Rig Veda 7.88.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 88, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.88
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Karuna (compassion)
अधा न्वस्य संदृशं जगन्वानग्नेरनीकं वरुणस्य मंसि । स्वर्यदश्मन्नधिपा उ अन्धोऽभि मा वपुर्दृशये निनीयात् ॥
adhā́ nv asya saṃdṛ́śaṃ jaganvān agnér anī́kaṃ váruṇasya maṃsi | svàr yád áśmann adhipā́ u ándho ’bhí mā vápur dṛśáye ninīyāt ||
Então fui contemplar a sua visão — o rosto de Agni no pensamento de Varuṇa. Quando Svar, o Sol, está posto sobre a pedra, que a treva cega não arraste a minha forma para longe do ver; que o meu ser permaneça voltado para a luz.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, thereuponIndeclinableअव्यय (निपात)Root अध
- नु
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (निपात)Root नु
- अस्य
- of him/this (one)Pronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) / षष्ठी-सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → अस्य
- संदृशम्
- the sight/vision, appearanceNounनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (with जगन्वान् ‘having gone/approached’ → ‘having reached the sight’)Root संदृश् (प्रातिपदिक: सं-दृश) / सं + दृश्
- जगन्वान्
- having gone/come, having reachedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्तवत्-प्रत्यय (perfect-based possessive: ‘having gone/come’)Role कर्ता (of implied ‘I/one’ in context) / कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot गम् (धातु) → जगन्- (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट-आधार) + वान्
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनीकम्
- face, front, aspectNounनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of mental perception ‘in mind’)Root अनीक (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणस्य
- of VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- मंसि
- in (the) mindNounनपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: मंसि = मनसि)Role अधिकरण (locus: ‘in the mind’)Root मन्/मनस् (प्रातिपदिक: मनस्; loc. sg. Vedic: मंसि)
- स्वः
- heaven, the heavenly lightNounनपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वैदिक: स्वः = स्वर्गम्/द्युलोकम् as object) अथवा अव्ययवत् प्रयोगRole कर्म (goal/object with यत्) / गत्यर्थ-सम्बन्धRoot स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- when/that whichPronounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक ‘when/that which’Role सम्बन्ध (relative connector)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- अश्मन्
- on the stone, on the rockNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैदिक: अश्मन् = ‘stone/rock’ loc.)Role अधिकरण (upon/on the stone)Root अश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)उपसर्ग/उपपदRole अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध (on/upon)Root अधि
- पा
- the drinker (Soma-drinker)Noun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्ता (of निनीयात्) / कर्तृ-पदRoot पा (धातु ‘to drink’) → पा (नाम/कृदन्त-आधार ‘drinker’)
- उ
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्यय (निपात; emphatic)Root उ
- अन्धः
- Soma-juice, the pressed draughtNounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (वैदिक: अन्धः = सोमः/सोमरसः)Role कर्म (what is drunk/what is brought) or apposition to पा (‘drinker of soma’)Root अन्धस् (प्रातिपदिक; सोमरस/रस)
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्गRole प्रति/अभिमुख-सम्बन्धRoot अभि
- मा
- mePronounप्रथमपुरुष? (actually 1st person pronoun), द्वितीया, एकवचन (enclitic)Role कर्म (object: ‘me’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम) → मा
- वपुः
- form, beauty, appearanceNounनपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of दृशये ‘to show’)Root वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- दृशये
- for showing, to make (it) visibleVerbलोट्/विधिलिङ्?; here best as infinitival-dative in Vedic: दृशये = ‘for showing’ (दृश् + य-प्रत्यय; दतिव-प्रयोग)Role प्रयोजन (purpose: ‘for (me) to see/for showing’)Root दृश् (धातु) → दृशय (causative stem) / or denom. ‘to show’
- निनीयात्
- may he lead/bring (it)Verbविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, एकवचनRole क्रिया (main verb); कर्ता = पाRoot नी (धातु; नि + नी)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved as: अधा + नु + अस्य
- सं॒दृशं (sam- + dṛśam) kept as one pada
- जगन्वान् (perfect-based kṛdanta from √गम्)
- मंसि is Vedic locative for मनसि
- स्वः + यत् (no further internal split in pada text)
- अधि + पा (pāda boundary: अधि॒पा = अधि पा, ‘drinker upon/at’ i.e., seated at the stone)
- अन्धोऽभि = अन्धः + अभि (visarga before vowel → ’)
- all other forms are straightforward padapāṭha-style separations
The meaning
Outer meaning
The seer goes to behold a vision: the face (anīka) of Agni within the thought (maṃsi) of Varuṇa. When the sun is set upon the stone, he prays that blind darkness not pull his form away from seeing, but that he remain turned to the light.
