Rig Veda Sukta 87
Mandala 7Sukta 877 Mantras

Sukta 87

Sukta 7.87

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.87)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne kepada Varuṇa ini, yang dilafazkan oleh Vasiṣṭha, memuji dewa itu sebagai penegak ṛta, yang telah mengukir laluan Matahari dan mengalirkan sungai-sungai dalam alur yang teratur. Ia bergerak daripada pemerintahan kosmik kepada ajaran esoterik—Varuṇa menyingkap rahsia terpelihara tentang “Lembu yang tak tercemar” serta langkah tersembunyi Sang Sabda—lalu memuncak dalam permohonan belas kasihan, tanpa cela, dan kesejahteraan yang berkekalan di bawah hukum-hukum Aditi.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.87

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • VarunaVaruṇa

    Varuṇa is portrayed as the sovereign guardian of ṛta, wide-ruling and all-knowing, who establishes the courses of Sun and waters and oversees truth, oaths, and moral law.

Mantras

Mantra 1

रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥

Varuṇa telah memahat jalan-jalan bagi Surya; ia mengalirkan arus-banjir sungai-sungai yang menuju samudera. Seperti pelepasan yang telah dilepaskan, ia menggerakkan air yang mengalir menurut garis ṛta; ia membentuk hamparan bumi yang agung bagi hari-hari—agar hidup berlangsung dalam keluasan yang teratur.

Mantra 2

आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत्पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान् । अन्तर्मही बृहती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण प्रियाणि ॥

Wahai Varuṇa, dirimu sendiri sebagai Vāta—nafas-hidup—memperbaharui ruang-ruang pertengahan; seperti daya yang pantas mengembara, ia bersegera demi tumbuhnya padang-gembala batin kami. Dalam dua dunia yang luas ini, Bumi dan Langit, terpasang segala dhāma-Mu yang terkasih, wahai Varuṇa—ranah-ranah wujud yang tertata tempat jiwa berdiam.

Mantra 3

परि स्पशो वरुणस्य स्मदिष्टा उभे पश्यन्ति रोदसी सुमेके । ऋतावानः कवयो यज्ञधीराः प्रचेतसो य इषयन्त मन्म ॥

Di segenap penjuru, para pengawas Varuṇa—yang paling berjaga—menyaksikan dua alam, langit dan bumi, dalam susunan indahnya. Para kavi, para resi yang dipenuhi ṛta, bijaksana dalam yajña dan bercahaya dalam ketajaman budi, menggerakkan dalam diri kami manas yang terilham menuju Kebenaran.

Mantra 4

उवाच मे वरुणो मेधिराय त्रिः सप्त नामाघ्न्या बिभर्ति । विद्वान्पदस्य गुह्या न वोचद्युगाय विप्र उपराय शिक्षन् ॥

Varuṇa bersabda kepadaku, kepada yang menuntut kejernihan akal: “Lembu yang tidak boleh disakiti (Aghnyā) memikul tiga kali tujuh nama.” Mengetahui rahsia langkah pada Sabda, ia tidak menzahirkannya secara terbuka—mengajar sang vipra untuk zaman-zaman, menuju tebing pemahaman yang lebih jauh.

Mantra 5

तिस्रो द्यावो निहिता अन्तरस्मिन्तिस्रो भूमीरुपराः षड्विधानाः । गृत्सो राजा वरुणश्चक्र एतं दिवि प्रेङ्खं हिरण्ययं शुभे कम् ॥

Tiga langit diletakkan dalam wujud ini; tiga bumi sebagai asas yang lebih tinggi—enam rupa susunan alam. Raja Varuṇa, sang tukang yang bercahaya, telah menjadikan di langit sebuah tempat duduk berayun dari emas, bagi kegembiraan menjadi-indahnya jiwa.

Mantra 6

अव सिन्धुं वरुणो द्यौरिव स्थाद्द्रप्सो न श्वेतो मृगस्तुविष्मान् । गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा ॥

Varuṇa berdiri mengatasi Sindhu yang agung, laksana langit sendiri; bagaikan titisan cahaya putih—pandangan yang bergerak, perkasa. Dalam dan berat sabdanya; ia menyukat hamparan rajas (ruang-antara). Dengan kedaulatan yang teguh dan menjangkau jauh, dialah raja bagi kewujudan ini, penjaga satya (kebenaran) yang ada.

