.
Verse 3 calls him the bull and increaser, again inviting him home with the Maruts. Verse 4 is the familiar refrain from earlier hymns: “Indra helps us in the contests… the mighty one, with mighty aids.”
The hymn is a smooth, confident homecoming for the storm‑troop and their chief, bringing the wild energy of the previous Marut hymns into the quiet center of the household sacrifice.
Understanding Indra and the Maruts: The Chief and His Troop
Hymn 1.40 reunites Indra with the Maruts after three hymns devoted to the Maruts alone. It is a synthesis: Indra is the bull, the hero, the prize‑winner, but he is never alone. He is “sahasradhāro marutāṃ gaṇena”—thousand‑streamed with the Marut troop.
The thousand streams are both the Soma flowing and the Maruts themselves, a flood of power surrounding their chief.
The final verse, “Indra helps us in the contests…,” is a refrain that has appeared multiple times across different seers (Madhucchandā, Medhātithi, and now Kaṇva Ghaura). Its repetition here ties the new seer’s work into the larger fabric of the Rig Veda’s first Maṇḍala, a reminder that though the voices change, the song is one.
Kaṇva Ghaura’s cycle is now complete: he began with Agni and the Maruts (1.36), plunged into the storm (1.37–1.39), and now rests in the home of Indra, the storm’s calm center, the cup of Soma raised.
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