The 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.

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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.

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Verse 10.136.3

Sanskrit

उन्मदिता मौनेयेन वाताँ आ तस्थिमा वयम् । शरीरेदस्माकं यूयं मर्तासो अभि पश्यथ ॥

Word-by-Word

उन्मदिताः (Intoxicated/Ecstatic) | मौनेयेन (by the state of Muni-hood/silent fervor) | वातान् (the winds) | आ तस्थिम (we have mounted/ascended) | वयम् (we) | शरीरा (bodies) | इत् (only/indeed) | अस्माकम् (our) | यूयम् (you) | मर्तासः (mortals) | अभि पश्यथ (look upon/behold).

Translation

“Steeped in the ecstasy of Muni-hood, we have mounted the winds. You mortals, indeed, behold only our bodies.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Symbolic Parallels

The mention of the sage sustaining both Fire (Agni) and Poison (Visha) has strong esoteric parallels in other traditions:

• The Lovers Tarot Card: The symbolic representation of the Tree of Life (Fire) and the Tree of Knowledge (Poison/Serpent).
• Vijnana Bhairava Tantra Verse 68: A meditation technique focusing on the space between fire (vahni) and poison/fiber (visha).

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Reference: Rig Veda