अघमर्षणसूक्तम्/Aghamarshana Suktham
(महानारायणोपनिषत्)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Aghamarshana Suktam is not a mantra that performs miracles or clears sins in a second. It is a mantra that helps a person to purify his body and understand his true nature as well.
This mantra is chanted during evening prayers.
The Sukta is chanted before taking bath as it is believed that it washes away sins. This belief is because Aghamarshana Suktam is dedicated to Varuna, the Lord of the waters. He is the guardian of night (sins and other doshas of beings). He stays in waters and gives room for purity and sanctity. He is a doshapaharakah. He is a practical deity interested in helping the people devoted to him. He is associated with other deities and they are friendly and supporting. A good coordination and cooperative functioning is excuted by the deity for the promotion of the world and social orders. He is prme deity to whom prayers are submitted while wanting cleansing of the body and attain the spirituality needed for the use of the body.
Reciting this Vedic hymn while taking bath brings immense Punyam, removes sin committed by knowingly or unknowingly accepting gifts from those who have sinned.
A dedicated decent lifestyle, self-discipline, righteous path were given utmost importance in Vedic period. Cruelty and Sins were taboo and the society was well structured based on ethics. Filthy tendencies were brushed aside by people. Gifts showered by sinned people were not accepted.
There is a clear cut reference to such an incident in Chandokyopanishad; "The King calls five Veda Vidhwans and declare : "There is no thief, no miser, no drunkard, no unwise man, no adulterator in my country" - therefore, I request you to accept my gifts and contributions" This denotes that a gift accepted from wrong or immoral person was considered a great sin and remedial measures were sought to expiate the wrongdoing. This hymn is named after Aghamarshana Rishi.
Of the rivers mentioned in this Hymn, only Ganga and Yamuna exist in India, Saraswathi believed to be running under the earth and other remaining rivers flows now in Pakistan.)
हिरण्यशृङ्गं वरुणं प्रपद्ये तीर्थं मे देहि याचितः।
यन्मया भुक्त-मसाधूनां पापेभ्यश्च प्रतिग्रहः।यन्मे मनसा वाचा कर्मणा वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। तन्न इन्द्रो वरुणो बृहस्पतिस्सविता च पुनन्तु पुनःपुनः । नमोऽग्नयेऽप्सुमते नम इन्द्राय नमो वरुणाय नमो वारुण्यै नमोऽद्भ्यः ॥
यदपां क्रूरं यदमेध्यं यदशान्तं तदपगच्छतात् ।अत्याशनादतीपाना-द्यच्च उग्रात् प्रतिग्रहात् । तन्नो वरुणो राजा पाणिनाह्यवमर्शतु। सोऽहमपापो विरजो निर्मुक्तो मुक्तकिल्बिषः ।नाकस्य प्रुष्ठ-मारुह्य गच्छे-द्ब्रह्मसलोकताम्। यश्चाप्सु वरुणस्सपुनात्वघमर्षणः । इमं मे गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति शुतुद्रि स्तोमँ सचता परुष्णिया । असिक्निया मरुद्वृधे वितस्तयाऽऽर्जीकीये शृणुह्या सुषोमया । ऋतं च सत्यं चाभीद्धा-त्तपसो-ऽध्यजायत। ततो रात्रिरजायत।तत-स्समुद्रो अर्णवः ॥
समुद्रादर्णवा-दधि संवथ्सरो अजायत।अहोरात्राणि विदधद्विश्वस्य मिषतो वशी।
सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथापूर्व-मकल्पयत्। दिवं च पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्ष-मथो सुवः।
यत्पृथिव्याँ रजस्स्व मान्तरिक्षे विरोदसी।इमाँ स्तदापो वरुणः पुनात्वघमर्षणः
पुनन्तु वसवः पुनातु वरुणः पुनात्वघमर्षणः । एष भूतस्य मध्ये भुवनस्य गोप्ता।
एष पुण्यकृतां लोकानेष मृत्योर्हिरण्मयम्। द्यावापृथिव्योर् हिरण्मयँ सँ श्रितँ सुवः॥
सन-स्सुव-स्सँशिशाधि।आर्द्रं ज्वलति ज्योति-रहमस्मि । ज्योतिर्ज्वलति ब्रह्माऽहमस्मि। अहमेवाहं मां जुहोमि स्वाहा॥ अकार्यकार्यवकीर्णीस्तेनो भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः । वरुणोऽपामघमर्षण-स्तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते।रजोभूमि-स्तस्माँरोदयस्व प्रवदन्ति धीराः। आक्रान्थ्समुद्रः प्रथमे विधर्मञ्जनयन् प्रजा भुवनस्य राजा।
वृषा पवित्रे अधिसानो अव्ये बृहथ्सोमो वावृधे सुवान इन्दुः ॥
Translation by P.R. Ramachander :
I take refuge in Varuna, who is of golden lustre or who has a golden diadem. O Varuna, being entreated by me, grant me the saving grace. For I have enjoyed what belongs to bad people and accepted gift from sinners. May Indra, Varuna, Brihaspati and Savita completely destroy that sins committed by me and my people in thought, word and act. Salutations to fire hidden in water. Salutation to Indra. Salutation to Varuna. Salutation to Varuni, the consort of Varuna. Salutation to the deities of waters. (Through the power of this mantra). let all that is injurious, impure and troublesome in water be destroyed.
