HYMN LXXXVII. Varuṇa – Rig Veda – Book 7

रदत पथो वरुणः सूर्याय परार्णांसि समुद्रिया नदीनाम |
सर्गो न सर्ष्टो अर्वतीरतायञ्चकार महीरवनीरहभ्यः ||

आत्मा ते वातो रज आ नवीनोत पशुर्न भूर्णिर्यवसे ससवान |
अन्तर्मही बर्हती रोदसीमे विश्वा ते धाम वरुण परियाणि ||

परि सपशो वरुणस्य समदिष्टा उभे पश्यन्ति रोदसी सुमेके |
रतावानः कवयो यज्ञधीराः परचेतसो य इषयन्त मन्म ||

उवाच मे वरुणो मेधिराय तरिः सप्त नामाघ्न्या बिभर्ति |
विद्वान पदस्य गुह्या न वोचद युगाय विप्र उपराय शिक्षन ||

तिस्रो दयावो निहिता अन्तरस्मिन तिस्रो भूमीरुपराः षड्विधानाः |
गर्त्सो राजा वरुणश्चक्र एतं दिवि परेङखंहिरण्ययं शुभे कम ||

अव सिन्धुं वरुणो दयौरिव सथाद दरप्सो न शवेतो मर्गस्तुविष्मान |
गम्भीरशंसो रजसो विमानः सुपारक्षत्रः सतो अस्य राजा ||

यो मर्ळयाति चक्रुषे चिदागो वयं सयाम वरुणे अनागाः |
अनु वरतान्यदितेरधन्तो यूयं पात … ||

 

radat patho varuṇaḥ sūryāya prārṇāṃsi samudriyā nadīnām |
sargho na sṛṣṭo arvatīrtāyañcakāra mahīravanīrahabhyaḥ ||

ātmā te vāto raja ā navīnot paśurna bhūrṇiryavase sasavān |
antarmahī bṛhatī rodasīme viśvā te dhāma varuṇa priyāṇi ||

pari spaśo varuṇasya smadiṣṭā ubhe paśyanti rodasī sumeke |
ṛtāvānaḥ kavayo yajñadhīrāḥ pracetaso ya iṣayanta manma ||

uvāca me varuṇo medhirāya triḥ sapta nāmāghnyā bibharti |
vidvān padasya ghuhyā na vocad yughāya vipra uparāya śikṣan ||

tisro dyāvo nihitā antarasmin tisro bhūmīruparāḥ ṣaḍvidhānāḥ |
ghṛtso rājā varuṇaścakra etaṃ divi preṅkhaṃhiraṇyayaṃ śubhe kam ||

ava sindhuṃ varuṇo dyauriva sthād drapso na śveto mṛghastuviṣmān |
ghambhīraśaṃso rajaso vimānaḥ supārakṣatraḥ sato asya rājā ||

yo mṛḷayāti cakruṣe cidāgho vayaṃ syāma varuṇe anāghāḥ |
anu vratānyaditerdhanto yūyaṃ pāta … ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. VARUNA cut a pathway out for Sūrya, and led the watery floods of rivers onward.
The Mares, as in a race, speed on in order. He made great channels for the days to follow.

2 The wind, thy breath, hath sounded through the region like a wild beast that seeks his food in pastures.
Within these two, exalted Earth and Heaven, O Varuṇa, are all the forms thou lovest.

3 Varuṇa’s spies, sent forth upon their errand, survey the two world-halves well formed and fashioned.
Wise are they, holy, skilled in sacrifices, the furtherers of the praise-songs of the prudent.

4 To me who understand hath Varuṇa spoken, the names borne by the Cow are three times seven.
The sapient God, knowing the place’s secret, shall speak as ’twere to teach the race that cometh.

5 On him three heavens rest and are supported, and the three earths are there in sixfold order.
The wise King Varuṇa hath made in heaven that Golden Swing to cover it with glory.

6 Like Varuṇa from heaven he sinks in Sindhu, like a white-shining spark, a strong wild creature.
Ruling in depths and meting out the region, great saving power hath he, this world’s Controller.

7 Before this Varuṇa may we be sinless him who shows mercy even to the sinner-
While we are keeping Aditi’s ordinances. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.