Muni's PlayThe Keshi Sukta (The Long-Haired Sages)
Mandala 10, Hymn 136 (Verses 1–7)
Rishi: Vātaraśana (The “Wind-Girdled” sages) | Devata: Keśins | Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
Verse 10.136.1
Sanskrit
केश्यग्निं केशी विषं केशी बिभर्ति रोदसी ।
केशी विश्वं स्वर्दृशे केशीदं ज्योतिरुच्यते ॥
Word-by-Word
केशी (The long-haired one) | अग्निम् (fire) | विषम् (poison/water/the cosmic drink) | बिभर्ति (sustains/bears) | रोदसी (heaven and earth) | विश्वम् (all/the universe) | स्वर्दृशे (to look upon the sun/light) | इदम् (this) | ज्योतिः (light) | उच्यते (is called).
Translation
The Long-Haired One sustains the fire, he sustains the “poison” (cosmic drink); he sustains heaven and earth. The Long-Haired One is the entire sky for us to look upon; the Long-Haired One is called this very Light.
Verse 10.136.2
Sanskrit
मुनयो वातरशनाः पिशङ्गा वसते मला ।
वातस्यानु ध्राजिं यन्ति यद्देवासो अविक्षत ॥
Word-by-Word
मुनयः (The Munis) | वात-रशनाः (wind-girdled/naked) | पिशङ्गा (yellow/reddish-brown) | वसते (clothe themselves) | मला (soiled garments/dust) | वातस्य (of the wind) | अनु (along) | ध्राजिम् (course) | यन्ति (they go) | यत् (when) | देवासः (the gods) | अविक्षत (have entered [them]).
Translation
The Munis, girdled by the wind, wear soiled yellow garments; they follow the swift course of the wind when the gods have entered into them.
Verse 10.136.3
Sanskrit
उन्मदिता मौनेयेन वयं तस्थिम वातस्य ।
यदस्माकं शरीरेद्यूयं मर्तासो पश्यथ ॥
Word-by-Word
उन्मदिताः (Exalted/intoxicated/maddened) | मौनेयेन (by our state of being a Muni) | वयम् (we) | तस्थिम (we have ascended/stood) | वातस्य (upon the wind) | यत् (where) | अस्माकम् (our) | शरीरा (bodies) | इत् (only) | यूयम् (you) | मर्तासः (mortals) | पश्यथ (you see).
Translation
“Exalted by our state of Muni-hood, we have ascended upon the winds. You mortals only see our physical bodies (while we are elsewhere).”
Verse 10.136.4
Sanskrit
अन्तरिक्षेण पतति विश्वा रूपावचाकशत् ।
मुनिर्देवस्यदेवस्य सौकृत्याय सखा हितः ॥
Word-by-Word
अन्तरिक्षेण (Through the mid-air) | पतति (he flies) | विश्वा (all) | रूपा (forms) | अवचाकशत् (perceiving) | मुनिः (the Muni) | देवस्य-देवस्य (of every god) | सौकृत्याय (for divine work) | सखा (friend) | हितः (appointed).
Translation
The Muni flies through the mid-air, looking down upon all forms; he is the friend appointed for the divine work of every god.
Verse 10.136.5
Sanskrit
वातस्याश्वो वायोः सखाथो देवेषितो मुनिः ।
उभौ समुद्रावा क्षेति यश्च पूर्व उतापरः ॥
Word-by-Word
वातस्य (Of the wind) | अश्वः (the steed) | वायोः (of the wind-god) | सखा (friend) | अथो (and) | देवेषितः (impelled by gods) | मुनिः (the Muni) | उभौ (both) | समुद्रौ (oceans) | आ क्षेति (dwells in) | पूर्वः (eastern) | अपरः (western).
Translation
The Muni is the steed of the wind and the friend of Vāyu; impelled by the gods, he dwells in both oceans—the one of the east and the one of the west.
Verse 10.136.6
Sanskrit
अप्सरसां गन्धर्वाणां मृगाणां चरणे चरन् ।
केशी केतस्य विद्वान्सखा स्वादुर्मदिन्तमः ॥
Word-by-Word
अप्सरसाम् (Of Apsaras) | गन्धर्वाणाम् (of Gandharvas) | मृगाणाम् (of wild beasts) | चरणे (in the path) | चरन् (moving/wandering) | केशी (the long-haired one) | केतस्य (of the thought/will) | विद्वान् (knowing/wise) | सखा (friend) | स्वादुः (sweet/delightful) | मदिन्तमः (most intoxicating).
Translation
Wandering in the path of the Apsaras, the Gandharvas, and the wild beasts, the Long-Haired One knows our secret thoughts; he is a sweet and most intoxicating friend.
Verse 10.136.7
Sanskrit
वायुरस्मा उपामन्थत्पिनष्टि स्मा कुनन्नमा ।
केशी विषस्य पात्रेण यद्रुद्रेणापिबत्सह ॥
Word-by-Word
वायुः (Vāyu/Wind) | अस्मै (for him) | उपामन्थत् (churned) | पिनष्टि (grinds/crushes) | स्म (indeed) | कुनन्नमा (the hard/unbending) | केशी (the long-haired one) | विषस्य (of the poison/cosmic drink) | पात्रेण (with the cup) | यत् (which) | रुद्रेण (with Rudra) | अपिबत (drank) | सह (together).
Translation
For him, Vāyu has churned the drink; the Long-Haired One, with the cup, drank the “poison” together with Rudra.
Reference: Rig Veda