Shloka 17
वारुणी सभा — Varuṇa’s Divine Assembly
Nārada’s Description
ते तस्यां वरुणं देवं धर्मपाशधरं सदा । उपासते महात्मानं सर्वे सुचरितव्रता:
te tasyāṃ varuṇaṃ devaṃ dharmapāśadharaṃ sadā | upāsate mahātmānaṃ sarve sucaritavratāḥ || virocanaputro rājā baliḥ, pṛthvīvijayī narakāsuraḥ, prahrādaḥ, vipracittiḥ, kālakhañja-dānavaḥ, suhanuḥ, durmukhaḥ, śaṅkhaḥ, sumanāḥ, sumatiḥ, ghaṭodaraḥ, mahāpārśvaḥ, krathanaḥ, piṭharaḥ, viśvarūpaḥ, svarūpaḥ, virūpaḥ, mahāśirāḥ, daśamukhaḥ rāvaṇaḥ, vālī, meghavāsāḥ, daśāvaraḥ, ṭiṭṭibhaḥ, viṭabhūtaḥ, saṃhādaḥ tathā indratāpana-ādayaḥ sarve daityadānavasaṃghāḥ manoharakuṇḍalāḥ sundarahārāḥ kirīṭinaḥ divyavastrābharaṇadhāriṇaḥ tasmin sabhāyāṃ dharmapāśadhārī mahātmā varuṇadevaṃ sadopāsate | te sarve varadānāt śauryasampannā mṛtyurahitaś ca jātāḥ | teṣāṃ caritraṃ ca vrataṃ ca atiśayena uttamam ||
Nārada dijo: “En aquella asamblea veneran sin cesar a Varuṇa, el dios portador del lazo del Dharma—magnánimo y siempre firme. Allí, los Daityas y Dānavas—Bali, hijo de Virocana; Narakāsura, conquistador de la tierra; Prahlāda; Vipracitti; el Dānava Kālakhañja; Suhanu; Durmukha; Śaṅkha; Sumanas; Sumati; Ghaṭodara; Mahāpārśva; Krathana; Piṭhara; Viśvarūpa; Svarūpa; Virūpa; Mahāśiras; Daśamukha Rāvaṇa; Vālī; Meghavāsa; Daśāvara; Ṭiṭṭibha; Viṭabhūta; Saṃhāda; Indratāpana y otros—adornados con pendientes encantadores, guirnaldas espléndidas, coronas y vestiduras y ornamentos divinos, rinden constante reverencia a Varuṇa, guardián de la disciplina moral. Habiendo obtenido dones, están dotados de valor y se dice que son libres de la muerte; su conducta y sus votos se describen como excepcionalmente excelentes.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even beings famed for power and opposition to the gods are portrayed as acknowledging a higher moral order: Varuṇa, as bearer of the dharma-noose, symbolizes restraint and accountability. The verse suggests that true stability—whether in a court or in a life—depends on reverence for law, vows, and disciplined conduct, not merely on strength or boons.
Nārada describes a splendid assembly where hosts of Daityas and Dānavas, richly adorned, continually worship Varuṇa. He lists prominent figures among them and notes that, through boons, they have gained valor and a form of deathlessness, while maintaining exemplary vows and conduct within that setting.