Rig Veda 7.82.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 82, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.82
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
इन्द्रावरुणा युवमध्वराय नो विशे जनाय महि शर्म यच्छतम् । दीर्घप्रयज्युमति यो वनुष्यति वयं जयेम पृतनासु दूढ्यः ॥
índrāvaruṇā yuvám adhvarā́ya no viśé jánāya máhi śárma yacchatam | dīrgháprayajyum áti yó vanuṣyáti vayáṃ jayema pṛ́tanāsu dūḍhyàḥ ||
O Indra und Varuṇa, gewährt unserem Adhvára (Opfer), unserem Volk und der Gemeinschaft großen Frieden und Schutz. Den langhinziehenden Gegner, der uns entgegenstrebt, überwindend—mögen wir die Schlachten gewinnen, fest gehalten in eurer tragenden Macht.
Word by Word
- इन्द्रावरुणा
- O Indra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान/सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)Root इन्द्र + वरुण (प्रातिपदिक) (द्वन्द्व-समास)
- युवम्
- you twoPronounप्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अध्वराय
- for the sacrifice (adhvara)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / ourPronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- विशे
- for the clan/settlementNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनाय
- for the peopleNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- महि
- greatly / greatIndeclinableअव्ययRole विशेषण-भाव (क्रिया/कर्म-विशेषण)Root महि (अव्यय; ‘महन्’ से संबद्ध)
- शर्म
- shelter, protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यच्छतम्
- grant (you two)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot यम् (धातु)
- दीर्घप्रयज्युमति
- in (a rite) having long/extended offering-sequenceAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकारण (सप्तमी)Root दीर्घ-प्रयज्यु-मत् (बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘मत्’ प्रत्यय)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वनुष्यति
- strives/presses on (in worship), seeksVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot वनुष् (धातु; ‘to seek/woo, strive for, desire’—वैदिक)
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जयेम
- may we winVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (संभावना/प्रार्थना), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot जि (धातु)
- पृतनासु
- in battlesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकारणRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)
- दूढ्यः
- (though) in hard straits / amid difficultiesNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (वयम् इति सह विशेषणवत्)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot दूढि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘दूढि’ = कठिनता/दुर्गता/कठिन-स्थितिः; वैदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- मुख्य सन्धि-विच्छेदः: इन्द्रा॑वरुणा = इन्द्र + वरुणा (द्वन्द्व, सम्बोधन-द्विवचन)
- यु॒वम॑ध्व॒राय॑ = युवम् + अध्वराय
- महि॒ शर्म॑ = महि + शर्म
- दी॒र्घप्र॑यज्यु॒मति॒ = दीर्घ-प्रयज्यु-मत् + इ (सप्तमी-एकवचन स्त्री)
- पृत॑नासु (सप्तमी बहु)
- दू॒ढ्य॑: = दूढ्यः (विसर्ग). वैदिक स्वर (उदात्त/स्वरित) पाठानुसार चिह्नित है, पर पद-रूप मूलतः अपरिवर्तित।
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Indra and Varuṇa, grant vast peace/protection to our sacrifice and to our people; overcoming the long-drawn adversary who strives against us, may we win the battles, held firm in your might.
Inner meaning
Indra (illumined mind) and Varuṇa (vast law, purity, cosmic order) are invoked together: illumination must be governed by ṛta to become stable protection (mahi śarma). The ‘long-drawn adversary’ (dīrghaprayajyu) is persistent resistance—habitual obscurity and subconscious opposition that prolongs struggle. With Indra-Varuṇa’s combined force—clarity plus right law—we conquer inner battles (pṛtanāsu): conflicts of impulse, doubt, and inertia, becoming dūḍhyaḥ—firmly held, consolidated in their sustaining power.
Universal truth
Lasting peace is not mere calm; it is protection born of illumination aligned with truth and order, enabling victory over persistent inner resistance.
Themes
Invocation for protection, Victory in inner battle, Community welfare, Alliance of force and law
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.82 (Indra-Varuṇa hymn), RV 7.86 (Varuṇa), RV 7.31 (Indra themes in Maṇḍala 7)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha often unites ethical-cosmic order (Varuṇa/ṛta) with victorious illumination (Indra), aiming at stable protection rather than momentary exaltation.
Significance
This is the rishi’s formula for integral victory: the light that conquers must be guarded and harmonized by truth-law, yielding a great peace that holds the being through long struggles.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Epithets
- mahi śarma-dātārā (givers of great protection, implied), sustainers of the rite (adhvara)
- Related deities
- Mitra (harmony), Agni (sacrificial will), Soma (delight that supports victory)
Cosmic role
Indra: releases light and power, breaks the cover; Varuṇa: upholds ṛta, binds falsehood, grants wideness and moral-spiritual order.
Inner power
Indra: penetrating illumination and victorious force; Varuṇa: vast calm, purity, law of truth—together creating protected progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Śrauta invocation in soma/yajña contexts for protection of the rite and the community; also for victory and safeguarding.
