Rig Veda Sukta 41
Mandala 8Sukta 4110 Mantras

Sukta 41

Sukta 8.41

Devata

Varuṇa with the Maruts (associated powers)

この讃歌は、ヴァルナをマルトたちとともに讃え、彼らを正しい秩序(ṛta)を打ち立て、人の共同体・牛群・繁栄を守護する、最も知り尽くした力として描く。詩は繰り返し、神々の力がより高い調和のうちに「光り輝き出でよ」と祈願する。ヴァルナは、霊感に満ちた働きがその内に結び合わされる「結ぶ者」として示され、彼の支えによって諸世界は互いに隔てられつつ、なお保たれ支え上げられる。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.41

Mantras

Mantra 1

अस्मा ऊ षु प्रभूतये वरुणाय मरुद्भ्योऽर्चा विदुष्टरेभ्यः । यो धीता मानुषाणां पश्वो गा इव रक्षति नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼に――まことに、その広がりへ――讃歌を歌え:ヴァルナ(Varuṇa)とマルト(Marut)ら、最も知れる力ある者たちへ。人々のうちに思惟を据える者として、群れを牛のごとく守護するその方よ――諸力が、別なる、より高き同一のうちに輝き出でよ。

Mantra 2

तमू षु समना गिरा पितॄणां च मन्मभिः । नाभाकस्य प्रशस्तिभिर्यः सिन्धूनामुपोदये सप्तस्वसा स मध्यमो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

まことに我らは、共なる詠唱をもって彼を讃え、祖霊の思惟のかたちをもって讃える。ナーバーカ(Nābhāka)の称賛をもって――川々の湧き上がりに際して立ち昇り、七姉妹の流れの曙に臨むその方は、中位にして媒介する力――諸光が、別なる同一のうちに奔り満ちよ。

Mantra 3

स क्षपः परि षस्वजे न्युस्रो मायया दधे स विश्वं परि दर्शतः । तस्य वेनीरनु व्रतमुषस्तिस्रो अवर्धयन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼は四方の夜々を抱きしめ、形成の力(マーヤー)によって暁の牝牛を下に据えた。彼は万有を遍く見わたす。その掟に従い、三つの暁は編みなす流れのごとく増し広がる――光らよ、ほかなる同一のうちに輝け。

Mantra 4

यः ककुभो निधारयः पृथिव्यामधि दर्शतः । स माता पूर्व्यं पदं तद्वरुणस्य सप्त्यं स हि गोपा इवेर्यो नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

地の上に世界の四方を据えた者、予見者のごとく顕現する者――それこそが古き座、ヴァルナ(Varuṇa)の七重の駿力である。彼は牧者のように求められるべき者――光らよ、ほかなる同一のうちに輝け。

Mantra 5

यो धर्ता भुवनानां य उस्राणामपीच्या वेद नामानि गुह्या । स कविः काव्या पुरु रूपं द्यौरिव पुष्यति नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼は諸世界の保持者、隠れた暁の光々の秘められた名を知る者。かの聖なる詩人は、詩の力によって、天のごとく多くの姿を育む――光らよ、ほかなる同一のうちに輝け。

Mantra 6

यस्मिन्विश्वानि काव्या चक्रे नाभिरिव श्रिता । त्रितं जूती सपर्यत व्रजे गावो न संयुजे युजे अश्वाँ अयुक्षत नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

その御方において、あらゆる霊感の詩作(kāvya)は、臍のごとく結び据えられている。迅きトリタ(Trita)はその御方に奉仕し、囲い(vraja)にて、轭に就く牛のように、轭のために馬を轭した――光明らが、別なる同一(anyake same)において輝かんことを。

Mantra 7

य आस्वत्क आशये विश्वा जातान्येषाम् । परि धामानि मर्मृशद्वरुणस्य पुरो गये विश्वे देवा अनु व्रतं नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼は、衣のごとくこれらのうちにあり、すべて生まれしものの憩いの座に横たわる。彼は周りの住処を撫で触れて探り当てる――ヴァルナ(Varuṇa)の御前にて、すべての神々は誓戒・法(vrata)に従って進む――光明らが、別なる同一(anyake same)において輝かんことを。

Mantra 8

स समुद्रो अपीच्यस्तुरो द्यामिव रोहति नि यदासु यजुर्दधे । स माया अर्चिना पदास्तृणान्नाकमारुहन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼は秘められた海である。迅く、天のごとくに昇りゆく――彼がこれらのうちに祭詞(yajus)を据えるとき。量り定められた幻力(māyā)により、炎の光とともに歩みの段を敷き、光り輝く天へと登った――光明らが、別なる同一(anyake same)において輝かんことを。

Mantra 9

यस्य श्वेता विचक्षणा तिस्रो भूमीरधिक्षितः । त्रिरुत्तराणि पप्रतुर्वरुणस्य ध्रुवं सदः स सप्तानामिरज्यति नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

その澄みわたり光り輝く洞察は、われらの存在の三界の上に住し、三たびさらに上へと押し進み、ヴァルナ(Varuṇa)の堅固にして揺るがぬ座の高みに達する。彼は内なる七重の力を調和させる。ほかの諸力もまた、共なる一つのうちに正しく均衡せよ。

Mantra 10

यः श्वेताँ अधिनिर्णिजश्चक्रे कृष्णाँ अनु व्रता । स धाम पूर्व्यं ममे यः स्कम्भेन वि रोदसी अजो न द्यामधारयन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

彼は白く輝く光彩を上に据え、黒きものを掟(ヴラタ)に従わせた。彼は古き基盤を測り定めた。支える柱(skambha)によって二つの世界を開き、また“不生者”(aja)のごとく天を支えたその者よ——ほかの諸力も等しき調和のうちに輝け。

Inside Sukta 41

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with an urgent call to sing to Varuṇa and the Maruts as the ‘most knowing’ powers who establish thought in humans and protect the herds.

