🌐 Language:

Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 25: The Sovereign Path of Varuṇa

📜 21 Verses

Act 1

Human Weakness and Divine Compassion

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

यच्चि॒द्धि ते॒ विशो॑ यथा॒ प्र दे॑व वरुण व्र॒तं । मि॒नी॒मसि॒ द्यवि॑द्यवि ॥

yácciddhí te víśo yathā prá deva varuṇa vratám ǀ minīmási dyávidyavi ǁ

Verse 2

मा नो॑ व॒धाय॑ ह॒त्नवे॑ जिहीळा॒नस्य॑ रीरधः । मा हृ॑णा॒नस्य॑ म॒न्यवे॑ ॥

mā́ no vadhā́ya hatnáve jihīḷānásya rīradhaḥ ǀ mā́ hṛṇānásya manyáve ǁ

Verse 3

वि मृ॑ळी॒काय॑ ते॒ मनो॑ र॒थीरश्वं॒ न संदि॑तं । गी॒र्भिर्व॑रुण सीमहि ॥

ví mṛḷīkā́ya te máno rathī́ráśvam ná sáṃditam ǀ gīrbhírvaruṇa sīmahi ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi approaches Varuṇa, the great guardian of Ṛta (cosmic order), with raw human honesty. We live in a world of frailty, and the poet acknowledges that day by day, human beings unknowingly or weakly violate the divine laws. Yet, knowing the terrifying majesty of Varuṇa's wrath, the singer begs not to be delivered into the hands of a punishing executioner. Instead, the Ṛṣi seeks the gentle soothing of Varuṇa's heart, holding onto the divine mind with songs of praise just as a skilled charioteer secures a restless horse.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Day by day, O god Varuṇa, we constantly transgress your divine ordinance, frail mortals that we are.

Verse 2: Do not abandon us to the weapon of the wrathful one, nor to the fury of the indignant god.

Verse 3: With our hymns, O Varuṇa, we reach out to bend your mind toward grace, just as a charioteer restrains a bound horse.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets these verses through the lens of ritual repentance and moral transgression against divine law. Sri Aurobindo views 'vratam' and the 'wrath' of Varuṇa as the discipline required to break human ego and align the lower nature with the infinite Light.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वरुण	varuṇa	O Varuṇa (the binder, god of cosmic order)
व्रतम्	vratam	Law, ordinance, or sacred vow
द्यविद्यवि	dyavidyavi	Day by day, daily

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वधाय	vadhāya	To the deadly weapon or blow
जिहीळानस्य	jihīḷānasya	Of the angered or indignant one
मन्यवे	manyave	To the wrath or fury

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मृळीकाय	mṛḷīkāya	For grace, mercy, or compassion
रथीः	rathīḥ	A charioteer
सीमहि	sīmahi	We may attain or bind

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a trembling archer dropping his bow before a majestic king, pleading for mercy rather than justice.

Act 2

The Flight of Desires and the Omniscient King

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

परा॒ हि मे॒ विम॑न्यवः॒ पतं॑ति॒ वस्य॑इष्टये । वयो॒ न व॑स॒तीरुप॑ ॥

párā hí me vímanyavaḥ pátanti vásya-iṣṭaye ǀ váyo ná vasatī́rúpa ǁ

Verse 5

क॒दा क्ष॑त्र॒श्रियं॒ नर॒मा वरु॑णं करामहे । मृ॒ळी॒कायो॑रु॒चक्ष॑सं ॥

kadā́ kṣatraśríyam náramā́ váruṇam karāmahe ǀ mṛḷīkā́yorucákṣasam ǁ

Verse 6

तदित्स॑मा॒नमा॑शाते॒ वेनं॑ता॒ न प्र यु॑च्छतः । धृ॒तव्र॑ताय दा॒शुषे॑ ॥

tádítsamānámāśāte vénantā ná prá yucchataḥ ǀ dhṛtávratāya dāśúṣe ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi describes the restless human spirit rushing forth in search of higher well-being, like birds flying back to their nests. The poet asks when mankind will truly possess the grace of the radiant, far-seeing Varuṇa, who wields supreme royal power. Twin powers or universal guardians watch over the sacrifice with unwavering vigilance, sustaining those who offer oblations.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: Forward fly my agitated thoughts, seeking higher welfare, like birds returning to their nests.

