Translations of Rig Veda Suktas 33-121 by M.P. Pandit

HYMN 85

Rishi : GOTAMA Deity: MARUTS

1. They who like women are radiant on the way, gliders, doers of mighty deeds, sons of Rudra, the Maruts have created Heaven and Earth for their growth (in the Yajamana); heroes, assailers, they rejoice in sacrifices.

Women: Like women who gaining control over their spouses, place themselves at their disposal, the Maruts born of the regions of Life-Force, grow into Powers of Mind with ingressions of the might of Indra, gain control over the Yajamana and then become subservient to him.

Heaven and Earth: the upper and the lower states of consciousness, energised by the luminous Powers of the Mind, the Maruts.

2. Satiated, they attained greatness; they enhanced (the glory of) Indra’s home in Heaven. Worshipping lustrous Indra, manifesting his glory, the sons of Prishni, acquired riches in abundance.

3. When the sons of the Cow shine with their radiances, pure, they are resplendent on their persons; they strike at every adversary. Light trails in their path.

Light: of the intellect.

4. Worthily worshipped, they shine with their spears (of sight); they strike down even what cannot be over-thrown.

O Maruts, swift as thought, in companies of showerers, when ye yoke the spotted deer to your cars (things are overthrown).

5. O Maruts, when ye have harnessed the spotted deer to your car for sake of wealth, urging the Cloud to shower, streams are released from the radiant (Indra). And they soak the earth, like a skin, with Waters.

6. O Maruts, may the swift-gliding coursers bear ye hither. Moving swift, go forward with your arms (aloft). O Maruts, your place is spread wide; seated on the sacred grass, rejoice in the sweet intake (of Soma).

Place: is in the inner consecrated seat of the Yajamana.

7. Self-confident, fully grown, by their greatness they have attained Heaven and made their abode wide. For whom Vishnu himself guards the bounteous, delightful Soma, may they come like birds and be seated upon our pleasing altar (of grass).

Even as the hymns exalt the happier aspect (Shiva) of Rudra, the terrible father of the Maruts, and praise the calmer side of the impetuous Maruts, so do some hymns speak of the fiery deeds of Vishnu, the preserver, who is lauded as the support of the Maruts.

8. Like heroes, rushing eager for fight, like men seeking renown⁴⁵

9. For heroic deeds of the Maruts, Indra wields the well-fashioned, golden thunderbolt with many several edges which Twashtri has made for him; with it he slew Vritra, caused the ocean of Waters to flow down.

10. By their power they impelled the Well aloft, clove even the strong mountain. Blowing upon their pipe, exhilarated by Soma, the bounteous givers wrought delectable deeds.

Well: the store-well of potencies in the nether regions of the physical. These Waters are brought up to the levels of life and mind.

Mountain: of many plateaus, dense, stone-like.

11. They impelled the Well deviously and brought the flood to thirsting Gotama. The variously lustrous (Maruts) bring him succour fulfilling the longing of the sage with sustaining Waters.

Devious: so as to cover the entire being, in all its parts.

12. O Maruts, bestow on us whatever triple blessings are in your gift for him who lauds and offers. Showerers, bestow on us the wealth that is potent.

Triple: relating to the three worlds.