Rig Veda 7.82.3: Mandala 7, Sukta 82, Mantra 3
Sukta 7.82
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अन्वपां खान्यतृन्तमोजसा सूर्यमैरयतं दिवि प्रभुम् । इन्द्रावरुणा मदे अस्य मायिनोऽपिन्वतमपितः पिन्वतं धियः ॥
ánv apā́ṃ khā́ny atṛntam ójasā sū́ryam airayataṃ diví prábhūm | índrāvaruṇā máde asya māyíno ápīnvatam ápitaḥ pínvataṃ dhíyaḥ ||
तुम दोनों पानी के रास्ते चले और अपनी ताकत से नाले काट दिए। सूरज को आसमान में रख दिया, जो सब पे चमकता है। इंद्र और वरुण, तुमने अंदर से बात निकलवाई और लोगों के खयाल बड़े किए। अब हमारे भी खयाल बढ़ा दो।
Word by Word
- अनु
- along, after; followingIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb)Root अनु
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक: अप्/आप्)
- खानि
- channels, openingsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्म (with verb ‘cut/cleave’)Root ख (प्रातिपदिक: खा- ‘opening, channel’)
- अतृन्तम्
- they cleft/pierced (through)Verbलुङ् (aorist); 3rd person द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot तॄ (धातु; ‘to cross/overcome’; Vedic also ‘to pierce/cleave through’ in context)
- ओजसा
- by strength, with mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस्
- सूर्यम्
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सूर्य
- ऐरयतम्
- you two set in motion/raisedVerbलुङ् (aorist); 3rd person द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot ईर्/इर् (धातु; ‘to set in motion, raise’)
- दिवि
- in heaven, in the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: द्यौ/दिव्)
- प्रभुम्
- the mighty one, the lordAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (apposition to ‘सूर्यम्’)Root प्रभु
- इन्द्रावरुणा
- O Indra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा द्विवचन (Vedic vocative-like address)Role सम्बोधनRoot इन्द्र-वरुण (dvandva)
- मदे
- in exhilaration, in (soma-)intoxicationNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot मद
- अस्य
- of this (one)Pronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)
- मायिनः
- of the wondrous/skillful one (the possessor of māyā)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot मायिन्
- अपिन्वतम्
- you two caused to swell/strengthenedVerbलुङ् (aorist); 2nd person द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पिव्/पिन् (धातु; ‘to swell, make swell, strengthen’)
- अपितः
- also; moreover; besidesIndeclinableअव्यय (particle + adverbial suffix)Root अपि + तः
- पिन्वतम्
- do you two strengthen/increaseVerbलोट् (imperative); 2nd person द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot पिव्/पिन्
- धियः
- thoughts, insights, prayersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचन (also possible nom. pl. by form; here as object)Role कर्मRoot धि
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: (1) इन्द्रावरुणा = इन्द्रा + वरुणा (dvandva dual address). (2) मायिनोऽपिन्वतम् = मायिनः + अपिन्वतम् (visarga before vowel → ‘o’ + avagraha). (3) अपितः is read as अपि + तः (indeclinable ‘also’ with adverbial -तः). Other words are already in pada form
- accent marks retained from Saṃhitā but not re-applied in analysis
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Varuṇa, following the courses of the waters, cleft channels by their might and set the Sun in heaven. In the ecstasy of the master of powers, they made inspirations swell from the hidden depth; may our thoughts also increase.
Inner meaning
‘Waters’ are the flowing consciousness-forces (āpaḥ) in the inner being. The gods ‘cleave channels’ when they open pathways in the subtle nature so higher energies can descend and circulate without obstruction. Setting the Sun in heaven is establishing the illumined truth-light (sūrya) in the higher mind—so perception becomes governed by a steady inner sun. ‘Mada’ (ecstasy) here is the uplift of consciousness in which the divine Māyī (master of formative powers) expands inspirations (dhī) from the hidden (apitaḥ)—the subconscient or secret heart-depth—so intuition and right thought swell. The seeker prays: let this increase happen in us too; let our dhī become wide, luminous, and forceful.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires opened inner pathways and a stable light of truth above. When higher consciousness is established, inspiration rises from within and thought becomes expansive and creative rather than cramped and reactive.
Themes
Cosmic ordering as inner opening, Illumination (Sūrya), Increase of inspiration, Waters as consciousness-flows
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.86-88 (Varuṇa: law, release, wideness), RV 7.82.1-6 (Indra-Varuṇa: combined action)
Family tradition
Seer of harmonizing vast law (Varuṇa) with victorious illumination (Indra); emphasizes inner purification and widening to receive higher light.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s mantras often describe concrete inner operations—openings, releases, establishment of light—rather than mere praise, making them especially apt for meditative application.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Epithets
- प्रभु (prabhu) applied to Sūrya: lordly, मायिन् (māyin) master of powers (contextual)
- Related deities
- Sūrya (truth-light), Āpaḥ (waters), Mitra (harmonizing clarity)
Cosmic role
They open the cosmic ‘water-courses’ and establish the sun of order in heaven; they are engineers of the world’s luminous circulation and guardians of the law that allows light to reign.
Inner power
Indra provides the breakthrough-force that cleaves obstructions; Varuṇa provides the vast ordering that makes channels stable and the sun securely ‘set’ above the mind.
In ritual
Where it is used
Invocatory praise in Soma contexts and rites seeking rain/light/prosperity (outer), and ‘opening of paths’ (inner).
