only know it, their mutual birthplace.
With wings expanded they sweep each other,[14]
and strive together, the wind-loud falcons.
Wise he that knoweth this secret knowledge,
that Pricni the great one to them was mother.[15]
This folk the Maruts shall make heroic,
victorious ever, increased in manhood;
In speed the swiftest, in light the lightest,
with grace united and fierce in power--
Your power fierce is; your strength, enduring;
and hence with the Maruts this folk is mighty.
Your fury fair is, your hearts are wrothful,
like maniacs wild is your band courageous.
From us keep wholly the gleaming lightning;
let not your anger come here to meet us.
Your names of strong ones endeared invoke I,
that these delighted may joy, O Maruts.

What little reflection or moral significance is in the Marut hymns is
illustrated by i. 38. 1-9, thus translated by Mueller:

What then now? When will ye take us as a dear father takes
his son by both hands, O ye gods, for whom the sacred grass
has been trimmed?

Where now? On what errand of yours are you going, in heaven,
not on earth? Where are your cows sporting? Where are your
newest favors, O Maruts? Where are blessings? Where all
delights? If you, sons of Pricni, were mortals and your
praiser an immortal, then never should your praiser be
unwelcome, like a deer in pasture grass, nor should he go on
the path of Yama.[16] Let not one sin after another,
difficult to be conquered, overcome us; may it depart,
together with greed. Truly they are terrible and powerful;
even to the desert the Rudriyas bring rain that is never
dried up. The lightning lows like a cow, it follows as a
mother follows after her young, when the shower has been let
loose. Even by day the Maruts create darkness with the
water-bearing cloud, when they drench the earth, etc.

The number of the Maruts was originally seven, afterwards raised to
thrice seven, and then given variously,[17] sometimes as high as
thrice sixty. They are the servants, the bulls of Dyaus, the glory of
Rudra (or perhaps the 'boys of Rudra'), divine, bright as suns,
blameless and pure. They cover themselves with shining adornment,
chains of gold, gems, and turbans. On their heads are helmets of gold,
and in their hands gleam arrows and daggers. L