O best of the twice-born, listen as I recount the wondrous chariot of the Sun and its celestial journey. The measure of this divine chariot is five and a half yojanas, and its axle, where it joins the pole, is just half a yuga shorter than that. Drawn by seven radiant horses, each one is a sacred metre—let me tell you their names. Among these horses, Anuṣṭubh and Triṣṭubh are especially revered as the steeds of Hari himself. To the south of this chariot’s path lies the realm of Yama, the lord of justice, and to the west, the domain of Varuṇa, guardian of the cosmic waters. Their cities, shining in order, are Amarāvatī, Saṃyamanī, Sukhā, and Vibhā. It is the Lord of all creatures, the god of gods, who takes up the wheel of the luminaries and sets it in motion. In the deep of night, he faces all seven continents, shining his light in every direction—north, south, east, west, and the intermediate quarters as well. Thus, by his movement, he brings forth day and night, withdrawing and releasing the earth in perfect order. O eminent sages, thus have the three worlds—heaven, earth, and the nether realms—been described by the virtuous. From this great chariot arises the entire universe: gods, asuras, and humans alike. The radiance of all that shines, all the power manifest in the cosmos, is but a portion of his universal brilliance. The Sun alone is the root and supreme deity of the three worlds. The gods, as portions of Viṣṇu, carry out his course, sustaining the order of the universe. This chariot is composed of sacred metres, of Brahman itself, and is ancient beyond reckoning. Throughout the seasons, beginning with spring, the Sun is nourished in turn by Gandharvas, Apsarases, serpent chiefs, and Rakshasas. Vivasvat, Pūṣan, Parjanya, and Aṃśu also play their roles in this cosmic nourishment. Great sages—Bharadvāja, Gautama, Kaśyapa, and Kratu—praise the Sun with various metres, each in their due order. Rathasvana, Varuṇa, Suṣeṇa, and Senajit, the chief charioteers, gather the reins of the Lord of gods. In front of the chariot proceed a serpent, a tiger, a horse, the wind, lightning, and the sun itself—these are the foremost Rakshasas, leading the way in due order. The mighty serpents Elāpatra, Śaṅkhapāla, Airāvata, Kambala, and Aśvatara bear the chariot in their appointed turns. Ugrasena, Vasuruci, Arvāva, and Asuratha sing to Bhānu, the Sun, with various songs, beginning with the Ṣaḍja note and continuing through the scale. Among the Apsarases, Menakā, Sahajanyā, Pramlocā, Pūrvacitti, and Tilottamā delight the great god, the Sun, the imperishable Self. Each nourishes him with her own brilliance, and together the Gandharvas and Apsarases attend him with dance and song. The serpents carry the Lord of gods, and the Rakshasas go before him, removing the inauspicious deeds of all beings. Ever abiding in his celestial chariot, the Sun moves at will with the speed of the wind. The goddess who accompanies him protects all beings until the end of the age. According to their natures and the proper order, this Lord shines forth, ever nourishing ancestors, gods, humans, and all living creatures with his unfailing radiance.