Rig Veda 7.85.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 85, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.85
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
आपश्चिद्धि स्वयशसः सदस्सु देवीरिन्द्रं वरुणं देवता धुः । कृष्टीरन्यो धारयति प्रविक्ता वृत्राण्यन्यो अप्रतीनि हन्ति ॥
ā́paś cid dhí sva-yaśásaḥ sádaḥsu devī́r índraṃ váruṇaṃ devátā dhúḥ | kṛṣṭī́r anyó dhā́rayati prá-viktā vṛtrā́ṇy anyó ápratīni hanti ||
Paani bhi khud ko bada samajhta hai. Usne Indra aur Varuna ko apne paas bitha liya hai. Ek logon ko sambhalta hai, alag-alag kar ke. Dusra bade rukawaton ko tod deta hai jo koi nahi rok sakta.
Word by Word
- आपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot आप् (प्रातिपदिक: आप्- ‘जल’)
- चित्
- indeed, evenIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic) अव्ययRoot चित् (अव्यय) < PIE *kʷid ‘something/indeed’
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपात (causal/emphatic) अव्ययRoot हि (अव्यय)
- स्वयशसः
- self-gloriousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (वेदिक रूप; -सः = nom.pl.)Role कर्तृ (आपः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root स्व-यशस् (प्रातिपदिक: स्वयशस् ‘self-glorious, of own fame’)
- सदःसु
- in the seats/abodes (assemblies)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सदस् (प्रातिपदिक: सदस् ‘seat, assembly, dwelling’)
- देवीः
- the goddesses (divine ones)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (आपः इत्यस्य पुनर्विशेषणम्)Root देवी (प्रातिपदिक: देवी ‘goddess, divine one’)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणम्
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवता
- as deities, in divine fashionIndeclinableअव्ययीभाव-प्राय/निपातवत् (क्रियाविशेषण) अव्ययRoot देवता (अव्यय/निपात; वेदिक प्रयोग ‘as gods, in divine status’)
- धुः
- they placed/installedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन; वेदिक लिट् ‘they have set/placed’Role क्रियाRoot धा (धातु ‘to place, set’)
- कृष्टीः
- the peoplesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot कृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक: कृष्टि ‘people, races, settlements’)
- अन्यः
- the one (other)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक: अन्य ‘other’)
- धारयति
- supports, upholdsVerbलट् (परस्मैपद), 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot धृ (धातु ‘to hold, support’)
- प्रविक्ताः
- well-apportioned / well-orderedAdjective (Kṛdanta) / Noun-epithetपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (कृष्टीः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root प्र-√विच्/विच् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: प्रविक्त ‘distinguished, separated out, apportioned’; PPP) अथवा ‘प्रविक्त’ = ‘well-distributed’
- वृत्राणि
- the Vṛtras/obstructionsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक: वृत्र ‘obstructor, Vṛtra; obstacles’)
- अन्यः
- the other (one)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अप्रतीनि
- unopposed, irresistibleAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन (वृत्राणि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अ-प्रतीनि (प्रातिपदिक: अप्रतीन ‘unresisted, unmatched’; ved. neut. pl.)
- हन्ति
- slays, smitesVerbलट् (परस्मैपद), 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot हन् (धातु ‘to strike, slay’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): आपः चित् हि स्वयशसः सदःसु देवीः इन्द्रम् वरुणम् देवता धुः । कृष्टीः अन्यः धारयति प्रविक्ताः । वृत्राणि अन्यः अप्रतीनि हन्ति ॥ 1) आप॑श्चित् → आपः + चित् (विसर्ग-लोपः, च्-आदेशः). 2) चिद्धि → चित् + हि (त् + ह् → द्ध्; वेदिक संधि). 3) सद॑स्सु → सदः + सु (विसर्गस्य स्स्-आदेशः). 4) देवीरिन्द्रं → देवीः + इन्द्रम् (विसर्ग-लोपः). 5) इन्द्रं वरुणं → इन्द्रम् वरुणम् (अनुस्वार/मकार-परिवर्तनं पदान्ते). 6) देवता धुः: ‘देवता’ निपातवत् क्रियाविशेषणम्
- धुः = √धा लिट् 3pl. 7) प्रवि॑क्ता: पाठभेद/व्युत्पत्तिः विवाद्या
- अत्र ‘प्रविक्त’ (PPP) इति विशेषणरूपेण ‘कृष्टीः’ प्रति गृहीतम्
The meaning
Outer meaning
The divine Waters, self-glorious in their seats, have established Indra and Varuṇa as gods. One supports the peoples; the other strikes down the resistances, the unopposed obstructions.
