Sukta 28

Mantra 1

इदं कवेरादित्यस्य स्वराजो विश्वानि सान्त्यभ्यस्तु मह्ना । अति यो मन्द्रो यजथाय देवः सुकीर्तिं भिक्षे वरुणस्य भूरेः ॥

This is the word of the seer of the Āditya, the self-king: may it, by its greatness, encompass all the harmonies that are. I ask from Varuṇa the abundant One a fair fame—an inner right renown—so that the glad God may surpass (all obstacles) for the sacrifice of the soul.

Mantra 2

तव व्रते सुभगासः स्याम स्वाध्यो वरुण तुष्टुवांसः । उपायन उषसां गोमतीनामग्नयो न जरमाणा अनु द्यून् ॥

In thy law (vrata), O Varuṇa, may we become fortunate and well-founded in our own right discipline, praising thee. May we come near to the Dawns that are rich in rays (cows of light), and like unfailing fires may we follow the days without growing old in the soul.

Mantra 3

तव स्याम पुरुवीरस्य शर्मन्नुरुशंसस्य वरुण प्रणेतः । यूयं नः पुत्रा अदितेरदब्धा अभि क्षमध्वं युज्याय देवाः ॥

May we be in thy shelter, O Varuṇa, leader of the wide-praised, the many-heroed. You, the unbetrayable sons of Aditi, bear with us and uphold us for our right yoking—so the powers may be joined in the true work.

Mantra 4

प्र सीमादित्यो असृजद्विधर्ताँ ऋतं सिन्धवो वरुणस्य यन्ति । न श्राम्यन्ति न वि मुचन्त्येते वयो न पप्तू रघुया परिज्मन् ॥

The Āditya, the disposer, has sent them forth: the rivers move in the Truth; they go in the way of Varuṇa. They do not tire, they do not loosen their course; like birds they fly swift in their circling journey—obedient to the law within movement.

Mantra 5

वि मच्छ्रथाय रशनामिवाग ऋध्याम ते वरुण खामृतस्य । मा तन्तुश्छेदि वयतो धियं मे मा मात्रा शार्यपसः पुर ऋतोः ॥

Loosen from me the sin, as one loosens a strap; so may we prosper in thy wide space of Truth, O Varuṇa. Let not the thread of my weaving-thought be cut; let not the measure of the work be broken before the Truth is fulfilled.

Mantra 6

अपो सु म्यक्ष वरुण भियसं मत्सम्राळृतावोऽनु मा गृभाय । दामेव वत्साद्वि मुमुग्ध्यंहो नहि त्वदारे निमिषश्चनेशे ॥

Drive away the fear from me, O Varuṇa, sovereign; do not seize me in the track of the Truth. As one releases a calf from the rope, so loosen from me the anguish of wrong; for without thee, even for a moment, the suffering one has no mastery.

Mantra 7

मा नो वधैर्वरुण ये त इष्टावेनः कृण्वन्तमसुर भ्रीणन्ति । मा ज्योतिषः प्रवसथानि गन्म वि षू मृधः शिश्रथो जीवसे नः ॥

Do not strike us with the slayings, O Varuṇa, when men in thy service accuse the doer of fault, O Asura. Let us not go to the far abodes away from the light; loosen utterly the hostile powers, so that we may live.

Mantra 8

नमः पुरा ते वरुणोत नूनमुतापरं तुविजात ब्रवाम । त्वे हि कं पर्वते न श्रितान्यप्रच्युतानि दूळभ व्रतानि ॥

Homage to thee, O Varuṇa, of old and now and again hereafter, O mightily born. For in thee, as on a mountain, are set firm the unshakable, hard-to-violate laws—stable foundations for the soul’s right becoming.

Mantra 9

पर ऋणा सावीरध मत्कृतानि माहं राजन्नन्यकृतेन भोजम् । अव्युष्टा इन्नु भूयसीरुषास आ नो जीवान्वरुण तासु शाधि ॥

Cast away the debts (burdens) and then those faults made by me; O King, let me not suffer for what another has done. Let the Dawns be yet more unwithheld for us; bring us to living, O Varuṇa—set us to right accomplishment within those awakenings.

Mantra 10

यो मे राजन्युज्यो वा सखा वा स्वप्ने भयं भीरवे मह्यमाह । स्तेनो वा यो दिप्सति नो वृको वा त्वं तस्माद्वरुण पाह्यस्मान् ॥

O King Varuṇa, whether it is one bound to me in service or even a friend who, in dream, speaks fear into my timid being; whether it is a thief who seeks to steal our inner riches or a wolf-like force that would devour—do you guard us from that.

Mantra 11

माहं मघोनो वरुण प्रियस्य भूरिदाव्न आ विदं शूनमापेः । मा रायो राजन्त्सुयमादव स्थां बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Let me not, O Varuṇa, lose the dear presence of the bounteous giver and fall into emptiness and want. O King, let me not drop away from the well-guided path of plenitude; may we speak the Vast in the assembly, possessed of inner heroic strength.