May the King Varuna efface by his hand whatever sin I have incurred by unlawful eating, unlawful drinking and accepting gifts from an unlawful person. Thus being sinless, stainless and unbound by evil and bondage, may I ascend to the happy heaven and enjoy equality of status with Brahman. May the sin-effacing Varuna who dwells in other sources of water like rivers, tanks and wells also purify us. O Ganga, O Yamuna, O Sarasvati, O Sutudri, O Marudvrudha, O Arjeekeeya, come together and listen to this hymn of mine along with Parushni, Asikni, Vithasta and Sushomaya. From the all-illuminating Supreme, by His resolve, the right and the true were generated. From Him night and day were generated. And from Him again was generated the sea with different waters.
Then, after the creation of the vast ocean the year was generated. Afterwards the ruler of the world of sentient and non-sentient beings who made day and night ordained sun and moon, sky and earth and the atmosphere and blissful heaven, just as they were in the previous cycles of creation. May the sin-effacing Varuna, the deity presiding over the waters, purify the taint of sin that attaches to the beings dwelling on the earth, in the atmospheric region and in the space between the earth and heaven and also connected with us (the performers of religious work). May the Vasus purify us. May Varuna purify us. May Aghamarshana, the sage called by that name, purify us. He, Varuna, is the protector of the world that was and also the world that exists at present between the past and the future worlds. He grants to the doers of meritorious deeds the worlds which they deserve and to the sinful the world of death called Hiranmaya. Again Varuna who is the support of heaven and earth, having become the sun is wholesome and attractive. Being such, blissful in nature, thou O Varuna, grant us thy favours and purify us.
That Supreme Light which projected Itself as the universe like a soaked seed which sprouts (or that Supreme Light which shines as the substratum of the liquid element) – I am that Supreme Light. I am that supreme light of Brahman which shines as the inmost essence of all that exists. In reality I am the same infinite Brahman even when I am experiencing myself as a finite self owing to Ignorance. Now by the onset of knowledge I am really that Brahman which is my eternal nature. Therefore I realise this identity by making myself, the finite self, an oblation into the fire of the infinite Brahman which I am always. May this oblation be well made. He who is a transgressor of the scriptural conduct, a recreant, a thief, a feticide or an outrager of his preceptor’s honour is released from his sins; for Varuna, the regent of waters and effacer of sins (absolves them from sins by the repetition of this mantra). I am the ground of sins. Therefore you cause me to weep. Wise men say (don’t make me weep, but favour me by destroying my sins). The Supreme represented as the ocean has over flown to the whole creation. He has created at first creatures according to the deserts of their various past deeds. He is the ruler of the universe and the munificent giver of gifts to the devotees. He dwells together with Uma (His power giving spiritual illumination) in the hearts of devotees which are holier than other parts of their body (the seat of the Divine) and therefore superior and elevated like a peak and affording protection. The Jiva who is his abode grows to be infinite. He is the Lord who delights the individual souls by guiding according to their deeds and conferring on them fruits of their actions.
