Rig Veda Sukta 136
Mandala 1Sukta 1367 Mantras

Sukta 136

Sukta 1.136

Rishi

Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional attribution for RV 1.136)

Devata

Mitra-Varuṇa (probable for RV 1.136; ‘two kings’ and later mention of Mitra, Aryaman, Varuṇa in 1.136.2 suggests Ādityas with focus on Mitra-Varuṇa)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh/Jagatī mixture (probable; requires full metrical scan; marked as uncertain)

RV 1.136 adalah kidung pujian dan permohonan kepada “dua raja”, terutama Mitra dan Varuṇa sebagai para Āditya, yang kedaulatannya tak tergoyahkan menegakkan ṛta (tatanan kosmis dan moral). Penyair mempersembahkan pikiran sebagai persembahan dan menegaskan Soma sebagai bagian yang membawa damai bagi Mitra–Varuṇa, memohon agar kedua raja menjadikan tujuan sang pemuja berdaya guna dan berhasil. Menjelang akhir, himne ini meluas menjadi seruan bersama memohon perlindungan ilahi—Agni, Mitra, Varuṇa (serta kekuatan-kekuatan sekutu) menganugerahkan śarman (naungan/kedamaian) kepada para pelaksana kurban.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.136

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र सु ज्येष्ठं निचिराभ्यां बृहन्नमो हव्यं मतिं भरता मृळयद्भ्यां स्वादिष्ठं मृळयद्भ्याम् । ता सम्राजा घृतासुती यज्ञेयज्ञ उपस्तुता । अथैनोः क्षत्रं न कुतश्चनाधृषे देवत्वं नू चिदाधृषे ॥

Hadirkanlah penghormatan yang luas, yang tertua—persembahan berupa niat-batin (mati) dan havya—bagi dua yang berketahanan panjang, dua yang menganugerahkan belas kasih, yang paling manis dalam kemurahan. Kedua raja berdaulat itu, kaya oleh curahan ghee (ghṛta), dipuji pada tiap yajña; maka kṣatra (kuasa pemerintahan)-Nya tak terserang dari mana pun, dan bahkan keilahian-Nya pun tak dapat diganggu.

Mantra 2

अदर्शि गातुरुरवे वरीयसी पन्था ऋतस्य समयंस्त रश्मिभिश्चक्षुर्भगस्य रश्मिभिः । द्युक्षं मित्रस्य सादनमर्यम्णो वरुणस्य च । अथा दधाते बृहदुक्थ्यं वय उपस्तुत्यं बृहद्वयः ॥

Telah tampak jalan yang lebih lapang bagi Yang Mahaluas: jalan ṛta (Kebenaran-Kosmis) ditata selaras oleh sinar—oleh sinar yang menjadi penglihatan Bhaga. Singgasana bercahaya milik Mitra, Aryaman, dan Varuṇa; lalu mereka menegakkan sayap yang luas dari ukthya (ucapan terilham), sayap yang luas, layak dipuji.

Mantra 3

ज्योतिष्मतीमदितिं धारयत्क्षितिं स्वर्वतीमा सचेते दिवेदिवे जागृवांसा दिवेदिवे । ज्योतिष्मत्क्षत्रमाशाते आदित्या दानुनस्पती । मित्रस्तयोर्वरुणो यातयज्जनोऽर्यमा यातयज्जनः ॥

Menjunjung Aditi yang bercahaya—landasan bumi yang tak binasa dan pengemban surga surya (svar)—mereka mendekat kepada kami hari demi hari, senantiasa terjaga, hari demi hari. Para Āditya, para tuan kelimpahan yang mengalir, mendambakan kṣatra yang bercahaya. Mitra di antara mereka; Varuṇa yang meluruskan umat manusia; Aryaman yang meluruskan umat manusia.

Mantra 4

अयं मित्राय वरुणाय शंतमः सोमो भूत्ववपानेष्वाभगो देवो देवेष्वाभगः । तं देवासो जुषेरत विश्वे अद्य सजोषसः । तथा राजाना करथो यदीमह ऋतावाना यदीमहे ॥

Soma ini, menjadi yang paling membawa damai bagi Mitra dan Varuṇa, menjadi bagian kebahagiaan dalam persembahan-persembahan minuman, bagian ilahi di antara para dewa. Semoga semua dewa hari ini menikmatinya dalam satu keselarasan. Demikianlah, wahai dua raja, jadikan berhasil apa yang kami mohon—wahai kalian yang berpegang pada ṛta—apa yang kami mohon.

Mantra 5

यो मित्राय वरुणायाविधज्जनोऽनर्वाणं तं परि पातो अंहसो दाश्वांसं मर्तमंहसः । तमर्यमाभि रक्षत्यृजूयन्तमनु व्रतम् । उक्थैर्य एनोः परिभूषति व्रतं स्तोमैराभूषति व्रतम् ॥

Sang fana yang melayani Mitra dan Varuṇa dengan kehendak yang tak terbagi—lindungilah dia dari segala sisi dari kesalahan yang menyempit; lindungilah si pemberi, si manusia, dari kesalahan. Aryaman menjaga dia yang berjalan lurus, mengikuti vrata (tatanan-sumpah) itu. Dialah yang menghias vrata dengan ucapan ilham, yang memperindah vrata dengan kidung-kidung pujian,

Mantra 6

नमो दिवे बृहते रोदसीभ्यां मित्राय वोचं वरुणाय मीळ्हुषे सुमृळीकाय मीळ्हुषे । इन्द्रमग्निमुप स्तुहि द्युक्षमर्यमणं भगम् । ज्योग्जीवन्तः प्रजया सचेमहि सोमस्योती सचेमहि ॥

Hormat kepada Langit yang luas dan kepada dua Dunia; aku berseru bagi Mitra, bagi Varuṇa yang dermawan, bagi yang dermawan lagi penuh belas. Pujilah pula Indra dan Agni, Aryaman yang bercahaya, Bhaga. Semoga kami hidup panjang, bersatu dengan keturunan; semoga kami bersatu dengan perlindungan Soma.

