Rig Veda 7.64.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 64, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.64
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ राजाना मह ऋतस्य गोपा सिन्धुपती क्षत्रिया यातमर्वाक् । इळां नो मित्रावरुणोत वृष्टिमव दिव इन्वतं जीरदानू ॥
ā́ rājānā maha ṛtásya gopā síndhupatī kṣatriyā yātam arvā́k | iḷā́ṃ no mitrāvaruṇota vṛ́ṣṭim áva divá invataṃ jīradānū ||
来吧，二位王者，伟大的ṛta守护者，诸流之主，具王权的刹帝利——向我们近前而来。密特拉与伐楼那啊，请赐予我们伊ḷā（滋养的灵感），也赐天之雨；赐久长赠与者啊，愿天上的水流倾降入我们的生命。
Word by Word
- आ
- hither, towards (as preverb)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (preverb), अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- राजाना
- the two kingsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (acc. du.)Role KarmaRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- महा
- great (two)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन (acc. du.), ‘राजाना’ विशेषणRole KarmaRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (gen. sg.)Role Sambandha (genitive relation)Root ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोपौ
- the two guardiansNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (nom. du.)Role KartāRoot गोपा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिन्धुपती
- the two lords of the rivers/seaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (nom. du.)Role KartāRoot सिन्धुपति (प्रातिपदिक; सिन्धु+पति)
- क्षत्रिया
- the two kṣatriya(-like), ruling/protecting onesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (nom. du.), ‘सिन्धुपती/गोपौ’ विशेषणRole KartāRoot क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- यातम्
- come, go (you two)Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot या (धातु)
- अर्वाक्
- hither, towards usIndeclinableअव्यय (directional adverb)Role Adhikaraṇa (direction/goal)Root अर्वाक् (अव्यय)
- इळाम्
- Iḷā (nourishment/refreshment; also a goddess/oblation)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc. sg.)Role KarmaRoot इळा/इडा (प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (gen. pl.)Role Sampradāna (beneficiary, ‘for us’)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- मित्रावरुणौ
- Mitra and VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (nom. du.)Role KartāRoot मित्रावरुण (प्रातिपदिक; द्वन्द्व)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक निपातRoot उत (अव्यय)
- वृष्टिम्
- rainNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (acc. sg.)Role KarmaRoot वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव
- down, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (down, forth)Root अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दिवः
- from heaven/skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (abl. sg.)Role ApādānaRoot द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्वतम्
- set in motion, send (you two)Verbलोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदRoot इन्/इन्व् (धातु; ‘to set in motion, impel’)
- जीरदानू
- O you two of swift gifts / quick-givingAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, द्विवचन (voc./nom. du.), ‘मित्रावरुणौ’ विशेषणRole SambodhanaRoot जीरदानु (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय: जीर+दानु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): आ | राजाना | महा | ऋतस्य | गोपा (→ गोपौ nom.du.) | सिन्धुपती | क्षत्रिया | यातम् | अर्वाक् || इळाम् | नः | मित्रावरुणौ | उत | वृष्टिम् | अव | दिवः | इन्वतम् | जीरदानू । प्रमुख संधि/रूप-विशेष: (1) ‘गोपा’ पदपाठे
- संहितायां द्विवचन-प्रथमा ‘गोपौ’ (आ-प्रगृह्य/औ-प्रत्यय). (2) ‘मित्रावरुणो॒त’ = ‘मित्रावरुणौ + उत’ (औ + उ → ओ; संहितायां ‘-ओत’). (3) ‘दिव इ॑न्वतम्’ = ‘दिवः + इन्वतम्’ (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते स्वर-सन्धौ). (4) ‘आ … यातम्’ में ‘आ’ उपसर्गः ‘या’ धातोः सह ‘आ-या’ (आगमनार्थ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The two kings Mitra and Varuṇa, great guardians of ṛta and lords of the rivers/streams, are invoked to come near. They are asked to give iḷā (nourishing inspiration) and the rain from heaven, letting the higher waters descend as enduring gifts.
