Mantra 5

Sukta 16

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सर्वं तद् राजा वरुणो वि चष्टे यदन्तरा रोदसी यत् परस्तात्। संख्याता अस्य निमिषो जनानामक्षानिव श्वघ्नी नि मिनोति तानि

IAST Transliteration

sárvaṃ tád rā́jā váruṇo ví caṣṭe yád ántarā ródasī yát párastāt | saṃkhyātā́ asya nimíṣo jánānām ákṣāṇīva śvaghnī́ ní minoti tā́ni ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

All that doth King Varuṇa behold, in clear discernment—what is between the Two Worlds, and what is beyond. Counted are the winkings of men unto him: as dice, the sure arranger setteth them in order.

Word by Word

सर्वम्all, the whole

तत्that

राजाking

वरुणःVaruṇa

विapart, distinctly, thoroughly

चष्टेsees, observes

यत्whatever/that which

अन्तराbetween

रोदसीthe two worlds (heaven and earth)

यत्whatever/that which

परस्तात्beyond, on the farther side

संख्याताःcounted, numbered

अस्यof him (of this one, i.e., Varuṇa)

निमिषःthe wink/blink (moment)

जनानाम्of people, of men

अक्षाणिdice; (also) eyes (here: dice)

इवlike, as

श्वघ्नीthe ‘dog-slayer’ (name/epithet of a gaming-stick/implement; here: the thrower/arranger)

निdown, into place

मिनोतिsets, places, arranges

तानिthose (things), them

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Varuṇa hymn)

Devata: Varuṇa

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (to be verified)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From awe at omniscience → sober fear of consequence → quiet steadiness in truth.","listener_experience":"A feeling of being transparently seen; deterrent fear that can resolve into calm integrity.","intensity":6}