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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 407 of 1027

Mandala 5: HYMN LIII. Maruts.

1.Who knows the birth of these, or who lived in the Maruts’ favour in the days of old What time their spotted deer were yoked?

2.Who, when they stood upon their cars, hath heard them tell the way they went? Who was the bounteous man to whom their kindred rains flowed down with food of sacrifice?

3.To me they told it, and they came with winged steeds radiant to the draught, Youths, Heroes free from spot or stain: Behold us here and praise thou us;

4.Who shine self-luminous with ornaments and swords, with breastplates, armlets, and with wreaths, Arrayed on chariots and with bows.

5.O swift to pour your bounties down, ye Maruts, with delight I look upon your cars, Like splendours coming through the rain.

6.Munificent Heroes, they have cast heaven’s treasury down for the worshipper’s behoof: They set the storm-cloud free to stream through both the worlds, and rainfloods flow o’er desert spots.

7.The bursting streams m billowy flood have spread abroad, like milch-kine, o’er the firmament. Like swift steeds hasting to their journey’s resting-place, to every side run glittering brooks.

8.Hither, O Maruts, come from heaven, from mid-air, or from near at hand Tarry not far away from us.

9.So let not Rasā, Krumu, or Anitabha, Kubha, or Sindhu hold you back. Let not the watery Sarayti obstruct your way. With us be all the bliss ye give.

10.That brilliant gathering of your cars, the company of Maruts, of the Youthful Ones, The rain-showers, speeding on, attend.

11.With eulogies and hymns may we follow your army, troop by troop, and band by band, And company by company.

12.To what oblation-giver, sprung of noble ancestry, have sped The Maruts on this course to-day?

13.Vouchsafe to us the bounty, that which we implore, through which, for child and progeny, Ye give the seed of corn that wasteth not away, and bliss that reacheth to all life.

14.May we in safety pass by those who slander us, leaving behind disgrace and hate. Maruts, may we be there when ye, at dawn, in rest and toil, rain waters down and balm.

15.Favoured by Gods shall he the man, O Heroes, Marutr! and possessed of noble sons, Whom ye protect. Such may we be.

16.Praise the Free-givers. At this liberal patron’s rite they joy like cattle in the mead. So call thou unto them who come as ancient Friends: hymn those who love thee with a song.

Asked of Guide

Why are the Maruts praised for bringing rain and called 'Heroes' and 'Free-givers' here?

The hymn shows the Maruts as a warrior-like troop who release the storm and shower wealth: they arrive “with winged steeds” on chariots, unleash the flood, and “cast heaven’s treasury down for the worshipper’s behoof.” Their martial imagery—armlets, swords, ranks—frames rain as a generous, victorious gift delivered by powerful beings.

Calling them “Heroes” and “Free-givers” ties their martial splendour to social reward: the Maruts confer prosperity, seed, progeny, and protection on those they favour, so praise and hymns follow them “troop by troop.” This connects to other Vedic hymns where gods act as patrons whose gifts justify ritual praise, similar to how Indra is celebrated in Mandala 1 for liberating the waters.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.