Rig Veda Sukta 59
Mandala 8Sukta 597 Mantras

Sukta 59

Sukta 8.59

Devata

Indra-Varuṇa

Himne singkat ini menyeru dwitunggal Indra dan Varuṇa sebagai penjaga bersama pemerasan Soma, memohon agar mereka segera datang ke tiap kurban dan menerima bagian persembahan yang menjadi hak mereka. Himne ini mengaitkan kedaulatan kosmis dan daya kemenangan lahiriah keduanya dengan penataan batin sang pelaksana yajña—mendidiknya menuju Ṛta (tatanan/ukuran yang benar) serta menganugerahkan kemakmuran, keturunan, dan umur panjang.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.59

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमानि वां भागधेयानि सिस्रत इन्द्रावरुणा प्र महे सुतेषु वाम् । यज्ञेयज्ञे ह सवना भुरण्यथो यत्सुन्वते यजमानाय शिक्षथः ॥

Wahai Indra dan Varuṇa, inilah bagian-bagian takdir (bhāgadhēya) yang mengalir kepada kalian berdua, demi kebesaran kalian di antara Soma yang diperas. Dari yajña ke yajña kalian bersegera menuju pemerasan (savana); dan kalian membimbing serta memelihara sang yajamāna yang memeras, agar ia bertumbuh menuju persembahan yang tepat.

Mantra 2

निष्षिध्वरीरोषधीराप आस्तामिन्द्रावरुणा महिमानमाशत । या सिस्रतू रजसः पारे अध्वनो ययोः शत्रुर्नकिरादेव ओहते ॥

Kekuatan-kekuatan yang membebaskan (arus yang terhalang)—tumbuhan penyembuh dan Air-Airan—berdiri teguh; dan Indra serta Varuṇa meraih kebesaran yang luas. Mereka bergerak melampaui ruang-ruang antara (rajas), ke seberang jauh dari jalan; terhadap mereka tiada daya musuh, tiada kuasa yang tak-ilahi, dapat menang.

Mantra 3

सत्यं तदिन्द्रावरुणा कृशस्य वां मध्व ऊर्मिं दुहते सप्त वाणीः । ताभिर्दाश्वांसमवतं शुभस्पती यो वामदब्धो अभि पाति चित्तिभिः ॥

Inilah sungguh Kebenaran itu, wahai Indra dan Varuṇa: bagi pencari kalian yang kurus-asketis, tujuh suara memerah gelombang kemanisan (madhu). Dengan daya-daya itu lindungilah sang pemberi, wahai para tuan kebahagiaan yang bercahaya; dia yang tak-tertipu, menjaga kalian dengan kesadaran-kesadaran pemahamannya.

Mantra 4

घृतप्रुषः सौम्या जीरदानवः सप्त स्वसारः सदन ऋतस्य । या ह वामिन्द्रावरुणा घृतश्चुतस्ताभिर्धत्तं यजमानाय शिक्षतम् ॥

Berpercik ghrta, dipelihara oleh Soma, penganugerahi kekayaan yang matang—tujuh saudari yang bersemayam di kediaman Ṛta; mereka, wahai Indra dan Varuṇa, yang meneteskan cahaya jernih—dengan mereka tegakkanlah sang yajamāna; dengan mereka didik dan tuntunlah ia pada jalan yang benar.

Mantra 5

अवोचाम महते सौभगाय सत्यं त्वेषाभ्यां महिमानमिन्द्रियम् । अस्मान्त्स्विन्द्रावरुणा घृतश्चुतस्त्रिभिः साप्तेभिरवतं शुभस्पती ॥

Kami telah mengucapkan kebenaran demi kebahagiaan yang agung: kepada kalian berdua, kekuatan yang melesat, miliklah kebesaran yang perkasa dari daya yang efektif. Lindungilah kami, wahai Indra dan Varuṇa, yang meneteskan cahaya jernih, dengan yang tiga dan dengan yang tujuh (tatanan energi), wahai para tuan kebahagiaan bercahaya.

Mantra 6

इन्द्रावरुणा यदृषिभ्यो मनीषां वाचो मतिं श्रुतमदत्तमग्रे । यानि स्थानान्यसृजन्त धीरा यज्ञं तन्वानास्तपसाभ्यपश्यम् ॥

Wahai Indra dan Varuṇa, ketika pada mulanya kalian menganugerahkan kepada para ṛṣi ilham-pikiran, budi dari sabda, dan pendengaran yang menerima—maka para bijak yang teguh menciptakan tempat-tempat (sthana); dan ketika mereka membentangkan yajña, dengan tapas batin mereka menyaksikan (kebenarannya).

