waterapahpurificationrigveda

Apo Hi Shtha Mayo Bhuvah

आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवः in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 During Marjana in the morning, noon and evening Sandhya; before any puja or homa·📜 Rigveda 10.9.1–3 (also in Yajurveda); used in Sandhyavandana Marjana

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

These three verses, addressed to the divine Waters (Apah), are among the most beloved of the Rigveda and are recited daily during Marjana — the sprinkling of purifying water — in Sandhyavandana and many pujas. They praise water as the source of well-being, strength and renewal, likening it to loving mothers, and ask for a share of its most auspicious, blissful essence. As the verses are chanted, water is sprinkled over the head and body for inner and outer purification.

Origin & Story

Rigveda 10.9.1–3 (also in Yajurveda); used in Sandhyavandana Marjana · Rishi Sindhudvipa (Ambarisha) · Vedic

This short hymn to the Waters (Apah) is one of the most frequently chanted passages of the Veda. Attributed to Rishi Sindhudvipa in the Rigveda's tenth Mandala, it personifies water as a divine, motherly power that bestows strength, joy and spiritual renewal. Because water is the great purifier, the tradition placed these verses at the heart of the daily Marjana rite, where the worshipper sprinkles consecrated water on the body while chanting them, cleansing the self before approaching the sacred.

✦ As told in scripture

The Vedic seers held the Waters to carry the very nectar of immortality and all healing herbs; the Apah-Suktas declare that within the waters lie all remedies and the medicine that makes the body whole. Devotees believe that sincere Marjana with these verses washes away not only bodily impurity but the subtle stains of the mind.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Om Apo Hi Shtha Mayo-Bhuvas-Ta Na Urje Dadhatana. Mahe Ranaya Chakshase.

Meaning:O Waters, you are indeed the bringers of well-being and joy; therefore grant us strength and nourishment, that we may perceive great delight. Give us a share, here in this world, of that most auspicious essence of yours — like loving mothers eager to nourish their children. To you we come readily for that bliss to whose abode you gladden and impel us; O Waters, regenerate and renew us. (This is the Marjana hymn recited while sprinkling purifying water in the daily ritual.)

Verse 2

Yo Vah Shivatamo Rasas-Tasya Bhajayateha Nah. Ushatir-Iva Matarah.

Verse 3

Tasma Aram Gamama Vo Yasya Kshayaya Jinvatha. Apo Janayatha Cha Nah.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Apah🔊O Waters (the divine, life-giving waters)

Hi Shtha🔊Indeed you are; truly you exist as

Mayo-Bhuvah🔊Sources of happiness and well-being; bringers of comfort

Ta Nah🔊Therefore, to us

Urje Dadhatana🔊Grant strength and nourishment (vigour)

Mahe Ranaya Chakshase🔊For the perception of great delight (and for great spiritual insight)

Yo Vah Shivatamo Rasah🔊That most auspicious, blissful essence of yours

Tasya Bhajayata Iha Nah🔊Of that, give us a share here (in this world)

Ushatir-Iva Matarah🔊Like loving mothers eager (to nourish their children)

Tasma Aram Gamama Vah🔊To you we come fully (we resort to you readily) for that

Yasya Kshayaya Jinvatha🔊To whose abode (of bliss / for whose dwelling) you gladden and impel us

Apo Janayatha Cha Nah🔊O Waters, and (so) regenerate / give new birth to us

Benefits of Chanting आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवः

✦

The Vedic Marjana mantra for purifying body and mind with sprinkled water

✦

Invokes the divine Waters as bringers of strength, nourishment and renewal

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Cleanses subtle impurities before japa, puja, homa or Sandhyavandana

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Cultivates gratitude toward water as a motherly, life-giving force

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Believed to bestow health, vigour and clarity of perception ('Mahe Ranaya Chakshase')

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A simple, universally used Rigvedic mantra suitable for daily practice

How to Chant आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवः

Repetitions3times

Best TimeDuring Marjana in the morning, noon and evening Sandhya; before any puja or homa

Take clean water in the right palm or in a small spoon (uddharani). While reciting the three verses, dip a darbha grass or the fingertips in the water and sprinkle it (Marjana / Prokshana) over the head and body, or touch the head, eyes, and limbs with the moistened fingers. The water is sprinkled at the close of each verse. Sit facing east, mind calm, regarding the water as the divine purifying Apah.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete आपो हि ष्ठा मयोभुवः written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

'Apo Hi Shtha' means 'O Waters, you indeed are…' It opens a three-verse Rigvedic hymn praising water as 'Mayo-Bhuvah' — the source of well-being and joy — and asking it for strength, its most auspicious essence, and renewal.

It is from the Rigveda (Mandala 10, hymn 9, verses 1–3), attributed to Rishi Sindhudvipa. The same verses appear in the Yajurveda and are widely used in the daily Sandhyavandana ritual and in temple worship.

It is the principal Marjana (water-sprinkling) mantra. The worshipper sprinkles or touches purifying water on the head and body while reciting it, cleansing both the outer body and inner self before further worship.

The verse compares the Waters to 'Ushatir-Iva Matarah' — loving mothers eager to nourish their children. Like a mother who freely gives her milk, the Waters are asked to share their most blissful, life-sustaining essence with the worshipper.