Mantra 7

ऊती देवानां वयमिन्द्रवन्तो मंसीमहि स्वयशसो मरुद्भिः । अग्निर्मित्रो वरुणः शर्म यंसन्तदश्याम मघवानो वयं च ॥

Kami, yang ditopang oleh Indra, bersama para Marut yang bercahaya oleh kemuliaan diri, memohon pertolongan para dewa. Semoga Agni, Mitra, dan Varuṇa menganugerahkan kepada kami kedamaian yang melindungi; semoga kami juga—para pemilik daya-persembahan (maghavan)—mencapai itu.

Inside Sukta 136

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A solemn offering of thought and reverence to the “two eldest, long-enduring” merciful kings whose divinity and rule are unassailable.

  2. Development

    The hymn links their sovereignty to repeated sacrifice and to Soma as a sweet, peace-giving portion, expanding the circle to include other Ādityas and the divine assembly in shared enjoyment.

  3. Climax

    The direct ritual moment: “This Soma for Mitra and Varuṇa” and the plea that the ṛta-possessing kings make the worshiper’s sought-for aims effective.

  4. Where it settles

    The prayer resolves into a broader request for divine help and sheltering peace—Agni, Mitra, Varuṇa (and allied powers) granting protection so the sacrificers may attain the desired good.

The deity: Mitra–Varuṇa

  • In the VedaMitra and Varuṇa appear as paired sovereigns (samrājā) who are sweetly gracious (mṛḻayad-) yet firm in lordship, praised at every sacrifice and especially approached through Soma. They are guardians of ṛta, overseeing truth, oaths, social bonds, and the right ordering of the world.
  • Cosmic functionThey maintain cosmic stability and moral law: Mitra stabilizes harmony, agreement, and right relationship; Varuṇa upholds vast order, watches over transgression, and restores balance through restraint and pardon.
  • Inner significanceThe pair symbolizes the integration of concord and conscience—outer social truth (Mitra) aligned with inner ethical vigilance and self-discipline (Varuṇa). Invoking them is a call to live in integrity so that one’s aims become effective and protected.

The seer

  • Gautama RāhūgaṇaGautama gotra; linked in tradition with the Rāhūgaṇa branch · A Gautama seer associated with Āditya-oriented praise, stressing kingship, mercy, and the inviolable rule of ṛta—especially in hymns addressed to Mitra–Varuṇa.

Famous verses

kṣatraṃ na kutaś canādhṛṣe
Verse 1.136.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: the two sovereign kings are praised at every sacrifice; their kṣatra (sovereign power) and devatva (divinity) are declared unassailable, grounding the prayer in cosmic authority.Read verse 1.136.1 →
ayam mitrāya varuṇāya śaṃtamaḥ somo
Verse 1.136.4Explicitly names Mitra and Varuṇa and identifies Soma as “most peace-giving,” asking all gods to partake in harmony and requesting the two kings to fulfill what is sought in accord with ṛta.Read verse 1.136.4 →
mitro varuṇaḥ śarma yaṃsan
Verse 1.136.7Concluding protective appeal: the worshipers seek divine help and ask for śarman (sheltering peace), tying Mitra–Varuṇa to the wider supportive network of deities in ritual life.Read verse 1.136.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Dual sovereignty (samrājā)
  • Guardians of ṛta (truth/order)
  • Merciful and peace-giving when rightly approached
  • Receivers and regulators of Soma-offering
  • Unassailable authority (kṣatra)
  • Protectors of vows, contracts, and right conduct

Also by this seer

  • Traditional attribution within RV Maṇḍala 1 to Gautama-line seers (Gautamas) for several hymns in the early collection
  • Connected in later Vedic memory with the Gautama family of ṛṣis prominent across Rigvedic and Brāhmaṇa-era traditions

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and establish Agni as the ritual mouth (agnimukha).
  • Consecrate intention (mati) and utter reverential praise to the “two long-enduring kings.”
  • Press and purify Soma; present libations (avapāna) as the peace-giving share for Mitra–Varuṇa.
  • Invite the gods to partake in concord (sajoṣas), affirming ṛta as the guiding principle.
  • Make petitions: that the kings render effective what is sought and keep their rule inviolable over the rite.
  • Conclude with a wider protective prayer for śarman (sheltering peace) through Agni, Mitra, Varuṇa (with allied deities).

Offerings

  • Soma juice/libations (Soma, avapāna)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (ghṛta)
  • Havís (general oblations)
  • Verbal praise (stuti) and formulated intention (mati)

Frequently Asked Questions

They are mainly Mitra and Varuṇa, paired Āditya deities called sovereign kings (samrājā) who uphold ṛta—truth, law, and right order.

Soma is offered as a “most peace-giving” share for Mitra–Varuṇa. The hymn treats Soma as the key ritual medium through which the gods are pleased and blessings become effective.

It asks them to protect the rite and the worshipers, to make the desired aims succeed, and to grant śarman—sheltering peace and safety—through their ṛta-guided kingship.

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