Editing Varuna (section)

=== Ramayana ===
[[File:Rama-Varuna.jpg|thumb|''Rama vanquishing the pride of the ocean'' by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]. Varuna is depicted arising from the depth of the ocean and begging Rama for forgiveness.]]
As in the ''Mahabharata'', in the other major epic, the ''[[Ramayana]]'' (300 BCE - 300 CE), Varuna is depicted primarily as a [[Dikpala]] and as a water deity appointed by chief-god [[Brahma]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=Vishravas becomes the Protector of Wealth [Chapter 3] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424764.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Varuna appears weaker than in his earlier portrayals, being overpowered or sidelined by both the protagonist [[Rama]]—an avatar of [[Vishnu]]—and the antagonist [[Ravana]], the demon king.

One of the most well-known episodes involving Varuna occurs in the ''[[Ramayana|Yuddha Kanda]]'' when Rama, preparing to invade the island [[Lanka]] to rescue his abducted wife [[Sita]], seeks passage across the ocean. Rama performs a three-day penance to Varuna, the lord of oceans, but receives no reply. When Varuna initially remains silent, Rama, enraged, threatens to unleash his divine weapons, including the ''[[Brahmastra]]'', to evaporate the sea. Varuna then appears, recognizing Rama’s authority and righteousness. He explains that his role as a guardian of natural order prevents him from parting the ocean, as it would disrupt natural balance. Instead, Varuna suggests constructing a bridge and pledges to stabilize the waters to aid the effort. Following this counsel, Rama entrusts the [[vanara]] architect [[Nala (Ramayana)|Nala]] with building the bridge, known as ''[[Rama Setu (Ramayana)|Rama Setu]]''.<ref name="Menon2004p376">{{cite book |author=Ramesh Menon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kEEXjAagUzsC |title=The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic |publisher=Macmillan |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-4668-2625-0 |pages=376–379}}</ref> Many sources claim it was [[Samudra]], the personification of the oceans, who met Rama not the water god Varuna.<ref name="Menon2004p376" />

In the ''[[Uttara Kanda]]'', in an event taking place much before Rama's interaction, when Ravana’s conquests spread across the realms, several deities assume animal forms to escape detection—Varuna takes the form of a swan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-27 |title=The Gods assume a thousand Forms in fear of Ravana [Chapter 18] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424779.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Uttara Kanda'' ''also'' preserves the Vedic pairing of Varuna and [[Mitra (Hindu god)|Mitra]] in a myth recounting the birth of the sages [[Agastya]] and [[Vasishtha]], though Vasishtha’s role here is framed as a rebirth. After losing his original body, Vasishtha enters the vital essence of Mitra and Varuna. At that time, the celestial nymph [[Urvashi]] arrives in Varuna’s realm, where Mitra holds temporary sway. Varuna desires her, and Urvashi reciprocates but remains bound by her prior promise to Mitra. Respecting this, Varuna releases his seed into a vessel fashioned by Brahma, which sanctifies the act as a symbolic consummation. Later, due to Urvashi’s divided fidelity, Mitra’s seed falls from her womb into the same vessel. From this vessel, containing the combined seed of Mitra and Varuna, Agastya and Vasishtha emerge, restoring the latter's body.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-28 |title=The Cursing of the Nymph Urvashi [Chapter 56] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424827.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

It also records that once during Varuna's absence in his realm, attending a musical event in [[Brahmaloka]], Ravana confronts Varuna’s sons and grandsons, including Go and Pushkara, defeats them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2020-09-28 |title=Ravana's Struggle with the Sons of Varuna [Chapter 23] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana-of-valmiki/d/doc424784.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Other children of Varuna mentioned in the ''Ramayana'' include the vanara Sushena, who was conceived with the purpose of aiding Rama in future,<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-11-12 |title=Ramayana: Chapter XVII |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana/d/doc365885.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> and the goddess of wine, referred to here as [[Varuni]] instead of Sura; she emerged during the [[Samudra Manthana|churning of the ocean]] and chose the companionship of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]], as narrated in the ''[[Balakanda|Bala Kanda]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-11-23 |title=Ramayana: Chapter XLV |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-ramayana/d/doc365913.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>