Verse 5: When shall we draw near to Varuṇa, the lord of royal splendor and far-reaching vision, for mercy?

Verse 6: They two seek that identical goal, never failing in their vigil, for the sake of the devoted donor.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Commentators generally identify the twin watchers or seekers as the sun and moon, or Mitra and Varuṇa, who together uphold the moral and physical cosmos.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विमन्यवः	vimanyavaḥ	Agitated, distressed, or eager thoughts
वसतीः	vasatīḥ	Dwellings, resting places, or nests

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
क्षत्रश्रियम्	kṣatraśriyam	Possessed of royal glory or power
उरुचक्षसम्	urucakṣasam	Far-seeing, wide-gazing

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
समानम्	samānam	The same, identical
धृतव्रताय	dhṛtavratāya	To him who holds fast to sacred vows

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture homeward-bound birds darting across an evening sky, mirroring the soul's desperate flight toward divine refuge.

Act 3

The Omniscient Ruler of Nature

Verses 7, 8, 9

Verse 7

वेदा॒ यो वी॒नां प॒दमं॒तरि॑क्षेण॒ पत॑तां । वेद॑ ना॒वः स॑मु॒द्रियः॑ ॥

védā yó vīnā́m padámantárikṣeṇa pátatām ǀ véda nāváḥ samudríyaḥ ǁ

Verse 8

वेद॑ मा॒सो धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ द्वाद॑श प्र॒जाव॑तः । वेदा॒ य उ॑प॒जाय॑ते ॥

véda māsó dhṛtávrato dvā́daśa prajā́vataḥ ǀ védā yá upajā́yate ǁ

Verse 9

वेद॒ वात॑स्य वर्त॒निमु॒रोर्ऋ॒ष्वस्य॑ बृह॒तः । वेदा॒ ये अ॒ध्यास॑ते ॥

véda vā́tasya vartanímurórṛṣvásya bṛhatáḥ ǀ védā yé adhyā́sate ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Now the hymn shifts into a magnificent display of cosmic omniscience. Varuṇa knows everything: the path of birds flying through the vast expanse of the atmosphere, the course of ships navigating the pathless oceans, the twelve months of the year along with their progeny (days), and even the secret birth of future days. He knows the pathways of the mighty, roaring wind and the hidden dwellings of the gods.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: He knows the path of the birds flying through the middle air, and he knows the ocean-faring ships.

Verse 8: He knows the twelve months with all their progeny, and he knows that month which is yet to be born.

Verse 9: He knows the pathway of the vast, towering, roaring wind, and he knows those who sit enthroned above.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Tradition reads these verses as an unassailable proof of Varuṇa's supreme sovereignty (Sāmrājya), demonstrating that nothing escapes the eye of the universal lawgiver.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वीनाम्	vīnām	Of birds (or wing-borne creatures)
समुद्रियः	samudriyaḥ	Existing in or pertaining to the ocean

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
द्वादश	dvādaśa	Twelve
प्रजावतः	prajāvataḥ	Rich in offspring or days

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वातस्य	vātasya	Of the wind
वर्तनिम्	vartanim	The path, course, or track

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a cosmic mapmaker holding the wind, the oceans, the birds, and the calendar in the palm of a glowing hand.

Act 4

The Sovereign Seated in Splendor

Verses 10, 11, 12

Verse 10

नि ष॑साद धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ वरु॑णः प॒स्त्या॒३॒॑स्वा । साम्रा॑ज्याय सु॒क्रतुः॑ ॥

ní ṣasāda dhṛtávrato váruṇaḥ pastyā́svā́ ǀ sā́mrājyāya sukrátuḥ ǁ

Verse 11

अतो॒ विश्वा॒न्यद्भु॑ता चिकि॒त्वाँ अ॒भि प॑श्यति । कृ॒तानि॒ या च॒ कर्त्वा॑ ॥

áto víśvānyádbhutā cikitvā́m̐ abhí paśyati ǀ kṛtā́ni yā́ ca kártvā ǁ

Verse 12

स नो॑ वि॒श्वाहा॑ सु॒क्रतु॑रादि॒त्यः सु॒पथा॑ करत् । प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत् ॥

sá no viśvā́hā sukráturādityáḥ supáthā karat ǀ prá ṇa ā́yūṃṣi tāriṣat ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Varuṇa takes his seat in the sacred homesteads to exercise his universal empire with supreme wisdom. From this sovereign vantage point, the Aditya observes all marvels—both those already accomplished in the past and those yet to be enacted in the future. He clears the path of life for his worshipers and extends their lifespan through auspicious days.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 10: Upholding sacred law, wise Varuṇa has seated himself in his dwelling-places for the sake of supreme dominion.