Mantra 7

इन्द्रावरुणा सौमनसमदृप्तं रायस्पोषं यजमानेषु धत्तम् । प्रजां पुष्टिं भूतिमस्मासु धत्तं दीर्घायुत्वाय प्र तिरतं न आयुः ॥

Wahai Indra dan Varuṇa, tetapkanlah pada para yajamāna keselarasan yang cerah dan tak tergoyahkan, serta pertambahan rayas—kelimpahan dan daya pemelihara. Tanamkanlah pada kami prajā (keturunan), puṣṭi (pertumbuhan), dan bhūti (kemakmuran/keberadaan); dan demi umur panjang, hantarkanlah daya-hidup kami melampaui batasnya menuju kepenuhan.

Inside Sukta 59

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by declaring that the gods’ destined portions flow to Indra–Varuṇa, who are urged to come swiftly to the Soma-pressings in every sacrifice.

  2. Development

    It expands from invitation to guidance: the pair not only receive offerings but ‘train’ and foster the sacrificer, aligning him with Ṛta; the imagery of ‘seven sisters’ seated in Ṛta’s home adds a supporting cosmological layer.

  3. Climax

    The prayer intensifies into direct bestowal: may Indra–Varuṇa place in the sacrificers undeluded harmony and the increase of wealth—prosperity grounded in right order.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with comprehensive welfare—progeny, nourishment, flourishing, and the carrying-forward of life toward long duration—sealing the rite with blessings.

The deity: Indra–Varuṇa

  • In the VedaIndra is the Soma-drinking champion who breaks obstacles and releases bounty; Varuṇa is the upholder of Ṛta, binding and loosening through his ordinances and overseeing truth and right conduct. As a pair they appear as complementary powers: victorious might joined to lawful order, both invited to the pressings and to the yajamāna’s welfare.
  • Cosmic functionThey stabilize the world by uniting effective power (to overcome chaos and scarcity) with sovereign law (to maintain Ṛta), ensuring that sacrifice yields rain, wealth, protection, and continuity of life.
  • Inner significanceIndra–Varuṇa symbolize integrated spiritual capacity: courageous energy and aspiration (Indra) guided by conscience, truth, and self-restraint (Varuṇa). Their ‘instruction’ of the sacrificer points to inner discipline—aligning intention, speech, and action with Ṛta so prosperity does not become hubris.

Famous verses

bhāgadheyāni sisrate ("the destined shares flow")
Verse 8.59.1Sets the liturgical frame: Indra–Varuṇa are summoned to their bhāgadheya at every Soma-pressing, and are asked to instruct and foster the yajamāna—linking offering with right performance.Read verse 8.59.1 →
sapta svasāraḥ sadana ṛtasya ("seven sisters, in the home of Ṛta")
Verse 8.59.4Introduces the striking ‘seven sisters in the seat of Ṛta’ motif—supporting powers that are ghee-bright and Soma-nourished—used to request sustained guidance and stability for the sacrificer.Read verse 8.59.4 →
saumanasam adṛptam ("unfallen harmony")
Verse 8.59.7Culminating benediction: asks for undiminished saumanasa (harmonious gladness), prosperity, progeny, growth, and long life—capturing the hymn’s practical and spiritual aims.Read verse 8.59.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-loving recipients of bhāgadheya (destined shares)
  • Guardians of Ṛta and right measure
  • Bestowers of wealth, increase (poṣa), and protection
  • Teachers/supporters of the yajamāna
  • Union of strength (vīrya) and sovereignty (kṣatra)
  • Associated supportive powers (the ‘seven sisters’—often read as rays/waters/speech-forces sustaining Ṛta)

Also by this seer

  • No additional secure attributions can be stated for this sukta’s rishi on the basis of the provided data alone.
  • The style and diction are consistent with Mandala 8’s Soma-oriented, ritual-forward hymns, but authorship cannot be confidently assigned.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual ground and fires; establish purity and intention aligned with Ṛta.
  • Press Soma and strain it; accompany the pressing with recitation inviting Indra–Varuṇa to their shares (bhāgadheya).
  • Offer Soma-libations into the fire with appropriate calls; request that the gods ‘hasten to the savanas’ and strengthen the yajamāna.
  • Invoke the supporting ‘seven sisters’ imagery as sustaining powers of Ṛta (ghee-bright, Soma-nourished), asking them to uphold the sacrificer.
  • Conclude with petitions for harmony of mind (saumanasa), prosperity, progeny, growth, and long life; perform closing oblations and blessings.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (primary)
  • Ghee/clarified butter (as implied by ghṛta imagery and typical Soma ritual)
  • Fire oblations (havis) accompanying Soma-libations

Frequently Asked Questions

They are paired as complementary powers: Indra brings victorious strength and the release of bounty, while Varuṇa upholds Ṛta—truth, law, and right order. Together they ensure the sacrifice succeeds in both power and correctness.

It refers to the rightful portions of the offering—especially Soma—belonging to the invoked deities. The verse says these shares ‘flow’ to Indra–Varuṇa when the ritual is properly performed.

The hymn calls them ghee-bright, Soma-nourished supporters seated in the home of Ṛta. Interpreters often understand them as symbolic powers such as rays of light, waters, or forms of sacred speech that uphold order and help the sacrificer stay aligned with Ṛta.

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