Rig Veda 8.101.2: Mandala 8, Sukta 101, Mantra 2
Sukta 8.101
- Rishi
- Kāṇva tradition
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
वर्षिष्ठक्षत्रा उरुचक्षसा नरा राजाना दीर्घश्रुत्तमा । ता बाहुता न दंसना रथर्यतः साकं सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः ॥
várṣiṣṭha-kṣatrā uru-cákṣasā nárā rājā́nā dīrgha-śrút-tamā | tā́ bāhútā na daṃsánā ratharyatáḥ sākáṃ sū́ryasya raśmí-bhiḥ ||
दो राजा हैं, दोनों बहुत ताकतवार। इनकी नज़र बहुत चौड़ी है, और कान बहुत तेज़ हैं। इनके हाथ में ताकत है, अपनी शक्ति से यह अपनी रथ में चलते हैं। सूर्य की किरणों के साथ साथ चलते हैं।
Word by Word
- वर्षिष्ठक्षत्रा
- having the most excellent power/sovereigntyAdjective (dual epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण ‘नरा’ इत्यस्य)Root वर्षिष्ठ- (वृध्/वृष्- ‘श्रेष्ठ/वर्षिष्ठ’ इति विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्र-
- उरुचक्षसा
- with wide visionAdjective (instrumental epithet)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चक्षस्), तृतीया, एकवचन (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे)Role करण (गुण-करणम्: ‘with wide sight’)Root उरु- + चक्षस्-
- नरा
- the two men/heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर-
- राजाना
- the two kingsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (अप्पोजिशन: ‘नरा’ इत्यस्य)Root राजन्-
- दीर्घश्रुत्तमा
- most far-famed / of longest renownAdjective (superlative epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण ‘राजाना/नरा’ इत्यस्य)Root दीर्घ- + श्रुत्- + तम (तमप्)
- ता
- those twoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (अनुवादक-सर्वनाम; पूर्वोक्तयोः)Root तद्-
- बाहुता
- by/with (their) arm-powerNoun (abstract)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot बाहु- + ता (भाव/अवस्था)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableनिपात (उपमा/तुलना)Root न
- दंसना
- (two) wondrous deeds/acts of prowessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (युगल-कर्तृ/कर्म-रूपेण; ‘ता’ इत्यस्य विशेषणवत्)Role कर्तृ (अथवा विशेष्य-सम्बन्धः)Root दंसन- (दंस्/दंश् ‘कर्म/कौशल/वीर्य’ इत्यर्थे)
- रथर्यतः
- riding/going on a chariotAdjective/Participle (agentive)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण ‘ता’ इत्यस्य)Root रथ- + √ऋ (अर्/ऋ ‘गमन/यात्रा’) → रथर्यत् (रथ-यातृ/रथ-चर)
- साकम्
- together withIndeclinableअव्यय (सह-अर्थे)Role सह/सम्बन्ध (सहयोग)Root साकम्
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सूर्य-
- रश्मिभिः
- with (his) raysNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करण (सह-करणम् ‘with the rays’)Root रश्मि-
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): वर्षिष्ठक्षत्रा | उरुचक्षसा | नरा | राजाना | दीर्घश्रुत्तमा || ता | बाहुता | न | दंसना | रथर्यतः | साकम् | सूर्यस्य | रश्मिभिः || 1) ‘वर्षि॑ष्ठक्षत्रा’ = वर्षिष्ठ-क्षत्रा (समास; द्विवचन-प्रथमा). 2) ‘उरु॒चक्ष॑सा’ = उरु-चक्षसा (समास; तृतीया-एकवचन). 3) ‘दीर्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मा’ = दीर्घ-श्रुत्-तमा (तमप्-प्रत्यय; द्विवचन-प्रथमा). 4) ‘बा॒हुता॒’ = बाहु-ता (भाववाचक; तृतीया-एकवचन). 5) ‘रथर्यतः’ को रथ-√ऋ (गमन) से बने कृत्/एजेन्टिव रूप के रूप में लिया गया है
- अर्थ ‘रथेन यान्तौ’ (द्विवचन)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The two kings Mitra and Varuṇa, mighty in rule and broad in vision, far-hearing, drive their chariot by strength of arms together with the Sun’s rays.
