Rig Veda 5.85.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 85, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.85
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
नीचीनबारं वरुणः कवन्धं प्र ससर्ज रोदसी अन्तरिक्षम् । तेन विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा यवं न वृष्टिर्व्युनत्ति भूम ॥
nīcī́nabāraṃ váruṇaḥ kávandhaṃ prá sasarja ródasī antárikṣam | téna víśvasya bhúvanasya rājā yávam ná vṛṣṭír vyùnatti bhū́ma ||
Varuṇa soltó la cubierta tirada hacia abajo, el velo, entre el Cielo y la Tierra, hacia la región intermedia. Con ese acto, el Rey de todo lo que llega a ser separa y despliega el suelo del existir, como la lluvia afloja el campo, cual cebada, dejando la tierra dispuesta para el crecimiento.
Word by Word
- नीचीनबारम्
- downward-hanging/low-drawn coveringAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कवन्धम् विशेषण)Role Karma (कवन्धम् का विशेषण)Root नीचीन- + बार (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृ (वरणे/आवरणे) से ‘बार’ = आवरण/बन्धन (वैदिक)
- वरुणः
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- कवन्धम्
- enveloping mass; cloud/cover (dark covering)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot कवन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth; forwardIndeclinableनिपातRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- ससर्ज
- he released/sent forthVerbलिट् (परोक्स/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: वरुणः; कर्म: कवन्धम्)Root √सृज् (सर्जने)
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्विवचन-रूप), द्वितीया/प्रथमा द्विवचन-रूप; अत्र क्रियाविशेषणवत् ‘between the two’Role Adhikaraṇa (अन्तर ‘between’ के साथ)Root रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; द्यावापृथिव्यौ)
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the midspace; atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (गन्तव्य/विस्तार-स्थान)Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/विस्तार: in the midspace)Root अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- तेन
- by that; therebyPronounतृतीया, एकवचन, नपुंसक/पुं (सन्दर्भ: ‘उसके द्वारा/उससे’)Role KaraṇaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- विश्वस्य
- of all; of the wholeAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (भुवनस्य विशेषण)Role Sambandha (genitive)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनस्य
- of the world/creaturely realmNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) < √भू (भवने)
- राजा
- kingNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अन्तर्निहित: वरुणः = राजा)Root राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यवम्
- barleyNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (उपमान-रूपेण)Root यव (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; asIndeclinableनिपातRoot न (उपमा-निपात)
- वृष्टिः
- rainNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे)
- व्यु॑नत्ति
- soaks; wets; drenchesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: वृष्टिः; कर्म: भूमम्/भूमि-)Root वि + √उन्द्/√उन्त् (उन्दने/सिञ्चने; वैदिक ‘उन्ति/उन्दति’), वर्ग: 7/9-प्रयोग वैदिक
- भूमम्
- the ground; earth (surface)Nounपुं/नपुंसक वैदिक-प्रयोग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (यहाँ ‘भूमि/भूमि-प्रदेश’ अर्थे)Role KarmaRoot भूमन्/भूम (प्रातिपदिक) < √भू
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: नीचीन॑बारं॒ वरु॑ण॒: कव॑न्धं॒ प्र स॑सर्ज॒ रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । तेन॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॒ यवं॒ न वृ॒ष्टिर्व्यु॑नत्ति॒ भूम॑ ॥ पद-विभाग (सन्धि-विच्छेद): नीचीन-बारम् | वरुणः | कवन्धम् | प्र | ससर्ज | रोदसी | अन्तरिक्षम् || तेन | विश्वस्य | भुवनस्य | राजा | यवम् | न | वृष्टिः | व्युनत्ति | भूमम् | मुख्य सन्धि: (1) वरु॑ण॒: → वरुणः (विसर्ग) (2) वृष्टिर्व्यु॑नत्ति → वृष्टिः + व्युनत्ति (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + व् → र्व्) (3) पदान्त-दीर्घ/स्वर-चिह्न वैदिक उच्चारण-चिह्न हैं
- पद-रूप मूलतः ऊपरानुसार।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Varuṇa releases a downward-drawn covering between heaven and earth into the midspace; by that act the king of all becoming spreads out the ground, as rain opens the field like barley for growth.
