सूर्यमण्डलमध्यस्था सावित्री नाम देवता 3.4.8.
In the midst of the solar orb is the goddess named Sāvitrī.
प्रसन्ना तपसा तस्य प्रादुर्भूता सनातनी
Pleased by his austerity, the eternal one appeared.
लक्षवर्षसहस्राणि मासि मासि तथाश्विने
For hundreds of thousands of years, month by month, likewise in the month of Āśvina—
त्वं सूर्यं भज देवेन्द्र स ते कार्यं करिष्यति
You, O Indra of the gods, worship the Sun; he will accomplish your task.
प्रत्यक्षमगमत्तत्र वचः प्राह सुरान्प्रति भवामि सत्यदेवस्य विप्रस्य तनयः शुभः
She became manifest there before their eyes and spoke these words to the gods: 'I shall become the auspicious son of Satyadeva, the brāhmaṇa.'
जित्वा पाखंडिनो विप्रान्मांसभक्षणतत्परान्
Having defeated the heretics, O brāhmaṇas, who were intent on eating flesh—
मत्स्यमांसाशना विप्रा मृगमेषाजकाशनाः
Brāhmaṇas eating fish and meat, eating deer, sheep, and goats—
कलिनाऽधर्ममित्रेण रक्षितास्ते द्विजातयः
Those twice-born were protected by Kali, the friend of unrighteousness.
बलाच्च स्तंभनं चक्रुस्तदा विष्णुप्रियो द्विजः
By force they performed binding; then that brāhmaṇa dear to Viṣṇu—
संजीव्य दर्शयामास ते दृष्ट्वा विस्मितास्तदा
Reviving them, he showed them; seeing this, they were amazed at that time.
सर्वदेवपरो नित्यं वेदपाठपरायणः ।। 3.4.8.
He was ever devoted to all the gods and constantly engaged in reciting the Vedas.
तत्सुतस्तु मृतिं प्राप्तो जन्ममात्रे हि दारुणे
But his son met with death at the very moment of birth, a most grievous event.
जिजीव तत्प्रसादेन विवस्वान्नाम चाभवत्
By his grace, the child survived and became known by the name Vivasvan.
अपत्यवान्धर्मपरः सूर्यवतपरायणः
He had offspring, was devoted to righteousness, and was steadfast like the sun.
सुशीला नाम विख्याता पतिसेवार्थमागता
A woman named Sushila, renowned for her virtue, came for the service of her husband.
बलाद्गृहीत्वा तु निशि बुभुजे स्मरविह्वलः
Overcome by desire, he seized her by force at night and enjoyed her.
लिंगेद्रियं च पतितं गुदभ्रष्टो महांगरुक्
His organ fell off from his body, and he suffered from a severe affliction of the anus.
स चक्रे द्वादशं प्रेम्णा निराहारो यतेन्द्रियः
He performed a twelve-year vow with love, fasting and controlling his senses.
तदा श्रद्धा रवौ प्राप्ता प्रत्यहं स द्विजोत्तमः
Then, with faith, that best of twice-borns approached the Sun every day.
नारीभिर्भर्त्सितः पूर्वं सोथ कामिनीयाचितः
Previously scorned by women, he was now sought after by a passionate woman.
शतायुर्ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा ज्ञानवान्रोगवर्जितः 3.4.8.
Becoming a Brahmin with a lifespan of a hundred years, he was wise and free from disease.
कार्तिके मासि लक्षाब्दं प्रकाशं कृतवान्नभः
In the month of Kartika, for a hundred thousand years, he made the sky radiant.
पूजयित्वा विधानेन पूर्णिमायां ददर्श ह
Having worshipped according to the rite on the full moon, he beheld (the deity).
उवाच शक्रं स रविर्देवकार्यं करोम्यहम्
The Sun spoke to Indra, saying, 'I am performing the work of the gods.'
धातुपाठो न्यपठितो भ्रंशार्थः स्वरवर्णकः
The recitation of the elements was performed, but there was an error in the pronunciation of the vowels.
इत्युक्त्वा स गतः काश्यां गेहे वै वेदशर्मणः
Having spoken thus, he departed to Kashi, to the house of Vedasharma.
द्वादशाब्दवपुर्भूत्वा सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
Assuming a twelve-year-old form, he became skilled in all the scriptures.
त्रिवर्षान्ते च भगवांस्तस्मै ज्ञानं महद्ददौ
And at the end of three years, the Blessed Lord bestowed great knowledge upon him.
ज्ञातं कार्यगुणेनैव दीक्षितेन तदा हृदि
At that time, the initiated one knows it in his heart by the quality of the act.
व्यक्तेऽहंकारभूते च बुद्धिर्ज्ञेया बुधैरजा
The intellect, when manifest and identified with ego, is to be understood by the wise as unborn.