Inner meaning
Mitra–Varuṇa are the twin powers of harmony (Mitra) and vast truth-law (Varuṇa) in the consciousness. When these “two kings” are established, the inner being gains wide sight (urucakṣasā) and long hearing (dīrghaśruttamā)—the capacity to perceive distant truth and subtle guidance. Their ‘arms’ are effective executive energies that carry the seeker’s movement (ratha-course) in alignment with Sūrya’s rays—illumined discernment—so the life-journey runs in the track of ṛta rather than impulse.
Universal truth
True sovereignty is not outer control but inner governance: harmony and truth together rule the nature. When will and knowledge act in concord with illumination, the journey of life becomes straight, protected, and progressive.
Themes
dual deities, solar illumination, cosmic governance
The seer
- Rishi
- Kāṇva (probable, hymn in Kāṇva maṇḍala tradition)
- Lineage
- Kāṇva
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.101 (entire sūkta), Rig Veda 8.25 (Ādityas/Mitra–Varuṇa themes, Kāṇva), Rig Veda 8.47 (Varuṇa themes, Kāṇva)
Family tradition
Kāṇvas are noted for hymns to the Ādityas and for psychological readings of ṛta (truth-order) as an inner law guiding the sacrifice.
Significance
The Kāṇva voice often emphasizes protection by ṛta-powers and the widening of consciousness; Mitra–Varuṇa appear as inner governors who align the seeker with truth and harmony.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa (Ādityas, dual)
- Epithets
- rājānā (two kings), uru-cakṣasā (wide-seeing), dīrgha-śruttamā (far-hearing), varṣiṣṭha-kṣatrā (most sovereign)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Aryaman, Bhaga, Aditi (as source of Ādityas)
Cosmic role
Guardians of ṛta: Mitra maintains concord and right relation; Varuṇa upholds vast law, truth, and the binding order of the worlds.
Inner power
Ethical-spiritual governance: the power to harmonize relations (Mitra) and to purify, widen, and bind the being to truth (Varuṇa), enabling illumined progress with Sūrya’s rays.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya-related praise within Soma and other Śrauta sequences; also suitable for protection/ṛta-invocation contexts.
वर्षि॑ष्ठक्षत्रा उरु॒चक्ष॑सा॒ नरा॒ राजा॑ना दीर्घ॒श्रुत्त॑मा । ता बा॒हुता॒ न दं॒सना॑ रथर्यतः सा॒कं सूर्य॑स्य र॒श्मिभि॑: ॥
वर्षि॑ष्ठऽक्षत्रौ । उ॒रु॒ऽचक्ष॑सा । नरा॑ । राजा॑ना । दी॒र्घ॒श्रुत्ऽत॑मा । ता । बा॒हुता॑ । न । दं॒सना॑ । र॒थ॒र्य॒तः॒ । सा॒कम् । सूर्य॑स्य । र॒श्मिऽभिः॑ ॥
varṣiṣṭha-kṣatrau | uru-cakṣasā | narā | rājānā | dīrghaśrut-tamā | tā | bāhutā | na | daṃsanā | ratharyataḥ | sākam | sūryasya | raśmi-bhiḥ
Triṣṭubh (probable; common for Āditya hymns in Book 8)
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Steady, forward-driving cadence suited to proclamation of sovereign powers and ordered movement.
Creates a sense of breadth and authority; supports meditation on inner governance and alignment with illumination.
