मधु वाता ऋतायते मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः। माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीः॥
madhu vātā ṛtāyate madhu kṣaranti sindhavaḥ । mādhvīr naḥ santv oṣadhīḥ ॥
PM's MessageThe protection of nature is not only a responsibility, but also an integral part of our culture and values.
Meaning of Madhu Vātā Ṛtāyate Madhu
May the air flow pleasantly and beneficially around us, may the rivers provide life-giving and nourishing water, and may herbs and plants bring health and well-being to all living beings.
Word by word
- मधुmadhu
honey, sweetness
मधु
- वाताःvātāḥ
the winds
वात, √वा
- ऋतायतेṛtāyate
for one who lives by ṛta
ऋत
ṛta is cosmic order; the sweetness is conditional on it.
- क्षरन्तिkṣaranti
flow, pour
√क्षर्
- सिन्धवःsindhavaḥ
the rivers
सिन्धु
- माध्वीःmādhvīḥ
sweet, honeyed
मधु
- नःnaḥ
for us
अस्मद्
- सन्तुsantu
may they be
√अस्
- ओषधीःoṣadhīḥ
the herbs
ओषधि
Commentary
This mantra belongs to the Madhu Sukta, a hymn that sees the natural world through the language of madhu, sweetness, harmony, and nourishment. The wind, rivers, herbs, and plants are not treated as inert resources, but as living participants in a larger order that sustains health and happiness. The word ṛta points to the ordered, truthful rhythm of existence. When the winds flow according to ṛta, when rivers nourish, and when oṣadhayaḥ, the herbs and plants, become beneficial, human well-being is shown as inseparable from ecological balance. In this sense, protecting nature is not merely a modern administrative duty; it is rooted in a civilizational view that regards air, water, plants, and health as part of one shared web of life. The verse gently reminds us that a sweet and wholesome life is possible only when nature itself remains protected, pure, and flourishing.
Original Post
More from Rigveda
View source pageसुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nas tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu ॥
A Rigveda svasti mantra in which Indra, Pushan, Tarkshya and Brihaspati are each asked to bestow well-being upon us.
More subhashitams on Nature
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्। मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥
hitāhitaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkham āyus tasya hitāhitam । mānaṃ ca tac ca yatroktam āyurvedaḥ sa ucyate ॥
Charaka Samhita defines Ayurveda through beneficial and harmful, happy and unhappy forms of life and the measure of lifespan.