Rig Veda 7.82.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 82, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.82
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
सम्राळन्यः स्वराळन्य उच्यते वां महान्ताविन्द्रावरुणा महावसू । विश्वे देवासः परमे व्योमनि सं वामोजो वृषणा सं बलं दधुः ॥
samrā́ḷ anyáḥ svārā́ḷ anyá ucyate vāṃ mahā́ntāv índrā́varuṇā mahā́vasū | víśve devā́saḥ paramé vyòmani sáṃ vām ójo vṛṣaṇā sáṃ bálaṃ dadhūḥ ||
सम्राळन्यः स्वराळन्य उच्यते वां, महान्ताविन्द्रावरुणा महावसू। विश्वे देवास्स परमे व्योमनि, सं वामोजो वृषणा सं बलं दधुः॥
Word by Word
- सम्राट्
- sovereign, supreme rulerAdjective (royal epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (as predicate/epithet) / Sambodhana-sense in praiseRoot सम्-राज् (प्रातिपदिक: सम्राट् < सम् + राज् ‘to rule’)
- अन्यः
- the one (other), one of the twoPronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (subject: ‘one [of the two]’)Root अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वराट्
- self-ruling, independent sovereignAdjective (royal epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (as predicate/epithet)Root स्व-राज् (प्रातिपदिक: स्वराट् < स्व + राज्)
- अन्यः
- the other onePronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (subject: ‘the other [of the two]’)Root अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- उच्यते
- is called, is saidVerbलट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (Verb) —Root वच् (धातु)
- वाम्
- of you two / you twoPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया द्विवचन (वैदिक रूप ‘वाम्’ = ‘of you two’/‘you two’)Role Sampradāna/Adhikaraṇa (contextual: ‘of/for you two’ in predication)Root युष्मद् (द्वितीय-पुरुष सर्वनाम)
- महान्तौ
- the two great (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Kartā (subject: the two great ones)Root महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रावरुणा
- Indra and VaruṇaNoun (dual deity-compound)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Kartā (subject)Root इन्द्र + वरुण (देवनाम; द्वन्द्व-समास)
- महावसू
- the two of great riches / great benefactorsAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole Kartā (apposition to Indra-Varuṇa)Root महा + वसु (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘having great wealth/goods’)
- विश्वे
- allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (subject of ‘dadhus’)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवासः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- परमे
- in the highestAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (agreeing with ‘व्योमनि’)Role Adhikaraṇa (locative: place)Root परम (प्रातिपदिक)
- व्योमनि
- in the sky / in the highest heavenNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinable (preverb)Role (modifies verb ‘दधुः’)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाम्
- of you twoPronounषष्ठी द्विवचन (वैदिक ‘वाम्’ = ‘of you two’)Role Sampradāna/Adhikaraṇa (possessive relation with ‘ओजः/बलम्’)Root युष्मद्
- ओजः
- might, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (object of ‘दधुः’)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषणा
- O you two mighty (bull-like ones)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, द्विवचन (वैदिक द्विवचन रूप)Role Sambodhana (address to the two) / appositional epithetRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull-like, mighty’)
- सम्
- togetherIndeclinableRole (modifies ‘दधुः’)Root सम् (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- बलम्
- strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot बल (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधुः
- they have placed/established, they bestowedVerbलिट् (परोक्स/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (Verb) —Root धा (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): सम्राळन्यः → सम्राट् + अन्यः
- स्वराळन्यः → स्वराट् + अन्यः
- वां → वाम् (द्विवचन सर्वनाम, ‘you two/of you two’)
- महान्ताविन्द्रावरुणा → महान्तौ + इन्द्रावरुणा
- महावसू → महा + वसू (समास-रूप, द्विवचन प्रथमा)
- विश्वे देवासः (no internal sandhi)
- परमे व्योमनि (no internal sandhi)
- सं वामोजो → सम् + वाम् + ओजः
- वृषणा सं → वृषणा + सम्
- बलं दधुः (anusvāra before dental). Accent marks in saṃhitā indicate Vedic udātta/svarita but do not change morphological segmentation
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indra and Varuṇa are praised as two great sovereign powers: one is called samrāṭ (universal ruler) and the other svarāṭ (self-ruler). In the highest heaven all the gods have placed in them united strength and power, as in two mighty bulls.