अन्व॒पां खान्य॑तृन्त॒मोज॒सा सूर्य॑मैरयतं दि॒वि प्र॒भुम् । इन्द्रा॑वरुणा॒ मदे॑ अस्य मा॒यिनोऽपि॑न्वतम॒पित॒: पिन्व॑तं॒ धिय॑: ॥
अनु॑ । अ॒पाम् । खानि॑ । अ॒तृ॒न्त॒म् । ओ॒ज॒सा । सूर्य॑म् । ऐ॒र॒य॒त॒म् । दि॒वि । प्र॒ऽभुम् । इन्द्रा॑वरुणा । मदे॑ । अ॒स्य॒ । मा॒यिनः॑ । अपि॑न्वतम् । अ॒पितः॑ । पिन्व॑तम् । धियः॑ ॥
anu | apām | khāni | atṛntam | ojasā | sūryam | airayatam | divi | pra-bhum | indrāvaruṇā | made | asya | māyinaḥ | apinvatam | apitaḥ | pinvatam | dhiyaḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables; energetic mid-line lift typical of action-description verses.
Dynamic and process-oriented—good for depicting ‘opening’ and ‘setting’ actions.
Produces a sense of inner movement: clearing pathways, rising light, swelling inspiration.
- आपः (āpaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: streams of consciousness, life-energy, intuitive currents
- खानि (khāni)
- Literal: channels, openings. Symbolic: inner pathways/nāḍī-like routes for force and light
- ओजसा (ojasā)
- Literal: by might/vigor. Symbolic: concentrated spiritual force enabling breakthroughs
- सूर्यम् (sūryam)
- Literal: the Sun. Symbolic: truth-light, illumined consciousness
- दिवि (divi)
- Literal: in heaven. Symbolic: in the higher mind/inner sky above ordinary mentality
- मदे (made)
- Literal: in ecstasy, rapture. Symbolic: uplifted state where divine force acts freely
- मायिनः (māyinaḥ)
- Literal: of the master of māyā (power/skill). Symbolic: the divine formative power that shapes consciousness and experience
- अपितः (apitaḥ)
- Literal: from the hidden/covered place. Symbolic: from the secret heart or subconscient depth
- धियः (dhiyaḥ)
- Literal: thoughts, inspirations. Symbolic: intuitive discernments, inspired understanding
Verse of cosmo-psychic action: opening channels, establishing sun, increasing dhī; used to invoke the opening of inner paths and the rise of illumined thought during soma-inspired intensity.
When seeking divine help for obstacles, clarity, and increased inspiration; suitable for dawn or pre-study recitation.
Recitation accompanying offerings to Indra-Varuṇa; mentally align with ‘channel-opening’ and ‘sun-establishing’.
Use before meditation or creative work: chant to open subtle ‘channels’ and invite steady inner illumination.
khā́ni ‘channels’ from √khan ‘to dig, cleave’. ap- ‘waters’ as primal flows (also psychological currents). sū́rya from √svar/√sūr ‘to shine’ → illuminer. prábhū ‘mighty, lord’ from pra- + √bhū ‘to be, become’ → one who is pre-eminent in being. māyín from māyā (√mā ‘to measure, form’) denotes formative power/skill. ápīnvatam/pínvata from √pīv ‘to swell, be full’ → increase, plenitude.
Releasing hidden powers (apitaḥ), Dhī (inspired thought), Māyā as divine formation
The ‘courses of the waters’ imply ṛta as lawful movement; Indra-Varuṇa ensure that flow is not blocked.
Sūrya in divi symbolizes truth established above the lower mind.
Cosmic engineering: carving channels, placing the sun—images of organizing chaos into ordered manifestation.
Integral Vedantic reading: higher light organizes life-currents; inspirations arise when subconscient is opened to the higher.
dawn-to-morning (implied by sūrya establishment)
Waters = vital/mental currents; channels = purified pathways; sun = stable illumined consciousness; heaven = higher mind plane.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The opening of the waters’ channels and the establishment of the Sun: a cosmogonic/ordering act commonly attributed to divine powers. Psychologically, it is the opening of blocked inner currents and the enthronement of illumined truth in the higher plane, enabling dhī to swell from the hidden subconscient.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √khan ‘dig’ has broad Indo-European parallels in the semantic field of cutting/cleaving (though exact cognates vary by branch). The ‘sun’ as sovereign light is a shared Indo-European mythic motif; the diction of ‘setting/raising the sun’ and ‘releasing waters’ mirrors Indo-Iranian formulaic themes.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi appeals to the gods’ archetypal world-ordering acts as precedents for inner transformation: as they once opened cosmic channels and set the sun, so may they now open his concealed depths and enlarge his inspired thoughts into ṛta-bearing clarity.
Feel inner currents becoming orderly; place a ‘sun’ of steady awareness above the mind; invite inspirations from the hidden depth.
maṇipūra (ojas/force) rising to ājñā (sun of clarity)
Slow inhale ‘opening channels’, slow exhale ‘establishing sun’; optionally bhrāmarī after chanting to sense inner resonance.
Flowing, clarified, upward-oriented; subtle openings and increased intuitive thought.
After chanting, visualize luminous streams rising through the spine into a sun-disc above the brow; then write or contemplate one insight that ‘swelled’ from within.
Maintain tri-svara; give clear udātta lift on sū́ryam and key verbs (airayatam, apinvatam).
Keep the verb phrases fluid, as the verse describes movement; do not over-pause mid-compounds.
anv-apām: articulate sandhi cleanly (anv + apām)., khāni: long ā., airayatam: diphthong ai clear, not ‘e’., māyino: long ā; avoid turning y into j., dhiyaḥ: aspirated dh-, and final visarga.
Flowing and bright; slightly rising tone to mirror ‘setting the sun’ and ‘swelling inspirations’.
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.
