The basic premise of Spirituality is that every Human has within oneself a DIVINITY, concealed by layers of ignorance or evil thinking/habits.
These layers of ignorance or evil thinking/habits, which are deep rooted, will keep on creating obstacles or divert the attention of the spiritual practitioner from realising the concealed DIVINITY within oneself, unless the DIVINE help/assistance is assured.
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According to Rig Veda, Varuņa, the son of Aditi (mother of Gods), is the divinity which provides the required assistance to humans in overcoming those layers of ignorance or evil thinking/habits.
Rishis of Rig Veda termed, in esoteric sense, those layers of ignorance or evil thinking/habits as Pāśa (पाश) indicating a "noose," "rope," "snare," or "fetter" and the obstacles created as Vṛtrá/Paṇi/Vala/Śambara/Bṛsaya.
According to Rig Veda, Pāśa are three (3) in number. These are against to the established DIVINE LAW or ṛtam of Varuņa/BRAHMAN. Hence, they are called anṛtam.
ता भूरिपाशावनृतस्य सेतू दुरत्येतू रिपवे मर्त्याय । ऋतस्य मित्रावरुणा पथा वामपो न नावा दुरिता तरेम ॥
tā bhūripāśāv anṛtasya setū duratyetū ripave martyāya | ṛtasya mitrāvaruṇā pathā
vām apo na nāvā duritā tarema ||
English translation:
These two have many fetters
( bhūripāśāv), are bonds for untruth (anṛtasya ), and are hard to
overcome for the cheating mortal.
By your path of truth, Mitra and Varuṇa, we would cross over difficulties, as
(we would) waters by a boat.
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The spiritual practitioner should get rid of the Pāśas in order to realise the hidden DIVINITY within oneself.
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As Varuņa can help the spiritual practitioner to get rid of those Pāśas, a Pāśa was shown in the hand of Varuņa.
शुनःशेपो ह्यह्वद्गृभीतस्त्रिष्वादित्यं द्रुपदेषु बद्धः । अवैनं राजा वरुणः ससृज्याद्विद्वाँ अदब्धो वि मुमोक्तु पाशान् ॥
śunaḥśepo hy ahvad gṛbhītas triṣv ādityaṃ drupadeṣu baddhaḥ | avainaṃ rājā varuṇaḥ sasṛjyād vidvām̐ adabdho vi mumoktu pāśān ||
English translation:
Since Śunaḥśepa, seized and bound in three stocks, called upon the Āditya, King Varuṇa should set him loose. Let him—the knowing one, never cheated—release the fetters (mumoktu pāśān).
