Rig Veda 5.63.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 63, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.63
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
धर्मणा मित्रावरुणा विपश्चिता व्रता रक्षेथे असुरस्य मायया । ऋतेन विश्वं भुवनं वि राजथः सूर्यमा धत्थो दिवि चित्र्यं रथम् ॥
dhármaṇā mitrāvaruṇā vipaścitā vratā́ rakṣethe ásurasya māyáyā | ṛténa víśvaṃ bhúvanaṃ ví rājathaḥ sū́ryam ā́ dhattho diví citryáṃ rátham ||
హే మిత్ర-వరుణులారా! ధర్మం (ధర్మణా) ద్వారా, వివేకవంతులు (విపశ్చితా) అయి, అసురుని మాయాశక్తితో మీరు వ్రతాలు/నియమాలను రక్షిస్తారు. ఋతం (ఋతేన) ద్వారా మీరు సమస్త భువన-విశ్వంపై విరాజిల్లుతారు; దివిలో సూర్యుణ్ని అతని చిత్ర్య (దీప్తిమంతమైన) రథంపై స్థాపించారు.
Word by Word
- धर्मणा
- by/through (cosmic) law, by dharmaNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot धर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) < धृ (धातु) ‘धारणे’
- मित्रावरुणा
- Mitra and VaruṇaNoun (dual compound)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot मित्र + वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- विपश्चिता
- the two wise/insightful onesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा द्विवचन (मित्रावरुणयोः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot वि-पश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘विवेकी/प्रज्ञावान्’
- व्रता
- vows, ordinances, sacred lawsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- रक्षेथे
- you two protect/guardVerbलट् (वर्त्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot रक्ष् (धातु) ‘पालने’
- असुरस्य
- of the Asura (lord)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- मायया
- by (his/your) māyā, by wondrous powerNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot माया (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतेन
- by ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्वम्
- all, the entireAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (भुवनम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्मRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनम्
- world, existence, the universeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक) < भू (धातु) ‘भवने’
- वि
- apart, widely, distinctlyIndeclinable (preverb)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- राजथः
- you two rule/shine forthVerbलट् (वर्त्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot राज् (धातु) ‘दीप्तौ/राज्ये’
- सूर्यम्
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, unto; inIndeclinable (preverb)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धत्थः
- you two have set/placedVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट; वैदिक-प्रयोग); मध्यमपुरुष; द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot धा (धातु) ‘धारणे/स्थापने’
- दिवि
- in heaven, in the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक); सप्तमी एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्र्यम्
- wondrous, bright, splendidAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (रथम् इति विशेष्यस्य)Role कर्मRoot चित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) < चित्र ‘variegated, wondrous’
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): धर्म॑णा | मित्रावरुणा | विपश्चिता | व्र॒ता | र॑क्षेथे | असु॑रस्य | मा॒यया॑ । ऋ॒तेन॒ | विश्वम् | भुव॑नम् | वि | रा॑जथ॒ः | सूर्य॒म् | आ | ध॑त्थः | दि॒वि | चित्र्य॑म् | रथ॑म् ॥ 1) ‘विश्वं भुवनं’ → ‘विश्वम् भुवनम्’ (अनुस्वारस्य परसवर्ण/पदपाठे मकारः). 2) ‘सूर्यम् आ’ इत्यत्र म् + आ (पदसीमा; संहितायां दीर्घसन्धिः न आवश्यकः). 3) ‘वि राजथः’ उपसर्ग ‘वि’ क्रियापद ‘राजथः’ इत्यनेन संयुक्तः (विराजथः अर्थे ‘विस्तरेण/विशेषेण राजथः’). 4) उच्चारणचिह्नाः (॑/॒) संहितापाठानुसारं
- पदच्छेदे शब्दरूपं अपरिवर्तितम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
By dharma, O Mitra and Varuṇa, wise, you guard the ordinances through the Asura’s māyā. By ṛta you reign over all the world; you set the Sun in heaven on his radiant chariot.