Inner meaning
In Aurobindonian psychology, Indra is the illumined Mind-force that breaks coverings and releases light; Varuṇa is the vast, law-bearing Infinity that upholds ṛta (cosmic order) and moral-spiritual truth. ‘Samrāṭ’ suggests the all-governing, world-embracing sovereignty of the Truth-Law (Varuṇa’s vastness governing the whole field). ‘Svarāṭ’ suggests self-rule: the inner mastery of the illumined consciousness (Indra’s sovereign clarity within). When all the ‘gods’ (powers of consciousness) set their ojas and bala in these two, it means the entire inner nature gathers its energies into two central supports: luminous discernment (Indra) and vast law/containment (Varuṇa). Together they make the seeker’s being capable of a unified spiritual government—force without disorder, vastness without vagueness.
Universal truth
True mastery is twofold: (1) inner self-mastery (svarājya) and (2) harmonious governance of the whole life-field by truth and law (samrājya). When our faculties unite behind clarity and integrity, power becomes beneficent and stable.
Themes
Divine kingship, Union of powers, Cosmic hierarchy, Praise of dual deities
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.86 (Varuṇa confession and release), RV 7.87 (Varuṇa’s vastness and law), RV 7.88 (Varuṇa and cosmic order), RV 7.82 (Indra-Varuṇa series)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha family of seers (Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7), noted for hymns to Varuṇa, Mitra-Varuṇa, and the harmonizing of power with ṛta.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s voice often moves between awe before the Vast (Varuṇa) and the need for inner rectitude, then integrates that vast law with effective divine power (Indra). This verse exemplifies the synthesis: sovereignty within and sovereignty over life through ṛta.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra-Varuṇa
- Epithets
- महान्तौ (mahāntau) great ones, महावसू (mahāvasū) great givers of substance/wealth, वृषणा (vṛṣaṇā) strong bulls
- Related deities
- Mitra (harmony/contract), Maruts (dynamic life-forces), Sūrya (illumined truth-light), Ādityas (powers of cosmic law)
Cosmic role
Indra establishes luminous order by breaking resistances; Varuṇa maintains cosmic law, vastness, and the binding harmony of ṛta. Together they stabilize and empower the cosmos and the sacrificer.
Inner power
Indra: decisive illumination, force of victory, release of light; Varuṇa: wideness, ethical-spiritual law, purity, containment and right measure. Their union yields ‘power in order’—effective action aligned with truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Indra-Varuṇa praise in Soma-related and general Śrauta recitations (invocation of combined sovereignty and strength).
स॒म्राळ॒न्यः स्व॒राळ॒न्य उ॑च्यते वां म॒हान्ता॒विन्द्रा॒वरु॑णा म॒हाव॑सू । विश्वे॑ दे॒वास॑: पर॒मे व्यो॑मनि॒ सं वा॒मोजो॑ वृषणा॒ सं बलं॑ दधुः ॥
स॒म्ऽराट् । अ॒न्यः । स्व॒ऽराट् । अ॒न्यः । उ॒च्य॒ते॒ । वा॒म् । म॒हान्तौ॑ । इन्द्रा॒वरु॑णा । म॒हाव॑सू॒ इति॑ म॒हाऽव॑सू । विश्वे॑ । दे॒वासः॑ । प॒र॒मे । विऽओ॑मनि । सम् । वा॒म् । ओजः॑ । वृ॒ष॒णा॒ । सम् । बल॑म् । द॒धुः॒ ॥
sam-rāṭ | anyaḥ | sva-rāṭ | anyaḥ | ucyate | vām | mahāntau | indrāvaruṇā | mahāvasūitimahāvasū | viśve | devāsaḥ | parame | vi-omani | sam | vām | ojaḥ | vṛṣaṇā | sam | balam | dadhuḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh cadence with strong caesura)
Firm, declarative, kingly—suited to proclaiming sovereignty and unified power.
Builds a sense of uplifted authority and collected energy; the listener feels gathered, steadied, and empowered in a wide inner space.
