Hymn To Varuna Poem by Ananta Madhavan

We beseech you, Varuna, hear this my hymn,
We seek your blessing and entreat you
Like the Master at the Sacrifice,
Do not snatch away our lives to punish us
If in folly we have faltered in our daily vows,
Or transgressed due rites and conduct.


Enemies are heaping sins on us at the gaming floor,
Sins that are ours and sins unknown;
Annul them all, Varuna of the godly host,
Save us from torments.
Lord of the waters and seasons,
Upholder of Nature's order we call 'Ritu',
We are your votaries on earth and all creation.

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(Adapted from the hymn in Vedas, part of the daily
prayer to the Sun, called Sandhya Vandanam, in Sanskrit:
'imam me Varuna srudhee havamathyaa')