Inner meaning
Dharma here is the intrinsic law of right being; Mitra-Varuṇa, as discerning powers, protect the inner vows/ordinances (vrata)—the soul’s disciplines and the cosmic principles within us—through māyā as sovereign formative power. Ṛta is the truth-order by which all becoming is harmonized. Setting the Sun on his radiant chariot is establishing the truth-vision in the higher mind so it governs life: illumination is not a passing flash but enthroned, made mobile and effective.
Universal truth
A life becomes luminous and rightly ordered when truth is not merely known but स्थापित (set) as the ruling power: dharma guards practice, ṛta governs becoming, and the sun of discernment is enthroned above confusion.
Themes
Cosmic law and governance, Establishment of truth-vision, Integration of order and light
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Other hymns
- RV 7.86, RV 7.87, RV 5.62-5.64
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha is a master-voice of ṛta and dharma in the Ṛgveda, often speaking from an ethical-spiritual interiority: law is not external compulsion but the soul’s right alignment with the cosmic order.
Significance
This verse is quintessential Vasiṣṭha: protection of inner vrata by dharma, governance by ṛta, and enthronement of the sun of truth—an integral map of spiritual kingship.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra-Varuṇa
- Epithets
- vipaścitā (wise), samrājā (co-sovereigns, from the hymn context), ṛta-vrata (keepers of ṛta and vrata, thematic)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Ādityas, Agni (as inner priest of right action)
Cosmic role
Guardians of cosmic and social order; establish the sun and uphold the laws that make the world intelligible and stable.
Inner power
They establish ethical-spiritual alignment (dharma), protect inner disciplines (vrata), and enthrone illumination (sūrya) so the mind becomes a chariot of truth.
In ritual
Where it is used
Āditya invocations emphasizing law and order; suitable in rites seeking protection of vows, social harmony, and truthfulness.
धर्म॑णा मित्रावरुणा विपश्चिता व्र॒ता र॑क्षेथे॒ असु॑रस्य मा॒यया॑ । ऋ॒तेन॒ विश्वं॒ भुव॑नं॒ वि रा॑जथ॒: सूर्य॒मा ध॑त्थो दि॒वि चित्र्यं॒ रथ॑म् ॥
धर्म॑णा । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । वि॒पः॒ऽचि॒ता॒ । व्र॒ता । र॒क्षे॒थे॒ इति॑ । असु॑रस्य । मा॒यया॑ । ऋ॒तेन॑ । विश्व॑म् । भुव॑नम् । वि । रा॒ज॒थः॒ । सूर्य॑म् । आ । ध॒त्थः॒ । दि॒वि । चित्र्य॑म् । रथ॑म् ॥
dharmaṇā | mitrāvaruṇā | vipaḥ-citā | vratā | rakṣetheiti | asurasya | māyayā | ṛtena | viśvam | bhuvanam | vi | rājathaḥ | sūryam | ā | dhatthaḥ | divi | citryam | ratham
44
4×11 (approx.)
Judicial and (establishing): firm declarative beats on dharma/vrata/ṛta, culminating in a vivid solar enthronement image.
Creates inner rectitude and clarity; strengthens resolve to keep vows and aligns the mind to a higher governing light.
- धर्मणा (dharmaṇā)
- Literal: by dharma, by law/rightness. Symbolic: inner right being; the true way of the soul and nature aligned
- विपश्चिता (vipaścitā)
- Literal: wise, discerning. Symbolic: luminous intelligence that distinguishes truth from mixture
- व्रता (vratā)
- Literal: vows, ordinances. Symbolic: inner disciplines and fixed truths of the path; laws of the soul’s progress
- रक्षेथे (rakṣethe)
- Literal: you protect. Symbolic: guarding the aspirant’s alignment; preventing deviation into falsehood
- असुरस्य मायया (asurasya māyayā)
- Literal: by the Asura’s māyā. Symbolic: by sovereign formative power that establishes order in manifestation
- ऋतेन (ṛtena)
- Literal: by ṛta. Symbolic: truth-order; harmony of cosmic and psychological law
- वि राजथः (vi rājathaḥ)
- Literal: you reign, shine forth as rulers. Symbolic: pervasive governance of consciousness by truth and harmony
- सूर्यम्… चित्र्यं रथम् (sūryam… citryaṃ ratham)
- Literal: the Sun… radiant chariot. Symbolic: truth-vision set in the higher mind as an effective, moving power guiding life
Foundational verse for invoking Mitra-Varuṇa as guardians of vrata and establisher of Sūrya (truth-vision); suitable for rites emphasizing moral-cosmic order and clarity of vision.
