Rig Veda 8.41.7: Mandala 8, Sukta 41, Mantra 7
Sukta 8.41
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
य आस्वत्क आशये विश्वा जातान्येषाम् । परि धामानि मर्मृशद्वरुणस्य पुरो गये विश्वे देवा अनु व्रतं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
ya āsu atka āśaye viśvā jātāni eṣām | pari dhāmāni marmṛśad varuṇasya puro gayaḥ viśve devā anu vratam nabhantām anyake same ||
Aquel que, en ellos, como un vestido, yace en la morada de reposo de todo lo nacido; que palpa y reconoce por doquier las moradas,— ante la presencia de Varuṇa todos los dioses siguen el voto (vrata),— que las luces resplandezcan en otra unidad.
Word by Word
- यः
- who (he who)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/निर्देशक (यः—सः-सम्बन्धः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आस्वत्कः
- dwelling/abiding (in one’s own seat/home)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (यः…)Root आस्वत्क (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक विशेषण)
- आशये
- in the resting-place/abodeNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणम्Root आ-शी (धातु; ‘to lie, rest, abide’) → आशय (स्थान/आश्रय)
- विश्वा
- allAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (जा॒तानि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- जातानि
- beings/creatures that are bornParticiple (used as noun)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot √जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त, भूतकृत्/क्त)
- एषाम्
- of thesePronounषष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (जातानि—एषाम्)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- around, all aboutIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role क्रियाविशेषणम् (मर्मृशत् इत्यस्य)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धामानि
- abodes, stations, ordinancesNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मर्मृशत्
- he has touched/passed overVerbलिट् (परस्मैपदम्), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ: यः…)Root √मृश् (धातु; ‘to touch, stroke, pass over’) [वैदिक: पुनरुक्त-प्रयोगः]
- वरुणस्य
- of VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (पुरः/गये इत्यादि)Root वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरः
- in front, beforeIndeclinable (adverbial) / Noun-form used adverbiallyअव्ययवत् (अर्थे: ‘in front’)Role अधिकरण/देशवाचकRoot पुरस् (अव्ययीभाव/अव्यय-प्रयोगः)
- गये
- in the dwelling/seat called Gaya (or: in the place of going)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणम्Root गय (प्रातिपदिक; स्थाननाम/अवस्थान) अथवा √गा (धातु) → गय (गमन/स्थान) [वैदिक]
- विश्वे
- allAdjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनु
- following, according toIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role क्रियाविशेषणम् (नभन्ताम् इत्यस्य)Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- व्रतम्
- the ordinance, sacred lawNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (अनु + नभन्ताम्)Root व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- नभन्ताम्
- let them attain/press on toVerbलोट् (परस्मैपदम्), तृतीयपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ: विश्वे देवाः)Root √नभ् (धातु; ‘to strive/press on, reach’) [वैदिक]
- अन्यके
- in another (place/way)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणम्Root अन्यक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘another/elsewhere’, वैदिक)
- समे
- in sameness/at the meeting-level; togetherNoun/Adjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणम्Root सम (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- सन्धि-विच्छेद (मुख्य): यः + आ॒स्वत्कः + आ॒शये । विश्वा + जातानि + एषाम् । परि + धामानि + मर्मृशत् । वरुणस्य + पुरः + गये । विश्वे + देवाः + अनु + व्रतम् + नभन्ताम् + अन्यके + समे । (पाठे ‘जातान्येषाम्’ = जातानि + एषाम्; ‘धामानि मर्मृशत्’ पदसीमा; ‘देवा अनु’ पदसीमा)
The meaning
Outer meaning
He who, like a garment, lies in the resting place of all that is born; he touches and examines the dwellings all around. Before Varuṇa’s presence all the gods move according to the law—may the lights shine in another sameness.
Inner meaning
Varuṇa is immanent: he is ‘as a garment’ (atka) within all formed existences, resting in their inmost seat (āśaya). He ‘touches’ the dhāmas—he feels out every domain and habit of consciousness, discerning where truth is violated or fulfilled. Because he is the sovereign of ṛta, all the divine powers (gods = faculties of the higher consciousness) align their movements to his vrata; without that alignment, even good powers become partial or conflicting. The refrain becomes a collective aspiration: may all inner powers harmonize under truth-law and shine in a higher sameness (non-conflict, integral unity).
Universal truth
The deepest order is immanent in all things. When we align our many inner powers to truth, life becomes a coordinated harmony rather than a competition of parts.
Themes
Varuṇa’s law, Immanence, All-gods obedience, Cosmic governance
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.41.3, Rig Veda 8.41.4, Rig Veda 8.41.5, Rig Veda 8.41.6
Significance
This verse is a mature psychological insight: Varuṇa as both immanent (within all births) and transcendent regulator (before whom all gods align). It supports integral yoga—unity of powers under truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Epithets
- Immanent cloak (atka-like), All-examining (marmṛśat), Vrata-lord, Before whom all gods align
- Related deities
- Viśve Devāḥ, Mitra, Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
Inner ruler present in all beings; regulator of divine functions; maintainer of harmony among cosmic powers.
Inner power
Deep discernment and conscience-force that permeates all parts and compels alignment to truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Varuṇa hymns for purification, truth-speaking, and restoring harmony among powers invoked in the sacrifice.
