Rig Veda 7.82.6: Mandala 7, Sukta 82, Mantra 6
Sukta 7.82
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
महे शुल्काय वरुणस्य नु त्विष ओजो मिमाते ध्रुवमस्य यत्स्वम् । अजामिमन्यः श्नथयन्तमातिरद्दभ्रेभिरन्यः प्र वृणोति भूयसः ॥
mahé śulkā́ya váruṇasya nú tvíṣe ójo mimāte dhrúvam asya yát svám | ájāmim anyáḥ śnatháyantam ā́tirad dabhrebhír anyáḥ prá vṛṇoti bhū́yasaḥ ||
ಈಗ ವರುಣನ ಮಹಾ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿಗಾಗಿ ಅವನ ದೃಢವಾದ, ಸ್ವಂತ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಪ್ರಕಾಶದಲ್ಲಿ ತನ್ನ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನು ತಾನೇ ಅಳೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬನು ವಶವಾಗದವನನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆದು ಕೆಡವುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬನು ಚಿಕ್ಕದರಿಂದ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನದನ್ನು—ಮಹತ್ತರ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು—ಆರಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Word by Word
- म॒हे
- for the great (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचन (महते) — वैदिक संक्षेप/पदपाठ-रूपRole सम्प्रदान (दत्तेः/अर्थे) / अधिकरण-प्राय (उद्देश्य)Root महत् (प्रातिपदिक) / मह् (वृद्धौ) (निरुक्त्यनुसार)
- शु॒ल्काय
- for the payment/fee (reward)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (दत्तेः/अर्थे)Root शुल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरु॑णस्य
- of VaruṇaNoun (Proper)पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- नु
- now/indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot नु
- त्वि॒षः
- the brilliance, radianceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक: -ः)Role कर्तृRoot त्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजः
- strength, mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (मिमाते इति क्रियायाः) / अथवा कर्तृ-समन्वय (समुच्चय)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मिमाते
- measures out, apportionsVerbलट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (मि-मा-ते) — ‘measures out/mete out’Role क्रियाRoot मा (माने/मितौ) धातु
- ध्रु॒वम्
- the fixed/firm (portion)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (मिमाते)Root ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of him/itsPronounषष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which/thatPronoun/Relativeनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (अन्वय-हेतु)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- स्वम्
- one’s ownPronoun (Possessive)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म/विशेष्य (यत्-सम्बद्ध)Root स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अजा॑मि
- not akin, alien, improperAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्) / अथवा विशेषणम् (कर्मणः)Role कर्म-विशेषण / क्रियाविशेषणRoot अजामि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अ-जा॒मि’ = असजातीय/असमान)
- मन्यः
- wrath, angerNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्न॒थय॑न्तम्
- crushing, shatteringVerb-participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्म (आतिरद् इति क्रियायाः)Root श्नथ् (श्नथयति) धातु
- आति॑रद्
- pierced through, overpassedVerbलुङ् (आorist); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अतिर्/अतृ (अतिरति/आतिरद्) धातु (वैदिक रूप)
- द॒भ्रेभिः
- with the few/small (means/ones)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot दभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यः
- another (one)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRoot प्र
- वृ॑णोति
- chooses, selectsVerbलट्; परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot वृ (वृणोति ‘to choose/cover’) धातु
- भूय॑सः
- of the greater (portion), moreAdjective (comparative)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (अथवा प्रथमा बहुवचन—पाठानुसार); अत्र सामान्यतः षष्ठी: ‘of the greater (share)’Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)
Sandhi Notes
- सम्भाव्य पदच्छेद (पदपाठानुसार): म॒हे | शु॒ल्काय | वरु॑णस्य | नु | त्वि॒षः | ओजः | मिमाते | ध्रु॒वम् | अस्य | यत् | स्वम् || अजा॑मि | मन्यः | श्न॒थय॑न्तम् | आति॑रद् | द॒भ्रेभिः | अ॒न्यः | प्र | वृ॑णोति | भूय॑सः || 1) ‘यत्स्वम्’ = यत् + स्वम् (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + स् → त्स्)
- 2) ‘श्नथयन्तमातिरद्’ = श्नथयन्तम् + आति॑रद् (म् + आ → मा; पदसंहिता में ‘-माति-’)
- 3) ‘दभ्रेभिरन्यः’ = दभ्रेभिः + अन्यः (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + अ → र्; ‘-भिरन्यः’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
For the great splendor of Varuṇa, his firm own might measures itself out in radiance. The other strikes down the non-yielding one; and the other chooses, from the small, the greater increase.