Mantra 7

यो मृळयाति चक्रुषे चिदागो वयं स्याम वरुणे अनागाः । अनु व्रतान्यदितेॠधन्तो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Dia yang berbelas kasihan bahkan kepada pelaku salah—moga kami, wahai Varuṇa, menjadi tanpa dosa. Bertumbuh menurut vrata (hukum-sumpah) Aditi, selaras dengan keluasan-Nya, peliharalah kami sentiasa dengan svasti: sejahtera dan jalan yang benar.

Inside Sukta 87

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Varuṇa as cosmic architect: hewn paths for the Sun and released the river-floods to the ocean in conformity with ṛta.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens from outer order to inner revelation—Varuṇa addresses the seer and hints at guarded, esoteric knowledge (the thrice-seven names of the inviolate Cow; the hidden step of the Word).

  3. Climax

    The turning point is the direct appeal to Varuṇa’s mercy: even the wrongdoer can be pitied, and the worshipper seeks to become anāgāḥ (without fault).

  4. Where it settles

    It ends in alignment with Aditi’s vratāni (laws) and a sustained request for protection and svasti—steady right-going well-being.

The deity: Varuṇa

  • In the VedaHe is both majestic and intimate: a divine teacher who can withhold secrets and also grant compassion to the erring.
  • Cosmic functionMaintains cosmic and moral order (ṛta), stabilizes celestial motions, regulates waters (rivers to ocean), and enforces law through oversight of truth and transgression.
  • Inner significanceRepresents the awakened conscience and inner law—clarity that perceives hidden motives, calls the seeker to truth, and restores harmony through confession, restraint, and mercy.

The seer

  • Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi)Vasiṣṭha gotra; traditionally linked with the Maitrāvaruṇa priestly line · Foremost seer of Mandala 7, celebrated for profound Varuṇa-hymns on ṛta, moral order, and divine mercy, and for shaping Vedic priestly theology through the Vasiṣṭha tradition.

Famous verses

रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥
Verse 7.87.1Defines Varuṇa’s cosmic sovereignty in vivid images—Sun’s path and rivers’ courses—framing him as the establisher of ṛta in the visible world.Read verse 7.87.1 →
triḥ sapta nāmāghnyā bibharti
Verse 7.87.4A classic ‘revealed-but-veiled’ verse: Varuṇa teaches the seer about the thrice-seven names of the aghnyā (inviolate Cow) and the hidden step of the Word, pointing to mantra-gnosis and disciplined speech.Read verse 7.87.4 →
vayaṃ syāma varuṇe anāgāḥ
Verse 7.87.7Ethical and devotional culmination: Varuṇa’s mercy toward the guilty and the prayer to become anāgāḥ, guarded always with svasti while following Aditi’s laws.Read verse 7.87.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Upholder of ṛta (cosmic/moral order)
  • All-seeing, knower of hidden things
  • Regulator of waters and celestial paths
  • Lord of vows, truth, and ethical restraint
  • Merciful purifier who can release from guilt
  • Teacher of esoteric knowledge (guhyā)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 7 (many hymns attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his family)
  • Notable Varuṇa-focused hymns such as RV 7.86 (confession and plea for release from sin)
  • Hymns to Agni and Indra in Mandala 7 reflecting the Vasiṣṭha school’s ritual and theological style

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and inner resolve (saṅkalpa) to align with ṛta and truthfulness
  • Kindling/steadying Agni; quiet purification and breath-settling
  • Invocatory recitation of the sukta with attention to Varuṇa as ruler of Sun’s path and waters (e.g., 7.87.1)
  • Contemplative pause on the ‘secret of the Word’s step’ and disciplined speech (linked to 7.87.4)
  • Confession/acknowledgment of faults and explicit request for mercy and freedom from blame (linked to 7.87.7)
  • Concluding śānti-style benediction for svasti (well-being) and protection under Aditi’s laws

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire
  • Water libation (arghya/udaka) or symbolic offering of pure water
  • Soma (where applicable in Soma context)
  • Simple oblations such as milk/curds in domestic settings

Frequently Asked Questions

It presents Varuṇa as the power that keeps the universe and human life in right order (ṛta), and it asks him to forgive faults and protect the worshipper with lasting well-being (svasti).

These are signs of ṛta in nature: Varuṇa is praised as the one who sets stable courses—Sun moving on its track and waters moving in lawful channels—showing his governance of order.

It is an esoteric teaching: the ‘inviolate Cow’ often symbolizes sacred speech, light, or nourishing abundance, and “thrice seven” hints at a structured, hidden set of names/levels that Varuṇa reveals only indirectly to the seer.

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