The hymns of Varuna (that which surrounds): cosmic order and truth

In the Vedic hymns, Varuna is not a spectacular deity.
He does not strike, does not fight, does not thunder.

He surrounds .

Varuna is the force that keeps the world in order,
the one that links heaven, earth, waters and living beings
in an invisible but implacable coherence.

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1. Varuna: « that which surrounds »

The name Varuna refers to the idea of wrapping , binding , that which contains .

In the Rig Veda, Varuna is not localized:
he is everywhere order exists.

He is associated with:

• to the night sky,
• to deep waters,
• to the invisible laws that govern the world.

Varuna is not a personal god.
He is a cosmic principle .

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2. Cosmic order before morality

The hymns often speak of Varuna as the guardian of the ṛta .

The ṛta is not morality in the modern sense.
It is the natural order of things :

• the cycle of days and nights,
• the movement of the stars,
• the consistency between actions and their consequences.

Varuna does not punish out of anger.
He restores order when it is broken.

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3. Varuna and the truth

Varuna is closely linked to the truth .

But again, this is not about intellectual or ideological truth.
It is about inner truth .

In the anthems:

• Varuna sees everything.
• Nothing can be hidden from him.
• neither actions nor thoughts.

This gaze is not oppressive.
It is clarifying .

To lie is to be out of sync with the cosmic order.
To tell the truth is to realign oneself.

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4. An inner relationship, not a cult of fear

Some have tried to portray Varuna as a stern god.
The hymns tell a different story.

They are talking about:

• trust,
• an appeal for understanding,
• desire to remain in harmony with the world.

The rishis do not fear Varuna.
They seek to live justly , in the cosmic sense of the term.

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5. Varuna, an all-encompassing consciousness

Varuna represents a broad, silent, stable consciousness.
A consciousness that:

• encompass without judgment
• maintains without constraint,
• commands without dominating.

In a civilization where the ego was not central,
Varuna reminded us that humans are part of a larger whole.

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Conclusion

Varuna is not a moral judge.
He is the very order of the world ,
the truth that connects beings to that which transcends them.

His hymns do not speak of submission,
but of agreement .

When a human acts justly,
they are at peace with Varuna,
because they are at peace with reality.