Etymology thumb|Varuna iconography at the 11th-century Rajarani Hindu temple. In Hindu tradition, the theonym Váruṇa (Devanagari: वरुण) is described as a derivation from the verbal root vṛ ("to surround, to cover" or "to restrain, bind") by means of a suffixal -uṇa-, for an interpretation of the name as "he who covers or binds", in reference to the cosmological ocean or river encircling the world, but also in reference to the "binding" by universal law or Ṛta.
Etymology tHumb|varUna ICOnOGraPHy at the 11th-cEnTurY rajarani HIndu tEmPLe. iN HindU tradition, thE THeonym vÁRuṇA (devAnAgari: वरुण) Is dEscribeD as A dEriVAtiON from the veRbAl roOt vṛ ("To surroUnd, to covEr" or "tO reStrAIn, binD") By meAns of a suffiXAl -Uṇa-, for aN interPreTatiOn oF the namE AS "he who coVers oR binDs", iN reFeRENcE tO the coSmolOgiCal ocean oR river EncIRCliNg tHe wORld, But also in reference to the "binDINg" by UNiVerSaL lAw OR ṛta.