(महानारायणोपनिषत्)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Aghamarshana Suktam is not a mantra that performs miracles or clears sins in a second. It is a mantra that helps a person to purify his body and understand his true nature as well.
This mantra is chanted during evening prayers.
The Sukta is chanted before taking bath as it is believed that it washes away sins. This belief is because Aghamarshana Suktam is dedicated to Varuna, the Lord of the waters. He is the guardian of night (sins and other doshas of beings). He stays in waters and gives room for purity and sanctity. He is a doshapaharakah. He is a practical deity interested in helping the people devoted to him. He is associated with other deities and they are friendly and supporting. A good coordination and cooperative functioning is excuted by the deity for the promotion of the world and social orders. He is prme deity to whom prayers are submitted while wanting cleansing of the body and attain the spirituality needed for the use of the body.
Reciting this Vedic hymn while taking bath brings immense Punyam, removes sin committed by knowingly or unknowingly accepting gifts from those who have sinned.
A dedicated decent lifestyle, self-discipline, righteous path were given utmost importance in Vedic period. Cruelty and Sins were taboo and the society was well structured based on ethics. Filthy tendencies were brushed aside by people. Gifts showered by sinned people were not accepted.
There is a clear cut reference to such an incident in Chandokyopanishad; "The King calls five Veda Vidhwans and declare : "There is no thief, no miser, no drunkard, no unwise man, no adulterator in my country" - therefore, I request you to accept my gifts and contributions" This denotes that a gift accepted from wrong or immoral person was considered a great sin and remedial measures were sought to expiate the wrongdoing. This hymn is named after Aghamarshana Rishi.
Of the rivers mentioned in this Hymn, only Ganga and Yamuna exist in India, Saraswathi believed to be running under the earth and other remaining rivers flows now in Pakistan.)
हिरण्यशृङ्गं वरुणं प्रपद्ये तीर्थं मे देहि याचितः।
यन्मया भुक्त-मसाधूनां पापेभ्यश्च प्रतिग्रहः।यन्मे मनसा वाचा कर्मणा वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। तन्न इन्द्रो वरुणो बृहस्पतिस्सविता च पुनन्तु पुनःपुनः । नमोऽग्नयेऽप्सुमते नम इन्द्राय नमो वरुणाय नमो वारुण्यै नमोऽद्भ्यः ॥
यदपां क्रूरं यदमेध्यं यदशान्तं तदपगच्छतात् ।अत्याशनादतीपाना-द्यच्च उग्रात् प्रतिग्रहात् । तन्नो वरुणो राजा पाणिनाह्यवमर्शतु। सोऽहमपापो विरजो निर्मुक्तो मुक्तकिल्बिषः ।नाकस्य प्रुष्ठ-मारुह्य गच्छे-द्ब्रह्मसलोकताम्। यश्चाप्सु वरुणस्सपुनात्वघमर्षणः । इमं मे गङ्गे यमुने सरस्वति शुतुद्रि स्तोमँ सचता परुष्णिया । असिक्निया मरुद्वृधे वितस्तयाऽऽर्जीकीये शृणुह्या सुषोमया । ऋतं च सत्यं चाभीद्धा-त्तपसो-ऽध्यजायत। ततो रात्रिरजायत।तत-स्समुद्रो अर्णवः ॥
समुद्रादर्णवा-दधि संवथ्सरो अजायत।अहोरात्राणि विदधद्विश्वस्य मिषतो वशी।
सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथापूर्व-मकल्पयत्। दिवं च पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्ष-मथो सुवः।
यत्पृथिव्याँ रजस्स्व मान्तरिक्षे विरोदसी।इमाँ स्तदापो वरुणः पुनात्वघमर्षणः
पुनन्तु वसवः पुनातु वरुणः पुनात्वघमर्षणः । एष भूतस्य मध्ये भुवनस्य गोप्ता।
एष पुण्यकृतां लोकानेष मृत्योर्हिरण्मयम्। द्यावापृथिव्योर् हिरण्मयँ सँ श्रितँ सुवः॥
सन-स्सुव-स्सँशिशाधि।आर्द्रं ज्वलति ज्योति-रहमस्मि । ज्योतिर्ज्वलति ब्रह्माऽहमस्मि। अहमेवाहं मां जुहोमि स्वाहा॥ अकार्यकार्यवकीर्णीस्तेनो भ्रूणहा गुरुतल्पगः । वरुणोऽपामघमर्षण-स्तस्मात्पापात्प्रमुच्यते।रजोभूमि-स्तस्माँरोदयस्व प्रवदन्ति धीराः। आक्रान्थ्समुद्रः प्रथमे विधर्मञ्जनयन् प्रजा भुवनस्य राजा।
वृषा पवित्रे अधिसानो अव्ये बृहथ्सोमो वावृधे सुवान इन्दुः ॥
Translation by P.R. Ramachander :
I take refuge in Varuna, who is of golden lustre or who has a golden diadem. O Varuna, being entreated by me, grant me the saving grace. For I have enjoyed what belongs to bad people and accepted gift from sinners. May Indra, Varuna, Brihaspati and Savita completely destroy that sins committed by me and my people in thought, word and act. Salutations to fire hidden in water. Salutation to Indra. Salutation to Varuna. Salutation to Varuni, the consort of Varuna. Salutation to the deities of waters. (Through the power of this mantra). let all that is injurious, impure and troublesome in water be destroyed.
