Rig Veda Sukta 86
Mandala 7Sukta 868 Mantras

Sukta 86

Sukta 7.86

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.86)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne Varuṇa oleh Vasiṣṭha ini memuji Sang Penguasa kosmik yang menegakkan langit dan bumi serta memelihara ṛta (tatanan moral-kosmik). Dari penglihatan tentang ciptaan yang luas dan teratur itu, penyair berpaling ke dalam untuk pengakuan dan permohonan—memohon pembebasan daripada kesalahan yang diwarisi dan yang dilakukan sendiri, lalu menutup dengan berkat bagi kedamaian, perlindungan, dan kesejahteraan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.86

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • VarunaVaruṇa (with cosmic-sovereign framing, hymn is Varuṇa-centered)

    Varuṇa is portrayed as the all-encompassing lord who knows the paths of ṛta, surveys beings with unblinking awareness, binds transgression with his noose (pāśa), and releases the repentant through grace and right ordering.

Mantras

Mantra 1

धीरा त्वस्य महिना जनूंषि वि यस्तस्तम्भ रोदसी चिदुर्वी । प्र नाकमृष्वं नुनुदे बृहन्तं द्विता नक्षत्रं पप्रथच्च भूम ॥

Dengan kebesaran Dia Yang Esa, daya-daya wawasan yang teguh dibangkitkan—Dia yang menegakkan bahkan dua dunia yang luas. Dia menolak ke hadapan langit yang tinggi lagi maha-lapang; Dia membentangkan takhta ganda bintang-bintang dan asas bumi—menetapkan keluasan yang bertertib, tempat kesedaran dapat berkembang.

Mantra 2

उत स्वया तन्वा सं वदे तत्कदा न्वन्तर्वरुणे भुवानि । किं मे हव्यमहृणानो जुषेत कदा मृळीकं सुमना अभि ख्यम् ॥

Dan dengan diriku sendiri aku berkata tentang hal ini: bilakah aku akan masuk ke dalam-Mu, wahai Varuṇa? Persembahan apakah daripadaku yang akan Engkau terima tanpa kemurkaan? Bilakah, dengan hati yang pemurah, aku akan memandang belas kasihan-Mu—pelepasan yang menyembuhkan di dalam hatiku?

Mantra 3

पृच्छे तदेनो वरुण दिदृक्षूपो एमि चिकितुषो विपृच्छम् । समानमिन्मे कवयश्चिदाहुरयं ह तुभ्यं वरुणो हृणीते ॥

Aku bertanya tentang kesalahan itu, wahai Varuṇa, ingin melihatnya dengan jelas; aku mendekat untuk bertanya kepada yang mengetahui. Bahkan para kavi (resi) pun berkata kepadaku hal yang sama: “Varuṇa ini sungguh tersinggung kepadamu.”

Mantra 4

किमाग आस वरुण ज्येष्ठं यत्स्तोतारं जिघांससि सखायम् । प्र तन्मे वोचो दूळभ स्वधावोऽव त्वानेना नमसा तुर इयाम् ॥

Apakah kesalahan besar itu, wahai Varuṇa, sehingga Engkau hendak menimpa penyanyimu, sahabatmu? Katakanlah itu kepadaku, wahai yang sukar dilukai, wahai yang bertitah oleh svadhā (hukum-diri). Dengan namas (sembah sujud) aku datang segera kepada-Mu, agar simpul kesilapan terlerai oleh kebenaran.

Mantra 5

अव द्रुग्धानि पित्र्या सृजा नोऽव या वयं चकृमा तनूभिः । अव राजन्पशुतृपं न तायुं सृजा वत्सं न दाम्नो वसिष्ठम् ॥

Lepaskanlah daripada kami kesalahan-kesalahan warisan leluhur, dan kezaliman yang kami sendiri lakukan dengan tubuh kami. Wahai Raja (Varuṇa), lepaskanlah si pencari yang tersasar, seperti orang yang mengenyangkan diri daripada kawanan orang lain; lepaskanlah Vasiṣṭha daripada tali ikatan, sebagaimana anak lembu dilepaskan daripada tambatannya.

Mantra 6

न स स्वो दक्षो वरुण ध्रुतिः सा सुरा मन्युर्विभीदको अचित्तिः । अस्ति ज्यायान्कनीयस उपारे स्वप्नश्चनेदनृतस्य प्रयोता ॥

Bukanlah ini benar-benar kebijaksanaan tajamku sendiri, wahai Varuṇa, dan bukan juga pegangan yang teguh; ini mabuk, ini amarah yang menimbulkan takut, ini ketidaksedaran. Yang tua boleh tergelincir ke keadaan yang muda; bahkan tidur pun boleh menjadi pendorong dusta—ada daya dalam diri yang memesongkan kehendak daripada yang benar.

Mantra 7

अरं दासो न मीळ्हुषे कराण्यहं देवाय भूर्णयेऽनागाः । अचेतयदचितो देवो अर्यो गृत्सं राये कवितरो जुनाति ॥

Jadikanlah aku layak, seperti hamba kepada pemberi yang pemurah; aku—tanpa cela—hendak berkhidmat bagi Kuasa Ilahi yang berputar dan menggerakkan segala. Dewa yang mulia menyedarkan yang tidak tahu; penyair yang lebih-melihat menggerakkan si pencari yang rindu menuju kekayaan kepenuhan.

