Rig Veda Sukta 65
Mandala 5Sukta 656 Mantras

Sukta 65

Sukta 5.65

Rishi

Atri (Ātreya)

Devata

Mitra–Varuṇa

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Himne ringkas kepada Mitra–Varuṇa ini memohon tutur kata yang terilham serta bimbingan yang benar daripada para Āditya yang menegakkan ṛta (tatanan kosmik). Ia memuji kuasa Mitra untuk membuka “jalan yang luas” keluar daripada kesusahan, dan merayu agar pasangan ilahi itu bersatu serta memimpin umat, melindungi para resi dan para penaung dalam lingkungan yang aman.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 5.65

Mantras

Mantra 1

यश्चिकेत स सुक्रतुर्देवत्रा स ब्रवीतु नः । वरुणो यस्य दर्शतो मित्रो वा वनते गिरः ॥

Sesiapa yang benar-benar mengetahui—biarlah dia, yang berkehendak cerah, berkata kepada kami menurut jalan yang menuju para dewa: dia yang penglihatannya ialah Varuṇa, atau Mitra yang memenangi kata-kata ilham kami.

Mantra 2

ता हि श्रेष्ठवर्चसा राजाना दीर्घश्रुत्तमा । ता सत्पती ऋतावृध ऋतावाना जनेजने ॥

Kerana kedua-dua-Nya itulah raja-raja dengan sinar kemuliaan yang paling unggul, dengan pendengaran yang menjangkau jauh; kedua-dua-Nya itulah tuan-tuan kebenaran, yang menumbuhkan ṛta (tatanan kosmik), para pemilik ṛta pada setiap kaum dan pada setiap makhluk.

Mantra 3

ता वामियानोऽवसे पूर्वा उप ब्रुवे सचा । स्वश्वासः सु चेतुना वाजाँ अभि प्र दावने ॥

Kepada kamu berdua, yang kucari pertolongan-Nya, aku berkata mendekat, seperti kepada kuasa-kuasa yang terdahulu, dalam kebersamaan: dengan kuda-kuda yang baik dan daya-cerap yang terang, majulah menuju penganugerahan kelimpahan daya (vāja).

Mantra 4

मित्रो अंहोश्चिदादुरु क्षयाय गातुं वनते । मित्रस्य हि प्रतूर्वतः सुमतिरस्ति विधतः ॥

Mitra, bahkan daripada kesesakan pun, memperoleh laluan yang luas bagi kediaman; kerana bagi Mitra—yang menewaskan tentangan—ada budi yang baik bagi dia yang berbakti dan mengatur pekerjaan persembahan.

Mantra 5

वयं मित्रस्यावसि स्याम सप्रथस्तमे । अनेहसस्त्वोतयः सत्रा वरुणशेषसः ॥

Moga kami bernaung dalam kurnia pelindung Mitra, dalam pertolongan yang paling luas dan melapangkan. Tidak mengenal lelah, moga bantuanmu menyertai kami sentiasa, wahai yang tidak membiarkan sesuatu terabai dalam penjagaan Varuṇa.

Mantra 6

युवं मित्रेमं जनं यतथः सं च नयथः । मा मघोनः परि ख्यतं मो अस्माकमृषीणां गोपीथे न उरुष्यतम् ॥

Kamu berdua, wahai Mitra dan Varuṇa, pimpinlah umat ini dan bawalah mereka kepada gerak yang bersatu. Janganlah menjauh daripada para pemberi kelimpahan; peliharalah kami—para ṛṣi kami—dalam kandang lembu perlindungan, dan luaskanlah kami serta amankanlah.

Inside Sukta 65

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A call for the truly knowing, bright-willed voice to speak “godward,” under the vision of Varuṇa and the favor of Mitra who accepts inspired words.

  2. Development

    Praise turns toward Mitra’s practical grace: even from distress he wins a broad passage and grants good intent to the orderly worshipper who serves.

  3. Climax

    The prayer becomes communal and directive: Mitra–Varuṇa are asked to guide the people and lead them into a united movement (saṃ nayathaḥ).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with a protective plea—do not stand apart from the generous patrons; guard the seers in a secure enclosure and grant wide safety.

The deity: Mitra–Varuṇa

  • In the VedaMitra and Varuṇa are paired sovereign powers who hear true speech, uphold vows, and secure orderly life; Mitra especially embodies concord and beneficent guidance, while Varuṇa is the vigilant guardian of ṛta with far-seeing oversight.
  • Cosmic functionThey sustain ṛta (cosmic and social order), regulate truth and covenant, protect the community, and grant safe passage, stability of dwelling, and harmonious collective movement.
  • Inner significanceThe pair symbolizes the integration of ethical clarity and inner law: Mitra as the capacity for harmony, trust, and right relationship; Varuṇa as conscience, discernment, and the binding force of truth that corrects and protects.

The seer

  • Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the great early ṛṣis of the Rig Veda, renowned for luminous vision and for hymns that emphasize ṛta, protection, and beneficent divine guidance.

Famous verses

यश्चिकेत स सुक्रतुर्देवत्रा स ब्रवीतु नः । वरुणो यस्य दर्शतो मित्रो वा वनते गिरः ॥
Verse 5.65.1Sets the hymn’s tone: true knowledge and inspired speech aligned with the godward path, under Mitra–Varuṇa’s oversight and acceptance of prayer.Read verse 5.65.1 →
uru kṣayāya gātum vanate
Verse 5.65.4A classic Mitra-verse highlighting deliverance: from distress he wins a ‘wide passage’ for stable dwelling, and grants good counsel to the worshipper.Read verse 5.65.4 →
saṃ ca nayathaḥ
Verse 5.65.6The communal culmination: Mitra–Varuṇa are asked to guide and unify the people and to protect the seers and patrons within a ‘cow-pen’ of safety.Read verse 5.65.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Upholders of ṛta (order)
  • Guardians of truth, vows, and right conduct
  • Protectors who grant safety and wide space (uru gātu)
  • Guides who lead people into unity
  • Hearers/receivers of inspired words (giraḥ)
  • Benevolent yet firm sovereign powers

Also by this seer

  • Numerous hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 5 attributed to the Ātreyas (Atri’s family line), including several to the Ādityas (Mitra–Varuṇa) and other deities
  • Atri is also remembered in later Vedic-Itihāsa-Purāṇic tradition as a major patriarchal seer (ṛṣi) and teacher figure

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the fire (āhavanīya) and establish a calm, truthful intention (satya/ṛta-saṅkalpa).
  • Recite the hymn (or selected verses) as āvāhana (invocation), focusing on unity and guidance.
  • Offer oblations while naming Mitra and Varuṇa together, then Mitra specifically (reflecting the hymn’s emphasis on Mitra’s rescuing ‘wide path’).
  • Conclude with a protection-request (rakṣā-prārthanā): ask to be kept within a secure ‘gopītha’ (protective enclosure) and led in concord.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations into fire
  • Soma (where applicable in soma rites) or soma-symbolic offerings
  • Simple food offerings (anna) and water as supplementary upacāras

Frequently Asked Questions

They are paired Āditya deities who uphold ṛta (order). Mitra emphasizes harmony and right relationship, while Varuṇa safeguards truth and moral law with far-seeing vigilance.

It asks for inspired, truthful speech, for a wide safe passage out of distress, for the people to be led in unity, and for protection of the seers and their supporters.

It is a Vedic image for an open, safe way forward—removal of constriction (fear, trouble, obstacles) and the granting of secure space for stable living and right action.

Ask anything about Sukta 65 of the Rig Veda

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