Rig Veda Sukta 42
Mandala 8Sukta 426 Mantras

Sukta 42

Sukta 8.42

Devata

Varuṇa

Himne yang ringkas ini dibuka dengan gambaran agung Varuṇa sebagai Asura yang maha mengetahui, yang menegakkan langit, mengukur bumi, dan memerintah segala dunia melalui ṛta-nya yang tidak dapat dipatahkan—“hukum-hukum” (vratāni) tatanan kosmik. Pada bait-bait kemudian, tumpuan beralih ke suasana korban Soma, menyeru Aśvin (Nāsatya) agar datang ke pemerasan dan meminum Soma, menyelaraskan gerak-gerak upacara dalam kesatuan yang seimbang.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.42

Mantras

Mantra 1

अस्तभ्नाद्द्यामसुरो विश्ववेदा अमिमीत वरिमाणं पृथिव्याः । आसीदद्विश्वा भुवनानि सम्राड्विश्वेत्तानि वरुणस्य व्रतानि ॥

Asura, Yang Maha Mengetahui, menegakkan langit dan mengukur keluasan bumi. Sebagai raja semesta ia bersemayam di segala alam; semuanya ini ialah hukum-hukum (vrata) Varuṇa, tatanan yang benar.

Mantra 2

एवा वन्दस्व वरुणं बृहन्तं नमस्या धीरममृतस्य गोपाम् । स नः शर्म त्रिवरूथं वि यंसत्पातं नो द्यावापृथिवी उपस्थे ॥

Demikianlah puji dan sembahlah Varuṇa Yang Maha Luas; tunduklah kepada yang teguh, penjaga keabadian (amṛta). Semoga dia meluaskan bagi kami kesejahteraan dengan tiga perlindungan; semoga dia memelihara kami di pangkuan Langit dan Bumi.

Mantra 3

इमां धियं शिक्षमाणस्य देव क्रतुं दक्षं वरुण सं शिशाधि । ययाति विश्वा दुरिता तरेम सुतर्माणमधि नावं रुहेम ॥

Wahai Dewa—Varuṇa, inilah fikiranku ketika aku sedang belajar: pertajamkanlah dan aturkanlah dengan benar kehendakku (kratu) dan kemahiranku (dakṣa). Dengan itu semoga kami menyeberangi segala kesusahan; semoga kami menaiki perahu yang melindungi dengan baik.

Mantra 4

आ वां ग्रावाणो अश्विना धीभिर्विप्रा अचुच्यवुः । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Kepadamu, wahai Aśvin, batu-batu pemeras telah bergerak oleh ilham para resi; wahai Nāsatya, datanglah untuk meminum Soma. Semoga gerak-gerak yang lain bersinar dalam kesetaraan yang selaras.

Mantra 5

यथा वामत्रिरश्विना गीर्भिर्विप्रो अजोहवीत् । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Seperti dahulu Atri menyeru kamu, wahai Aśvin, dengan nyanyian para resi—demikian juga aku memanggil kamu, wahai Nāsatya, untuk meminum Soma. Semoga gerak-gerak yang lain bersinar dalam kesepakatan yang seimbang.

Mantra 6

एवा वामह्व ऊतये यथाहुवन्त मेधिराः । नासत्या सोमपीतये नभन्तामन्यके समे ॥

Demikianlah aku menyeru kamu untuk pertolongan, sebagaimana orang bijaksana telah menyeru kamu dahulu; wahai Nāsatya, datanglah untuk meminum Soma. Semoga daya-daya yang lain bersinar dalam kesatuan yang seimbang.

Inside Sukta 42

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Varuṇa’s cosmic kingship: he stabilizes heaven, measures earth, and pervades all worlds through his laws of ṛta.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from universal order to ritual order, implying that sacrifice mirrors and must harmonize with Varuṇa’s ordinances.

  3. Climax

    The emphatic declaration that all worlds and all realities are encompassed by Varuṇa’s vratāni—his binding ordinances of right order.

  4. Where it settles

    A practical liturgical close: the Aśvins are repeatedly invited to Soma-drinking, with a prayer that the rite’s movements shine in balanced unity (same).

The deity: Varuṇa

  • In the VedaVaruṇa is celebrated as the Asura and viśvavedā (“all-knower”), the universal king (samrāṭ) whose ordinances uphold ṛta, encompassing all worlds and beings. He is the moral and cosmic sovereign who sees all, binds disorder, and maintains the vast structure of heaven and earth.
  • Cosmic functionGuardian of ṛta (cosmic order), stabilizer of the heavens, measurer and establisher of the earth’s expanse, and overseer of universal law and truth.
  • Inner significanceRepresents the inner law of conscience and truthfulness—an inward “order” that aligns thought, speech, and action with reality; the power that corrects deviation and restores integrity.

Famous verses

viśvet tāni varuṇasya vratāni
Verse 8.42.1Core theological statement: Varuṇa as viśvavedā and samrāṭ who established heaven and measured earth; all worlds are under his vratāni (ordinances).Read verse 8.42.1 →
nāsatyā somapītaye
Verse 8.42.4Shows the hymn’s ritual turn: the pressing-stones and inspired priests call the Aśvins to Soma-drinking, emphasizing harmonized movement in the rite.Read verse 8.42.4 →
evā vām ahva ūtaye
Verse 8.42.6Reinforces the invocation as traditional and efficacious—“as the wise have called before”—ending with the same Soma invitation and prayer for balanced unity.Read verse 8.42.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Viśvavedā (all-knowing)
  • Samrāṭ (universal sovereignty)
  • Upholder of ṛta
  • Ordainer of vratāni (cosmic/moral laws)
  • All-seeing, regulating and binding wrongdoing
  • Stabilizer of heaven and earth

Also by this seer

  • Because the rishi attribution is uncertain in the received tradition for this sukta, additional specific hymn attributions cannot be stated with confidence.

The rite, step by step

  • Establish intention: praise Varuṇa as upholder of ṛta and acknowledge his universal ordinances (vratāni).
  • Recite the opening verse(s) as a cosmic ‘foundation’—heaven fixed, earth measured, worlds ruled.
  • Transition to the Soma setting: align the rite’s movements and invite the Aśvins/Nāsatyas to the pressing-stones and Soma-drinking.
  • Conclude with a repeated invitation for aid (ūtaye) and for harmony/balanced unity in the ritual action (same).

Offerings

  • Soma (libation and drinking)
  • Ghee/oblations into fire (as customary accompaniment)
  • Praise (stuti) and formal invocation (āhvāna)

Frequently Asked Questions

It declares Varuṇa as the all-knowing universal king who established heaven and earth and rules everything through his laws of right order (vratāni/ṛta). It also links that cosmic order to the correct, harmonious performance of the Soma rite.

The hymn shifts into a Soma-sacrificial scene where multiple deities are invited. The Aśvins (Nāsatyas) are called to come quickly to the pressing and drink Soma, supporting the rite’s success and harmony.

It means Varuṇa’s fixed ordinances or laws—principles that keep the universe and moral life in order. The hymn says all worlds stand within these rules of truth and rightness (ṛta).

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