Rig Veda Sukta 86
Mandala 7Sukta 868 Mantras

Sukta 86

Sukta 7.86

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.86)

Devata

Varuṇa (with cosmic-sovereign framing; hymn is Varuṇa-centered)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Dieser Varuṇa-Hymnus des Vasiṣṭha preist den kosmischen Souverän, der Himmel und Erde gegründet hat und ṛta, die moralisch-kosmische Ordnung, aufrechterhält. Aus dieser Schau der weiten, geordneten Schöpfung wendet sich der Dichter nach innen zu Bekenntnis und Bitte: Er fleht um Lösung von ererbten und selbst verschuldeten Verfehlungen und schließt mit einem Segenswunsch um Frieden, Schutz und Wohlergehen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.86

Mantras

Mantra 1

धीरा त्वस्य महिना जनूंषि वि यस्तस्तम्भ रोदसी चिदुर्वी । प्र नाकमृष्वं नुनुदे बृहन्तं द्विता नक्षत्रं पप्रथच्च भूम ॥

Durch die Größe Dessen erwachen die standhaften Einsichten – dessen, der selbst die beiden weiten Welten fest gegründet hat. Er stieß den hohen, gewaltigen Himmel hervor; er breitete den doppelten Sitz der Sterne und den Grund der Erde aus – und setzte die geordnete Weite, in der Bewusstsein wachsen kann.

Mantra 2

उत स्वया तन्वा सं वदे तत्कदा न्वन्तर्वरुणे भुवानि । किं मे हव्यमहृणानो जुषेत कदा मृळीकं सुमना अभि ख्यम् ॥

Und auch mit meinem eigenen Wesen spreche ich darüber: Wann werde ich, o Varuṇa, in dich eintreten? Welche meiner Gaben wirst du ohne Unmut annehmen? Wann werde ich, mit gütigem Sinn, dein Erbarmen schauen — deine heilende Lösung in meinem Herzen?

Mantra 3

पृच्छे तदेनो वरुण दिदृक्षूपो एमि चिकितुषो विपृच्छम् । समानमिन्मे कवयश्चिदाहुरयं ह तुभ्यं वरुणो हृणीते ॥

Ich frage nach jener Schuld, o Varuṇa, im Verlangen, sie klar zu schauen; ich trete heran, um den Wissenden zu befragen, den Einsichtigen auszuforschen. Selbst die Kavi sagen mir dasselbe: »Dieser Varuṇa ist wahrlich über dich erzürnt.«

Mantra 4

किमाग आस वरुण ज्येष्ठं यत्स्तोतारं जिघांससि सखायम् । प्र तन्मे वोचो दूळभ स्वधावोऽव त्वानेना नमसा तुर इयाम् ॥

Welche war die größte Verfehlung, o Varuṇa, dass du den Sänger, den Gefährten, erschlagen willst? Sprich mir das, o Schwerverwundbarer, o Selbstgesetzter: eilends komme ich zu dir mit Verneigung, damit du mir diese Schuld abnimmst.

Mantra 5

अव द्रुग्धानि पित्र्या सृजा नोऽव या वयं चकृमा तनूभिः । अव राजन्पशुतृपं न तायुं सृजा वत्सं न दाम्नो वसिष्ठम् ॥

Lass von uns ab die väterlichen Verfehlungen und die Irrtümer, die wir selbst mit unseren Leibern gewirkt haben. O König (Varuṇa), lass den verirrten Sucher los, wie einen, der sich an fremder Herde gesättigt hat; löse Vasiṣṭha vom bindenden Riemen, wie man ein Kalb von der Fessel befreit.

Mantra 6

न स स्वो दक्षो वरुण ध्रुतिः सा सुरा मन्युर्विभीदको अचित्तिः । अस्ति ज्यायान्कनीयस उपारे स्वप्नश्चनेदनृतस्य प्रयोता ॥

Nicht dies, o Varuṇa, ist mein eigenes rechtes Erkennen, nicht dies ein festes Halten: es ist Rausch, es ist Zorn, der in Furcht treibt, es ist Unwissenheit. Der Ältere kann in den Stand des Jüngeren hinabgleiten; selbst der Schlaf kann zum Antreiber der Unwahrheit werden — Kräfte sind in uns, die den Willen vom Rechten abbiegen.

Mantra 7

अरं दासो न मीळ्हुषे कराण्यहं देवाय भूर्णयेऽनागाः । अचेतयदचितो देवो अर्यो गृत्सं राये कवितरो जुनाति ॥

Möge ich tauglich sein, wie ein Diener dem freigebigen Spender; ich, schuldlos, will wirken für die göttliche Macht, die alles wendet und bewegt. Der edle Gott weckt den Unwissenden; der weiter sehende Dichter treibt den Eifrigen zu den Reichtümern der Fülle.