Inner meaning
The Waters (āpaḥ) are the flowing realms of consciousness—clarity, life-force currents, and the subtle sea of being. From these luminous seats, the inner powers are ‘installed’: Indra as the force that upholds and organizes the human collectivity in us (kṛṣṭīḥ—our active parts and communities of impulses) when they are rightly distinguished (praviktāḥ), and Varuṇa as the sovereign who smites vṛtrāṇi—coverings and blockages that seem ‘unopposed’ (apratīni) because they operate from the subconscient. The verse describes a yogic polity: right ordering of parts (Indra) and removal of hidden obstruction (Varuṇa).
Universal truth
True governance of life requires a higher foundation: the ‘waters’ of consciousness establish the powers of illumination and law. Progress is sustained by differentiated order and secured by the removal of subconscious resistances.
Themes
cosmic legitimization, support of order and slaying of obstruction, Indra-Vṛtra paradigm (implicit)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇi)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.49 (Waters hymn, thematic resonance), RV 7.86, RV 7.88
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns frequently treat Varuṇa/Ādityas as inner law and purification, and Indra as victorious illumination—here grounded in the ‘Waters’ as conscious foundation.
Significance
The seer’s psychology is integrative: establish right powers on a luminous base (āpaḥ) rather than on desire-nature; then order and victory become stable.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra–Varuṇa (installed by the Waters)
- Epithets
- svayaśasaḥ (of the Waters, qualifying the installing power), aprati (unopposed, as the nature of vṛtra to be overcome)
- Related deities
- Āpaḥ (Waters), Mitra, Agni, Soma
Cosmic role
Indra stabilizes and supports the functioning world of beings; Varuṇa removes the cosmic obstruction and enforces the law of ṛta across seen and unseen domains.
Inner power
Indra: harmonizing leadership among inner parts through discernment; Varuṇa: deep purification—cutting the root of subconscious knots.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra–Varuṇa stotra/śastra contexts; also water-related purificatory associations by theme
आप॑श्चि॒द्धि स्वय॑शस॒: सद॑स्सु दे॒वीरिन्द्रं॒ वरु॑णं दे॒वता॒ धुः । कृ॒ष्टीर॒न्यो धा॒रय॑ति॒ प्रवि॑क्ता वृ॒त्राण्य॒न्यो अ॑प्र॒तीनि॑ हन्ति ॥
आपः॑ । चि॒त् । हि । स्वऽय॑शसः । सदः॑ऽसु । दे॒वीः । इन्द्र॑म् । वरु॑णम् । दे॒वता॑ । धुरिति॒ धुः । कृ॒ष्टीः । अ॒न्यः । धा॒रय॑ति । प्रऽवि॑क्ताः । वृ॒त्राणि॑ । अ॒न्यः । अ॒प्र॒तीनि॑ । ह॒न्ति॒ ॥
āpaḥ | cit | hi | sva-yaśasaḥ | sadaḥ-su | devīḥ | indram | varuṇam | devatā | dhuritidhuḥ | kṛṣṭīḥ | anyaḥ | dhārayati | pra-viktāḥ | vṛtrāṇi | anyaḥ | apratīni | hanti
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4 × ~11 syllables; triṣṭubh suited to declarative cosmic statements
Balanced and explanatory; less ‘attack’ than 7.85.2, more स्थापत्य (architectonic) in feel.
Creates a sense of being ‘set in place’—the listener feels inner governance descending and organizing the field.
