Amidst great tumult, as all the gods gathered together, Viśvakarman, the divine architect, began to gradually diminish the overwhelming radiance that shone forth. He skillfully crafted an image, and as it reached down to the knees, the Sun himself did not approve of the depiction. Thus, the Sun was made to descend, but even with the lessening of his brilliance, the form did not lose its splendor. Instead, a form more beautiful than before appeared, shining with unmatched grace. Through the interplay of cold, water, heat, and time—praised by Hara, Kamala, and Vishnu—the Sun, hearing the inscription above, proceeded to the realm of daylight at the end of his lifespan. Thus, O best of sages, the birth of the Sun occurred in ancient times, and his supreme form has been fully described. Yet, the sages, eager and unsatisfied, pleaded, “Once again, tell us the story connected with the Sun; we do not attain satisfaction, listening to that auspicious tale. This radiant, mighty, blazing one, whose brilliance equals a mass of fire—we wish to know the source of his power, O Lord.” The narrative continued: When the worlds were enveloped in darkness, and all that was movable and immovable was lost, the qualities of nature gave rise first to intellect. From intellect, ego was born, which set the great elements in motion. Air, fire, water, space, and earth emerged, and from them the cosmic egg was born. Within that cosmic egg, the seven worlds were established, along with the earth, its seven continents, and seven seas. There, I, Vishnu, and Maheshvara resided, all deluded by darkness, meditating upon the Lord. Then, a being of immense radiance appeared, dispelling the darkness. Through meditation and yoga, we recognized Savita, the Sun, at that time. Having known the Supreme Self, each of us separately praised the Lord with divine hymns. We addressed him: “You are the primordial god among the gods; by your sovereignty, you are the Lord. You are the original creator of beings, O god of gods, O Sun. You are the life of all beings—of gods, gandharvas, rakshasas, sages, kinnaras, siddhas, as well as serpents and birds. You are Brahma, you are Mahadeva, you are Vishnu, you are Prajapati; you are Vayu, Indra, Soma, Vivasvan, and Varuna as well. You are Time, the creator, the destroyer, the sustainer, and the master; rivers, oceans, mountains, lightning, and rainbows are yours. You are dissolution and creation, manifest and unmanifest, eternal; from the Lord comes knowledge, and beyond knowledge is Shiva. Beyond Shiva is you alone, O supreme Lord; with hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, heads, and faces everywhere. A thousand-rayed, a thousand-faced, a thousand-footed and thousand-eyed; the origin of beings—earth, atmosphere, heaven, the great, truth, austerity, and the world of progenitors. Salutations to that form of yours which is blazing, luminous, divine, illuminating all the worlds, difficult even for the lords of gods to behold. Salutations to that form attended by hosts of gods and siddhas, praised by Bhrigu, Atri, Pulaha and others, supreme, unmanifest. Salutations to that form ever to be known by the knowers of the Veda, endowed with all knowledge, belonging to the God above all gods. Salutations to that form which is the creator of the universe, the essence of all beings, worshipped by Vaiśvānara and the gods, pervading the universe, inconceivable. Salutations to that form beyond sacrifice, beyond the Veda, beyond the worlds, beyond heaven, known as the Supreme Self. Salutations to that form which cannot be known, cannot be perceived, attained through meditation, imperishable, without beginning or end. Salutations, salutations to the cause of all causes; to the liberator from sin; to the destroyer of the offspring of Diti; to the remover of disease. Salutations, salutations to the bestower of all boons; to the giver of all happiness; to the giver of all wealth; to the giver of all wisdom. Thus praised, the Blessed Lord, assuming a radiant form, spoke with auspicious words: ‘What boon shall I grant you? Let it be given.’ The gods replied, “No one is able to endure Your supremely radiant form; let it become endurable, O Lord, for the welfare of the world.” “So be it,” said the Lord, the Primal Creator. For the accomplishment of the worlds’ purposes, He became the giver of heat, rain, and cold. Thereafter, those who follow Sāṅkhya and Yoga, and others who seek liberation, meditate upon the god, the Sun, abiding in the heart. Even one devoid of all marks, or afflicted by all sins, crosses over all sin by taking refuge in Arka, the Sun. Neither Agnihotra, nor the Vedas, nor sacrifices with abundant gifts can equal even a sixteenth part of devotion and salutation to Bhānu, the Sun. Of all sacred fords, He is the supreme ford; of all auspicious things, the most auspicious; of all that is pure, the purest—men take refuge in the Sun. Those who worship Bhāskara, praised by Indra and others, are freed from all sins and attain the world of the Sun. “O Brahman,” the sages asked, “for a long time now, we have wished to hear the eight hundred names which you formerly spoke of the Sun.” The reply came, “Hear from me, as I recite, the one hundred and eight names of Bhāskara, most secret, bestowing heaven and liberation, O twice-born ones. Om. He is the Sun, Aryaman, Bhaga, Tvashta, Pusha, Arka, Savita, Ravi, Gabhastiman, Aja, Kala, Mrityu, Dhata, and Prabhakara. He is the earth, water, fire, space, wind, the supreme goal, Soma, Brihaspati, Shukra, Budha, and also Angaraka.” Thus, the tale of the Sun’s birth, his supreme form, his praise, and his many names was revealed, illuminating the hearts of all who listened.