Inner meaning
Vasiṣṭha describes an inner yogic perception: the Flame of divine Will (Agni) reveals its “countenance” inside the vast, law-bearing consciousness of Varuṇa (inner wideness and purity). When the illumining Sun of truth-consciousness seems to “set” upon the hard stone of fixed habit/subconscient inertia (aśman), the seeker prays that tamas (andho) not seize the embodied personality (vapus) and drag it away from the faculty of inner sight (dṛś). The movement is a discipline of keeping the being oriented to svar—higher light.
Universal truth
Spiritual vision is preserved by sustained orientation to truth when consciousness descends into density. The divine Will must be seen within the law of truth (ṛta) so that darkness cannot appropriate the personality.
Themes
vision vs darkness, Agni within Varuṇa, inner ascent, guarding the embodied being
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇi tradition for Maṇḍala 7)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.86, RV 7.87, RV 7.89, RV 7.90
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha family hymns emphasize ṛta, inner truth, and the guidance of Varuṇa-Mitra; a strong contemplative strain with ethical-psychological purification.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha is a paradigmatic seer of inner wideness and right law (ṛta); his Varuṇa hymns often read as a yoga of conscience, purification, and restored intimacy with the Infinite.
The deity
- Devata
- Varuṇa (with Agni as inner face/aspect)
- Epithets
- svadhāvaḥ (master of self-law), ṛtāvān (upholder of ṛta), pāśin (holder of the noose), urukṣaya (wide-dwelling)
- Related deities
- Mitra, Agni, Sūrya, Uṣas
Cosmic role
Guardian of cosmic order and truth, ruler of the vastness (uru), harmonizer of waters and heavens, restrainer of falsehood through the law.
Inner power
The power of inner purity, conscience, vastness, and truth-vision; the force that binds the being to ṛta and releases it from tamas by right alignment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Varuṇa-related śānti and expiatory contexts; recitation in evening or liminal times for protection of truth and sight.
अधा॒ न्व॑स्य सं॒दृशं॑ जग॒न्वान॒ग्नेरनी॑कं॒ वरु॑णस्य मंसि । स्व१॒॑र्यदश्म॑न्नधि॒पा उ॒ अन्धो॒ऽभि मा॒ वपु॑र्दृ॒शये॑ निनीयात् ॥
अध॑ । नु । अ॒स्य॒ । स॒म्ऽदृश॑म् । ज॒ग॒न्वान् । अ॒ग्नेः । अनी॑कम् । वरु॑णस्य । मं॒सि॒ । स्वः॑ । यत् । अश्म॑न् । अ॒धि॒ऽपाः । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । अन्धः॑ । अ॒भि । मा॒ । वपुः॑ । दृ॒शये॑ । नि॒नी॒या॒त् ॥
adha | nu | asya | sam-dṛśam | jaganvān | agneḥ | anīkam | varuṇasya | maṃs i | svaḥ | yat | aśman | adhi-pāḥ | oṃ iti | andhaḥ | abhi | mā | vapuḥ | dṛśaye | ninīyāt
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each
Grave, forward-driving cadence with room for contemplative pauses at caesurae.
Builds steady inner resolve; supports a movement from vision to prayerful protection against obscuration.