- सम्राट् (samrāṭ)
- Literal: universal king, sovereign over all. Symbolic: the all-governing truth-law that orders the whole being (cosmic sovereignty; vast governance)
- स्वराट् (svarāṭ)
- Literal: self-king, self-ruler. Symbolic: inner sovereignty; self-mastery of consciousness (autonomous luminous rule within)
- ओजः (ojas)
- Literal: vigor, vital/spiritual energy. Symbolic: concentrated force of consciousness; spiritual stamina
- बलम् (balam)
- Literal: strength, power. Symbolic: effective executive capacity; power to act in truth
- परमे व्योमनि (parame vyomani)
- Literal: in the highest heaven/space. Symbolic: supramental/overmental height; the wide inner sky of higher consciousness
- वृषणा (vṛṣaṇā)
- Literal: two bulls, potent ones. Symbolic: fecund powers that generate illumination and order in the being
Praise-verse establishing the joint sovereignty of the devatā-pair; used to invoke integrated force (Indra) and law/purity (Varuṇa) for a stable rite and right governance of energies.
During Soma pressing cycles or when invoking protective order and victorious power; also adaptable to daily recitation for inner governance.
Stotra/śastra-style praise to establish divine support and unity of powers in the yajña.
Use as a daily ‘inner kingship’ affirmation before work/decision-making: align clarity (Indra) with integrity and wideness (Varuṇa).
samrā́ṭ from sam- ‘together/over all’ + rā́j ‘to rule’ (PIE *h₃rḗǵs ‘king’). svārā́ṭ from svá- ‘self’ + rā́j, emphasizing autonomous sovereignty. vyòman ‘sky, expanse’ from √vyā ‘to spread’ → wide space; psychologically the spread of higher consciousness. ójas from √vaj/√ug? (Vedic semantic of vigor) denotes effective might; bála ‘strength’ from √bal ‘to be strong’.
Hierarchy of planes (parame vyoman), Integration of powers (saṃ ... dadhūḥ), Ṛta as divine governance (Varuṇa)
Varuṇa embodies ṛta; Indra enforces it by breaking the coverers. Their joint sovereignty is ṛta made effective.
Truth as both inner self-rule (truth within) and universal governance (truth over life).
The gods’ powers are coordinated in the ‘highest heaven’—a theme of hierarchical planes of consciousness supporting manifestation.
Proto-Vedāntic and Aurobindonian integral psychology: higher planes organize lower nature through truth and force.
The ‘highest sky’ is the wide inner expanse of higher mind/supramental openness; the ‘bulls’ are generative powers—illumination and law—that fecundate the psyche with strength and stable order.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of divine sovereignty: Varuṇa as encompassing overlord (samrāṭ) and Indra as autonomous masterful ruler (svārāṭ), with the other gods ‘placing’ their powers into this dyad. It encodes a theology of integration: the many powers converge into a decisive pair for action and order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The rā́j/rā́ṭ lexeme continues PIE *h₃rḗǵs ‘king’ (Latin rēx, Gaulish rīx). The poetic antithesis samrāṭ vs svārāṭ is an inherited Indo-European rhetorical device (paired epithets to map complementary sovereignty).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes the gods not as isolated forces but as a coordinated hierarchy: by naming their sovereignties, he aligns his own inner governance with theirs, inviting their consolidated ojas/bala to organize his being according to ṛta.
Unify inner clarity (Indra) with vast ethical-spiritual order (Varuṇa); cultivate ‘self-rule’ and ‘whole-life governance’.
ājñā (clarity/command) with sahasrāra/upper-vastness (wideness and law)
Nadi-śodhana or slow 1:2 breathing to balance force and restraint; brief pause after exhale to feel ‘law’ settling.
Collected, wide, and sovereign; the witness-mind becomes a ruler rather than a reactor.
Before chanting, set an intention: ‘May my power serve truth.’ After chanting, sit 2–3 minutes sensing a wide sky above the head and a clear directive light in the brow.
Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per Śākala tradition; preserve udātta peaks on key nouns (samrāṭ/svarāṭ/ojas/balam) and avoid flattening the cadence.
Keep each pāda’s main udātta as the ‘crown’ and let the cadence fall gently at pāda-end; maintain clear saṃhitā sandhi (e.g., indrāvaruṇā).
Distinguish retroflex ḻ/ḷ indications in transliteration from Sanskrit phonetics; chant the actual Sanskrit with clear ‘ḍ/ṭ/ṇ’ where present., वृषणा vṛṣaṇā: retroflex ṣ, and short a at end., परमे व्योमनि: articulate vy- cluster cleanly (vyo-)., ओजः/बलम्: keep visarga (ḥ) crisp, not swallowed.
Regal, steady, resonant chest-to-head balance; avoid haste—let the sovereignty ‘land’.
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