Rig Veda 5.63.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 63, Mantra 3
Sukta 5.63
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
सम्राजा उग्रा वृषभा दिवस्पती पृथिव्या मित्रावरुणा विचर्षणी । चित्रेभिरभ्रैरुप तिष्ठथो रवं द्यां वर्षयथो असुरस्य मायया ॥
sam-rājā́ ugrā́ vṛṣabhā́ divás pátī pṛthivyā́ mitrā́varuṇā vícarṣaṇī | citrébhir abhráir úpa tiṣṭhatho rávam dyā́ṃ varṣayatho ásurasya māyáyā ||
मित्र और वरुण दोनों मिलके राज करते हैं। वो बहुत ताकतवर हैं, जैसे बैल। यह आसमान और धरती के मालिक हैं और लोगों के बीच घूमते हैं। चमकदार बादल लेके वो बादल के ऊपर खड़े होते हैं। अपनी ताकत से वो आसमान से बारिश बरसाते हैं।
Word by Word
- सम्राजौ
- the two sovereign kingsNoun (title)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot सम्-राज् (प्रातिपदिक: सम्राज्)
- उग्रौ
- fierce, mighty (two)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (सम्राजौ इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषभौ
- two bulls (i.e., powerful ones)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ)
- पती
- two lordsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याः
- of the earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- मित्रावरुणा
- Mitra and VaruṇaNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (सम्राजौ… इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्)Root मित्र + वरुण (द्वन्द्व-समास प्रातिपदिक: मित्रावरुण)
- विचर्षणी
- the two far-seeing/overseeing onesAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (मित्रावरुणा इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot वि-चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘all-seeing/overseeing’)
- चित्रेभिः
- with bright/variegatedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (अभ्रैः इति विशेषणम्)Role करणRoot चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभ्रैः
- cloudsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near, up toIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)अव्ययRoot उप
- तिष्ठथः
- you two standVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (कर्तृ: मित्रावरुणा)Root स्था (धातु)
- रवम्
- roar, soundNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रव (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्याम्
- the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (वर्षयथः इत्यस्य)Root द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वर्षयथः
- you two cause to rainVerbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद (णिजन्त)Role क्रिया (कर्तृ: मित्रावरुणा)Root वृष् (धातु; causative: वर्षय-)
- असुरस्य
- of the Asura (lordly being)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- मायया
- by (his/your) māyā, wondrous powerNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot माया (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविच्छेद): सम्राजा॑ः → सम्राजौ (प्रथमा-द्विवचन)
- दिवस्पती॑ → दिवः पती
- पृथिव्या → पृथिव्याः
- मित्रावरु॑णा → मित्रावरुणा
- अभ्रैरुप → अभ्रैः उप
- तिष्ठथो॒ → तिष्ठथः
- द्यां व॑र्षयथो॒ → द्याम् वर्षयथः. (स्वरचिह्नाः संहितापाठानुसारं; पदपाठे रूपाणि सामान्यतया उदात्त/अनुदात्त-व्यवस्थया भिन्नरूपेण दृश्यन्ते।)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Mitra and Varuṇa, joint sovereigns and mighty lords of heaven and earth, stand amid radiant clouds upon the thunder’s roar and, by the Asura’s māyā (formative power), cause heaven to rain.
Inner meaning
Mitra-Varuṇa are the twin powers of harmony (Mitra) and vast truth-order (Varuṇa) governing the inner heaven (mind) and earth (embodied nature). Their ‘bull-like’ force is the steadfast, fertilizing spiritual pressure that breaks inner dryness. The ‘radiant clouds’ are luminous formations in the mind (thought-substance) gathering around the thunder of awakened force; the rain is the descent of clarified energies—insight, peace, and wideness—formed by māyā as conscious power of manifestation, not illusion.
Universal truth
When harmony and truth guard life together, consciousness can shape higher influences into nourishing descents; what seems like storm and cloud becomes the very mechanism by which illumination and renewal reach the human field.
