In the ancient hermitage, there dwelled a teacher revered by all castes and stages of life. Adorned and triumphant over his enemies, he was a tormentor of foes and a wise ascetic, thin and immovable even among the immovable. Established as the very standard of virtue, he was difficult to fathom, known as Suparṇa, wind-borne, bearer of the bow, and master of archery’s science. In him resided a repository of qualities, a mine of virtues. His vision was infinite, his nature blissful. He was the staff of support, the subduer, embodiment of self-control, worthy of reverence, and the greatest teacher. Skillful, he was the maker of the universe itself. Freed from passion, humble in soul, an ascetic and creator of beings, he sometimes wore the guise of madness, concealed from the world, yet always conquering desire and affection. He was auspicious by nature, the ordinance, the lord of all worlds and beings, ascetic and deliverer, wise, master of the primordial, imperishable. Protector of the worlds, his true self hidden, he was the origin of cycles, lotus-eyed, knower of the true meaning of Vedas and scriptures, the discipline itself, and the refuge of discipline. He was the moon, the sun, Saturn, and Ketu; cessation itself; red-hued like coral; approachable through devotion; the supreme Brahman; bearer of the deer and arrow; sinless. Dwelling in the king of mountains, beloved and the supreme self, teacher of the world, unmoving in all actions, the fashioner, auspicious, and surrounded by auspiciousness. A great ascetic, enduring in austerity, massive and ancient, constant as day and year, all-pervading, the measure of all, supreme in penance. Maker of the year, mantra, certainty, all-seeing, unborn, lord of all, gentle, of great seed and strength. A yogi, fit for yoga, accomplished, the origin of all, giver of fire, wealthy, noble-minded, true, remover of all sins, destroyer. He was immortal, eternal, peaceful, bearer of arrows, powerful, holder of the water-pot, archer, master and sage of the Vedas. Radiant, food and eater, leader of the worlds, hard to subdue, beyond the senses, of great illusion, dwelling in all, at the fourfold path. As the yogi of time, he was the great sound, greatly energetic, of great strength, intellect, and heroism, mover among beings, destroyer of cities. Night-wanderer, mover among spirits, of great power and brilliance, of indescribable form, glorious, all-attracting, with an immeasurable course. Much-heard, manifold, self-controlled, source of Bhava, giver of vigor, splendor, and radiance, dancer, fulfiller of all desires. Lover of dance, both dancer and non-dancer, self-luminous, scorching, whose words are clear and wise, mantra, true honor, ocean of essence. Creator and revolver of the ages, profound, bull-bannered, desired, distinguished, honored by the noble, Sharabha, the bow. Treasure of waters, foundation, victorious, knower of the time of victory, established, knower of measures, golden-armored, tawny one. Radiant, leader of the gods, lord of knowledge, refuge of the wise, child-formed, subduer of the strong, revolving, unfathomable, teacher. Instrument, cause, doer, liberator from all bonds, most learned, fearless, supporter of the universe, maker of night. Resolve, foundation, giver of place, origin of the world, drum, playful, all-pervading, whose essence is Bhava, established in the self. Lord of heroes, Virabhadra, slayer and supporter of heroes, the cosmic form, crest-jewel among heroes, knower, one with intense sound, bearer of rivers. Bearer of commands, wielder of the trident, pervading all, abode of Shiva, Vālakhilya, great bow, blazing sun, imperishable treasure. Delightful, excellent refuge, supremely learned, lord of nectar, Maghavan, Kauśika, possessor of cows, repose, ruler of all. Forehead-eyed, cosmic-bodied, essence, bearer of the wheel of existence, wielder of the unfailing staff, impartial, golden, radiant with Brahman’s splendor. Supreme truth, supreme strength, Shambara, tiger-eyed, fire, splendid, most excellent in radiance, worthy of praise, lord of speech, lord of day. The sun, shining one, support, teacher, son of Vivasvat, person, skill, renowned, with passions calmed, conqueror of defeat. Lord of Kailāsa, enemy of Kāma, Savitṛ, sun-eyed, foremost among the wise, fearless, destroyer of the universe, unrestrained. Eternal, ever-auspicious, whose fame is holy to hear, far-hearing, supporter of the universe, fit for meditation, destroyer of evil dreams. Deliverer, destroyer of evil deeds, unassailable, hard to endure, fearless, without beginning, earth, fortune of the worlds, crowned, lord of the gods. Protector and sustainer of the universe, steadfast, adorned with beautiful armlets, creator, origin of beings, affectionate, just, leader. Distinguished, descendant of Kaśyapa, radiant, formidable, of terrible valor, the sacred syllable, of sevenfold conduct, great-bodied, wielder of the great bow. Lord of birth, great god, master of all scriptures, essence of discernment between truth and untruth, adorned, adorned with ashes. Sage, victorious over Brahmins, beyond birth, death, and old age, sacrifice, lord of sacrifice, performer of sacrifice, end of sacrifice, of unfailing valor. Great Indra, difficult to bear, leader of armies, embodiment of sacrifice, vehicle of sacrifice, origin of the five Brahmas, lord of all, pure in rising. Self-born, without beginning or end, supporter of twenty-six and seven worlds, beloved of Gāyatrī, tall, abode of the universe, source of light. Child, mountain-dweller, sovereign, well-armed, destroyer of a hundred gods, unfailing, destroyer of calamity, Mukunda, free from affliction. Self-luminous, source of light, light of the self, unwavering, tawny, with tawny beard, with scripture as his eye, embodiment of the three Vedas. A mass of knowledge, greatly wise, without origin, upheaval, Bhaga, Vivasvat, Āditya, teacher of yoga, Bṛhaspati. Thus is he, the supreme lord, whose greatness is sung in the sacred verses, the essence and refuge of all.