At moments of establishing order—commencements, vows, reconciliations; also as a protective recitation for moral-spiritual steadiness.
Praise and affirmation of ṛta; offerings to Mitra-Varuṇa for protection and right governance.
Use as a ‘dharma mantra’ before commitments: chant to guard integrity, stabilize practice, and enthrone discernment above impulses.
dhárman from √dhṛ ‘to hold, support’ → that which holds together: law/rightness. vipaścit ‘widely-seeing’ (vi- + paś ‘see’). vratá ‘vow/ordinance’ (√vṛ ‘choose/will’ or fixed resolve; in RV: cosmic ordinance). √rāj ‘to rule/shine’ again links sovereignty and radiance. ā-√dhā ‘to place, set’. The verse explicitly binds dharma–vrata–ṛta as a coherent system of right order.
dharma, vrata, ṛta, māyā as ordering power
Explicit: by ṛta they reign over all becoming—order is the basis of world-process and inner evolution.
Sūrya as satya-jyoti established in heaven indicates truth enthroned as governing vision.
Cosmos as lawful manifestation: formative power (māyā) establishes ordinances; ṛta maintains; sun symbolizes the guiding truth-consciousness.
Dharma-ṛta synthesis anticipating later Vedāntic-ethical interiorization; strongly compatible with Sri Aurobindo’s ‘Truth-Consciousness’ governance theme.
day/solar zenith symbolism (governance)
Sun = discerning truth-vision; chariot = mind-instrument made radiant; heaven = higher mind-plane where truth is established.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem of ‘establishing the Sun’: Mitra-Varuṇa set Sūrya in heaven on a radiant chariot, while guarding cosmic ordinances. Psychologically, the powers of harmony and vast law establish the higher truth-vision in the mind and protect the disciplines (vrata) that sustain inner order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √paś ‘see’ in vipaścit connects to Indo-European seeing/knowing lexemes (cf. Latin specio ‘see’ via *spek̂- is a different root, but the semantic domain is shared). The dyew-/div lexicon and solar imagery again reflect inherited Indo-European cosmology of sky-light as seat of truth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi entrusts his inner discipline to the gods: they are invoked as protectors of vrata (right practices) and as establishers of the inner Sun (stable illumination). The reciprocity is ethical-spiritual: alignment to dharma invites the gods’ governance, yielding a fixed truth-vision that rules the whole becoming.
Establish ‘sun in heaven’: place the witness-light above the mind; renew inner vows (vrata) under dharma; let actions align spontaneously to ṛta.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā axis (sun enthroned above)
Nadi-śodhana (alternate nostril) to balance (Mitra) and widen (Varuṇa); then silent gaze at the ‘inner sun’ between the brows.
Clear, lawful, wide; moral strength without rigidity.
Choose one vrata for the day (truthful speech, non-reactivity, steady practice). Chant, then visualize a radiant sun-chariot above the head guiding thoughts; whenever deviation arises, recall ‘dharmaṇā… rakṣethe’.
Triṣṭubh with solemn udātta on dharmaṇā, mitrāvaruṇā, vratā, ṛtena, sūryam; keep svarita as controlled descent to convey ‘law’.
Speak ‘dharmaṇā… vratā rakṣethe’ with firm steadiness; broaden on ‘ṛtena viśvam’; lift brightly on ‘sūryam ā dhattho’ and let ‘citryaṃ ratham’ ring.
dharmaṇā: retroflex ṇ; keep ‘dh’ voiced aspirate., vipaścitā: ś (palatal) clear; do not turn into ‘s’., ṛtena: vocalic ṛ crisp, not ‘ri’., dhattho: aspirated thth cluster—articulate without over-hardening., citryaṃ: ‘tr’ cluster clean; final anusvāra as light nasal before next sound/pause.
Grave, even, authoritative; end luminous on the solar image.
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