Themes
Storm symbolism, Formation and release, Divine force (vṛṣabhā)
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Āditya-related seer-line in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 5.62, RV 5.64, RV 7.33, RV 7.86, RV 7.87
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha is a principal Ṛgvedic seer associated with the solar/Āditya current, emphasizing ṛta (truth-order), right governance, and the harmonizing powers of Mitra-Varuṇa; his hymns often reconcile cosmic law with inner ethical-spiritual discipline.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s vision foregrounds the inner kingship of ṛta: the psyche becomes a kingdom when truth and harmony jointly rule; storms and rains become symbols of descent and purification under divine law.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Epithets
- samrājā (co-sovereigns), ugrā (mighty), vṛṣabhā (bull-like), divas patī pṛthivyāḥ (lords of heaven and earth), vipaścit (discerning, implied across the hymn)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Parjanya, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
Āditya powers who uphold ṛta: Mitra maintains concord, contracts, right relation; Varuṇa maintains vastness, truth, and the binding law that restores order.
Inner power
In yoga-psychology: Mitra = harmonizing intelligence and goodwill; Varuṇa = vast witnessing truth and purifying law. Together they organize the mind’s formations so higher force can descend as ‘rain’ without distortion.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya-related offerings and praises within Soma and daily fire contexts; recitation for rain/ordering powers in broader tradition.
स॒म्राजा॑ उ॒ग्रा वृ॑ष॒भा दि॒वस्पती॑ पृथि॒व्या मि॒त्रावरु॑णा॒ विच॑र्षणी । चि॒त्रेभि॑र॒भ्रैरुप॑ तिष्ठथो॒ रवं॒ द्यां व॑र्षयथो॒ असु॑रस्य मा॒यया॑ ॥
स॒म्ऽराजौ॑ । उ॒ग्रा । वृ॒ष॒भा । दि॒वः । पती॑ इति॑ । पृ॒थि॒व्याः । मि॒त्रावरु॑णा । विच॑र्षणी॒ इति॒ विऽच॑र्षणी । चि॒त्रेभिः॑ । अ॒भ्रैः । उप॑ । ति॒ष्ठ॒थः॒ । रव॑म् । द्याम् । व॒र्ष॒य॒थः॒ । असु॑रस्य । मा॒यया॑ ॥
sam-rājau | ugrā | vṛṣabhā | divaḥ | patīiti | pṛthivyāḥ | mitrāvaruṇā | vicarṣaṇī itivi-carṣaṇī | citrebhiḥ | abhraiḥ | upa | tiṣṭhathaḥ | ravam | dyām | varṣayathaḥ | asurasya | māyayā
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Strong, forward-driving, suited to proclamation and governance; a measured surge like thunder followed by release.
Builds a sense of inner authority and wideness; supports invoking order, clearing turbulence, and receiving a calm descent after intensity.
- सम्राजौ (samrājā)
- Literal: two co-kings, co-sovereigns. Symbolic: twin governing powers acting in unity—concord and law
- उग्रा (ugrā)
- Literal: mighty, formidable. Symbolic: irresistible spiritual pressure that compels growth
- वृषभा (vṛṣabhā)
- Literal: bull-like. Symbolic: fertilizing strength; virile power that makes consciousness fruitful
- दिवः पती / पृथिव्याः (divas patī / pṛthivyāḥ)
- Literal: lords of heaven / of earth. Symbolic: masters of mind and embodied nature; rulers of inner and outer being
- विचर्षणी (vicarṣaṇī)
- Literal: moving among men / wide-ruling. Symbolic: powers active in human consciousness, not remote deities
- अभ्र (abhra)
- Literal: cloud. Symbolic: formation of thought-substance veiling/releasing higher light
- रव (rava)
- Literal: roar, thunder. Symbolic: sound-force of awakening; dynamic vibration of the inner storm that clears obstruction
- वर्षयथः (varṣayathaḥ)
- Literal: you make rain. Symbolic: descent of illumination, peace, and vital-plenty into the system
- असुरस्य मायया (asurasya māyayā)
- Literal: by the Asura’s māyā. Symbolic: by sovereign formative consciousness-power that measures, shapes, and manifests
Praise of divine governance over atmospheric powers; in inner application, invocation for controlled formation (māyā) that releases the rains of force rather than obscuring consciousness.
