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Rudra Suktam Meaning — Line by Line

रुद्र सूक्तम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Rudra Suktam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Om a te pitarmarutam sumnametu ma nah suryasya samdrisho yuyothah;
  2. Verse 2. Tvadattebhi Rudra shantamebhih shatam hima ashiya bheshajebhih;
  3. Verse 3. Shreshtho jatasya Rudra shriyasi tavastamastavasam vajrabaho;
  4. Verse 4. Ma tva Rudra chukrudhama namobhirma dushtuti vrishabha ma sahuti;
  5. Verse 5. Havimabhirhavate yo havirbhirava stomebhi Rudram dishiya;
  6. Verse 6. Unma mamanda vrishabho marutvantvakshiyasa vayasa nadhamanam;
  7. Verse 7. Eva babhro vrishabha chekitana yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi;
  8. Verse 8. Om shantih shantih shantih.
Verse 1#

Om a te pitarmarutam sumnametu ma nah suryasya samdrisho yuyothah;

ते पितर्मरुतां सुम्नमेतु मा नः सूर्यस्य संदृशो युयोथाः। अभि नो वीरो अर्वति क्षमेत प्र जायेमहि रुद्र प्रजाभिः॥१॥

Om a te pitarmarutam sumnametu ma nah suryasya samdrisho yuyothah; Abhi no viro arvati kshameta pra jayemahi Rudra prajabhih. (1)

MeaningOm. O Father of the Maruts, may your grace come to us; do not cut us off from the sight of the sun. May our hero prevail over the foe on horseback; may we flourish, O Rudra, through our offspring.

Verse 2#

Tvadattebhi Rudra shantamebhih shatam hima ashiya bheshajebhih;

त्वादत्तेभी रुद्र शंतमेभिः शतं हिमा अशीय भेषजेभिः। व्यस्मद्द्वेषो वितरं व्यंहो व्यमीवाश्चातयस्वा विषूचीः॥२॥

Tvadattebhi Rudra shantamebhih shatam hima ashiya bheshajebhih; Vyasmaddvesho vitaram vyamho vyamivashchatayasva vishuchih. (2)

MeaningBy the most soothing remedies that you bestow, O Rudra, may I live a hundred winters; drive far from us hatred and distress, scatter the diseases that spread on every side.

Verse 3#

Shreshtho jatasya Rudra shriyasi tavastamastavasam vajrabaho;

श्रेष्ठो जातस्य रुद्र श्रियासि तवस्तमस्तवसां वज्रबाहो। पर्षि णः पारमंहसः स्वस्ति विश्वा अभीती रपसो युयोधि॥३॥

Shreshtho jatasya Rudra shriyasi tavastamastavasam vajrabaho; Parshi nah paramamhasah svasti vishva abhiti rapaso yuyodhi. (3)

MeaningYou are the most excellent of all that is, O Rudra, the mightiest of the mighty, thunderbolt in hand; carry us safely across the shore of distress, and ward off all the assaults of affliction.

Verse 4#

Ma tva Rudra chukrudhama namobhirma dushtuti vrishabha ma sahuti;

मा त्वा रुद्र चुक्रुधामा नमोभिर्मा दुष्टुती वृषभ मा सहूती। उन्नो वीराँ अर्पय भेषजेभिर्भिषक्तमं त्वा भिषजां शृणोमि॥४॥

Ma tva Rudra chukrudhama namobhirma dushtuti vrishabha ma sahuti; Unno viran arpaya bheshajebhirbhishaktamam tva bhishajam shrinomi. (4)

MeaningLet us not anger you, O Rudra, by our homage, nor by ill praise, O Bull, nor by joint invocation. Raise up our heroes with your medicines; I hear that you are the best healer of healers.

Verse 5#

Havimabhirhavate yo havirbhirava stomebhi Rudram dishiya;

हवीमभिर्हवते यो हविर्भिरव स्तोमेभी रुद्रं दिषीय। ऋदूदरः सुहवो मा नो अस्यै बभ्रुः सुशिप्रो रीरधन्मनायै॥५॥

Havimabhirhavate yo havirbhirava stomebhi Rudram dishiya; Ridudarah suhavo ma no asyai babhruh sushipro riradhanmanayai. (5)

MeaningMay I propitiate Rudra — who is invoked with oblations and with hymns — with my offerings. Tender-hearted, easily entreated, tawny and fair-jawed, may he not deliver us up to this wrath.

