Who is Varuṇa?

 

Shri Aurobindo writes about Varuṇa, as follows:

We have the word Varuṇa from a root वृ -vr̩, which means to surround, cover or pervade. From these significances of the name there emerged before the poetic eye of the ancient mystics the images that are our nearest concrete representation of the Infinite.

They saw God as a highest covering Heaven, felt divine existence like an encompassing ocean, lived in its boundless presence as in a pure and pervading ether. Varuṇa is this highest heaven, this soul-surrounding ocean, this ethereal possession and infinite pervasion.

The same root वृ -vr̩ had given them an appellation for the dark Coverer, the adversary Vṛtrá for to obstruct and resist, screen or hedge, besiege and hem in are also some of its many kindred senses. But dark Vṛtrá is the thick cloud and the enveloping shadow. His knowledge – for he too has a knowledge, a Maya,– is the sense of limited being and the hiding away in sub-conscient Night all the rest of the rich and vast existence that should be ours, and for this negation and contrary power of creative knowledge he stands up stiffly against the Gods,– his undivine right against the divine right of God and man.

Varuṇa by his wide being and ample vision rolls back these limits; surrounding us with light his possession reveals what dark Vṛtrá’s obsession had withheld and obscured. His godhead is the form or spiritual image of an embracing and illuminating Infinity.

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Varuṇa, the formless, infinite energy/BRAHMAN, is the Guardian of ṛta. He punishes those spiritual practitioners, who deviate from the 3 commandments he had prescribed, and they will become 3 fetters/bonds, from which only Varuṇa can release a person, so that ONE can progress spiritually.

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Rishi Śunaśepa Ājīgartī requests Varuṇa to relieve him of those 3 bonds.

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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A spiritual practitioner can be get relieved of the three fetters/bonds, with the help of Varuṇa.