Inner meaning
The verse distributes distinct functions between Varuṇa and Indra (‘anyáḥ… anyáḥ’). Varuṇa’s tviṣ (radiant splendor) and ojas are ‘dhruva’—firm, stable: the power of the Vast measures itself (mimāte) as right proportion, law, and luminous order in the being. This is the inner establishment of conscience, truth-sense, and vast calm authority. Indra, ‘the other’, strikes down the ajāmi—here taken as the crooked/discordant, the force that will not yield to truth (the obstinate resistance, akin to vṛtraic refusal). Then Varuṇa/Indra’s complementary action ‘chooses the greater from the small’: spiritual discrimination and growth—selecting the higher possibility over lesser impulses, expanding from limited to greater consciousness. Psychologically: first establish a firm luminous law within (Varuṇa), then break the stubborn resistance (Indra), then repeatedly choose the larger truth over the smaller habit until increase (bhūyas) becomes our nature.
Universal truth
Sustainable transformation needs (1) stable principles and measured order, (2) decisive removal of obstinate resistance, and (3) continual preference for the higher over the lower—growth by right choice.
Themes
Purification and force, Right measure, Overcoming resistance, Increase of capacity
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.86-88 (Varuṇa: dharma/ṛta, release), RV 7.82.2-5 (Indra-Varuṇa cooperation)
Family tradition
Known for Varuṇa-centered insight into law, measure, and inner rectitude, complemented by Indra’s victorious force for overcoming resistance.
Significance
This mantra is a practical sādhanā formula: establish firm luminous order (Varuṇa), break obstinate refusal (Indra), and choose the greater growth repeatedly.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa (distributed functions)
- Epithets
- ध्रुव (dhruva) firm (Varuṇa’s might), उग्र (ugra) implied for Indra’s crushing action (contextual)
- Related deities
- Mitra (measure/harmony, implicit), Maruts (supporting Indra’s force, implicit)
Cosmic role
Varuṇa sets the stable measure and radiance of cosmic law; Indra destroys the noncompliant resistances; together they ensure orderly increase and evolution.
Inner power
Varuṇa: luminous restraint, right measure, stability; Indra: force of breakthrough and conquest over refusal. Jointly: disciplined power that grows from small to great.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Varuṇa recitation for protection and moral-cosmic order; potentially used where restraint and victory are both sought.
म॒हे शु॒ल्काय॒ वरु॑णस्य॒ नु त्वि॒ष ओजो॑ मिमाते ध्रु॒वम॑स्य॒ यत्स्वम् । अजा॑मिम॒न्यः श्न॒थय॑न्त॒माति॑रद्द॒भ्रेभि॑र॒न्यः प्र वृ॑णोति॒ भूय॑सः ॥
म॒हे । शु॒ल्काय॑ । वरु॑णस्य । नु । त्वि॒षे॑ । ओजः॑ । मि॒मा॒ते॒ इति॑ । ध्रु॒वम् । अ॒स्य॒ । यत् । स्वम् । अजा॑मिम् । अ॒न्यः । श्न॒थय॑न्तम् । आ । अति॑रत् । द॒भ्रेभिः॑ । अ॒न्यः । प्र । वृ॒णो॒ति॒ । भूय॑सः ॥
mahe | śulkāya | varuṇasya | nu | tviṣe | ojaḥ | mimāteiti | dhruvam | asya | yat | svam | ajāmim | anyaḥ | śnathayantam | ā | atirat | dabhrebhiḥ | anyaḥ | pra | vṛṇot i | bhūyasaḥ
44
4 × ~11; strong parallelism with anyáḥ… anyáḥ creates antiphonal feel.
Measured and judicial in Varuṇa portion, then sharp and decisive in Indra portion, ending with an ascending sense of increase.
First steadies and clarifies, then empowers decisive cutting through, then leaves the mind oriented to expansion and higher choice.
