अर्कं चैव समाराध्य ततोऽगुस्तेऽर्कसाम्यताम् 1.210.
And by duly worshipping the arka, one attains equality with the arka after death.
पठतां शृण्वतां राजन्कुर्वतां च विशेषतः
For those who recite, listen, and especially perform this, O king,
श्रुतं मया तु बहुशो न श्रुतं कौथुमिर्यथा
I have heard much, but not as I have heard regarding Kauthumi.
सिद्धिं गतोऽर्कमाराध्य कुष्ठान्मुक्तश्च सुव्रत
Having worshipped the arka, Kauthumi attained success and was freed from leprosy, O virtuous one.
कथमाराधयामास भानुं देवपतिं द्विज
How did he worship Bhānu, the lord of the gods, O twice-born?
अर्कसम्पुटिकावर्णनम् आसीत्पुरा महाविद्वान्ब्राह्मणः स्थानगोत्तमः
Description of the Arka-saṃpuṭikā: Once there was a great scholar, a foremost Brahmin.
स गतः पुत्रसहितो जनकस्याश्रमं द्विजः
He, along with his son, went to the hermitage of Janaka, O twice-born.
क्रोधाविष्टेन वै तत्र हतः कौथुमिना द्विजः
There, overcome by anger, that Brahmin was killed by Kauthumi.
भ्रातृभिश्च महाबाहो तथा शिष्टैश्च कृत्स्नशः
Also by his brothers, O mighty-armed one, and entirely by the disciples.
तीर्थानि स जगामाथ दिव्यान्यायतनानि च
Then he went to the holy places and to the divine shrines.
अमुक्तेऽथ तया विप्रे परो व्याधिरजायत
Then, upon not being released by her, a severe disease afflicted the Brahmin.
पृथिवीं पर्यटन्सर्वां पुनरागात्पितुर्गृहम्
He wandered across the entire earth and returned again to his father's house.
पितर्गतस्तु तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च
Upon arriving at his father's place, he visited holy sites and sacred abodes.
कृतेऽपि हि परे तात प्रायश्चित्ते तु मेऽनघ
Even after performing the prescribed expiation, O father, I remain unblemished.
कृतेन कर्मणा येन अल्पायासेन मे विभो
By which act, O Lord, with little effort, may I obtain atonement?
कथ्यतां मा चिरं तात कुरु निःश्रेयसं मम शोकदुःखाभिभूतस्तु वाक्यं पुत्रमुवाच ह
Tell me, do not delay, father; grant me liberation. Overcome by grief and sorrow, he spoke these words to his son.
तीर्थानि च त्वया वत्स प्रायश्चित्तानि कुर्वता
You, my child, have performed expiations at holy places.
उपायमेकं वक्ष्यामि येन त्वं मोक्षमाप्स्यसि
I will tell you of a single means by which you will attain liberation.
शरीरेण विहीनोऽस्मि हेतुना सर्वकर्मणाम्
I am deprived of my body, and thus unable to perform all actions.
देवैरपि सुपूज्योयमुपलेपनमार्जनैः
This is worthy of the highest honor even among the gods, through anointing and cleansing.
भानुरेको द्विजश्रेष्ठ ऊचुरेवं मनीषिणः
The sages said thus to the best of Brahmins: 'The sun alone.'
भानुमाश्रित्य सर्वे ते मोदंते दिवि पुत्रक
All those who take refuge in the sun, O child, rejoice in heaven.
एवं भानुं सर्वमान्यमधुना खिलकामदम्
Thus, the sun is now regarded as the fulfiller of all desires.
तमाराधय वै भक्त्या जपन्मंत्रमनुत्तमम्
Worship him with devotion, reciting the supreme mantra.
आराधयन्रविं भक्त्या जपन्साम महामते
Worshipping Ravi with devotion, reciting the Sāma, O wise one.
ॐकारप्रवरोद्गीथं प्रस्थानं च चतुष्टयम्
The fourfold system: Om, Pravara, Udgītha, and Prasthāna.
पंचमः परिहारोत्र षष्ठमाहुस्तमद्भुतम्
The fifth is renunciation here; the sixth is called wondrous.
साप्तविध्यमिति प्रोक्तं हिंकारप्रणवेषु च
It is declared as sevenfold, including the syllable 'hiṃ' and the sacred Om.
एतेषां तात साम्नां वै कंठे जाप्यं परं मतम्
O dear one, among these Sāman hymns, recitation at the throat is considered the highest practice.
हिरण्यनाभ उवाच साधु पुत्र कुलं पूतं त्वत्पुत्रेण समेन च
Hiraṇyanābha said: Excellent, my son! The lineage is purified by your son, who is equal to you.