Shloka 2
बलरामस्य वारुणी-प्रसङ्गः, यमुनाकर्षणम्, लक्ष्मी-प्रदत्त-विभूषणम्, रेवती-विवाहः
निष्पादितोरुकार्यस्य कार्येणोर्वीविचारिणः उपभोगार्थम् अत्यर्थं वरुणः प्राह वारुणीम्
niṣpāditorukāryasya kāryeṇorvīvicāriṇaḥ upabhogārtham atyarthaṃ varuṇaḥ prāha vāruṇīm
Seeing that he who ranged across the earth in the course of his duty had accomplished the great undertaking, Varuṇa—wishing to grant him fitting enjoyment—bestowed the divine liquor called Vāruṇī.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: Even within worldly-seeming episodes, the Purāṇa frames actions as situated in cosmic duty (kārya) and divine acknowledgment.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Perform responsibilities without losing sight of higher purpose; accept honors/pleasures with restraint and awareness of duty.
Vishishtadvaita: Divine governance operates through devas (e.g., Varuṇa) while ultimately serving Bhagavān’s intent.
Vishnu Form: Hari
FAQs
In this verse, Vāruṇī functions as a divine bestowal from Varuṇa, symbolizing a reward granted after a major duty is completed—linking pleasure (upabhoga) to earned merit and cosmic order rather than mere indulgence.
Parāśara’s phrasing makes enjoyment a consequence of fulfilled responsibility: the ‘earth-roaming’ duty is completed first, and only then does Varuṇa provide a sanctioned enjoyment, implying pleasure is legitimate when aligned with duty and order.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s worldview treats such boons as operating under the larger sovereignty of the Supreme (Vishnu) who upholds dharma and the moral structure by which gods like Varuṇa reward rightful action.