Inner meaning
Mitra–Varuṇa are the twin powers of harmony (Mitra) and vast law/truth (Varuṇa) that govern the inner order (ṛta). “Lords of the sindhus” becomes mastery over the flowing currents of consciousness and life-force. The seeker calls these sovereign powers to draw near so that inspired discernment (iḷā) and the descent of higher consciousness (“rain of heaven”) can irrigate the mind-life and make it fertile for right action. Their “enduring gifts” indicate stable realizations, not passing experiences.
Universal truth
When the inner life is aligned to truth-order (ṛta) through harmony and vastness, higher knowledge and grace descend naturally, transforming and sustaining the whole being.
Themes
rain-and-waters, sovereign-guardianship, descent
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.1, RV 7.60, RV 7.61, RV 7.62, RV 7.63, RV 7.65
Family tradition
Seer of Maṇḍala 7; tradition emphasizes ṛta, divine order, and the kingly/solar powers guiding the human journey.
Significance
Vasiṣṭha’s voice is of steady realization: establishing the seeker in truth-order (ṛta) and invoking the sovereign guardians (Mitra–Varuṇa) for protection, wideness, and right governance of the inner nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Mitra–Varuṇa
- Epithets
- rājānā (two kings), mahaḥ (great), ṛtasya gopā (guardians of ṛta), sindhupatī (lords of the streams), kṣatriyā (sovereign powers), jīradānū (givers of enduring gifts)
- Related deities
- Aryaman, Bhaga, Aditi, Indra (illumination), Soma (bliss)
Cosmic role
They maintain cosmic and moral order: Mitra establishes concord and right relation; Varuṇa upholds vast truth, law, and the binding harmony of the worlds.
Inner power
Mitra: harmonizing intelligence and goodwill that unites parts of the being; Varuṇa: vast, purifying truth-force that compels sincerity and releases higher waters of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Mitra–Varuṇa stotra/śastra context in Soma and daily rites (general invocation rather than a single fixed karma).
आ रा॑जाना मह ऋतस्य गोपा॒ सिन्धु॑पती क्षत्रिया यातम॒र्वाक् । इळां॑ नो मित्रावरुणो॒त वृ॒ष्टिमव॑ दि॒व इ॑न्वतं जीरदानू ॥
आ । रा॒जा॒ना॒ । म॒हः॒ । ऋ॒त॒स्य॒ । गो॒पा॒ । सिन्धु॑पती॒ इति॒ सिन्धु॑ऽपती । क्ष॒त्रि॒या॒ । या॒त॒म् । अ॒र्वाक् । इळा॑म् । नः॒ । मि॒त्रा॒व॒रु॒णा॒ । उ॒त । वृ॒ष्टिम् । अव॑ । दि॒वः । इ॒न्व॒त॒म् । जी॒रद॒ा॒नू॒ इति॑ जीरऽदानू ॥
ā | rājānā | mahaḥ | ṛtasya | gopā | sindhupatī itisindhu-patī | kṣatriyā | yātam | arvāk | iḷām | naḥ | mitrāvaruṇā | uta | vṛṣṭim | ava | divaḥ | invatam | jīradānū iti jīra-dānū
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4 pādas × ~11 syllables (with common Vedic resolutions/variations)
Forward-driving, declarative, with a sovereign cadence suited to invocation and command-prayer.
Builds inner steadiness and aspiration; the rhythm supports a sense of lawful descent—calling down ‘rain’ into the system.
- ऋतस्य गोपा (ṛtasya gopā)
- Literal: guardians of ṛta. Symbolic: powers that uphold inner truth-order and right movement of consciousness
- सिन्धुपती (sindhupatī)
- Literal: lords of the rivers. Symbolic: masters of the streaming currents of life and mind; regulators of inner flow
- क्षत्रिया (kṣatriyā)
- Literal: sovereigns/warrior-rulers. Symbolic: executive powers that enforce the law of the being and protect the soul’s progress
- इळा (iḷā)
- Literal: refreshment, nourishment; inspired speech. Symbolic: illumined inspiration and right discernment that feeds the inner sacrifice
- वृष्टि (vṛṣṭi)
- Literal: rain. Symbolic: descent of higher consciousness/force from the supramental or luminous mind
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: of heaven. Symbolic: from the higher planes of awareness
- जीरदानू (jīradānū)
- Literal: givers of lasting gifts. Symbolic: bestowers of stable realizations and enduring inner supports
Invocation for order and rain; usable in rites seeking rainfall and prosperity, and in inner practice as prayer for descent of higher forces (waters) and inspired speech
Morning or daylight invocations; also whenever ṛta-protection and right governance are sought.