Inner meaning
The ‘downward-drawn lid’ (nīcīna-bāra kavandha) is the oppressive cover of ignorance pressing from above into the mental-vital being, preventing free circulation between higher light (dyauḥ) and embodied foundation (pṛthivī). Varuṇa casts this cover into the antarikṣa—dislodging it from its position of suppression—so the inner field (bhūmi) can be ‘opened’ (vy-unatti). Like rain that loosens earth for barley, the descent of truth-moisture softens rigidity, breaks crusted habits, and makes consciousness fertile for growth.
Universal truth
Progress requires removal of the inner ‘lid’—the fixed formations that block descent from above. When the cover is displaced, the being becomes workable and receptive; then growth is natural, like a field after rain.
Themes
Ṛta-governance, release of obstruction, descent of power (rain as grace), inner agriculture (field/barley as growth of consciousness)
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.85.2, RV 5.85.5, RV 1.24.9
Family tradition
Atri hymns to Varuṇa often stress release from coverings/bonds and the restoration of ṛta through inner clarification.
Significance
Atri’s vision here is therapeutic: it identifies the ‘lid’ that blocks the descent and invokes Varuṇa’s sovereign action to remove it, preparing the inner field for spiritual cultivation.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Rājā (king), Āditya, Gopā of ṛta, Kavi-tama (most-seeing, implied by the hymn context)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Parjanya (rain-force), Indra (breaker of obstruction)
Cosmic role
Remover of coverings; regulator of the space between worlds; dispenser of the descending waters that fertilize earth.
Inner power
Power of purification and release: dislodges oppressive formations, restores wideness, and makes the being receptive to higher influx.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya/Varuṇa recitations for expiation and restoration; also rain/field fertility associations by outer sense.
नी॒चीन॑बारं॒ वरु॑ण॒: कव॑न्धं॒ प्र स॑सर्ज॒ रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । तेन॒ विश्व॑स्य॒ भुव॑नस्य॒ राजा॒ यवं॒ न वृ॒ष्टिर्व्यु॑नत्ति॒ भूम॑ ॥
नी॒चीन॑ऽबारम् । वरु॑णः । कव॑न्धम् । प्र । स॒स॒र्ज॒ । रोद॑सी॒ इति॑ । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । तेन॑ । विश्व॑स्य । भुव॑नस्य । राजा॑ । यव॑म् । न । वृ॒ष्टिः । वि । उ॒न॒त्ति॒ । भूम॑ ॥
nīcīna-bāram | varuṇaḥ | kavandham | pra | sasarja | rodasī iti | antarikṣam | tena | viśvasya | bhuvanasya | rājā | yavam | na | vṛṣṭiḥ | vi | unatti | bhūma
11
4 × 11; strong caesura supports the ‘release’ action in the first half and the ‘opening’ simile in the second.
Forceful, cutting, then spreading—mirrors removal of lid and expansion of ground.
Invokes a felt sense of clearing above the head and widening through the chest and belly.
- नीचीनबारम् (nīcīnabāram)
- Literal: drawn downward, pressing cover. Symbolic: weight of ignorance; oppressive mental-vital formation
- कवन्धम् (kavandham)
- Literal: covering, lid, stump-like mass. Symbolic: the veiling crust that blocks ascent/descent
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- Literal: heaven and earth (the two worlds). Symbolic: higher mind and embodied nature
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- Literal: midspace. Symbolic: life-plane where forces move; intermediary consciousness
- भुवनस्य राजा (bhuvanasya rājā)
- Literal: king of becoming. Symbolic: sovereign law of consciousness governing evolution
- व्यु नत्ति (vy unatti)
- Literal: separates, opens out. Symbolic: disentangles and expands inner ground; makes space for truth
- वृष्टिः (vṛṣṭiḥ)
- Literal: rain. Symbolic: descent of grace/truth-force
- यवम् (yavam)
- Literal: barley. Symbolic: the growth of works/realizations nourished by truth
General Āditya/Varuṇa invocation in soma-yajña contexts; used for aligning the rite and the sacrificer with ṛta (not tied to a single exclusive śrauta moment in the provided data).
When seeking release from faults (anṛta), obstacles, or oppressive conditions; also seasonally in prayers for rain (outer layer).
Recitation with water libations; symbolic ‘opening’ gestures in some later practice traditions (not Vedic injunction).
