Nanda’s Captivity by Varuṇa and the Revelation of the Spiritual World
Brahma-hrada
तं गृहीत्वानयद् भृत्यो वरुणस्यासुरोऽन्तिकम् । अवज्ञायासुरीं वेलां प्रविष्टमुदकं निशि ॥ २ ॥
taṁ gṛhītvānayad bhṛtyo varuṇasyāsuro ’ntikam avajñāyāsurīṁ velāṁ praviṣṭam udakaṁ niśi
Vì Nanda Mahārāja bước xuống nước trong đêm tối, coi nhẹ giới hạn của giờ xấu, một kẻ hầu mang tính asura của Varuṇa đã bắt lấy ông và giải đến trước chủ mình.
Nanda Mahārāja was intent on breaking his fast during the Dvādaśī day, of which there remained only a few minutes. Thus he entered the water to bathe at an inauspicious time, before the first dawn light.
Because he entered the water at night, disregarding an asuric time-restriction, and Varuṇa’s servant seized him and brought him to Varuṇa.
It refers to an “asuric” or improper restriction of time—here, the rule that one should not enter the water at night—used as the stated reason for detaining Nanda.
Even when mistakes or technical lapses occur, a devotee should take shelter of the Lord’s protection; devotion and surrender are ultimately stronger than fear and anxiety.