The Rig Veda: An Anthology

Varuna was originally a sky-god, and, like Dyaus, he was a prominent figure in the proto-Indo-European pantheon. By the time of the Rig Veda, his role had changed into presiding over human conduct and punishing violators of sacred law. This chapter contains five hymns centered on Varuna’s deeds and sovereignty.

In Hymn 5.85, the poet recounts Varuna’s famous feats: separating the sky and earth; instilling speed in horses, milk in cows, and intelligence in the human heart; causing the rain to fall abundantly and the rivers to pour into the sea without filling the ocean. The hymn concludes with a prayer that Varuna should pardon anyone who has committed an offense against a friend or stranger, knowingly or not.

Two hymns refer to a tradition in which the sage Vasistha incites the anger of Varuna for a vague, indefinable sin and seeks expiation for his wrongdoing. In 7.86, Vasistha pleads ignorance of his offense and seeks the god’s mercy, advised by the poets that “’Varuna has been provoked to anger against you’” (213). Uncertain if he has committed an evil or has inherited his father’s or elder brother’s transgressions, the sage claims that wine, anger, dice, or carelessness caused the offense.