Muni's PlayThe Play of the Maruts
Mandala 1, Hymn 37 (Verses 1, 5)
Rishi: Kaṇva Ghaura | Devata: Maruts | Chandas: Gayatri
Verse 1.37.1
Sanskrit
क्रीळं वः शर्धो मारुतमनर्वाणं रथे शुभम् ।
कण्वा अभि प्र गायत ॥
Word-by-Word
क्रीळुम् (Sporting/playing) | वः (your) | शर्धः (host/troop) | मारुतम् (of the Maruts) | अनर्वाणम् (irresistible/without a rival) | रथे-शुभम् (brilliant on the chariot) | कण्वाः (O sons of Kanva/singers) | अभि (towards/fully) | प्र गायत (sing forth/celebrate).
Translation
Sing forth, O sons of Kanva, to your sporting, irresistible host of Maruts, who are brilliant upon their chariots.
Verse 1.37.5
Sanskrit
प्र शंसा गोष्वघ्न्यं क्रीळं यच्छर्धो मारुतम् ।
जम्भे रसस्य वावृधे ॥
Word-by-Word
प्र (Forth/exceedingly) | शंसा (praise/extol) | गोषु (among the cows/radiance) | अघ्न्यम् (the inviolable/unslayable) | क्रीळम् (sporting/playing) | यत् (which) | शर्धः (host/troop) | मारुतम् (of the Maruts) | जम्भे (in the mouth/jaws) | रसस्य (of the essence/juice/rain) | वावृधे (has grown/increased).
Translation
Extol the host of Maruts, the sporting troop that is as sacred and inviolable as the Cow; they who have grown in power within the jaws of the rain-essence.
Mandala 1, Hymn 166 (Verses 1, 2)
Rishi: Agastya Maitrāvaruṇi | Devata: Maruts | Chandas: Jagatī
Verse 1.166.1
Sanskrit
तन्नु वोचाम रभसाय जन्मने पूर्वं महित्वं वृषभस्य केतवे ।
ऐधेव यामन्मरुतस्तुविष्वणो युधेव शक्रास्तविषाणि कर्तन ॥
Word-by-Word
तत् (That) | नु (now) | वोचाम (let us proclaim) | रभसाय (for the impetuous/forceful) | जन्मने (birth/race) | पूर्वम् (ancient/former) | महित्वम् (greatness/majesty) | वृषभस्य (of the Bull - Rudra/the Leader) | केतवे (for the banner/signal/knowledge) | ऐधा-इव (like a blazing fire) | यामन् (on the journey/path) | मरुतः (O Maruts) | तुविष्वणः (mighty-sounding/loud-thundering) | युधा-इव (as if in battle) | शक्राः (mighty/powerful ones) | तविषाणि (mighty deeds/powers) | कर्तन (perform/make).
Translation
Let us now proclaim for this impetuous race the ancient greatness, which serves as the banner of the Bull. O Maruts, mighty-sounding on your journey, perform your heroic deeds like blazing fires or like powerful warriors charging into battle.
Verse 1.166.2
Sanskrit
नित्यं न सूनुं मधु बिभ्रत उप क्रीळन्ति क्रीळा विदथेषु घृष्वयः ।
नक्षन्ति रुद्रा अवसा नमस्विनं न मर्धन्ति स्वतवसो हविष्कृतम् ॥
Word-by-Word
नित्यम् (Constant/ever-dear) | न (like) | सूनुम् (a son) | मधु (honey/sweetness) | बिभ्रतः (bearing/bringing) | उप (near/unto) | क्रीळन्ति (they play) | क्रीळाः (the sporting ones) | विदथेषु (in sacred assemblies) | घृष्वयः (exultant/brilliant) | नक्षन्ति (they reach/attain) | रुद्राः (the Rudras/Maruts) | अवसा (with protection) | नमस्विनम् (the one who bows) | न (not) | मर्धन्ति (they neglect/disregard) | स्वतवसः (self-strong) | हविष्कृतम् (the maker of the offering).
Translation
Like a father playing with a dear son, the sporting and brilliant Maruts bring sweetness and play near us in our sacred rites. These self-strong Rudras reach the worshipper with their protection; they never disregard the one who prepares the offering.
Reference: Rig Veda