Sukta 16
सत्यानृतसमीक्षकः। बृहन्नेषामधिष्ठाता अन्तिकादिव पश्यति । य स्तायन्मन्यते चरन्त्सर्वं देवा इदं विदुः
satyā́nṛtasamīkṣakáḥ | bṛhánn eṣām adhiṣṭhātā́ ántikād iva paśyati | yáḥ stā́yan mányate cáran sárvaṃ devā́ idáṃ viduḥ ||
The discerner of truth and falsehood—the Great One, their Overlord—beholds as though from close at hand. He who, moving about, deems himself stealing unseen: all this the Gods do know.
Rishi: Atharvanic/anonymous
Devata: Varuṇa (as satyānṛta-samīkṣaka) and the Viśve Devāḥ as witnesses
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (didactic-judicial tone)
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