Invocations to Mitra-Varuṇa in morning/forenoon sequences; also seasonally when seeking harmony, right order, and beneficial rains.
Stotra/śastra-style praise; offering with clarified intention for ṛta and prosperity.
Use as a contemplative chant when life feels chaotic: invoke ‘co-sovereigns’ to re-establish inner law and invite a cleansing ‘rain’ of clarity.
vṛṣabhá ‘bull’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain, to be potent’—force and fertility. abhrá ‘cloud’ (covering/veil). rává ‘roar’ from √ru ‘to roar/cry’. ásura in early RV often ‘lord, sovereign power’ (not yet demonized). māyā from √mā ‘to measure, form’ → creative formative power (inner sense: power to arrange formations/appearances).
māyā as formative measure (not illusion-only), sovereignty (samrāj, asura)
Rain and thunder are governed by ṛta; descent occurs when law and harmony are aligned.
Truth as the regulating ‘sovereignty’ that makes the descent beneficent rather than destructive.
Manifestation through measured formation (māyā): higher light takes shape as cloud-formations and becomes nourishing rain.
Proto-Vedāntic and Aurobindonian psychological reading: cosmic processes mirror inner consciousness-operations.
unspecified
rainy season imagery (varṣā)
Clouds = mental formations; thunder = awakened dynamic force; rain = descent of higher consciousness and life-energy into the embodied field.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The storm-theophany: the gods stand with bright clouds upon the thunder-roar and make heaven rain. Psychologically, the higher powers use formative māyā to organize the mid-region (clouds/mental-vital formations) so that it releases nourishment (rain) instead of becoming a mere obscuring cover.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The ‘sky/heaven’ lexicon (dyām, diváḥ) is part of PIE *dyew- heritage. The bull-as-power metaphor is also widespread Indo-European poetic diction, where bovine strength signifies potency and increase.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes Mitra-Varuṇa as rulers not only of moral order but of dynamic nature-forces. The implied request is mastery over formations (māyā) so that the seeker’s inner weather (roar, clouds) becomes a means of descent and growth.
Unify inner harmony (Mitra) with vast truth-witness (Varuṇa) and allow a ‘rain’ of clarity to descend through the mind into the body.
Ājñā (clarity/witness) with support into Anāhata (harmony)
Slow coherent breathing (e.g., 4–6 seconds inhale, 6–8 exhale) while feeling ‘clouds’ gather and release as rain through the spine.
Widened, ordered, receptive; dynamic calm after inner thunder clears resistance.
Before chanting, recall a situation needing right order. During ‘abhraiḥ… ravam’, feel the mind’s charged formations; on ‘varṣayathaḥ’, imagine a gentle descent washing the system clean.
Triṣṭubh recitation with Vedic udātta peaks on accented syllables; anudātta preceding, svarita as the falling glide—follow your śākhā’s svara marks if available.
Keep clear stress on key invocatory words: samrājā, mitrāvaruṇā, abhrair, varṣayathaḥ, māyayā; let the cadence fall at pāda ends.
Hold long vowels: rājā (ā), ugrā (ā), vṛṣabhā (ā), dyām (ā)., Retroflex: ṇ in varuṇā; cerebral ṣ in vṛṣabhā., Conjunct clarity: mitrāvaruṇā (no break between names)., Māyāyā: sustain both long ā’s; avoid turning yā into ja.
Resonant and steady, like a proclamation; soften into receptivity on ‘varṣayathaḥ’.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
