Sukta 88
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition
Devata: Dhruva (steadfastness) / Rājā (king) as ritual focus
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable)
Dieser kurze Paustika‑Hymnus «befestigt» das Königtum, indem er den Herrscher mit den unbeweglichen Stützen des Kosmos — Himmel, Erde und Bergen — in Einklang bringt, damit das Reich unerschüttert bleibt. Er ruft Dhruva (Standhaftigkeit) sowie die souveränen Träger Varuṇa, Bṛhaspati, Indra und Agni an, um das rāṣṭra zu festigen, feindliche Rivalen zu besiegen und Versammlung wie Himmelsrichtungen in Einmütigkeit zu vereinen.
Mantras
Mantra 1
ध्रुवो राजा। ध्रु॒वा द्यौर्ध्रु॒वा पृ॑थि॒वी ध्रु॒वं विश्व॑मि॒दं जग॑त्। ध्रु॒वासः॒ पर्व॑ता इ॒मे ध्रु॒वो राजा॑ वि॒शाम॒यम्
Fest ist der König. Fest ist der Himmel, fest die Erde, fest ist diese ganze bewegte Welt. Fest sind diese Berge; fest ist dieser König der Völker.
Mantra 2
ध्रु॒वं ते॒ राजा॒ वरु॑णो ध्रु॒वं दे॒वो बृह॒स्पतिः॑ । ध्रु॒वं त॒ इन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ रा॒ष्ट्रं धा॑रयतां ध्रु॒वम्
Fest für dich sei König Varuṇa; fest sei der Gott Bṛhaspati. Fest mögen für dich Indra und Agni das Reich stützen — ja, fest.
Mantra 3
ध्रु॒वोऽच्यु॑तः॒ प्र मृ॑णीहि॒ शत्रू॑न्छत्रूय॒तोऽध॑रान् पादयस्व । सर्वा॒ दिशः॒ संम॑नसः स॒ध्रीची॑र्ध्रु॒वाय॑ ते॒ समि॑तिः कल्पतामि॒ह
Standhaft, unerschütterlich — zerschmettere die Feinde; drücke die Feindseligen hinab. Mögen alle Himmelsrichtungen einmütig, zusammenlaufend, übereinstimmen; für deine feste Herrschaft ordne sich hier die Versammlung recht.
Frequently Asked Questions
To ‘fix’ the king and the realm in steadfast stability—like heaven, earth, and mountains—so rule is unshaken, enemies are subdued, and public concord is secured.
They represent key supports of governance: Varuṇa (sovereign order), Bṛhaspati (counsel and authority of speech), Indra (victory and force), and Agni (ritual legitimacy). Together they are asked to uphold the rāṣṭra firmly.
No. While suited to enthronement and consolidation, it can also be used in times of faction, rebellion fears, or before an important assembly to restore unity and orderly governance.
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