Sukta 88

Mantra 1

प्र शुन्ध्युवं वरुणाय प्रेष्ठां मतिं वसिष्ठ मीळ्हुषे भरस्व । य ईमर्वाञ्चं करते यजत्रं सहस्रामघं वृषणं बृहन्तम् ॥

Bring forward, O Vasiṣṭha, the most beloved thought for Varuṇa, for the gracious giver. He makes the offering-force turn toward us; he is worshipful, rich in a thousand plenitudes, the Bull of power, the Vast.

Mantra 2

अधा न्वस्य संदृशं जगन्वानग्नेरनीकं वरुणस्य मंसि । स्वर्यदश्मन्नधिपा उ अन्धोऽभि मा वपुर्दृशये निनीयात् ॥

Then I went to behold his vision—Agni’s face within the thought of Varuṇa. When the Sun is set upon the stone, may the blind darkness not draw my form away from seeing; may my being remain turned to the light.

Mantra 3

आ यद्रुहाव वरुणश्च नावं प्र यत्समुद्रमीरयाव मध्यम् । अधि यदपां स्नुभिश्चराव प्र प्रेङ्ख ईङ्खयावहै शुभे कम् ॥

When Varuṇa and I mounted the boat, when we set the ocean in motion in its midst, when we moved upon the swelling currents of the waters—then on the forward-swinging seat we rocked for the soul’s fair delight.

Mantra 4

वसिष्ठं ह वरुणो नाव्याधादृषिं चकार स्वपा महोभिः । स्तोतारं विप्रः सुदिनत्वे अह्नां यान्नु द्यावस्ततनन्यादुषासः ॥

Varuṇa indeed placed Vasiṣṭha in the boat and by his mighty workings made him a seer—one of good action. The inspired one became a singer for the bright days, for the widenesses that the heavens spread out, and for the dawns that continually arrive.

Mantra 5

क्व त्यानि नौ सख्या बभूवुः सचावहे यदवृकं पुरा चित् । बृहन्तं मानं वरुण स्वधावः सहस्रद्वारं जगमा गृहं ते ॥

Where now are those former friendships of ours, when we moved together in a oneness, entering even in the ancient past into the harm-free wideness? O Varuṇa, master of self-law, I have come again to your vast home with its thousand gates—may that wide Truth receive me.

Mantra 6

य आपिर्नित्यो वरुण प्रियः सन्त्वामागांसि कृणवत्सखा ते । मा त एनस्वन्तो यक्षिन्भुजेम यन्धि ष्मा विप्रः स्तुवते वरूथम् ॥

He who is your constant intimate, dear to you, O Varuṇa—though as your companion he may have fashioned wrongdoings against you—let us not, O worshipful Lord, enjoy the fruit of sin. Grant, indeed, to the seer who praises a sheltering protection.

Mantra 7

ध्रुवासु त्वासु क्षितिषु क्षियन्तो व्यस्मत्पाशं वरुणो मुमोचत् । अवो वन्वाना अदितेरुपस्थाद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Dwelling in your firm abodes, settled in those ordered worlds, Varuṇa has loosed away from us the bond. Seeking the sustaining help from Aditi’s lap, may you powers guard us always with states of well-being.