य आ॒स्वत्क॑ आ॒शये॒ विश्वा॑ जा॒तान्ये॑षाम् । परि॒ धामा॑नि॒ मर्मृ॑श॒द्वरु॑णस्य पु॒रो गये॒ विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अनु॑ व्र॒तं नभ॑न्तामन्य॒के स॑मे ॥
यः । आ॒सु॒ । अत्कः॑ । आ॒ऽशये॑ । विश्वा॑ । जा॒तानि॑ । ए॒षा॒म् । परि॑ । धामा॑नि । मर्मृ॑शत् । वरु॑णस्य । पु॒रः । गयः॑ । विश्वे॑ । दे॒वाः । अनु॑ । व्र॒तम् । नभ॑न्ताम् । अ॒न्य॒के । स॒मे॒ ॥
yaḥ | āsu | atkaḥ | āśaye | viśvā | jātāni | eṣām | pari | dhāmāni | marmṛśat | varuṇasya | puraḥ | gayaḥ | viśve | devāḥ | anu | vratam | nabhantām | anyake | same
44
4 × ~11
Measured and encompassing; a ‘circling’ feel matching ‘pari’ and all-around examination.
Creates a sense of being inwardly witnessed; encourages sincerity and harmonization of inner parts.
- अत्कः (atkaḥ)
- Literal: garment, cloak. Symbolic: pervasive immanence; consciousness that ‘wears’ all forms from within
- आशये (āśaye)
- Literal: in the resting place/seat. Symbolic: inmost heart-seat; foundational subconscious/causal resting ground
- धामानि (dhāmāni)
- Literal: dwellings, abodes. Symbolic: domains of experience; habitual formations in mind-life-body
- मर्मृशत् (marmṛśat)
- Literal: touches, feels, examines. Symbolic: subtle discernment; intimate knowledge of movements
- विश्वे देवाः (viśve devāḥ)
- Literal: all the gods. Symbolic: all higher faculties/powers in the being
- अनु व्रतम् (anu vratam)
- Literal: according to the law. Symbolic: alignment of all parts to the inner truth-order (ṛta)
Varuṇa-centered recitation emphasizing universal obedience to ṛta/vrata; supports vows, truth-speaking, and inner ethical alignment.
When seeking ethical/inner cleansing, reconciliation of conflicting impulses, or a renewed vow to truth.
Recite as a ‘confessional alignment’: acknowledge inner movements, offer them to truth-law, and invite all faculties to follow vrata.
Use in therapy-like self-inquiry: chant, then scan ‘dwellings’ (body sensations, emotions, thoughts) with non-judgmental truthfulness.
atka: ‘garment’ (covering), indicating enveloping immanence. āśaya from ā-√śī ‘lie, rest’. marmṛśat from √mṛś ‘touch, rub’ (PIE *mer- ‘rub’ possible). dhāman ‘abode’ from √dhā ‘place’. anu-vrata expresses ‘following the ordinance’ (vrata).
immanence (enveloping presence), vrata (cosmic ordinance), dhāman (abodes as planes of being)
All gods (cosmic functions) operate rightly only when aligned to Varuṇa’s vrata—ṛta as governing harmony.
Marmṛśat implies intimate truth-testing of every domain; self-deception is exposed by inner witness.
Immanence within all births; governance of multiplicity by a single law.
Bridge toward Upaniṣadic inner-ruler doctrine; integral psychology of harmonized faculties.
Garment = pervasive consciousness; resting seat = heart/inmost base; dwellings = layers of personality; gods = higher functions seeking coordination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Varuṇa as universal governor: all gods follow his vrata. The deity is portrayed as immanent—like a garment within the resting-place of all births—while also transcendent as the one before whom divine powers proceed in ordered movement.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- dhāman from √dhā (PIE *dheh1-) is a classic inheritance. The construction anu + vrata encodes a governance model (‘follow the ordinance’) comparable to Indo-European legal-sacral phrasing where divine law is ‘followed’ by powers and men.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s stance is one of alignment: by acknowledging that even the gods move ‘anu vratam’, the human seeker is implicitly called to the same obedience. The devatā offers ordered dwelling and guidance through the many dhāmāni (planes/abodes) when one accepts that law.
Immanent witness: feel Varuṇa as the ‘cloak’ of awareness within all sensations, emotions, and thoughts; align all inner powers to a single law of truth.
Anāhata (inmost seat/āśaya) with Ājñā (discernment)
Slow exhale-lengthened breathing (1:2) to deepen resting-place awareness; on inhale feel pervasion, on exhale feel alignment.
Witnessing immanence leading to integral harmony.
After chanting, do a slow body–emotion–thought scan (‘touching the dhāmas’). Each time you find conflict, inwardly repeat ‘anu vratam’ and choose the truthful, harmonizing action.
Tri-svara; exact svara requires a marked text for RV 8.41.7.
Keep clarity on ā́śaye, viśvā́ jātā́ni, párī dhā́māni, varuṇásya, víśve devā́, ánu vratám.
: ā-śa-ye (palatal ś), : mar-mṛ-śat (vocalic ṛ), : pu-ro ga-ye (separate vowels clearly), : vra-tam (light v)
Soft, inward, truth-toned; sustain vowels to convey pervasion.
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