Verse 11: From there, the wise one beholds all wondrous things, both those already done and those yet to be done.

Verse 12: May that wise Aditya make our paths safe for all days, and may he lengthen our lives.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa notes that 'pastyāsu' refers to both earthly homes and cosmic spheres where the deity's presence is actively felt and maintained through ritual fire.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पस्त्यासु	pastyāsu	In the homes or homesteads
साम्राज्याय	sāmrājyāya	For supreme sovereignty or empire

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अद्भुता	adbhutā	Wonders, marvels
कर्त्वा	kartvā	Things to be done, future actions

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सुपथा	supathā	With good, safe paths
तारिषत्	tāriṣat	May he carry across, lengthen, protect

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture an emperor sitting upon a crystal throne high above the mountains, overlooking the entire unfolding tapestry of time.

Act 5

The Golden Robes and Secret Spies

Verses 13, 14, 15

Verse 13

बिभ्र॑द्द्रा॒पिं हि॑र॒ण्ययं॒ वरु॑णो वस्त नि॒र्णिजं॑ । परि॒ स्पशो॒ नि षे॑दिरे ॥

bíbhraddrāpím hiraṇyáyam váruṇo vasta nirṇíjam ǀ pári spáśo ní ṣedire ǁ

Verse 14

न यं दिप्सं॑ति दि॒प्सवो॒ न द्रुह्वा॑णो॒ जना॑नां । न दे॒वम॒भिमा॑तयः ॥

ná yám dípsanti dipsávo ná drúhvāṇo jánānām ǀ ná devámabhímātayaḥ ǁ

Verse 15

उ॒त यो मानु॑षे॒ष्वा यश॑श्च॒क्रे असा॒म्या । अ॒स्माक॑मु॒दरे॒ष्वा ॥

utá yó mā́nuṣeṣvā́ yáśaścakré ásāmyā́ ǀ asmā́kamudáreṣvā́ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Varuṇa dresses in a brilliant, golden mantle, donning an inner vesture of pure light, while his secret spies (the cosmic spies or celestial agents) take their station all around to monitor human integrity. No deceitful trickster, no malicious breaker of bonds, and no hostile force can outwit or harm this divine King, who has established supreme glory among mortals and within our very hearts.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 13: Wearing a golden robe of light, Varuṇa puts on his shining garment, while his spies take their positions all around.

Verse 14: Neither do deceitful tricksters deceive him, nor deceitful men among the peoples, nor can hostile powers outwit the god.

Verse 15: And he is the one who has established unbroken renown among mortals, yes, deep within our very bellies and hearts.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The 'spies' (spaśaḥ) are frequently cited by Vedic commentators as rays of the sun or divine cosmic agents who oversee moral rectitude in human society.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
द्रापिम्	drāpim	A mantle, tunic, or robe
स्पशः	spaśaḥ	Spies, secret observers, or guardians

Verse 14

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दिप्सन्ति	dipsanti	They seek to harm or deceive
अभिमātayः	abhimātayaḥ	Assailants, hostile onslaughts

Verse 15

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
यशः	yaśaḥ	Glory, renown, splendor
उदरेषु	udareṣu	In the bellies, within the innermost being

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine a brilliant sun shining through the clouds while invisible guardians ensure absolute justice operates in the marketplace.

