What were the 3 pillars/obstacles in spiritual path mentioned by the rishi Śunaśepa Ājīgartī ?

This question haunted me for long.

Rig Veda 1.24.13

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: (Shri Aurobindo)

For seized, tied to three pillars Shunahshepa invoked to the Aditya ; let the king Varuna , the invincible knower, release him, let {him} untie the bonds.

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As Rig Veda talks about spiritual issues, I thought binding Śunahśepas with fetters to three pillars, can be understood esoterically as 3 obstacles in spiritual path.

I thought that the answer to this riddle of the rishi should be available, in the Rig Veda itself.

Hence,  I searched in Rig veda and have finally found 2 Riks, which provided me with answer to my question.

—-

Rig Veda 7.65.3

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, are bonds for untruth, 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.

—-

This Rik (Rig Veda 7.65.3) of rishi Vasiṣṭha mentions that

• The path of SPIRITUALITY is the path of TRUTH of Mitra and Varuṇa.
• Any one, who violates/deviates from the path of TRUTH will be taken to task by Mitra and Varuṇa
• Mitra and Varuṇa will bind the the cheating mortal with many fetters, which are bonds for untruth

—-

Now, what the fetters are, was explained in another Rik (Rig Veda 2.27.2) by rishi Gṛtsamada.

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Rig Veda 2.27.2

इमं स्तोमं सक्रतवो मे अद्य मित्रो अर्यमा वरुणो जुषन्त । आदित्यासः शुचयो धारपूता अवृजिना अनवद्या अरिष्टाः ॥
imaṃ stomaṃ sakratavo me adya mitro aryamā varuṇo juṣanta | ādityāsaḥ śucayo dhārapūtā avṛjinā anavadyā ariṣṭāḥ ||

English translation:

Today, they of common resolve—Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa—will enjoy this praise song of mine—they, the gleaming Ādityas, pure as a stream (of soma) and free of crookedness, disgrace, or injury.

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The rishi was saying that Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa, the Ādityas, are free of crookedness, disgrace, or injury.

It is an indirect way of saying that Mitra, Aryaman, and Varuṇa will be annoyed if a mortal violates/deviates from the path of TRUTH , follows the path of deceit, injuring (others - physical as well as mental), and thus bind that mortal with fetters, which can be released only by them.

——

Hence, I have inferred that the rishi Śunaśepa Ājīgartī is giving subtle hints to the SPIRITUAL seekers (Rig Veda 1.24.13) that

• ONE should not follow the path of deceit, injuring (others - physical as well as mental)
• follow the path of TRUTH
• otherwise, Mitra and Varuṇa will bind the the cheating mortal with many fetters