Radiant with a thousand rays, glorious and auspicious, the eight-armed Lord—whose form is half-female, whose three eyes gaze upon all, and who reigns as the master of the gods—stands revealed in his splendor. By his grace alone, O twice-born, the rains arise in myriad forms. With his brilliant rays, he draws up the waters, only to release them a thousandfold back upon the earth. In his contemplation, there is neither the destruction nor increase of water; all remains as he wills. The wind, established in the pole star, gathers the rain once more, cycling it through the heavens. Water emerges from the planets, from the sun, and throughout the circle of the constellations. At the end of its journey, it returns to the sun, all established and guided by the pole star. Now, let me briefly describe for you the chariot of the sun, and also that of the moon, and the movement of the other planets, as well as the bearer of water. The solar chariot, created by Brahma for a divine purpose, is composed of the divisions of the year, O best of the twice-born. This chariot possesses a wheel with three naves and five golden spokes. It is the abode of all the gods, but especially of the sun. Its length and breadth are each nine thousand yojanas, and its axle, twice as long as the chariot’s platform, is measured accordingly. Unyoked horses are harnessed to it. Wherever its wheel stands, there stand the seven steeds, each fashioned from the meters of sacred verse. The axle is bound to the spokes of the wheel and fixed at the pole. As the wheel with its horses revolves, so too does the axle with the pole. The axle and the single wheel revolve, set in motion by the steadfast, wise pole. Driven by the winds, the pole propels the lights across the heavens. Two rays of the chariot are joined at the ends of the yoke and axle; these, bound by rays to the pole, revolve in harmony. As the chariot revolves, circles are formed by its celestial movement, and the ends of the yoke and axle are found on the right side. Held by the pole and by reins attached to the horses, both rays follow the pole as the chariot spins through the sky. The end of the yoke and axle of this wind-driven chariot is fixed to a stake, and, like a rope, it revolves in all directions. As it turns, the rays increase in the circles during the sun’s northern course, and as it turns to the south, new circles are formed. When these rays, governed by the pole, are drawn in, the sun remains inside and revolves in circles. There are eighty hundred circles between the two sections, and when the rays, released by the pole, return again, the sun moves in circles externally, swiftly unwinding the circles as he goes. Thus, gods and sages worship day and night, always honoring Bhāskara, the lord of existence. This chariot is presided over by gods, Adityas, sages, Gandharvas, Apsaras, chiefs, serpents, and Rākṣasas. These dwell with the sun, each pair for two months in turn, nourishing the radiant and auspicious Bhāskara with their energies. The sages praise Ravi with their composed words, while Gandharvas and Apsaras worship him with dance and song. Chiefs, Yakṣas, and spirits gather their weapons; serpents carry the sun, and the Yātudhānas follow him. The Vālakhilyas lead the sun to his setting, surrounding him at sunrise. Thus, these companions dwell with the sun, each pair for two months. The months are named: Madhū and Mādhava, Śukra and Śuci, Nabhas and Nabhasya, Iṣa and Ūrja, Sahas and Sahasya, Tapasya and Tapah—these twelve make up the human year, O twice-born ones. The seasons are known as Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (rainy), Sharad (autumn), Hemanta (early winter), and Shishira (late winter). Among those who accompany the sun are Dhata, Aryaman, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Pushan, Parjanya, Anshu, Bhaga, Tvashtri, Vishnu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Vasishta, Angiras, Bhrigu, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Kashyapa, Kratu, Jamadagni, Kaushika, Vasuki, Kankanikara, Takshaka, Naga, Elapatra, Shankhapala, Airavata, Dhananjaya, Mahapadma, Karkotaka, Kambala, Ashvatara, Tumburu, Narada, Haha, Huhu, Vishvavasu, Ugrasena, Suruchi, Paravasu, Citrasena, Urnayu, Dhritarashtra, Suryavarcha, Kritasthala, Shubhanana, Shubhashroni, Punjikasthala, Menaka, Sahajanya, Pramlocha, Shucismita, Anumlocha, Ghritachi, Vishvachi, Urvashi, Purvachitti, Tilottama, Rambha, Ambhojavadhana, Rathakrit, Gramani, Rathoja, Rathachitra, Subahu, Rathasvana, Varuna, Sushena, Senajit, Tarkshya, Arishtanemi, Kshatajit, Satyajit, Rakshoheti, Praheti, Paurushaya, Vadhah, the serpent, the tiger, water, wind, lightning, and the sun himself. All these beings, divine and celestial, join in their sacred duties, honoring and accompanying the sun as he journeys across the heavens, sustaining the cycles of time and nourishing creation with his radiant energy.