Recitation/chant as āhvāna (invocation) with offerings (ghee/oblations) in the wider liturgy.
Use as a morning alignment mantra: invoke harmony and truth, then sit to receive ‘higher waters’ (clarity, calm force) into mind and life.
sindhu- 'river, stream' + pati 'lord' frames the gods as rulers of flows; psychologically, they govern currents of life-force and consciousness. iḷā: a complex Vedic term spanning nourishment, invocation, and inspired speech; innerly, it is the sustaining word-force that feeds the ascent. vṛṣṭi- 'rain' becomes the descent of higher waters (a common Vedic symbol for knowledge/force descending). √inv 'set in motion' parallels prasava vocabulary: divine impulsion of descending abundance.
Ṛta guarded by sovereign powers, descent of higher waters (grace/knowledge), iḷā as nourishing inspiration
Explicit: Mitra–Varuṇa are ‘gopā’ of ṛta—protectors and enforcers of right movement.
Truth as law that must be lived; sincerity invites the descent of higher help.
Descent of the heavenly waters: the higher worlds nourish and shape the lower through ordered influx.
Proto-Vedānta/Vedic integral psychology (Aurobindo/Kashyap style): cosmic powers as functions of consciousness.
Rain/heavenly waters = descending illumination and force; rivers = currents of prāṇa and thought; guardianship = inner ethical-spiritual law that keeps the flow pure and purposeful.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Ādityas as kings and guardians who command the waters: they are ‘lords of the rivers’ and send down rain. Innerly, the sovereign powers regulate the flows of consciousness and can cause a descent of higher nourishment (iḷā) and abundance (vṛṣṭi) into the seeker’s life.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The title ‘lord’ (pati) is a common Indo-Iranian/IE social-sacral term used for divine mastery. The water/rain symbolism is pan-IE as a carrier of fertility and blessing, here spiritualized into descent of higher force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi calls the kings ‘hither’ and requests two boons: iḷā (nourishing inspiration) and vṛṣṭi (descending abundance). The gods reciprocate by sending the heavenly waters and sustaining the seeker’s right order under ṛta.
Align the mind-life to ṛta: harmony (Mitra) + wideness/sincerity (Varuṇa), then receive the ‘rain’ of higher clarity.
Ājñā (clarity) and Anāhata (harmony)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–12 rounds; then silent receptive breathing on the sense of ‘descent’.
Quiet wideness with downward settling of light/peace into the vital and body.
Begin with an inner offering: ‘Let my movements be governed by truth.’ Chant once slowly, then sit 7–10 minutes imagining higher waters descending through the crown into the heart and navel, stabilizing as ‘enduring gifts’.
Follow śākala RV recitation with udatta/anudatta/svarita as marked in the pada text tradition; maintain clear udātta lifts on key invocatory words (ā, rājānā, mitrāvaruṇā).
Sustain the opening ‘ā’ as an inviting rise; keep compound accents crisp: síndhupatī, mitrāvaruṇā, jīradānū.
Differentiate retroflex ṭ/ḍ/ṇ from dental t/d/n (e.g., ṛtasya vs. kṣatriyā)., Hold long vowels: ā in rājānā, ī in sindhupatī, ī in jīradānū., Pronounce ṛ as a vocalic r (ṛ-ta), not ‘ri’., Keep ‘vṛṣṭim’ with clear vṛ- and retroflex ṣṭ.
Steady, royal, and downward-settling on requests (iḷāṃ… vṛṣṭim…).
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