- saṃdṛśam
- Literal: a seeing, vision, appearance. Symbolic: inner revelation; direct yogic perception
- agner anīkam
- Literal: Agni’s face/front. Symbolic: the manifest power of divine Will as a perceivable Presence
- varuṇasya maṃsi
- Literal: in Varuṇa’s thought/mind. Symbolic: in the vast truth-consciousness that upholds ṛta and inner purity
- svar
- Literal: sunlight/heavenly light. Symbolic: supramental/illumined consciousness
- aśman
- Literal: stone. Symbolic: inertia, hardened formations, subconscient fixity
- andhaḥ
- Literal: blind darkness. Symbolic: tamas that removes discernment and inner sight
- vapuḥ
- Literal: form/body. Symbolic: the embodied personality-formation vulnerable to obscuration
- dṛśaye
- Literal: for seeing. Symbolic: the awakened faculty of inner vision
Contemplative verse; can accompany Agni–Varuṇa linked recitations in Soma ritual sequences, emphasizing inner vision and protection from obscuration.
At transitions (dusk), or when seeking release from fault (āgas) and restoration of ṛta.
Japa/recitation with water-offering symbolism; inward ‘turning to light’ as sankalpa.
Use as a dusk meditation mantra to prevent relapse into inertia: reaffirm orientation to inner light when clarity ‘sets’.
anīka ‘face/front’ is a key RV term for the manifest aspect of a power (Agni’s visible ‘front’). andha ‘blind’ from √andh, darkness/obscuration; psychological darkness as avidyā-like state. √nī ‘lead’ (PIE *neh₁- ‘lead’) used here for being drawn away from vision.
inner vision (saṃdṛś), Agni as will in mind (manas), ignorance as blindness (andha), protection of consciousness from descent
Varuṇa’s ‘thought’ is the field of ṛta where Agni becomes visible as right will.
Prayer that the being remain aligned to truth-vision rather than the falsifying pull of darkness.
Light upheld against the covering; the sun/light established over the ‘stone’ of density.
Proto-Vedāntic and yogic-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): ascent to svar and resistance of the subconscient.
dusk (sun ‘set’)
At the moment clarity wanes, the seeker holds the inner flame in the vast truth-consciousness so embodied nature is not seized by tamas.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The seer’s approach to divine vision and the threat of ‘blind darkness’ pulling him from sight: a mythologem of ascent to luminous perception guarded against relapse into obstruction (aśman) and obscurity (andha).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √man in maṃsi continues PIE *men- ‘think’. √nī ‘lead’ reflects PIE *neh₁- (cf. Latin dūcō is different root; but PIE ‘lead’ family appears in several branches). dyu/svar imagery aligns with PIE sky-light lexicon, typical of IE poetic inheritance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks Varuṇa not only as moral sovereign but as inner guide to vision: Agni’s ‘face’ appears within Varuṇa’s mind-order, and the prayer asks that the divine order prevent the consciousness from being led away by darkness.
Hold the inner flame (will to truth) inside vast, law-bearing awareness; refuse the pull of tamas at liminal moments.
ājñā (inner sight) with support from anāhata (vastness)
Slow exhale-focused breathing at dusk; on inhale ‘svar’ (light), on exhale ‘andhaḥ’ released.
Pratyāhāra moving into dhāraṇā—turning the being toward inner light.
At the first sign of dullness, recollect the inner Agni; widen awareness (Varuṇa) before seeking intensity. End by a firm intention: ‘my being remains for seeing’.
Triṣṭubh with Vedic svaras (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; maintain clear udātta lifts on key verbs and deity-terms.
Sustain udātta on devatā-names (agnéḥ, váruṇasya) and on ‘svár’; avoid flattening the cadence at pāda ends—let the last 2–3 syllables settle.
Keep retroflex in aśman (aś-man), not ‘asman’., andho: nasalized ‘n’ is absent—pronounce ‘an-dho’ with clear aspirated dh., dṛśaye: vocalic ṛ in dṛ-, and palatal ś (not s)., anīkam: long ī held cleanly.
Low, steady, inward-focused; brighten slightly on ‘svar’.
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