Sukta 87
Sukta 7.87
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.87)
Varuṇa
Triṣṭubh
वसिष्ठेनोक्तोऽयं वरुणसूक्तः ऋतस्य धारकं देवं स्तौति—यः सूर्यस्य पन्थानं व्यदधात्, नदीश्च नियतमार्गेषु प्रवर्तयामास। ततः सृष्टिनियमनात् रहस्योपदेशं प्रति गच्छति—वरुणो ‘अहिंस्यां धेनुम्’ इति गुप्तं रहस्यं वाचः निगूढं पदं च प्रकाशयति—अन्ते च अदितेर्धर्मेषु तस्याधीनं दीर्घकालिकं कल्याणं, निर्दोषत्वं, दयां च याचते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीॠतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥
रदत्पथो वरुणः सूर्याय प्रार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम् । सर्गो न सृष्टो अर्वतीऋतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ॥
Mantra 2
आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत्पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान् । अन्तर्मही बृहती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण प्रियाणि ॥
आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत्पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान् । अन्तर्मही बृहती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण प्रियाणि ॥
Mantra 3
परि स्पशो वरुणस्य स्मदिष्टा उभे पश्यन्ति रोदसी सुमेके । ऋतावानः कवयो यज्ञधीराः प्रचेतसो य इषयन्त मन्म ॥
परितः वरुणस्य स्पशः—स्मदिष्टाः—उभे रोदसी सुमेके पश्यन्ति। ऋतावानः कवयः यज्ञधीराः प्रचेतसः ये मन्म इषयन्ति, ते अस्मासु सत्यस्य प्रति प्रेरितं मननं जनयन्ति।
Mantra 4
उवाच मे वरुणो मेधिराय त्रिः सप्त नामाघ्न्या बिभर्ति । विद्वान्पदस्य गुह्या न वोचद्युगाय विप्र उपराय शिक्षन् ॥
वरुणो मे मेधिराय उवाच—“अघ्न्या गौः त्रिःसप्त नामानि बिभर्ति।” पदस्य गुह्यं विद्वान् स न प्रकाशं वोचत्; युगाय उपराय च विप्रं शिक्षन्।
Mantra 5
तिस्रो द्यावो निहिता अन्तरस्मिन्तिस्रो भूमीरुपराः षड्विधानाः । गृत्सो राजा वरुणश्चक्र एतं दिवि प्रेङ्खं हिरण्ययं शुभे कम् ॥
अस्मिन्नन्तरि तिस्रो द्यावः निहिताः, तिस्रो भूमय उपराः—षड्विधानाः लोकव्यवस्थाः। गृत्सो राजा वरुण एतं दिवि हिरण्यं प्रेङ्खं शुभे कम् अकरोत्।
Mantra 6
अव सिन्धुं वरुणो द्यौरिव स्थाद्द्रप्सो न श्वेतो मृगस्तुविष्मान् । गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा ॥
वरुणो महत्सिन्धुमुपरि द्यौरिवावतिष्ठते—श्वेतो द्रप्स इव तुविष्मान् मृग इव च चलद्-दृष्टिः। गम्भीरः शंसोऽस्य; रजसो विमानः। सुपारक्षत्रः सतोऽस्य राजा, ऋतस्य रक्षिता।
Mantra 7
यो मृळयाति चक्रुषे चिदागो वयं स्याम वरुणे अनागाः । अनु व्रतान्यदितेॠधन्तो यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
योऽपराधिनमपि मृळयति—वरुण, वयं स्याम अनागाः। अदितेर्व्रतान्यनु ऋधन्तः, यूयं नः सदा स्वस्तिभिः पात।
Inside Sukta 87
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Varuṇa as cosmic architect: hewn paths for the Sun and released the river-floods to the ocean in conformity with ṛta.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 VedaVaruṇa 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. He 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 ॥triḥ sapta nāmāghnyā bibharti
vayaṃ syāma varuṇe anāgāḥ
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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