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: planes/currents of consciousness; purifying flow; the subtle sea of being
- स्वयशसः (svayaśasaḥ)
- Literal: self-glorious. Symbolic: self-luminous consciousness that does not borrow light from the senses
- सदस्सु (sadassu)
- Literal: in the seats/assemblies. Symbolic: stable stations of awareness; inner planes where powers are enthroned
- देवता धुः (devatā dhuḥ)
- Literal: they placed as divinity. Symbolic: the inner establishment of governing powers in the psyche
- कृष्टीः (kṛṣṭīḥ)
- Literal: peoples, communities. Symbolic: the many ‘tribes’ of our nature—mind, life, body impulses needing harmony
- प्रविक्ताः (praviktāḥ)
- Literal: clearly distinguished, separated out. Symbolic: discernment that gives each part its right function (no confusion of desire as will)
- वृत्राणि (vṛtrāṇi)
- Literal: vṛtra-coverings/obstructions. Symbolic: subconscient resistances that block light and free flow
- अप्रतीनि (apratīni)
- Literal: unopposed, without counter-force. Symbolic: automatic habits that persist because they are unseen and unchallenged
Cosmic legitimation of the twin powers within ritual: waters as consecrating principle; supports Soma-water symbolism
Recited when seeking stability of order, protection of community, and removal of obstacles; adaptable to daily practice for inner cleansing.
Praise + affirmation of divine installation; mental offering of clarity (āpaḥ) and truth-intent.
Use before group work/leadership tasks: invoke Indra to harmonize parts/people, Varuṇa to remove hidden sabotage (fear, cynicism) beneath the surface.
ā́pas 'waters' (PIE *h₂ep- 'water', cf. Latin aqua via different development, but Indo-Iranian ap- is direct); √dhṛ 'hold' (PIE *dʰer- 'hold'); pra-vic from √vic 'separate, discern' (PIE *weyk- 'separate'); vṛtrá from √vṛ 'cover' → obstruction/covering; devátā as status/function of a god.
installation of divine powers in their seats (sadas), support vs. destruction as complementary functions
Waters as carriers of ṛta establish the right cosmic administration (Indra–Varuṇa).
‘Self-glorious waters’ indicate truth-luminosity inherent in being, not constructed by thought.
From the Waters (conscious matrix), powers are enthroned; order and obstacle-removal are functions of creation’s maintenance.
Vedic symbolic cosmology with psychological correspondence (Aurobindo/Kashyap).
Waters = flow of consciousness and purification; seats = stable planes; supporting peoples = harmonizing faculties; vṛtra-slaying = clearing blocked channels.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A cosmological enthronement: the Waters establish Indra and Varuṇa as devatās. Then the dual function unfolds—Varuṇa-type upholding of ordered communities and Indra-type breaking of coverings (vṛtra).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- āpas corresponds to PIE *h₂ep- 'water' (Avestan āp-). √dhṛ 'hold' corresponds to PIE *dʰer- (Greek thronos is different but IE holding root is widespread). vṛtra from √vṛ 'cover' parallels IE 'cover' roots (cf. Latin vertere is different; but semantic field is archaic and productive).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi points to an objective cosmic sanction: these powers are not merely invoked by humans; they are already installed by the fundamental streams of existence (āpaḥ). Therefore the seeker can rely on their twofold action—supporting right collective life and destroying inner obstructions.
Rest attention in a felt ‘sea of consciousness’ (āpaḥ). From that wideness, invoke Indra to align faculties and Varuṇa to dissolve subconscious blocks.
Maṇipūra (Indra—governance/force) and Viśuddha (Varuṇa—truth-purification through flow)
Slow coherent breathing; imagine inhale as rising clear waters, exhale as washing out vṛtra-knots; brief stillness at the end of exhale.
Widened, fluid clarity with firm inner administration.
Chant 6 times; after each, feel: (1) ‘installation’ of higher rule in the head/heart, (2) harmonizing of parts, (3) a wash of light through the lower belly and spine to clear hidden resistance.
Triṣṭubh svara with typical udatta peaks on key nouns (āpaḥ, indraṃ, varuṇam); follow saṃhitā accents for each pada.
Sustain a calm, even line; let udatta rise gently (not forcefully) to match the ‘installation’ mood.
(āpaś cid): keep sandhi—ś + c = ‘ścid’ crisp, (svayaśasaḥ): pronounce ‘ya’ clearly; final ḥ soft, (devīr indram): long ī in devīḥ; roll into indr- smoothly, (kṛṣṭīḥ): retroflex ṭ; long īḥ, (vṛtrāṇi): retroflex ṇ; long ā, (apratīni): long ī; avoid ‘apratini’ shortness
Steady, clear, ‘water-like’ continuity with firm consonants on vṛtra-words.
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