Rig Veda 5.85.3: Mandala 5, Sukta 85, Mantra 3

Sukta 5.85

Rishi: Atri (Ātreya tradition; hymn to Varuṇa in Maṇḍala 5 commonly ascribed to the Atris)

Devata: Varuṇa (Āditya; guardian of ṛta, moral-cosmic law, and the vast waters/sky)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (11 syllables per pāda; typical of Maṇḍala 5 hymns to Ādityas)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

नीचीनबारं वरुणः कवन्धं प्र ससर्ज रोदसी अन्तरिक्षम् । तेन विश्वस्य भुवनस्य राजा यवं न वृष्टिर्व्युनत्ति भूम ॥

Transliteration

nīcī́nabāraṃ váruṇaḥ kávandhaṃ prá sasarja ródasī antárikṣam | téna víśvasya bhúvanasya rājā yávam ná vṛṣṭír vyùnatti bhū́ma ||

Translation

Varuṇa has released the downward-drawn covering (the veiling lid) between Heaven-and-Earth, into the mid-world. By that act the King of all becoming separates and spreads out the ground of our being, as rain loosens and opens the field like barley for growth—making the inner earth ready for the descent of truth and increase.

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Word by Word

• नीचीनबारम्: downward-hanging/low-drawn covering
• नीचीनबारम्: Karma (कवन्धम् का विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीचीन- + बार (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृ (वरणे/आवरणे) से ‘बार’ = आवरण/बन्धन (वैदिक)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)

• कवन्धम्: enveloping mass; cloud/cover (dark covering)
• कवन्धम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्र: forth; forward
• प्र: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)

• ससर्ज: he released/sent forth
• ससर्ज: क्रिया (कर्तृ: वरुणः; कर्म: कवन्धम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (सर्जने)

• रोदसी: the two worlds (heaven and earth)
• रोदसी: Adhikaraṇa (अन्तर ‘between’ के साथ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक; द्यावापृथिव्यौ)

• अन्तरिक्षम्: the midspace; atmosphere
• अन्तरिक्षम्: Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/विस्तार: in the midspace)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)

• तेन: by that; thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)

• विश्वस्य: of all; of the whole
• विश्वस्य: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• भुवनस्य: of the world/creaturely realm
• भुवनस्य: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) < √भू (भवने)

• राजा: king
• राजा: Kartā (अन्तर्निहित: वरुणः = राजा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• यवम्: barley
• यवम्: Karma (उपमान-रूपेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव (प्रातिपदिक)

• न: like; as
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (उपमा-निपात)

• वृष्टिः: rain
• वृष्टिः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे)

• व्यु॑नत्ति: soaks; wets; drenches
• व्यु॑नत्ति: क्रिया (कर्तृ: वृष्टिः; कर्म: भूमम्/भूमि-)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √उन्द्/√उन्त् (उन्दने/सिञ्चने; वैदिक ‘उन्ति/उन्दति’), वर्ग: 7/9-प्रयोग वैदिक

• भूमम्: the ground; earth (surface)
• भूमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमन्/भूम (प्रातिपदिक) < √भू