May the King Varuna efface by his hand whatever sin I have incurred by unlawful eating, unlawful drinking and accepting gifts from an unlawful person. Thus being sinless, stainless and unbound by evil and bondage, may I ascend to the happy heaven and enjoy equality of status with Brahman. May the sin-effacing Varuna who dwells in other sources of water like rivers, tanks and wells also purify us. O Ganga, O Yamuna, O Sarasvati, O Sutudri, O Marudvrudha, O Arjeekeeya, come together and listen to this hymn of mine along with Parushni, Asikni, Vithasta and Sushomaya. From the all-illuminating Supreme, by His resolve, the right and the true were generated. From Him night and day were generated. And from Him again was generated the sea with different waters.
Then, after the creation of the vast ocean the year was generated. Afterwards the ruler of the world of sentient and non-sentient beings who made day and night ordained sun and moon, sky and earth and the atmosphere and blissful heaven, just as they were in the previous cycles of creation. May the sin-effacing Varuna, the deity presiding over the waters, purify the taint of sin that attaches to the beings dwelling on the earth, in the atmospheric region and in the space between the earth and heaven and also connected with us (the performers of religious work). May the Vasus purify us. May Varuna purify us. May Aghamarshana, the sage called by that name, purify us. He, Varuna, is the protector of the world that was and also the world that exists at present between the past and the future worlds. He grants to the doers of meritorious deeds the worlds which they deserve and to the sinful the world of death called Hiranmaya. Again Varuna who is the support of heaven and earth, having become the sun is wholesome and attractive. Being such, blissful in nature, thou O Varuna, grant us thy favours and purify us.
That Supreme Light which projected Itself as the universe like a soaked seed which sprouts (or that Supreme Light which shines as the substratum of the liquid element) – I am that Supreme Light. I am that supreme light of Brahman which shines as the inmost essence of all that exists. In reality I am the same infinite Brahman even when I am experiencing myself as a finite self owing to Ignorance. Now by the onset of knowledge I am really that Brahman which is my eternal nature. Therefore I realise this identity by making myself, the finite self, an oblation into the fire of the infinite Brahman which I am always. May this oblation be well made. He who is a transgressor of the scriptural conduct, a recreant, a thief, a feticide or an outrager of his preceptor’s honour is released from his sins; for Varuna, the regent of waters and effacer of sins (absolves them from sins by the repetition of this mantra). I am the ground of sins. Therefore you cause me to weep. Wise men say (don’t make me weep, but favour me by destroying my sins). The Supreme represented as the ocean has over flown to the whole creation. He has created at first creatures according to the deserts of their various past deeds. He is the ruler of the universe and the munificent giver of gifts to the devotees. He dwells together with Uma (His power giving spiritual illumination) in the hearts of devotees which are holier than other parts of their body (the seat of the Divine) and therefore superior and elevated like a peak and affording protection. The Jiva who is his abode grows to be infinite. He is the Lord who delights the individual souls by guiding according to their deeds and conferring on them fruits of their actions.
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