She made four voyages as an "extra ship" for the British East India Company (EIC), and then spent two years as a troopship.

Varuna left Saugor on 11 December 1800, reached the Cape on 15 February 1801 and St Helena on 7 March, and arrived at The Downs on 29 May.

[2] Varuna was part of a small convoy under escort by Buffalo that also included Minerva, Highland Chief, and Friendship.

She was part of a convoy under escort by HMS Seahorse that also included General Stuart, Manship, Sarah Christiana, Northampton, Ann, Sovereign, Caledonia, Comet, Princess Mary, Carron, Elizabeth, Monarch, and Friendship.

At 3:30 a.m. on 1 November, near Rocas Atoll at 3°51′27″N 33°48′57″W / 3.85750°N 33.81583°W / 3.85750; -33.81583, HMS Leda sighted breakers and fired a gun, the signal to tack, herself barely missing the danger.

[16] At St Salvador Bay Biard hired her to take on board some of the crew and troops from Britannia and King George.

The British fleet, including Varuna, arrived in Table Bay on 5 January 1806 and anchored off Robben Island.

[17] The military and naval commanders paid the Government in Bengal £3370 for beer taken out of Varuna and issued to the King's ships.

[18] After Jansens, the Dutch Governor, signed a capitulation on the 18 January, and the British established control of the Cape Colony, Belliqueux escorted the East Indiamen After the Dutch Governor Jansens signed a capitulation on 18 January 1806, and the British established control of the Cape Colony, HMS Belliqueux escorted the East Indiamen William Pitt, Jane, Duchess of Gordon, Sir William Pulteney, and Comet to Madras.

[19] Varuna appears to have sailed as a country ship, i.e., in the East Indies and possibly to China, after her return to India.

[8] Varuna, Douglas, master, appears in a list of country ships lost in the India and China Seas.