  2. Development

    It develops Varuṇa’s role as the central binder in whom inspired works are held together ‘like a navel,’ with associated divine activity (e.g., Trita’s service) showing orderly power in motion and yoking.

  3. Climax

    The climax presents Varuṇa’s cosmic governance: bright radiances set above, darkness made to follow law, the ancient foundation measured out, and the worlds opened and upheld by a supporting pillar (skambha).

  4. Where it settles

    It resolves in a repeated aspiration that the powers ‘shine forth’ in a higher sameness—an image of unified harmony where divine order becomes luminous in the human and cosmic spheres.

The deity: Varuṇa with the Maruts

  • In the VedaVaruṇa is depicted as the all-knowing sovereign of ṛta (cosmic and moral order), a guardian who watches over beings and binds transgression with his noose, yet also protects and stabilizes. The Maruts appear as vigorous, radiant powers—storm-winds and divine helpers—who amplify and manifest the sovereignty and brilliance of the order Varuṇa maintains.
  • Cosmic functionVaruṇa measures and maintains the ancient foundation, separates and sustains the two worlds, regulates light and darkness according to law, and safeguards the communal goods (especially cattle and well-being). The Maruts function as dynamic forces that drive, energize, and make perceptible the divine governance in the atmosphere and in collective life.
  • Inner significanceVaruṇa signifies conscience, truthfulness, inner restraint, and the unifying intelligence that binds scattered impulses into a coherent life under dharma/ṛta. The Maruts signify the surge of energies—breath, courage, and collective vitality—that, when aligned to truth, become luminous supports rather than disruptive storms.

Famous verses

अस्मा ऊ षु प्रभूतये वरुणाय मरुद्भ्योऽर्चा विदुष्टरेभ्यः । यो धीता मानुषाणां पश्वो गा इव रक्षति नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
Verse 8.41.1Sets the program of the hymn: praise to Varuṇa with the Maruts as supreme knowers; Varuṇa establishes thought and protects the ‘herds’—a compact statement of ethical-cosmic guardianship.Read verse 8.41.1 →
यस्मिन्विश्वानि काव्या चक्रे नाभिरिव श्रिता । त्रितं जूती सपर्यत व्रजे गावो न संयुजे युजे अश्वाँ अयुक्षत नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥
Verse 8.41.6Defines Varuṇa as the unifying center in whom all inspired works cohere ‘like a navel,’ and links divine order to effective yoking/discipline—an emblem of harnessed power under ṛta.Read verse 8.41.6 →
skambhena vi rodasī
Verse 8.41.10A high cosmological vision: regulation of light/dark by law (vrata), measurement of the ancient foundation, and the skambha motif of separating and sustaining the worlds—Varuṇa as cosmic architect and upholder.Read verse 8.41.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ṛta-pati (lord of order)
  • All-knowing, ‘most wise’ power
  • Binder and protector (guardian of herds and human thought)
  • Upholder of heaven and the two worlds (rodasī)
  • Regulator of light and darkness by vrata (law)
  • Maruts as radiant, forceful, swift, supportive powers

Also by this seer

  • Attribution of RV 8.41 is uncertain in many listings; the hymn is preserved within Mandala 8’s mixed authorship collection rather than a single well-attested family corpus.
  • Several hymns in Mandala 8 have variable or unclear rishi attributions across recensions and later indices (Anukramaṇī traditions), and RV 8.41 is often treated among these.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacrificial space and kindle the fire (Agni) as witness to truth.
  • Establish intention: confession/acknowledgment of ṛta and desire for right harmony in community and mind.
  • Recite the hymn as a stotra/śastra-style praise, emphasizing Varuṇa’s binding order and the Maruts’ luminous force.
  • Make offerings while reciting key refrains, asking for protection of ‘herds’ (wealth, capacities) and for inner steadiness.
  • Conclude with a closing prayer for ‘shining forth’—clarity, concord, and auspicious sameness (harmonized order).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma (where Soma-rite context is present)
  • Water libation or symbolic offering (aptas/varuṇa context)
  • Grain cakes/oblations as customary havis

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn primarily addresses Varuṇa, with the Maruts invoked as associated powers that express and strengthen his ordered, protective rule.

It asks for protection, the safeguarding of prosperity (often symbolized as cattle/herds), and for human thought and life to be set in harmony with ṛta—truth and right order.

Skambha means a supporting pillar. Here it symbolizes the divine support by which the two worlds are held apart and upheld—Varuṇa’s stabilizing power that makes cosmic order possible.

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