"69.1. Varuna’s great career ended rather disappointingly; but, it did leave behind a rich legacy of wonderful concepts and norms of behavior in personal and social life (Rta) that have endured even to this day. Those laws are universal; applicable at all times and therefore eternal. The concept of Rta asserts that the order in nature is self regulated and operates by its own laws (svabhava). Ensuring the perpetuation of the order and harmony in nature is as sacred as it is in conduct of one’s life. That is because; Rta emphasizes the integrity of all forms of life and ecological systems. The principle of Rta recognizes our oneness with our environment and our unity with all life on earth. It is the framework that binds together man, nature and god. Rta is thus the Dharma that pervades and protects all life.
69.2. When that order and harmony is ruptured, the disruptive elements of disorder, chaos and falsehood (an-rta) step in, bringing in their wake ugliness, dishonesty and, decay into life. It is explained; a sin is any inharmonious action done with avarice to gain some immediate and temporary gain. Thus, injuring the harmony that exists in nature and among men is in fact a sin; and attracts punishment. The sin arises because of frailties and human weaknesses; and not because of demons. The evil in the hearts and minds of men are the real demons.
69.3. Sin is compared to unpaid debt (rna); it is a burden and an act of bad faith. The best way to cleanse the sin is to come face to face with it; own it; confess to it; and seek forgiveness with a promise not to err again. Cleansing is in the heart, mind and deed; not in the rituals. That is the Varuna’s way.
69.4. Paschatapa –‘after the burning heat’- signifies the purifying fire of repentance. The life-giving waters over which Varuna presides also signifies purity. Varuna is intimately associated with the both. Thus the Varuna-principle stands for purity in life, in all its aspects. Salutations to Varuna the icon of purity."
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Purifying fire is very exciting.
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ṛta
mf(ā)n. met with , afflicted by (with instr.) TS. v
proper , right , fit , apt , suitable , able , brave , honest RV. VS. xvii , 82
true MBh. BhP. Mn. viii , 82 ; 87 Bhag. &c
worshipped , respected L.
enlightened , luminous L.
m. N. of a rudra MBh.
m. of a son of manu cākṣuṣa BhP. iv , 13 , 16
m. of a son of vijaya VP.
n. fixed or settled order , law , rule (esp. in religion)
n. sacred or pious action or custom , divine law , faith , divine truth (these meanings are given by BRD. and are generally more to be accepted than those of native authorities and marked L. below) RV. AV. VS. S3Br. &c
ṛtá
n. truth in general , righteousness , right RV. AV. MBh. Mn. viii , 61 ; 104 Pan5cat. &c
n. figuratively said of gleaning (as the right means of a Brahman's obtaining a livelihood as opposed to agriculture , which is anṛta) Mn. iv , 4 ff.
n. promise , oath , vow Ta1n2d2yaBr. La1t2y.
n. truth personified (as an object of worship , and hence enumerated among the sacred objects in the Nir. )
n. water L.
n. sacrifice L.
n. a particular sacrifice L.
n. the sun L.
n. wealth L.
n. (ṛtam √i , to go the right way , be pious or virtuous RV. )
n. truly , sincerely , indeed RV. MBh. i.
- From Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary (http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/mwquery/)
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