Mantra 8

अयं सु तुभ्यं वरुण स्वधावो हृदि स्तोम उपश्रितश्चिदस्तु । शं नः क्षेमे शमु योगे नो अस्तु यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Wahai Varuṇa, yang berswadha (berhukum pada diri sendiri), madah ini kuletakkan di dalam hati untuk-Mu. Semoga sejahtera bagi kami dalam ketenteraman yang aman, dan sejahtera dalam pertautan serta usaha kami; peliharalah kami sentiasa dengan kebajikan dan lintasan yang selamat.

Inside Sukta 86

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A vision of Varuṇa’s vast creative sovereignty: he establishes the two worlds, the lofty heaven, the starry seat, and the earth’s foundation.

  2. Development

    From cosmic order the hymn pivots to moral order: the poet recognizes human deviation and the reality of Varuṇa’s binding power, and petitions for release from both ancestral and personal wrongs.

  3. Climax

    The direct plea for unbinding—Varuṇa as King is asked to loosen the noose and free Vasiṣṭha like a calf from its tether, transforming guilt into restored relationship.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends by placing the stoma in the heart for Varuṇa and asking for peace in rest and in striving, with ongoing protection through svasti (right passage and well-being).

The deity: Varuṇa

  • Cosmic functionGuardian of ṛta: stabilizing the cosmos (heaven, earth, stars), maintaining truth, oath, and law, and regulating moral causality—binding wrongdoing and restoring harmony when confession and rectification occur.
  • Inner significanceThe voice of conscience and inner law: clarity that sees hidden motives, the pressure of guilt/bondage when one deviates, and the liberating return to truth through acknowledgement, restraint, and alignment with order.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/Varuṇa-linked seer-family in RV tradition; chief among the Vasiṣṭhas of Mandala 7) · Foremost seer of the Seventh Maṇḍala, celebrated for profound Varuṇa-hymns that unite cosmic theology with ethical introspection, confession, and prayer for release from sin and bondage.

Famous verses

धीरा त्वस्य महिना जनूंषि वि यस्तस्तम्भ रोदसी चिदुर्वी । प्र नाकमृष्वं नुनुदे बृहन्तं द्विता नक्षत्रं पप्रथच्च भूम ॥
Verse 7.86.1Sets the theological foundation: Varuṇa’s greatness is shown in the establishment of heaven, earth, and the starry order—linking cosmic architecture to ṛta.Read verse 7.86.1 →
sṛjā vatsaṃ na dāmno vasiṣṭham
Verse 7.86.5The hymn’s ethical heart: confession of inherited and self-made faults and the vivid request for release from Varuṇa’s binding cord—central to Varuṇa devotion and prāyaścitta tone.Read verse 7.86.5 →
śaṃ naḥ kṣeme śam u yoge no astu
Verse 7.86.8Concluding benediction: internalizes the hymn (“in the heart”) and asks for peace in both security and engagement, ending with a protective svasti formula.Read verse 7.86.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Ṛta-pati (lord of cosmic-moral order)
  • Omniscient overseer (witness of deeds and thoughts)
  • Binder and releaser (pāśa and mokṣa imagery)
  • Cosmic architect (stabilizer of heaven and earth)
  • Kingly sovereignty (rājan) with ethical governance
  • Protector-bestower of kṣema (secure well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (a major portion traditionally attributed to the Vasiṣṭha family)
  • Noted Varuṇa-centered hymns in RV 7 (ethical-ritual prayers for forgiveness and protection)
  • Later Vedic-Itihāsa tradition: prominence as a paradigmatic brahmarṣi and royal priest (purohita) figure

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and mental saṅkalpa: intention to align with ṛta and seek Varuṇa’s forgiveness
  • Agni-kindling (or approach to established āhavanīya) and purification with water as Varuṇa’s domain is invoked
  • Recitation of the sukta with emphasis on cosmic praise (opening) and confession/release petitions (middle)
  • Silent pause for self-examination (anṛta/confession) and vow of truthfulness/ethical repair
  • Final recitation of the concluding benediction for śam (peace), kṣema (security), and svasti (well-being)
  • Concluding oblation and pranāma; resolve to uphold truth, oaths, and right conduct

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma (where applicable in soma ritual context)
  • Water libation (arghya/udaka) as a symbolic Varuṇa-offering
  • Barley or simple cooked offering (caru) in domestic settings

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Varuṇa as the upholder of cosmic and moral order, then turns to confession of wrongdoing and asks Varuṇa to release the worshipper from bondage and restore peace and well-being.

The hymn recognizes that human harm can come from inherited patterns (family or tradition) and from one’s own choices; it asks Varuṇa to clear both so life can return to ṛta (right order).

It is an image for Varuṇa loosening the binding consequences of error—freeing the person from guilt, fear, and constraint so they can live again in truth, safety, and right relationship.

Ask anything about Sukta 86 of the Rig Veda

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