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Background

In the Vedic literature, Devas are explicitly expressed forces that carry the evolution, while asuras are hidden forces . Many names mentioned in the Vedic literature are not absolute, but relativisitic that talk about their function.

For eg. Varuna means envelope. The envelope of Earth is Water. So Varuna is water. In this form, Varuna is a Deva. The envelope of a nucleus are electrons. Varuna, as electrons is an Asura, as it is hidden. An outside envelope of Earth is ‘Van Allen Belt’ of radiation and that can also be called a Varuna.

The ‘Varuna’ mentioned in the Rig Veda is much beyond. It is the Varuna or Envelope of the Dyu-Loka. Aitareya Upanishad says ‘Dyauh pratishta antariksam’ which means the Dyu-Loka installs the cosmic space as we see it. In other words cosmic space is derived from the dyu-loka. Varuna is the envelope of that dyu-loka which evolves the cosmic space.

That’s why Varuna is held in very high esteem in Vedic literature. People who have read Vedas hold Varuna in high esteem, equivalent to the Atma that originated the Universe.

Rg Veda Mandala 5 Hymn 69

We have been going through a series of Rg Vedic references to Kshatriya to identify if any of them tended to be a ‘Caste’ reference.

trī rocanā varuṇa trīṃr uta dyūn trīṇi mitra dhārayatho rajāṃsi
vāvṛdhānāv amatiṃ kṣatriyasyānu vrataṃ rakṣamāṇāv ajuryam

irāvatīr varuṇa dhenavo vām madhumad vāṃ sindhavo mitra duhre

trayas tasthur vṛṣabhāsas tisṛṇāṃ dhiṣaṇānāṃ retodhā vi dyumantah
prātar devīm aditiṃ johavīmi madhyaṃdina uditā sūryasya
rāye mitrāvaruṇā sarvatāteḷe tokāya tanayāya śaṃ yoḥ

yā dhartārā rajaso rocanasyotādityā divyā pārthivasya
na vāṃ devā amṛtā ā minanti vratāni mitrāvaruṇā dhruvāṇi

Let’s look at the reference of Kshatriya in another Rig Veda sloka. Here it is.

trī rocanā varuṇa trīṃr uta dyūn trīṇi mitra dhārayatho rajāṃsi
vāvṛdhānāv amatiṃ kṣatriyasyānu vrataṃ rakṣamāṇāv ajuryam

tri rocana – three radiant or three radiating

varuna – envelope

trimr uta – three times is said to be

dyUn – regions of dyuloka

Three-way radiant envelope (Varuna) in three directions is said the region of dyuloka

trIni - three

mitra – friends, colleagues, companions

dhArayatho - acquainted with, versed in, holding, possessing

rajAmsi – highly charged or rajasik property

three companions (Mitra) well versed/possessing the rajasik property or highly charged

Three-way radiating envelope of three regions is called dyu-loka. The three companions (the three-ways of radiation) are highly charged or have Rajasik property.

The envelope of Dyu-Loka, the Varuna, is said to be radiating in three ways. Varuna is the envelope of dyu-loka; the three radiations are called three mitras of Varuna).

Thus Varuna-Mitra here is an Envelope (of dyu-loka) and three way radiations (Mitras) from envelop of dyu-loka.

vAvrdhAnAv – growing seeds (or grains)

amatim – unconsciously, unintentionally, poorly, indigently

(Like) the grains that grow unconsciously/unintentionally

ksatriyasya – of the Kshatriya

anu – according to

vratam – rule, service, conduct

Kshatriya’s conduct/service

raksamANAv – of the property of protection

ajuryam – ever young, never ages

of protecting others never ages

Like the grain that can germinate any time (any age) unconsciously, Kshatriyas (the Varuna-Mitras or the Envelope and its three radiations, powerful) property of protection never ages. (it comes out at required time).

irāvatīr varuṇa dhenavo vām madhumad vāṃ sindhavo mitra duhre |
trayas tasthur vṛṣabhāsas tisṛṇāṃ dhiṣaṇānāṃ retodhā vi dyumantaḥ ||

iravatir – endowed with provisions, full of food/energy, satiated

varuna – envelope

dhenavo – one that bestows in plenty (Ocean/river gives water and other treasures, milch cow yields milk, speech gives knowledge)

vAm – beauty, lovely

madhumad – intoxicated or full of sleep/slumber

(From) the Satiated envelope (of dyuloka) bestowing beautiful intoxication/slumber

vAm – beauty, lovely

sindhavo – streamy, rivery

mitra – companions, colleagues

duhre – milk, yield, extract

(from that Varuna/Envelope) lovely streaming colleagues (mitra) are extracted

trayas – threefold, triple

tashtur – stationary

vrsa bhAsas –lustre or lightness of the males

The three-fold stationary masculine lustre

tisrnAm – is sharp

dhisanAnAm – is wise, intelligent

retodhA – impregnating, fertilizing, begetter of offsprings

dyumantah – of those residing in dyu-loka (heavenly)

The three-fold stationary masculine lustre is sharp;intelligent and is the begetter of off-springs of the forces residing in dyu-loka

