The world, O King, had fallen into distress and darkness. In this time of calamity, the wise Brāhmins counseled the king, “Do not speak to us now, for we have discerned the remedy to our plight. With steadfast effort, you must worship the great god Sūrya using sacred mantras.” The king, his heart heavy with sorrow, humbly inquired, “O best of Brāhmins, by what means shall I please Bhāskara, the radiant Sun? For I am afflicted with impurity and leprosy, shunned by all beings and condemned by the twice-born. Of what use is a kingdom or even worship, when I am so despised and hidden from the eyes of the world?” The Brāhmins replied, “Remain here within your own kingdom and worship Virocana, the Sun. By doing so, you will be freed from your terrible sin and will attain both heaven and liberation.” Hearing these words, the king bowed reverently to the Brāhmins and, with unwavering faith, began the supreme worship of Sūrya. Each day, he performed the rituals with mantras, offerings, and anointings. He presented various kinds of fruits, unbroken rice, roasted grains, hibiscus flowers, arka leaves, and blossoms of karavīra and karañja. He adorned his offerings with red kuṅkuma, vermilion, springtime flowers, fragrant banana leaves, and delightful fruits. Always facing the sun, the king offered arghya to Sūrya in a vessel made from fig wood. His ministers and priests joined him in this devotion, as did the queens and royal women, who surrounded him and offered arghya as well. All within the palace, along with their wives and guards, participated. Groups of attendants and others gave arghya daily, performing fierce rituals to appease the Sun with excellent hymns and mantras. They worshipped the Sun with root mantras and other sacred chants, performing with great concentration the vow concerning the limbs of the Sun. As the year passed, the king’s terrible illness gradually faded. When the disease was subdued, the king and his entire realm rejoiced. To honor this deliverance, the king established disciplined morning worship. Hibiscus flowers and fragrant banana fruits were gathered by the royal wives, who even used arrows to obtain the arka leaves and flowers. Through these great acts of merit, the king became beloved by all his people. The people, too, fasted on sacrificial food and worshipped Bhāskara, the Sun, uniting all three classes in devotion. Pleased by their devotion, Sūrya himself appeared before the king, his heart full of compassion, and spoke: “Choose a boon, whatever you desire in your heart, for the welfare of yourself, your followers, and the people of your city.” The king replied, “O all-seeing one, if you wish to grant me a boon, let it be what is dearest to me: may we attain the highest heaven in your presence.” The Sun graciously granted his wish: “Your ministers, priests, their wives and attendants—all pure and in the prime of youth—shall dwell in my beautiful city, free from disease, enjoying every pleasure until the world’s end. There will be abundant celestial trees, palaces made of wish-fulfilling trees, noble women, and supreme music and dance. After five cycles of creation, at the dawn of a new Manu’s age, you shall again become a king. These men of yours—your priests, the learned, and the wealthy of your kingdom—shall receive boons from me and attain heavenly happiness.” Having spoken, the Eye of the World vanished from sight. King Bhadreśvara, together with his city, rejoiced in heaven. There, even the insects and lesser beings who had been consumed, along with their offspring, enjoyed wondrous pleasures upon the celestial trees. Thus, O priests, kings, sages devoted to vows, warriors, and others of all castes, swiftly attained heaven through the grace of the Sun. Some gained wealth, others sons and wives; happiness, heaven, and health all flowed from the Sun’s favor. This, O blessed one, is a great heap of merit. Whoever, being pure, recites this tale, all his sins are destroyed, and he is honored on earth like Rudra. He becomes a witness to all in heaven, a bestower of boons, and dear to the Sun. The self-controlled mortal who hears this attains his desired fruit, crosses over all sins in the assembly of the Sun, and becomes eloquent, rich in merit and wealth. This most secret of secrets was proclaimed by the Sun, told to Yama, and celebrated on earth by Vyāsa. Thus concludes, in the glorious Padma Purāṇa, the seventy-ninth chapter, called the Story of Bhadreśvara. After this, Vaiśaṃpāyana spoke: “Through your grace, we have heard of the radiance of the Lord of the Planets. Now, O twice-born, tell us of the means for pleasing the planets, beginning with the Sun. Who are these deities? How are they pleased or made favorable? At what times and places is their sight auspicious or inauspicious?” Vyāsa replied: “The planets and other celestial beings in this world partake of both merit and sin. They bring about both auspicious and inauspicious results, exhausting the world’s karma. The Sun, known as Time and Death, is to be understood among people and among the planets; by his fierce and gentle conjunctions, he is lord of both restraint and favor. Now, to satisfy the planets, one should offer oblations with the tender shoots of the udumbara and palāśa trees, using the mantra ‘ākṛṣṇena’ and the root for pacification, pouring clarified butter to obtain the desired fruit. For the pacification of all diseases and for the release of captives, one should offer a hundred oblations with each mantra. On Sundays, one should give the throat of a sharp goat and feed Brāhmaṇas with the best offerings of cooked and uncooked food, according to one’s ability.” Thus, the wisdom of the Sun and the means of pleasing the planets were revealed, bringing merit, health, and heavenly happiness to all who listened and observed with devotion.