Sukta 87
Sukta 7.87
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.87)
Triṣṭubh
This hymn to Varuṇa, voiced by Vasiṣṭha, praises the god as the upholder of ṛta who has carved the Sun’s path and set the rivers flowing in ordered courses. It moves from cosmic governance to esoteric instruction—Varuṇa discloses a guarded secret of the “inviolate Cow” and the hidden step of the Word—then culminates in a plea for mercy, faultlessness, and lasting well-being under Aditi’s laws.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥
वरुण ने सूरज के लिए रास्ते बना दिए। उसने नदियों का पानी समुंदर तक पहुँचाया। उसने पानी को सही दिशा में बहाया, जैसे कोई चीज़ छोड़ दी हो। उसने धरती के खेत बनाए ताकि दिन गुज़रें और सब ठीक चले।
Mantra 2
आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत्पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान् । अन्तर्मही बृहती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण प्रियाणि ॥
वरुण, तुम्हारी साँस हवा की तरह है जो सब जगह फैलती है। वो हमारे लिए नई ताकत लाती है, जैसे कोई तेज़ घोड़ा दौड़ता है। धरती और आसमान, दोनों में तुम्हारे घर हैं। वो सब जगह हैं जहाँ इंसान रह सकता है।
Mantra 3
परि स्पशो वरुणस्य स्मदिष्टा उभे पश्यन्ति रोदसी सुमेके । ऋतावानः कवयो यज्ञधीराः प्रचेतसो य इषयन्त मन्म ॥
वरुण के लोग जो देखने वाले हैं, वो धरती और आसमान दोनों को देखते हैं। वो जानते हैं सब कैसे चल रहा है। रिशि जो सच्चाई जानते हैं और यज्ञ करते हैं, वो हमारे मन में सच्चाई भरते हैं।
Mantra 4
उवाच मे वरुणो मेधिराय त्रिः सप्त नामाघ्न्या बिभर्ति । विद्वान्पदस्य गुह्या न वोचद्युगाय विप्र उपराय शिक्षन् ॥
वरुण ने मुझे समझाया क्योंकि मैं समझ चाहता था। उन्होंने कहा कि गाय के पास इक्कीस नाम हैं। यह बात छुपी है, उन्होंने सबको नहीं बताई। सिर्फ जो लोग समझते हैं, उन्हें सिखाया। यह आने वाले वक्त के लिए है, समझ के पार तक ले जाता है।
Mantra 5
तिस्रो द्यावो निहिता अन्तरस्मिन्तिस्रो भूमीरुपराः षड्विधानाः । गृत्सो राजा वरुणश्चक्र एतं दिवि प्रेङ्खं हिरण्ययं शुभे कम् ॥
इस दुनिया के अंदर तीन आसमान हैं और तीन ज़मीन। यह सब छह हिस्सों में बनते हैं। राजा वरुण ने आसमान में सोना की झूला बनाई है। यह आत्मा के लिए है, उसकी खुशी के लिए।
Mantra 6
अव सिन्धुं वरुणो द्यौरिव स्थाद्द्रप्सो न श्वेतो मृगस्तुविष्मान् । गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा ॥
वरुण बड़े नदी के ऊपर खड़ा है, जैसे आसमान खड़ा हो। वो सफेद चमक है, जो आँखों में चला जाता है। उनकी बात गहरी है, वो दुनिया को नापता है। वो सच्चा राजा है, जो इस दुनिया की हिफ़ाज़त करता है।
Mantra 7
यो मृळयाति चक्रुषे चिदागो वयं स्याम वरुणे अनागाः । अनु व्रतान्यदितेॠधन्तो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
वो माफ कर देता है, भले ही कोई गलती कर दे। वरुण, हमें गलतियों से आज़ाद कर दे। हम आदिति के नियम फ़ॉलो करते हैं। तुम हमेशा हमारी हिफ़ाज़त करो और हमें ठीक रखना।
Inside Sukta 87
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Varuṇa as cosmic architect: hewn paths for the Sun and released the river-floods to the ocean in conformity with ṛta.
- Development
The hymn deepens from outer order to inner revelation—Varuṇa addresses the seer and hints at guarded, esoteric knowledge (the thrice-seven names of the inviolate Cow; the hidden step of the Word).
- Climax
The turning point is the direct appeal to Varuṇa’s mercy: even the wrongdoer can be pitied, and the worshipper seeks to become anāgāḥ (without fault).
- Where it settles
It ends in alignment with Aditi’s vratāni (laws) and a sustained request for protection and svasti—steady right-going well-being.
The deity: Varuṇa
- In the VedaHe is both majestic and intimate: a divine teacher who can withhold secrets and also grant compassion to the erring.
- Cosmic functionMaintains cosmic and moral order (ṛta), stabilizes celestial motions, regulates waters (rivers to ocean), and enforces law through oversight of truth and transgression.
- Inner significanceRepresents the awakened conscience and inner law—clarity that perceives hidden motives, calls the seeker to truth, and restores harmony through confession, restraint, and mercy.
The seer
- Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi)Vasiṣṭha gotra; traditionally linked with the Maitrāvaruṇa priestly line · Foremost seer of Mandala 7, celebrated for profound Varuṇa-hymns on ṛta, moral order, and divine mercy, and for shaping Vedic priestly theology through the Vasiṣṭha tradition.
Famous verses
रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥triḥ sapta nāmāghnyā bibharti
vayaṃ syāma varuṇe anāgāḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Upholder of ṛta (cosmic/moral order)
- All-seeing, knower of hidden things
- Regulator of waters and celestial paths
- Lord of vows, truth, and ethical restraint
- Merciful purifier who can release from guilt
- Teacher of esoteric knowledge (guhyā)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 7 (many hymns attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his family)
- Notable Varuṇa-focused hymns such as RV 7.86 (confession and plea for release from sin)
- Hymns to Agni and Indra in Mandala 7 reflecting the Vasiṣṭha school’s ritual and theological style
The rite, step by step
- Ācamana and inner resolve (saṅkalpa) to align with ṛta and truthfulness
- Kindling/steadying Agni; quiet purification and breath-settling
- Invocatory recitation of the sukta with attention to Varuṇa as ruler of Sun’s path and waters (e.g., 7.87.1)
- Contemplative pause on the ‘secret of the Word’s step’ and disciplined speech (linked to 7.87.4)
- Confession/acknowledgment of faults and explicit request for mercy and freedom from blame (linked to 7.87.7)
- Concluding śānti-style benediction for svasti (well-being) and protection under Aditi’s laws
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into fire
- Water libation (arghya/udaka) or symbolic offering of pure water
- Soma (where applicable in Soma context)
- Simple oblations such as milk/curds in domestic settings
Frequently Asked Questions
It presents Varuṇa as the power that keeps the universe and human life in right order (ṛta), and it asks him to forgive faults and protect the worshipper with lasting well-being (svasti).
These are signs of ṛta in nature: Varuṇa is praised as the one who sets stable courses—Sun moving on its track and waters moving in lawful channels—showing his governance of order.
It is an esoteric teaching: the ‘inviolate Cow’ often symbolizes sacred speech, light, or nourishing abundance, and “thrice seven” hints at a structured, hidden set of names/levels that Varuṇa reveals only indirectly to the seer.
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