Sukta 87

Mantra 1

रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥

Varuṇa has hewn out the paths for the Sun; he has set forth the flood-currents of the rivers that run to the ocean. Like a release once loosed, he made the streaming waters move in the line of ṛta; he fashioned the great fields of earth for the days—so life may proceed in ordered wideness.

Mantra 2

आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत्पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान् । अन्तर्मही बृहती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण प्रियाणि ॥

O Varuṇa, thy very self as the Life-breath renews the mid-worlds; like a swift, roaming power he hastens for the growth of our inner pasture. Within these two vast worlds, Earth and Heaven, are set all thy dear abodes—planes of ordered being where the soul may dwell.

Mantra 3

परि स्पशो वरुणस्य स्मदिष्टा उभे पश्यन्ति रोदसी सुमेके । ऋतावानः कवयो यज्ञधीराः प्रचेतसो य इषयन्त मन्म ॥

All around, the watchers of Varuṇa—most mindful—behold the two worlds in their fair ordering. The seers who are filled with ṛta, wise in the sacrifice and luminous in discernment, impel within us the inspired thought toward the Truth.

Mantra 4

उवाच मे वरुणो मेधिराय त्रिः सप्त नामाघ्न्या बिभर्ति । विद्वान्पदस्य गुह्या न वोचद्युगाय विप्र उपराय शिक्षन् ॥

Varuṇa spoke to me, to the one seeking clear intelligence: ‘The inviolate Cow bears thrice seven names.’ Knowing the secret of the Word’s step, he did not reveal it openly—teaching the seer for the ages, for the farther shore of understanding.

Mantra 5

तिस्रो द्यावो निहिता अन्तरस्मिन्तिस्रो भूमीरुपराः षड्विधानाः । गृत्सो राजा वरुणश्चक्र एतं दिवि प्रेङ्खं हिरण्ययं शुभे कम् ॥

Three heavens are set within this being, and three earths as higher foundations—sixfold dispositions of the worlds. King Varuṇa, the luminous craftsman, has made in the heaven a golden swinging-seat for the joy of the soul’s fair becoming.

Mantra 6

अव सिन्धुं वरुणो द्यौरिव स्थाद्द्रप्सो न श्वेतो मृगस्तुविष्मान् । गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा ॥

Varuṇa stands over the great river like the sky itself—like a white drop of light, a powerful moving gaze. Deep is his utterance; he measures out the mid-worlds. With a sure and far-reaching sovereignty he is king of this existence, guarding the truth of what is.

Mantra 7

यो मृळयाति चक्रुषे चिदागो वयं स्याम वरुणे अनागाः । अनु व्रतान्यदितेॠधन्तो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

He who can show mercy even to one who has done wrong—may we become, O Varuṇa, free from fault. Growing by the laws of Aditi, in harmony with the vastness, do you guard us always with states of well-being and right-going.