Sukta 42
Sukta 8.42
Varuṇa
تفتتح هذه الترتيلة القصيرة بتصوير مهيب لڤارونا بوصفه الأسورا العليم بكل شيء، الذي ثبّت السماء، وقاس الأرض، ويحكم جميع العوالم بفضل ṛta التي لا تُنقَض—أي «قوانينه» (vratāni) لنظام الكون. وفي الأبيات اللاحقة يتحوّل التركيز إلى سياق ذبيحة السُّوما، حيث يُستدعى الأشفينان (النّاسَتيان) ليأتيا إلى عصر السُّوما ويشرباها، فيُوائما حركات الطقس في وحدة متوازنة.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अस्तभ्नाद्द्यामसुरो विश्ववेदा अमिमीत वरिमाणं पृथिव्याः । आसीदद्विश्वा भुवनानि सम्राड्विश्वेत्तानि वरुणस्य व्रतानि ॥
الأسورا، العليمُ بكلّ شيء، ثبّت السماءَ وقاس سَعةَ الأرض. وبصفته ملكًا كونيًّا جلس في جميع العوالم؛ فكلّ ذلك سننُ ڤارونا (vrata)، نظامُ الحقّ والاستقامة.
Mantra 2
एवा वन्दस्व वरुणं बृहन्तं नमस्या धीरममृतस्य गोपाम् । स नः शर्म त्रिवरूथं वि यंसत्पातं नो द्यावापृथिवी उपस्थे ॥
هكذا ابتهلوا إلى ڤارونا العظيمَ الاتساع؛ وانحنوا للراسخِ، حارسِ الخلود (أَمْرِتَا). فليَبْسُطْ لنا سَلامًا ذا حمايةٍ ثلاثية؛ وليَحْفَظْنا في حِضنِ السماءِ والأرض.
Mantra 3
इमां धियं शिक्षमाणस्य देव क्रतुं दक्षं वरुण सं शिशाधि । ययाति विश्वा दुरिता तरेम सुतर्माणमधि नावं रुहेम ॥
يا إلهَنا ڤارونا، هذه خاطرتي وأنا أتعلّم: صَقِّلْ ونَظِّمْ إرادتي (كْرَتُو) ومهارتي (دَكْشَ). وبهذا لِنَعْبُرْ كلَّ الشدائد؛ ولِنَرْكَبْ الفُلْكَ الحَسَنَ الحِماية.
Mantra 4
आ वां ग्रावाणो अश्विना धीभिर्विप्रा अचुच्यवुः । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
نحوَكما، أيها الأَشْفِنَان، تحرّكتْ أحجارُ العصرِ بأفكارِ الرُّؤاةِ المُلهَمين؛ يا ناساتْيَا، أقبِلا لِشُربِ السُّوما. ولْتَتَلألأِ الحركاتُ الأُخرى في مساواةٍ مُتَناغِمة.
Mantra 5
यथा वामत्रिरश्विना गीर्भिर्विप्रो अजोहवीत् । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
كما دعاكُم أَتْرِي من قبلُ، يا أَشْفِنَين، بأناشيدِ الرؤيا والإلهام—هكذا أدعوكما أنا أيضًا، يا نَاسَتْيَا، لِشُربِ السُّوما. فلتتلألأ الحركاتُ الأُخرى في وفاقٍ متكافئ.
Mantra 6
एवा वामह्व ऊतये यथाहुवन्त मेधिराः । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
هكذا أدعوكما للعون، كما دعاكما الحكماءُ من قبل؛ يا نَاسَتْيَا، أقبِلا لِشُربِ السُّوما. فلتتلألأ القوى الأُخرى في وحدةٍ موزونة.
Inside Sukta 42
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Varuṇa’s cosmic kingship: he stabilizes heaven, measures earth, and pervades all worlds through his laws of ṛta.
- Development
The hymn moves from universal order to ritual order, implying that sacrifice mirrors and must harmonize with Varuṇa’s ordinances.
- Climax
The emphatic declaration that all worlds and all realities are encompassed by Varuṇa’s vratāni—his binding ordinances of right order.
- Where it settles
A practical liturgical close: the Aśvins are repeatedly invited to Soma-drinking, with a prayer that the rite’s movements shine in balanced unity (same).
The deity: Varuṇa
- In the VedaVaruṇa is celebrated as the Asura and viśvavedā (“all-knower”), the universal king (samrāṭ) whose ordinances uphold ṛta, encompassing all worlds and beings. He is the moral and cosmic sovereign who sees all, binds disorder, and maintains the vast structure of heaven and earth.
- Cosmic functionGuardian of ṛta (cosmic order), stabilizer of the heavens, measurer and establisher of the earth’s expanse, and overseer of universal law and truth.
- Inner significanceRepresents the inner law of conscience and truthfulness—an inward “order” that aligns thought, speech, and action with reality; the power that corrects deviation and restores integrity.
Famous verses
viśvet tāni varuṇasya vratāni
nāsatyā somapītaye
evā vām ahva ūtaye
Attributes of the deity
- Viśvavedā (all-knowing)
- Samrāṭ (universal sovereignty)
- Upholder of ṛta
- Ordainer of vratāni (cosmic/moral laws)
- All-seeing, regulating and binding wrongdoing
- Stabilizer of heaven and earth
Also by this seer
- Because the rishi attribution is uncertain in the received tradition for this sukta, additional specific hymn attributions cannot be stated with confidence.
The rite, step by step
- Establish intention: praise Varuṇa as upholder of ṛta and acknowledge his universal ordinances (vratāni).
- Recite the opening verse(s) as a cosmic ‘foundation’—heaven fixed, earth measured, worlds ruled.
- Transition to the Soma setting: align the rite’s movements and invite the Aśvins/Nāsatyas to the pressing-stones and Soma-drinking.
- Conclude with a repeated invitation for aid (ūtaye) and for harmony/balanced unity in the ritual action (same).
Offerings
- Soma (libation and drinking)
- Ghee/oblations into fire (as customary accompaniment)
- Praise (stuti) and formal invocation (āhvāna)
Frequently Asked Questions
It declares Varuṇa as the all-knowing universal king who established heaven and earth and rules everything through his laws of right order (vratāni/ṛta). It also links that cosmic order to the correct, harmonious performance of the Soma rite.
The hymn shifts into a Soma-sacrificial scene where multiple deities are invited. The Aśvins (Nāsatyas) are called to come quickly to the pressing and drink Soma, supporting the rite’s success and harmony.
It means Varuṇa’s fixed ordinances or laws—principles that keep the universe and moral life in order. The hymn says all worlds stand within these rules of truth and rightness (ṛta).
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