Shloka 17
वारुणी सभा — Varuṇa’s Divine Assembly
Nārada’s Description
ते तस्यां वरुणं देवं धर्मपाशधरं सदा । उपासते महात्मानं सर्वे सुचरितव्रता:,विरोचनपुत्र राजा बलि, पृथ्वीविजयी नरकासुर, प्रह्मद, विप्रचित्ति, कालखंज दानव, सुहनु, दुर्मुख, शंख, सुमना, सुमति, घटोदर, महापार्श्व, क्रथन, पिठर, विश्वरूप, स्वरूप, विरूप, महाशिरा, दशमुख रावण, वाली, मेघवासा, दशावर, टिट्टिभ, विटभूत, संहाद तथा इन्द्रतापन आदि सभी दैत्यों और दानवोंके समुदाय मनोहर कुण्डल, सुन्दर हार, किरीट तथा दिव्य वस्त्राभूषण धारण किये उस सभामें धर्मपाशधारी महात्मा वरुणदेवकी सदा उपासना करते हैं। वे सभी दैत्य वरदान पाकर शौर्यसम्पन्न हो मृत्युरहित हो गये हैं। उनका चरित्र एवं व्रत बहुत उत्तम है
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 berkata: “Di balairung itu mereka senantiasa menyembah Varuṇa, dewa pemegang jerat Dharma—berjiwa agung dan teguh sepanjang masa. Di sana, para Daitya dan Dānava—Bali putera Virocana; Narakāsura, penakluk bumi; Prahlāda; Vipracitti; Dānava Kālakhañja; Suhanu; Durmukha; Śaṅkha; Sumanas; Sumati; Ghaṭodara; Mahāpārśva; Krathana; Piṭhara; Viśvarūpa; Svarūpa; Virūpa; Mahāśiras; Daśamukha Rāvaṇa; Vālī; Meghavāsa; Daśāvara; Ṭiṭṭibha; Viṭabhūta; Saṃhāda; Indratāpana dan yang lain-lain—berhias subang yang menawan, kalungan yang gemilang, mahkota serta pakaian dan perhiasan kayangan, tidak henti-henti menzahirkan hormat kepada Varuṇa, pemelihara tertib moral. Setelah memperoleh anugerah, mereka dikurniai keberanian dan dikatakan bebas daripada kematian; tingkah laku serta ikrar mereka digambarkan amat luar biasa mulia.”
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.