Sukta 85

Mantra 1

प्र सम्राजे बृहदर्चा गभीरं ब्रह्म प्रियं वरुणाय श्रुताय । वि यो जघान शमितेव चर्मोपस्तिरे पृथिवीं सूर्याय ॥

Sing forth the vast and deep sacred utterance to Varuṇa, the King who is heard. He who spread out the Earth for the Sun, as a tanner stretches a hide, establishing the ordered field for light to move.

Mantra 2

वनेषु व्यन्तरिक्षं ततान वाजमर्वत्सु पय उस्रियासु । हृत्सु क्रतुं वरुणो अप्स्वग्निं दिवि सूर्यमदधात्सोममद्रौ ॥

In the forests he stretched out the midspace; he set the plenitude among the steeds, the milk among the shining cows. Varuṇa placed will in the hearts, Agni in the waters, the Sun in heaven, and Soma in the rock—ordering each power in its right seat.

Mantra 3

नीचीनबारं वरुणः कवन्धं प्र ससर्ज रोदसी अन्तरिक्षम् । तेन विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा यवं न वृष्टिर्व्युनत्ति भूम ॥

Varuṇa has released the downward-drawn covering (the veiling lid) between Heaven-and-Earth, into the mid-world. By that act the King of all becoming separates and spreads out the ground of our being, as rain loosens and opens the field like barley for growth—making the inner earth ready for the descent of truth and increase.

Mantra 4

उनत्ति भूमिं पृथिवीमुत द्यां यदा दुग्धं वरुणो वष्ट्यादित् । समभ्रेण वसत पर्वतासस्तविषीयन्तः श्रथयन्त वीराः ॥

He moistens and opens the earth—this wide foundation—and even the heaven, when Varuṇa wills the milked-out essence to pour. Then the mountains clothe themselves with cloud; the strong ones, gathering force, loosen what was bound—so the blocked energies yield and the life-field is made workable for the soul’s increase.

Mantra 5

इमामू ष्वासुरस्य श्रुतस्य महीं मायां वरुणस्य प्र वोचम् । मानेनेव तस्थिवाँ अन्तरिक्षे वि यो ममे पृथिवीं सूर्येण ॥

Now I declare this mighty working of Varuṇa, the Asura, the far-heard: he stands in the mid-region as if with a measuring-rod, and he has measured out the earth by the Sun—setting right proportions in our life by the light of truth, so the being may be ordered according to ṛta.

Mantra 6

इमामू नु कवितमस्य मायां महीं देवस्य नकिरा दधर्ष । एकं यदुद्ना न पृणन्त्येनीरासिञ्चन्तीरवनयः समुद्रम् ॥

This great formative power of the most-seeing god—none has overmastered it. Though the rivers ceaselessly pour their waters, they do not fill the One Ocean: so too the movements of life can be gathered into the vast without exhausting it—Varuṇa’s infinity holds all currents while keeping the order of their flow.

Mantra 7

अर्यम्यं वरुण मित्र्यं वा सखायं वा सदमिद्भ्रातरं वा । वेशं वा नित्यं वरुणारणं वा यत्सीमागश्चकृमा शिश्रथस्तत् ॥

Whether it was against Aryaman’s harmony, or Mitra’s truth of right relation, or against a friend, or a constant brother; whether against one of our own house or an ever-present companion—whatever wrong we have done, loosen that knot, O Varuṇa. Release the inner binding so we may return to the law of right being.

Mantra 8

कितवासो यद्रिरिपुर्न दीवि यद्वा घा सत्यमुत यन्न विद्म । सर्वा ता वि ष्य शिथिरेव देवाधा ते स्याम वरुण प्रियासः ॥

Whatever we have done in reckless play, or in hostility, or in the open light; whatever we have done knowingly as truth, and whatever we have done not knowing—make all that fall apart and loosen, O god, as if it were a slackened bond. Then may we be dear to you, Varuṇa—resting again in your wide order.