Use when feeling ‘pressured’ or mentally capped: chant to remove the lid and invite a gentle descent that makes life workable.
Key terms: (1) vṛṣṭí- ‘rain’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, to pour, to shower’; psychologically the ‘pouring down’ of force from above. (2) vi-ú-natti: verb from √und/√ud (Vedic) ‘to wet, sprinkle; to loosen by moisture’; with vi- ‘apart, asunder’ → ‘to loosen/spread out by permeation’; supports the image of inner ‘soil’ opened by descending power. (3) kavándha- ‘cover, barrel-like enclosure, lid’; used for a veiling sheath; fits the motif of obstruction removed by Varuṇa. (4) nīcīna- ‘turned/downward’ (ni- + -cīna from √ci ‘to pile/arrange’ or directional formation), qualifying bāra- ‘covering/burden’ → ‘a downward-pressing cover’. (5) antárikṣa- ‘mid-space’ (antara ‘between’ + ikṣa/īkṣ ‘to see’ debated); functionally the intermediate realm where the release is effected.
Ṛta (cosmic order and right arrangement), Satya (truth as effective reality, implied through Varuṇa’s kingship), Bṛhat/Vastness (Varuṇa as the wide sovereign who releases constriction)
Varuṇa’s act restores the lawful relation between the two worlds and the midspace.
Opening the ground allows satya to descend and organize growth.
World-order maintained by removing veils and enabling descent; fertility as a symbol of consciousness-growth.
Bandhu-based psychology of ascent/descent; anticipates Upaniṣadic ‘coverings’ over the Self (thematic).
rainy/monsoon (outer resonance)
Rain = truth-force descent; field = psyche/body readiness; lid = mental obstruction; midspace = prāṇic interchange.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Varuṇic act of ‘releasing the covering’ between Heaven and Earth into the mid-region: a mythic gesture of unbinding/ordering that enables rain to open the earth. Inner sense: the sovereign power of ṛta removes a constricting veil in the intermediate vital plane so that the descending force can permeate and prepare the embodied nature for growth.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛṣṭí ‘rain’ from √vṛṣ aligns with PIE *wers- ‘to rain, wet’ (cf. English ‘water’ via related hydronymic formations and Indo-European wetting roots; more directly cognate patterns in Indo-Iranian for raining/pouring). Varuṇa’s ordering ‘release’ uses prá + √sṛj (sasarja) from PIE *sregʰ- ‘to let go, release’ (cf. ‘stretch/strain’ as distant semantic relatives in IE; Indo-Iranian keeps the ‘release/send forth’ sense strongly). The imagery of binding/unbinding is characteristic of Varuṇa’s semantic field (bonds/pāśa), even when the lexical item pāśa is not present.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer does not merely praise a weather-event; he recognizes Varuṇa as the inner king whose action makes the being ‘arable’ for truth-growth. The reciprocity is implicit: by acknowledging Varuṇa’s ṛta-working (release of the veil, right separation/spreading), the rishi aligns his own consciousness and the ritual speech with that same order, inviting the descent (vṛṣṭi) to become an inner increase rather than a merely outer phenomenon.
Remove the ‘lid’: feel a pressure above the mind dissolve; invite a gentle descent like rain into the whole being.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā (sense of ‘cover’ above); Manipūra/Mūlādhāra as the ‘field’ being softened.
Inhale imagining cool rain descending from above; exhale releasing the ‘cover’ downward into vast space; 12 cycles.
Cleared head-space; receptive, fertile quietude.
After chanting, sit and sense the vertical openness between ‘heaven’ (higher mind) and ‘earth’ (body). Let thoughts loosen like soil after rain; then hold a single intention (kratu) for growth.
Follow Saṃhitā accents: नी॒चीन॑बारं shows marked svara; keep triṣṭubh cadence steady through long compounds.
Break compounds mentally but not rhythmically; maintain lift on udatta syllables within compounds (e.g., -बारं).
: pronounce ‘va’ clearly, nasal ‘ndh’ as conjunct, : long ‘o’, soft ‘d’ dental, : separate vyu / natti cleanly without inserting extra vowel
firm, clearing, slightly brighter tone on the ‘release’ verbs (प्र ससर्ज, व्यु नत्ति)
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