- मित्रा-वरुणा (mitrā-varuṇā)
- Literal: Mitra and Varuṇa. Symbolic: Harmony/contracting unity (Mitra) and vast truth-law, moral-spiritual order (Varuṇa) governing the being
- वर्षिष्ठक्षत्रा (varṣiṣṭha-kṣatrā)
- Literal: most mighty in kṣatra (sovereign power). Symbolic: Highest inner mastery—capacity to rule mind-life-body by dharmic truth
- उरुचक्षसा (uru-cakṣasā)
- Literal: wide-seeing. Symbolic: Broad luminous vision; supramental-style wideness of understanding
- दीर्घश्रुत्तमा (dīrgha-śruttamā)
- Literal: most far-hearing. Symbolic: Deep receptivity to inner guidance; hearing the ‘distant’ truth
- बाहुता (bāhutā)
- Literal: with strong arms. Symbolic: Effective powers of execution; spiritual force that accomplishes
- रथर्यतः (ratharyataḥ)
- Literal: moving in chariot-course. Symbolic: Progress of the sadhana; disciplined movement of consciousness
- सूर्यस्य रश्मिभिः (sūryasya raśmibhiḥ)
- Literal: with the Sun’s rays. Symbolic: With illumined knowledge and discernment; rays of awakening
Praise for Mitra-Varuṇa as sovereign guardians; supports right ordering and luminous governance in the sacrificer’s life and inner discipline.
During stotra/śastra segments invoking Mitra–Varuṇa for order, protection, and right movement of the rite.
Recitation/chanting to establish harmony and truth-law before or during key offerings.
Use as a ‘centering’ mantra before decision-making: invoke harmony + truth, then visualize acting with the Sun’s rays (clarity).
kṣatra ‘sovereign power’ (root field of ruling/strength); uru ‘wide’ (expansion); cakṣ ‘see’ (vision); dīrgha ‘long/far’ + śruti ‘hearing’ indicates far-reaching receptivity; raśmi ‘ray’ links to light-threads of knowledge; daṃs ‘marvelous skill’ marks effective divine action.
sovereignty (kṣatra) as inner mastery, wide vision (uru-cakṣas), receptive hearing (śruti) to prayer/mantra
Mitra–Varuṇa are explicit upholders of ṛta; the ‘chariot-course with Sūrya’s rays’ images action aligned with ṛta through illumination.
Far-hearing and wide-seeing indicate receptivity to satya beyond surface appearances.
Sūrya’s rays as formative illuminations that ‘set the path’ for ordered becoming.
Proto-Vedānta / integral Vedic psychology (Aurobindo line): cosmic powers as functions of consciousness.
Morning/forenoon (suggested by Sūrya’s rays and progressive movement)
Illumination (Sūrya) guiding the disciplined movement of consciousness (ratha) under the governance of harmony and truth (Mitra–Varuṇa).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘twin kings riding with the Sun’s rays’ mythologem: Mitra-Varuṇa as paired sovereign powers moving with solar illumination—symbolizing governance by harmony and vast law in companionship with truth-light.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- cakṣ ‘see’ aligns with PIE *kʷekʷ-/*kʷeḱ- vision roots (broadly IE ‘see’ field); rājānā ‘kings’ from PIE *h₃reǵ- (rule; cf. Latin rēx). The dual formula for paired deities is an archaic IE poetic feature.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi praises their kṣatra and vision to draw those same qualities into the human field: the devatā are invoked as inner rulers who align the seeker’s movement with the Sun’s rays—i.e., with illumined truth and right order.
Unify harmony (Mitra) and truth-discipline (Varuṇa) so action proceeds in the light (Sūrya-raśmi).
ājñā (clarity/vision)
Nadi-śodhana (alternate nostril) to balance harmony and law; then a few calm kumbhakas while holding the image of sun-rays in the brow.
Widened, lucid, governed mind; calm strength.
Before speech or action, inwardly invoke: ‘Let harmony and truth rule’; visualize a straight sunlit path and feel the ‘arms’ of force executing without agitation.
Notated svara unavailable in input; chant with standard Rigvedic accent awareness: preserve udatta peaks on accented syllables; avoid flattening compounds.
Follow Padapāṭha breaks to keep accents clear: varṣiṣṭha-kṣatrā | uru-cakṣasā | ...; give gentle lift to primary accented syllables; keep enclitics light.
ṛ in varṣiṣṭha (vár-ṣiṣ-ṭha): crisp vocalic ṛ, kṣ in kṣatrā: unaspirated cluster, not ‘k-hsh’, śr in dīrghaśruttamā: clean ‘śr’ cluster, raśmibhiḥ: final ḥ as soft visarga before pause
Regal, steady, resonant; sustain vowels to evoke wideness.
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