इन्द्रा॑वरुणा यु॒वम॑ध्व॒राय॑ नो वि॒शे जना॑य॒ महि॒ शर्म॑ यच्छतम् । दी॒र्घप्र॑यज्यु॒मति॒ यो व॑नु॒ष्यति॑ व॒यं ज॑येम॒ पृत॑नासु दू॒ढ्य॑: ॥
इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । यु॒वम् । अ॒ध्व॒राय॑ । नः॒ । वि॒शे । जना॑य । महि॑ । शर्म॑ । य॒च्छ॒त॒म् । दी॒र्घऽप्र॑यज्युम् । अति॑ । यः । व॒नु॒ष्यति॑ । व॒यम् । ज॒ये॒म॒ । पृत॑नासु । दुः॒ऽध्यः॑ ॥
indrāvaruṇā | yuvam | adhvarāya | naḥ | viśe | janāya | mahi | śarma | yacchatam | dīrgha-prayajyum | ati | yaḥ | vanuṣyati | vayam | jayema | pṛtanāsu | duḥ-dhyaḥ
44
4×11 syllables (standard triṣṭubh)
Martial yet steady; ‘battle-prayer’ cadence
Builds courage with composure—energy (Indra) contained in order (Varuṇa), producing confident protection.
- indrāvaruṇā
- Literal: Indra and Varuṇa. Symbolic: illumined intelligence + vast law/purity; power and order united
- adhvara
- Literal: sacrifice (uninjured/undisturbed rite). Symbolic: inner yajña: disciplined offering of works and consciousness
- viśe janāya
- Literal: to the clan/community and people. Symbolic: to all parts of the being; also collective harmony in life
- mahi śarma
- Literal: great shelter/peace/protection. Symbolic: wide inner security; settled foundation for sādhanā
- dīrghaprayajyu
- Literal: long-drawn adversary/one with prolonged hostility. Symbolic: chronic resistance: entrenched patterns, subconscious obstruction
- vanuṣyati
- Literal: strives, seeks to win/overpower. Symbolic: active pressure of ignorance trying to reclaim the field
- pṛtanāsu
- Literal: in battles. Symbolic: inner conflicts during transformation
- dūḍhyaḥ
- Literal: firm, well-supported/held fast. Symbolic: consolidated in divine support; unshakable poise
Recitation for protection and victory supporting the yajña; suitable for rites seeking kṣema (security) and victory, especially in soma contexts where Indra is prominent and Varuṇa secures ṛta.
Before or during major offerings; when seeking protection and success against obstacles
Āhvāna and protective prayer (śarma) for rite, people, and victory over adversaries
Chant before difficult conversations or major decisions: invoke clarity (Indra) plus integrity/order (Varuṇa) for protected action.
adhvará commonly analyzed as a-dhvara ‘non-crooked’ (dhvar = crooked/obstructed), hence sacrifice as right movement (ṛta). śárman ‘shelter, protection’ from √śṛ ‘to protect/cover’ (semantic field of refuge). Indra (rooted in strength/indriya tradition) symbolizes concentrated power; Varuṇa from √vṛ ‘to cover, encompass’ → the all-encompassing law and purity that ‘binds’ by ṛta.
Ṛta as straight sacrifice (adhvara), Śarma (peace/protection), Kṣema (security) implied
Protection is the natural result of alignment with ṛta; disorder invites vulnerability.
Victory over the ‘long adversary’ comes through truthfulness and clear seeing, not force alone.
Establishing a protected field (śarma) where the inner sacrifice can proceed—order as a condition for transformation.
Vedic integralism: power and law, illumination and vastness, united for stable spiritual evolution.
A protected inner atmosphere: clear mind like sky, vast calm like sea, with the sacrificial process undisturbed by chronic resistances.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The paired sovereignty of Indra and Varuṇa as the dual means of victory: Indra’s conquering force and Varuṇa’s law-bound protection establish ‘mahi śarma’ so the sacrificer overcomes the long-standing adversary. The ‘battle’ is the archetype of the soul’s contest with persistent obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- śárman ‘shelter’ aligns with PIE protective/covering semantics (cf. Germanic ‘screen/shelter’ as semantic parallel though not direct cognate certainty). The fame/victory idiom (jayema) continues PIE poetic diction of winning renown through divine aid; the dual invocation (dvandva) is a characteristic Indo-Iranian liturgical pairing.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions the sacrifice as the field where the gods’ powers can act: by offering the adhvara (right aspiration), the community becomes eligible for ‘śarma’. The gods reciprocate by stabilizing consciousness and enabling conquest over enduring resistance.
Unite ‘clarity’ and ‘integrity’: see the obstacle plainly (Indra) and align with the right law/discipline (Varuṇa).
ājñā (discernment) with sahasrāra/upper-vastness (Varuṇa’s wideness)
Box breathing 4-4-4-4 for steadiness; then chant once with full attention on ‘mahi śarma’
Protected poise; steady warrior-calm
Name the ‘long adversary’ (a repeating pattern). On inhale, invoke Indra’s light to expose it; on exhale, invoke Varuṇa’s vast law to refuse it calmly. End by affirming one disciplined act that maintains protection for the day.
Follow Vedic accenting; triṣṭubh requires clear caesura; keep udatta rises crisp on key names (indrāvaruṇā).
Four pādas: pause lightly after each; maintain steady pitch contour; avoid speeding through consonant clusters (dīrghaprayajyum).
indrāvaruṇā: lengthen ā; retroflex ṇ in varuṇa, adhvarāya: ‘adh-va-rā-ya’ (dh aspirated), śarma: ‘śar-ma’ (palatal ś), pṛtanāsu: vocalic ṛ; ‘pṛ-ta-nā-su’
firm, grounded, protective
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