Verse 6#

Unma mamanda vrishabho marutvantvakshiyasa vayasa nadhamanam;

उन्मा ममन्द वृषभो मरुत्वान्त्वक्षीयसा वयसा नाधमानम्। घृणीव च्छायामरपा अशीया विवासेयं रुद्रस्य सुम्नम्॥६॥

Unma mamanda vrishabho marutvantvakshiyasa vayasa nadhamanam; Ghriniva chchhayamarapa ashiya vivaseyam Rudrasya sumnam. (6)

MeaningThe mighty Bull with his Maruts has gladdened me, the supplicant, with vitalizing strength; as one unscathed reaching shade from the heat, may I win the grace of Rudra.

Verse 7#

Eva babhro vrishabha chekitana yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi;

एवा बभ्रो वृषभ चेकितान यथा देव हृणीषे हंसि। हवनश्रुन्नो रुद्रेह बोधि बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः॥१५॥

Eva babhro vrishabha chekitana yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi; Havanashrunno Rudreha bodhi brihadvadema vidathe suvirah. (15)

MeaningSo, O tawny, mighty, all-discerning Bull, be such that you are not angered and do not harm; hear our call, O Rudra, and be present here; may we, rich in heroes, proclaim your greatness aloud in the assembly.

Verse 8#

Om shantih shantih shantih.

शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः॥

Om shantih shantih shantih.

MeaningOm, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

पितः मरुताम्
pitah marutam
O Father of the Maruts (Rudra, lord of the storm-gods)
सुम्नम् आ एतु
sumnam a etu
May your grace / benevolence come (to us)
मा नः सूर्यस्य संदृशः युयोथाः
ma nah suryasya samdrishah yuyothah
Do not deprive us of the sight of the sun (i.e. of life)
प्र जायेमहि प्रजाभिः
pra jayemahi prajabhih
May we flourish / prosper with offspring
त्वादत्तेभिः भेषजेभिः
tvadattebhih bheshajebhih
With the healing medicines given by you
शंतमेभिः
shantamebhih
Most soothing, most beneficial (remedies)
शतं हिमाः अशीय
shatam himah ashiya
May I live a hundred winters (a full long life)
अमीवाः चातयस्व
amivah chatayasva
Drive away the diseases / ailments
श्रेष्ठः जातस्य
shreshthah jatasya
The most excellent of all that is born / exists
वज्रबाहो
vajrabaho
O wielder of the thunderbolt in your arm
पर्षि नः पारम् अंहसः
parshi nah param amhasah
Carry us across to the far shore of distress / sin
मा त्वा चुक्रुधाम
ma tva chukrudhama
May we never anger you
भिषक्तमं भिषजाम्
bhishaktamam bhishajam
The best of all physicians / healers
वृषभः मरुत्वान्
vrishabhah marutvan
The mighty bull (Rudra) accompanied by the Maruts
घृणि इव छायाम्
ghrini iva chhayam
As one seeks shade from the scorching heat
विवासेयं रुद्रस्य सुम्नम्
vivaseyam Rudrasya sumnam
May I attain / win the grace of Rudra
यथा देव न हृणीषे न हंसि
yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi
So that, O God, you are not angered and do not harm
हवनश्रुत्
havanashrut
Hearer of our invocations / calls
बृहत् वदेम विदथे सुवीराः
brihad vadema vidathe suvirah
May we, blessed with heroic offspring, speak aloud (your praise) in the assembly

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda, Mandala 2, Sukta 33

Author: Rishi Gritsamada Shaunahotra

Period: c. 1500-1200 BCE

The Rudra Suktam is the celebrated hymn to Rudra in the second Mandala of the Rigveda, attributed to the seer Gritsamada. In an age when Rudra was revered as the awesome lord of storms, healing herbs and the wild, this hymn approaches him with both reverence and tenderness — never asking to be harmed, ever praising his role as the supreme physician. Its prayers for a hundred winters of life, freedom from disease and the protection of progeny have made it a perennial hymn for health and Rudra's grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rudra Suktam?
It is a Vedic hymn to Rudra (Shiva) from the Rigveda, Mandala 2, Sukta 33, composed by Rishi Gritsamada. It praises Rudra as the mightiest god and the foremost of physicians, and prays for healing, long life and protection.
How is the Rudra Suktam different from the Sri Rudram?
The Sri Rudram (Rudra Prashna) is from the Yajurveda and includes the famous Namakam and Chamakam. The Rudra Suktam here is the Rigvedic hymn to Rudra (RV 2.33). Both glorify Rudra-Shiva, but they are distinct hymns from different Vedas.
Why is Rudra called the best physician?
The hymn addresses Rudra as 'bhishaktamam bhishajam' — the best healer among healers — because he both bestows soothing medicines and removes disease. This is why the Rudra Suktam is especially chanted for health and recovery from illness.
When should the Rudra Suktam be chanted?
It is ideal on Mondays, during Rudrabhishekam, on Maha Shivaratri and in the month of Shravan. It is also recited at dawn for the well-being and swift recovery of those who are unwell.

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