Let us listen to the ancient tale as revealed in the sacred verses. Vivasvān, the radiant Sun, shines forth with twice seven rays, and Aṃśumān with five and three. Parjanya, Varuṇa, and Aryaman, too, shine like Vivasvān, their splendor matching his. Tvaṣṭṛ, like Mitra, glows with a thousand and a hundred rays; Indra with twice six, and Dhātṛ with eleven hundred rays. Mitra himself shines with a thousand rays, while Pūṣan has nine hundred. As the Sun journeys northward, his rays increase; when he turns southward, they decrease. Thus, the thousand rays from the Sun’s realm bestow grace upon the world. In this way, the twenty-four names of these deities have been described, and another thousand is proclaimed. The sages ask, “O Lord of creatures, what merit and supreme path belong to those who praise the Sun with his thousand names?” To this, the answer comes: “Hear, O best of sages, the eternal essence—it is enough to recite this auspicious hymn of a thousand names. The names which are secret, pure, and auspicious—I shall declare them to you; listen to those of Bhāskara.” These names include Vikartana, Vivasvān, Mārtaṇḍa, Bhāskara, Ravi, the illuminator of the worlds, the glorious one, the eye of the world, and the great lord. He is the witness of the worlds, lord of the three worlds, creator, destroyer, dispeller of darkness, the burning one, the tormentor, pure, and his vehicle is seven horses. With rays as hands, he is Brahmā, worshipped by all the gods. These twenty-one names form the cherished hymn to Ravi. This Sun is the giver of bodily health, bestower of wealth and fame, known as the king of hymns, renowned in the three worlds. Whoever, O best of twice-born, praises the Sun at dawn and dusk, at sunrise and sunset, having purified themselves, is freed from all sins. Whatever sin is mental, spoken, physical, or born of action—all is destroyed by a single recitation in the presence of the Sun. Recitation of a single mantra, offering oblations, worship at twilight, incense mantras, water offering mantras, and mantras for sacrificial offerings—all these are sanctified. In giving food, in charity, in prostration, in circumambulation, this great mantra is honored; it removes all sins and is auspicious. Therefore, O twice-born, with effort, praise this boon-giving god with this hymn, for he grants the fruits of all desires. The sages then ask, “The god, devoid of qualities and eternal, whom you have described as the Sun, has again been born in twelve forms, as we have heard from your words. How did the radiance, the rays, the great brilliance of the Sun arise in the womb of a woman? On this, we have great doubt.” The story unfolds: Daksha had sixty excellent daughters—Aditi, Diti, Danu, Vinata, and others. Of these, thirteen maidens were given to Kashyapa; Aditi gave birth to the gods, the rulers of the three worlds. Diti and Danu bore fierce demons, proud and powerful; Vinata and the others gave birth to various stationary and moving beings. Thus, this entire world was filled by their sons, grandsons, and descendants. Among the sons of Kashyapa, the principal groups of deities are known as sattvic, others as rajasic, and others as tamasic. Prajapati, the creator and supreme knower of Brahman, made the gods, the enjoyers of sacrifices, and the rulers of the three worlds. The Daityas and Danavas, along with their co-wives, opposed them; the sons were driven away by the Daityas and Danavas. Seeing the three worlds destroyed, Aditi, greatly afflicted by hunger, cut off the shares of sacrifice. For the worship of Savitṛ, she undertook the highest effort, with single-mindedness, regulated diet, and strict discipline; she praised the mass of radiance, the Sun dwelling in the sky: “Salutations to you, who bear the supreme, subtle, most virtuous, incomparable brilliance, lord of those possessing brilliance, eternal foundation of brilliance. For the benefit of the worlds, I praise you, O protector of cows; to that intense form which you assume when taking, I bow. To that exceedingly intense form which you assume to absorb the watery essence over eight months, I bow. To that form united with Agni and Soma, possessing qualities, I bow; that form of yours which shines through the unity of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas. Homage to that eternal Radiance, the source of the threefold Veda, whose form is beyond all, invoked by the syllable Om—subtle, gross, and pure.” Thus, Aditi, steadfast in her devotion, composed hymns day and night, fasting, desiring to propitiate Vivasvat. After a long time, the glorious Sun appeared before her, Daksha’s daughter. She beheld a great mass of radiance, veiled in light, standing upon the earth, blazing with flames and exceedingly difficult to look upon. Seeing this, the goddess was seized by utmost fear. She cried, “O Lord of Cows, origin of the world, be gracious! I do not see you—grant me your favor so I may behold your form, O Sun, compassionate to devotees, protector of your worshippers—protect my sons.” Then, from that radiance, the shining Sun manifested, the lord appearing, resembling molten copper. He spoke to the goddess, who had bowed and could not see him: “Choose a single boon from me, whatever you desire.” Aditi, bowing her head and pressing her knees to the ground, addressed Vivasvat, the bestower of boons, who had appeared before her.