HYMN XLI. Varuṇa – Rig Veda – Book 8

अस्मा ऊ षु परभूतये वरुणाय मरुद्भ्यो.अर्चा विदुष्टरेभ्यः |
यो धीता मानुषाणां पश्वो गा इव रक्षति नभन्तामन्यके समे ||
तमू षु समना गिरा पितॄणां च मन्मभिः नाभाकस्यप्रशस्तिभिर्यः सिन्धूनामुपोदये सप्तस्वसा स मध्यमो नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

स कषपः परि षस्वजे नयुस्रो मायया दधे स विश्वं परि दर्शतः |
तस्य वेनीरनु वरतमुषस्तिस्रो अवर्धयन्नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

यः ककुभो निधारयः पर्थिव्यामधि दर्शतः |
स माता पूर्व्यं पदं तद वरुणस्य सप्त्यं स हि गोपा इवेर्योनभन्तामन्यके समे ||

यो धर्ता भुवनानां य उस्राणामपीच्या वेद नामानिगुह्या |
स कविः काव्या पुरु रूपं दयौरिव पुष्यति नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

यस्मिन विश्वानि काव्या चक्रे नाभिरिव शरिता |
तरितं जूती सपर्यत वरजे गावो न संयुजे युजे अश्वानयुक्षत नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

य आस्वत्क आशये विश्वा जातान्येषाम |
परि धामानि मर्म्र्शद वरुणस्य पुरो गये विश्वे देवा अनु वरतं नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

स समुद्रो अपीच्यस्तुरो दयामिव रोहति नि यदासु यजुर्दधे |
स माया अर्चिना पदास्त्र्णान नाकमारुहन नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

यस्य शवेता विचक्षणा तिस्रो भूमीरधिक्षितः |
तरिरुत्तराणि पप्रतुर्वरुणस्य धरुवं सदः स सप्तानामिरज्यति नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

यः शवेतानधिनिर्णिजश्चक्रे कर्ष्णाननु वरता |
स धाम पूर्व्यं ममे य सकम्भेन वि रोदसी अजो न दयामधारयन नभन्तामन्यके समे ||

 

asmā ū ṣu prabhūtaye varuṇāya marudbhyo.arcā viduṣṭarebhyaḥ |
yo dhītā mānuṣāṇāṃ paśvo ghā iva rakṣati nabhantāmanyake same ||
tamū ṣu samanā ghirā pitṝṇāṃ ca manmabhiḥ nābhākasyapraśastibhiryaḥ sindhūnāmupodaye saptasvasā sa madhyamo nabhantāmanyake same ||

sa kṣapaḥ pari ṣasvaje nyusro māyayā dadhe sa viśvaṃ pari darśataḥ |
tasya venīranu vratamuṣastisro avardhayannabhantāmanyake same ||

yaḥ kakubho nidhārayaḥ pṛthivyāmadhi darśataḥ |
sa mātā pūrvyaṃ padaṃ tad varuṇasya saptyaṃ sa hi ghopā iveryonabhantāmanyake same ||

yo dhartā bhuvanānāṃ ya usrāṇāmapīcyā veda nāmānighuhyā |
sa kaviḥ kāvyā puru rūpaṃ dyauriva puṣyati nabhantāmanyake same ||

yasmin viśvāni kāvyā cakre nābhiriva śritā |
tritaṃ jūtī saparyata vraje ghāvo na saṃyuje yuje aśvānayukṣata nabhantāmanyake same ||

ya āsvatka āśaye viśvā jātānyeṣām |
pari dhāmāni marmṛśad varuṇasya puro ghaye viśve devā anu vrataṃ nabhantāmanyake same ||

sa samudro apīcyasturo dyāmiva rohati ni yadāsu yajurdadhe |
sa māyā arcinā padāstṛṇān nākamāruhan nabhantāmanyake same ||

yasya śvetā vicakṣaṇā tisro bhūmīradhikṣitaḥ |
triruttarāṇi papraturvaruṇasya dhruvaṃ sadaḥ sa saptānāmirajyati nabhantāmanyake same ||

yaḥ śvetānadhinirṇijaścakre kṛṣṇānanu vratā |
sa dhāma pūrvyaṃ mame ya skambhena vi rodasī ajo na dyāmadhārayan nabhantāmanyake same ||

English Translation

Translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith

1. To make this Varuṇa come forth sing thou a song unto the band of Maruts wiser than thyself,—
This Varuṇa who guardeth well the thoughts of men like herds of kine.
Let all the others die away.

2 Him altogether praise I with the song and hymns our fathers sang, and with Nabhāka’s eulogies,—
Him dwelling at the rivers’ source, surrounded by his Sisters Seven.

3 The nights he hath encompassed, and stablished the morns with magic art visible over all is he.
His dear Ones, following his Law, have prospered the Three Dawns for him.

4 He, visible o’er all the earth, stablished the quarters of the sky:
He measured out the eastern place, that is the fold of Varuṇa: like a strong herdsman is the God.

5 He who supports the worlds of life, he who well knows the hidden names mysterious of the morning beams,
He cherishes much wisdom, Sage, as heaven brings forth each varied form.

6 In whom all wisdom centres, as the nave is set within the wheel.
Haste ye to honour Trita, as kine haste to gather in the fold, even as they muster steeds to yoke.

7 He wraps these regions as a robe; he contemplates the tribes of Gods and all the works of mortal men.
Before the home of Varuṇa all the Gods follow his decree.

8 He is an Ocean far-removed, yet through the heaven to him ascends the worship which these realms possess.
With his bright foot he overthrew their magic, and went up to heaven.

9 Ruler, whose bright far-seeing rays, pervading all three earths, have filled the three superior realms of heaven.
Firm is the seat of Varuṇa: over the Seven he rules as King.

10 Who, after his decree, o’erspread the Dark Ones with a robe of light;
Who measured out the ancient seat, who pillared both the worlds apart as the Unborn supported heaven. Let all the others die away.