(From) the Satiated envelope (of dyuloka) bestowing beautiful intoxication/slumber lovely streaming companions (mitras) are extracted. The three-fold stationary masculine luster is sharp;intelligent and is the begetter of off-springs of the forces residing in dyu-loka

prātar devīm aditiṃ johavīmi madhyaṃdina uditā sūryasya |
rāye mitrāvaruṇā sarvatāteḷe tokāya tanayāya śaṃ yoḥ ||

prAtar – in the early morning, daybreak, at the start

devIm – divine female force

aditim – the unbounded

At the start, the unbounded divine force (Aditi is the unbounded divine energy present in dyu-loka)

johavImi – I invoke

madhyamdina – mid day, through the course

uditA – rising

suryasya – of the suryan

Through the course the rising of the Sun

At the day-start, I invoke the feminine unbounded divine force (of Dyu-Loka), mid-day, invoke the rising of the Sun (in Bhuva-Loka) (The divine force of Aditi of dyu-loka has evolved into the rising sun for us during the course of time)

rAye – royal, honorable

mitrA-varunA – companion-envelope

The honorable companion-envelope

sarvatA – in all respects, in all ways, in all circumstances

teDe – protector

tokAya – offspring

protector in all circumstances of the new-born/offspring

tanayaya – next generation, posterity

zam yoh – ceases itself

ceases itself for posterity

The honorable Mitra-Varuna (The three companions of the envelope of dyu-loka), protector of the new-born/offspring in all respects, ceases itself for posterity.

It is from this Varuna (envelope) of Dyuloka and the three Mitras (Companions) of Varuna that this Universe evolves. Our Sun has evolved from that Mitra-Varuna. Thus Mitra-Varuna ceases itself for posterity (very much like the Agni, transfer of energy, which ceases itself for posterity)

yā dhartārā rajaso rocanasyotādityā divyā pārthivasya
na vāṃ devā amṛtā ā minanti vratāni mitrāvaruṇā dhruvāṇi

dhartAra – holder, possessor of

rajaso – passionate, charged, rajasik

rocanasya – radiance of, shining of

uta – said to be

adityA – One evolved from Aditi or One that Originates others (One that evolved from Aditi, the unbounded only originates others)

divyA – divine, wonderful, Super-Natural

parthivasya – of the Earthly or of Natural

That possessor of the charged radiance is said to to be super-natural Originator of the Natural

na - Not

vAm - beauty

devA – divine forces or explicitly expressed forces

amrtA – immortal

Not beautiful divine immortal (forces)

aminanti – not violating, not transgressing

vratani – mode, manner, rule, dominion

that do not transgress or violate

mitravaruna – companion of envelope

dhruvAni – fixed one

The permanently fixed Mitra-Varuna

That possessor of the charged radiance is said to to be super-natural Originator of the Natural, not the beautiful, explicitly expressed, immortal that cannot transgress the permanently fixed Mitra-Varuna

Summary of the Sloka

Three-way radiating envelope (Mitra-Varuna) of three regions is called dyu-loka. The companions (Mitras) of the envelope (Varuna) (the three-ways of radiation are the companions) are highly charged.

Like the grain that can germinate any time (any age) unconsciously, these powerful (Mitra-Varuna) have the property of protection that never ages.

From the Satiated envelope (Varuna of dyuloka) that is in slumber, lovely streaming companions (mitras) are extracted. The three-fold stationary masculine luster is sharp, intelligent and is the begetter of off-springs of the forces residing in dyu-loka.

At the day-start the feminine unbounded divine force (Aditi of Dyu-Loka) is invoked. Mid-day the rising of the Sun (in Bhuva-Loka) is invoked. The Aditi at the beginning has evolved into the rising Sun through the course of evolution. Like that the honorable Mitra-Varuna (The three companions of the envelope of dyu-loka), protector of the new-born/offsprings in all respects, ceases itself for posterity. (In this way Mitra-Varuna is like Agni).

This means that Mitra-Varuna (and Agni also) is facilitating and enabling rather than super-imposing and leading, as they cease to exist, while facilitating further evolution.

That possessor of the charged radiance (Varuna and its Mitra) is said to to be super-natural Originator of the Natural, not the beautiful, explicitly expressed, immortal that cannot transgress the permanently fixed Mitra-Varuna

Properties of Kshatriya

This sloka describes few characteristics of the Kshatriya.

A Kshatriya, a service provider to society, be it a Politician, Soldier, Police official, Doctor, Actor ( Entertainment provider), Sports person or any other profession has to have the property of ‘service’ like a grain having the property of growing out unconsciously, even over a long period of time. In other wise, the property of service should be ‘ingrained’ in a Kshatriya.
Kshatriya should have the property of rajas or be charged fully to provide the service. Agni, Mitra-Varuna are all Kshatriyas who have the property of rajas.
They both cease themselves for the sake of posterity or allow further beings to evolve based on their service. Likewise a Kshatriya’s service ceases after sometime and facilitates further evolution. Kshatriya should know to stop and allow others to lead.
Kshatriyas service has to be facilitating and enabling like that of Agni’s and Mitra-Varuna and not super-imposing permanently, as it is in the modern times.
Politicians of modern times need to learn to be real Kshatriyas, learning from nature, learning from Agni, Mitra-Varuna etc!!!