Act 6

The Soul's Yearning Prayer

Verses 16, 17, 18

Verse 16

परा॑ मे यंति धी॒तयो॒ गावो॒ न गव्यू॑ती॒रनु॑ । इ॒च्छंती॑रुरु॒चक्ष॑सं ॥

párā me yanti dhītáyo gā́vo ná gávyūtīránu ǀ icchántīrurucákṣasam ǁ

Verse 17

सं नु वो॑चावहै॒ पुन॒र्यतो॑ मे॒ मध्वाभृ॑तं । होते॑व॒ क्षद॑से प्रि॒यं ॥

sám nú vocāvahai púnaryáto me mádhvā́bhṛtam ǀ hóteva kṣádase priyám ǁ

Verse 18

दर्शं॒ नु वि॒श्वद॑र्शतं॒ दर्शं॒ रथ॒मधि॒ क्षमि॑ । ए॒ता जु॑षत मे॒ गिरः॑ ॥

dárśam nú viśvádarśatam dárśam ráthamádhi kṣámi ǀ etā́ juṣata me gíraḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi's prayers surge outward like cows racing toward fertile pastures, all yearning for the far-seeing Varuṇa. The poet invites the deity to commune together once again, sharing the honeyed offering as a priest distributes sacred portions. The singer exclaims how marvelous it is to behold this universal vision and the chariot of the god stationed upon the earth.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 16: My prayers speed forth from me like cows running to their pasture grounds, longing for the far-seeing god.

Verse 17: Let us converse together once more, since my honeyed offering is prepared; like a priest, distribute the beloved gift.

Verse 18: I have beheld him who is visible to all, I have beheld his chariot upon the earth. May these songs of mine find favor with you!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The imagery of cows returning to pasture is a classic Ṛgvedic metaphor for thoughts and prayers returning to their divine source of nourishment.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 16

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
धीतयः	dhītayaḥ	Prayers, thoughts, or devotions
गव्यूतीः	gavyūtīḥ	Pasture lands, grazing fields

Verse 17

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वोचावहै	vocāvahai	Let us speak together, converse
मधु	madhu	Sweetness, honey, or soma offering

Verse 18

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विश्वदर्शतम्	viśvadarśatam	Visible to all, all-pervading
गिरः	giraḥ	Songs of praise, hymns

🧠

Memory Hook

Envision eager dairy cows galloping down a green lane at milking time, perfectly mirroring the rush of prayer toward the Divine.

Act 7

Release from the Bonds

Verses 19, 20, 21

Verse 19

इ॒मं मे॑ वरुण श्रुधी॒ हव॑म॒द्या च॑ मृळय । त्वाम॑व॒स्युरा च॑के ॥

imám me varuṇa śrudhī hávamadyā́ ca mṛḷaya ǀ tvā́mavasyúrā́ cake ǁ

Verse 20

त्वं विश्व॑स्य मेधिर दि॒वश्च॒ ग्मश्च॑ राजसि । स याम॑नि॒ प्रति॑ श्रुधि ॥

tvám víśvasya medhira diváśca gmáśca rājasi ǀ sá yā́mani práti śrudhi ǁ

Verse 21

उदु॑त्त॒मं मु॑मुग्धि नो॒ वि पाशं॑ मध्य॒मं चृ॑त । अवा॑ध॒मानि॑ जी॒वसे॑ ॥

úduttamám mumugdhi no ví pā́śam madhyamám cṛta ǀ ávādhamā́ni jīváse ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In this powerful climax, the Ṛṣi cries out directly to Varuṇa to hear this invocation today and bestow grace, for the poet approaches as a suppliant seeking divine shelter. The wise deity rules over everything in heaven and earth; therefore, he must answer when called upon. Finally, the hymn concludes with the iconic prayer for ultimate liberation: undo the upper bond, loosen the middle bond, and cast down the lowest bonds so that the soul may truly live.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 19: Hear this my invocation today, O Varuṇa, and show me mercy; yearning for your protection, I call upon you.

Verse 20: You, O wise deity, rule over all things in heaven and on earth; respond favorably to my call as you journey by.

Verse 21: Unloose for us the uppermost bond, untie the middle one, and cast down the lowest ones so that we may live!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The three-fold bonds (upper, middle, lower) are interpreted by spiritual commentators as the knots of the heart (granthis)—physical, mental, and causal ties of ignorance that bind the human soul until liberated by divine grace.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 19

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
श्रुधि	śrudhi	Hear, listen
अवस्युः	avasyuḥ	Seeking help or protection

Verse 20

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मेधिर	medhira	O wise, intelligent one
गमः	gmaḥ	Of the earth

Verse 21

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मुमुग्धि	mumugdhi	Release, loosen, set free
पाशम्	pāśam	Bond, snare, fetter
जीवसे	jīvase	For life, to live fully

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a captive being unchained layer by layer from heavy ropes, finally stepping out into the sunlight completely free.