- शुल्क (śulka)
- Literal: splendor, price, brilliant display (contextual). Symbolic: the luminous ‘worth’ of truth; radiant authority of the law
- त्विष् (tviṣ)
- Literal: radiance, brilliance. Symbolic: clear shining of higher truth in the mind
- ओजः (ojas)
- Literal: might, vigor. Symbolic: spiritual force held steadily (not impulsive)
- ध्रुवम् (dhruvam)
- Literal: firm, fixed. Symbolic: stable foundation of truth-consciousness
- मिमाते (mimāte)
- Literal: measures out. Symbolic: establishes right measure; proportion and law in the being
- अजामिम् (ajāmi)
- Literal: not going together, irregular, discordant. Symbolic: crooked resistance; the part that refuses harmony with truth
- श्नथयन्तम् (śnathayantam)
- Literal: striking/crushing. Symbolic: Indra’s decisive breaking of obstinacy
- दभ्रेभिः (dabhrebhiḥ)
- Literal: from the small/few. Symbolic: from lesser impulses, limited gains, partial movements
- भूयसः (bhūyasaḥ)
- Literal: the greater, more abundant. Symbolic: the larger consciousness; increased light and power
Verse emphasizing Varuṇa’s measured radiance and Indra’s breaking of resistance; used when seeking both purification (Varuṇa) and decisive overcoming (Indra).
When confronting obstacles, ethical dilemmas, or chaos; also as a purificatory recitation before vows/discipline practices.
Praise/invocation emphasizing Varuṇa’s stable law and Indra’s smashing of resistance; supports right conduct and success.
Use as a mantra for habit-change: (1) establish a clear rule (Varuṇa), (2) break the relapse impulse (Indra), (3) choose the larger goal over small comfort.
śulká ‘price, splendor, brightness’ in Vedic can denote luminous value; here aligned with tvíṣ ‘shine’ from √tviṣ ‘be bright’. mimāte from √mā ‘measure’ (PIE *meh₁-). dhrúva ‘firm’ from √dhru ‘be fixed’. śnath- ‘to strike, crush’ (cf. RV martial diction). ajāmí- is difficult; often ‘irregular, not of the same stock’; psychologically: non-conforming to ṛta.
Measure (mā) as ṛta, Dhruva (firm law), Growth from lesser to greater (bhūyas)
‘Measuring out’ (mimāte) is ṛta as right proportion; Varuṇa is the archetypal measurer and binder of order.
Tviṣ as the shining of satya in the mind—truth that is luminous and directive.
Orderly manifestation: law establishes measure; resistance is crushed; evolution chooses greater from lesser.
Ethico-spiritual realism of the Veda read psychologically: growth is by law + force + discernment.
Radiance = clarity of higher truth; measure = inner discipline; striking down = cutting through tamas; choosing greater = ascent from limited to expansive consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Complementary divine action: Varuṇa manifests a measured, firm radiance (lawful splendor), while Indra crushes the non-yielding deviancy and drives growth from small to greater. Mythically it is the twofold governance of cosmos and soul: measure/purity plus forceful conquest.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ is strongly Indo-European (PIE *meh₁-; cf. Greek métron, Latin metior). The verse’s emphasis on measure as power’s self-lawing is an archaic Indo-European idea linking sovereignty with correct proportion.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks an inner administration: Varuṇa’s power must become luminous and measured within him, while Indra must strike down the stubborn misalignment; together they enable a progressive enlargement (bhūyas) of the being.
Establish inner law and measure (Varuṇa), then apply decisive will to break the stubborn pattern (Indra), then practice ‘choose the greater’ as a daily discernment.
mūlādhāra (stability/discipline) with ājñā (discernment/choice)
Exhale-lengthening to cultivate restraint (Varuṇa), followed by a few forceful but controlled kapalabhāti rounds only if suitable (Indra) to ‘strike’ inertia; end with quiet breathing to integrate.
Firm, clear, decisive, and ascending—less reactive, more governed by chosen truth.
After chanting, name one ‘small’ impulse (dabhra) you will not follow today and one ‘greater’ action (bhūyas) you will choose instead; repeat at night to seal the measure.
Tri-svara; keep a dignified rise on varuṇasya, tviṣe, ojaḥ; a sharper udātta emphasis on śnathayantam; and a clear lift on bhūyasaḥ to signal increase.
Let the first half be measured and even; make the ‘anyáḥ… anyáḥ’ clauses clearly contrasted; slight pause before the final ‘pra vṛṇoti bhūyasaḥ’ to highlight the choice.
śulkāya: ś (palatal) not ṣ; keep u short., tviṣe: tv cluster clean; ṣ retroflex., mimāte: long ā; keep it smooth, not clipped., ajāmim: long ā; do not nasalize final m excessively., śnathayantam: cluster śna-tha-; articulate th aspirated., dabhrebhiḥ: bh aspirated; final ḥ audible.
Start calm and authoritative; intensify briefly on the ‘striking’ phrase; end with uplifted confidence.
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