Etymology of Varuna — The All-Enveloper
Nirukta (Yaska) · 10 · Verse 25
niruktavarunaetymologycosmic-orderrtayaska
Sanskrit Original
वरुणः कस्मात्? वृणोति सर्वमावृत्य — आच्छादयति। वरिष्ठो वा — श्रेष्ठो देवेषु। वृत्रं वृणुते — वरयति सत्यमिति॥
varuṇaḥ kasmāt? vṛṇoti sarvam āvṛtya — ācchādayati | variṣṭho vā — śreṣṭho deveṣu | vṛtraṃ vṛṇute — varayati satyam iti ||
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Why is he called Varuṇa? (1) From "vṛ" (to cover) — he who covers/envelops all; (2) The most excellent (variṣṭha) among the gods; (3) He who chooses/upholds (varayati) truth (ṛta). Varuṇa is the cosmic guardian of truth and moral order.