Mantra 8

अयं सु तुभ्यं वरुण स्वधावो हृदि स्तोम उपश्रितश्चिदस्तु । शं नः क्षेमे शमु योगे नो अस्तु यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Dieser Hymnus sei dir, o Varuṇa, der Selbstgesetzte (svadhā́van), im Herzen wahrhaft gegründet. Heil sei uns im sicheren Verweilen, Heil sei uns im Verbund und im Mühen; ihr möget uns allezeit mit heilsamen svastí — Wohlergehen und rechtem Durchgang — behüten.

Inside Sukta 86

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A vision of Varuṇa’s vast creative sovereignty: he establishes the two worlds, the lofty heaven, the starry seat, and the earth’s foundation.

  2. Development

    From cosmic order the hymn pivots to moral order: the poet recognizes human deviation and the reality of Varuṇa’s binding power, and petitions for release from both ancestral and personal wrongs.

  3. Climax

    The direct plea for unbinding—Varuṇa as King is asked to loosen the noose and free Vasiṣṭha like a calf from its tether, transforming guilt into restored relationship.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by placing the stoma in the heart for Varuṇa and asking for peace in rest and in striving, with ongoing protection through svasti (right passage and well-being).

The deity: Varuṇa

  • In the VedaVaruṇa is portrayed as the all-encompassing lord who knows the paths of ṛta, surveys beings with unblinking awareness, binds transgression with his noose (pāśa), and releases the repentant through grace and right ordering.
  • Cosmic functionGuardian of ṛta: stabilizing the cosmos (heaven, earth, stars), maintaining truth, oath, and law, and regulating moral causality—binding wrongdoing and restoring harmony when confession and rectification occur.
  • Inner significanceThe voice of conscience and inner law: clarity that sees hidden motives, the pressure of guilt/bondage when one deviates, and the liberating return to truth through acknowledgement, restraint, and alignment with order.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/Varuṇa-linked seer-family in RV tradition; chief among the Vasiṣṭhas of Mandala 7) · Foremost seer of the Seventh Maṇḍala, celebrated for profound Varuṇa-hymns that unite cosmic theology with ethical introspection, confession, and prayer for release from sin and bondage.

Famous verses

धीरा त्वस्य महिना जनूंषि वि यस्तस्तम्भ रोदसी चिदुर्वी । प्र नाकमृष्वं नुनुदे बृहन्तं द्विता नक्षत्रं पप्रथच्च भूम ॥
Verse 7.86.1Sets the theological foundation: Varuṇa’s greatness is shown in the establishment of heaven, earth, and the starry order—linking cosmic architecture to ṛta.Read verse 7.86.1 →
sṛjā vatsaṃ na dāmno vasiṣṭham
Verse 7.86.5The hymn’s ethical heart: confession of inherited and self-made faults and the vivid request for release from Varuṇa’s binding cord—central to Varuṇa devotion and prāyaścitta tone.Read verse 7.86.5 →
śaṃ naḥ kṣeme śam u yoge no astu
Verse 7.86.8Concluding benediction: internalizes the hymn (“in the heart”) and asks for peace in both security and engagement, ending with a protective svasti formula.Read verse 7.86.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ṛta-pati (lord of cosmic-moral order)
  • Omniscient overseer (witness of deeds and thoughts)
  • Binder and releaser (pāśa and mokṣa imagery)
  • Cosmic architect (stabilizer of heaven and earth)
  • Kingly sovereignty (rājan) with ethical governance
  • Protector-bestower of kṣema (secure well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (a major portion traditionally attributed to the Vasiṣṭha family)
  • Noted Varuṇa-centered hymns in RV 7 (ethical-ritual prayers for forgiveness and protection)
  • Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition: prominence as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi and royal priest (purohita) figure

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and mental saṅkalpa: intention to align with ṛta and seek Varuṇa’s forgiveness
  • Agni-kindling (or approach to established āhavanīya) and purification with water as Varuṇa’s domain is invoked
  • Recitation of the sukta with emphasis on cosmic praise (opening) and confession/release petitions (middle)
  • Silent pause for self-examination (anṛta/confession) and vow of truthfulness/ethical repair
  • Final recitation of the concluding benediction for śam (peace), kṣema (security), and svasti (well-being)
  • Concluding oblation and pranāma; resolve to uphold truth, oaths, and right conduct

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma (where applicable in soma ritual context)
  • Water libation (arghya/udaka) as a symbolic Varuṇa-offering
  • Barley or simple cooked offering (caru) in domestic settings

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Varuṇa as the upholder of cosmic and moral order, then turns to confession of wrongdoing and asks Varuṇa to release the worshipper from bondage and restore peace and well-being.

The hymn recognizes that human harm can come from inherited patterns (family or tradition) and from one’s own choices; it asks Varuṇa to clear both so life can return to ṛta (right order).

It is an image for Varuṇa loosening the binding consequences of error—freeing the person from guilt, fear, and constraint so they can live again in truth, safety, and right relationship.

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