शुष्यंति जंतवस्तत्र म्रियंते चातुरा जनाः। अथ शक्रादयो देवा ब्रह्माणं समुपागताः
Creatures there dried up, and clever people died; then Indra and other gods approached Brahma.
इममर्थं तदा प्रोचुर्देवांश्च विधिरब्रवीत्। आदिर्ब्रह्मतनोर्देवाः सत्त्वगो जनकः प्रभुः
At that time, the gods spoke this matter, and the Creator replied: The gods are the origin from the body of Brahma, the lord, the generator of beings.
अयं रजोमयः साक्षात्सुधांशुस्तनुमध्यगः। एताभ्यां पालिता लोकास्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचराः
This one is composed of rajas, directly the nectar-rayed one, whose body is in the midst; by these two, the worlds are protected, all moving and unmoving beings in the three worlds.
दिव्योपपादका देवा ये वात्रैव जरायुजाः। अंडजाः स्वेदजाश्चैव ये वात्रैवोद्भिज्जादयः
The gods born by divine means, and those born here from wombs, eggs, sweat, and sprouting—
सूर्यस्यास्य प्रभावं तु वक्तुमेव न शक्नुमः। अनेन रक्षिता लोका जनिताः पालिता ध्रुवम्
We are unable to describe the power of this sun; by him, the worlds are protected, generated, and certainly sustained.
अस्यैव सदृशो नास्ति सर्वेषां परिरक्षणात्। यं च दृष्ट्वाप्युषःकाले पापराशिः प्रलीयते
There is none equal to him in protecting all; even seeing him at dawn, heaps of sin are dissolved.
तमाराध्य जना मोक्षं साधयंति द्विजातयः। संध्योपासनकाले तु विप्रा ब्रह्मविदः किल
By worshipping him, people attain liberation; indeed, Brahmin-knowers worship at the time of the twilight ritual.
उद्बाहवो भवंत्येव ते च देवप्रपूजिताः। अस्यैव मंडलस्थां च देवीं संध्यास्वरूपिणीं
They raise their arms, and are worshipped by the gods; and the goddess, who is the form of twilight, is established in his circle.
समुपास्य द्विजास्सर्वे लभंते स्वर्गमोक्षकौ। धरायां पतितोच्छिष्टाः पूतास्ते चास्य रश्मिभिः
All the twice-born who worship attain both heaven and liberation; even those fallen or impure upon the earth are purified by his rays.
संध्योपासनमात्रेण कल्मषात्पूततां व्रजेत्। दृष्ट्वा चांडालकं गोघ्नं पतितं कुष्ठसंगतम्
By merely performing the worship at twilight, one becomes purified from sin, even after seeing an outcaste, a cow-killer, one fallen, or one afflicted with leprosy.
महापातकसंकीर्णमुपपातकसंवृतम्। पश्यंति ये नरास्सूरं ते पूता गुरुकिल्बिषात्
Those men who see the Sun, even if surrounded by great and minor sins, are purified from even the gravest offenses.
अस्योपासनमात्रेण सर्वरोगात्प्रमुच्यते। नांधत्वं न च दारिद्र्यं दुःखं न च शोच्यताम्
By merely worshipping him, one is freed from all diseases; there is no blindness, no poverty, no suffering, nor any cause for sorrow.
लभते च इहामुत्र समुपास्य विरोचनम्। अदृष्टा नैव लोकैश्च देवा हरिहरादयः
By worshipping Virocana here, one attains benefits both in this world and the next; even gods like Hari and Hara, unseen by people, are not seen.
ध्यानरूपप्रगम्यास्ते दृष्टो देवो ह्ययं स्मृतः। देवा ऊचुः। अस्तु प्रसादनाराध्यश्चास्तूपासनपूजनम्
He is known as the deity who is approached through meditation and is seen; the gods said: 'Let there be worship and adoration for his favor.'
अस्यैव दर्शनं ब्रह्मन्प्रलयानलसंमितम्। सर्वे नरादयस्सत्वा मृतावस्थां गता भुवि
O Brahman, the sight of him alone is like the fire of dissolution; all beings, even those who have died on earth,
अस्य तेजःप्रभावेण प्रणष्टास्सागरादयः। न समर्था वयं सोढुं कथमन्ये पृथग्जनाः
By the power of his radiance, the oceans and others are destroyed; we are not able to endure it—how then could other beings?
तस्मात्तवप्रसादाच्च पूजयामो यथा रविम्। यजंति च नरा भक्त्या तदुपायो विधीयताम्
Therefore, by your grace, we worship him as we do the Sun; let a means be prescribed by which people may worship with devotion.
देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा गतो ब्रह्मखगेश्वरम्। गत्वा स्तोतुं समारेभे सर्वलोकहिताय वै
Hearing the words of the gods, he went to the lord of the sky; having gone, he began to praise him for the welfare of all worlds.
देवत्वं सर्वलोकस्य चक्षुर्भूतो निरामयः। ब्रह्मरूपधरः साक्षाद्दुष्प्रेक्ष्यः प्रलयानलः
You are the divinity, the eye of all the worlds, free from affliction; assuming the very form of Brahman, you are difficult to behold, like the fire of dissolution.
सर्वदेवस्थितस्त्वं हि सदा वायुसखस्तनौ। अन्नादिपाचनं त्वत्तो जीवनं च भवेद्ध्रुवम्
You indeed dwell among all the gods, always in the body as the friend of the wind; from you comes the cooking of food and certainly the sustenance of life.
उत्पत्तिप्रलयौ देव त्वमेको भुवनेश्वरः। त्वदृते सर्वलोकानां दिनैकं नास्ति जीवनम्
O god, you alone are the lord of the world, the origin and dissolution; without you, there is not even a single day of life for all beings.
प्रभुस्त्वं सर्वलोकानां त्राता गोप्ता पिता प्रसूः। चराचराणां सर्वेषां त्वत्प्रसादाद्धृतं जगत्
You are the lord, protector, and father of all worlds; by your grace, the universe of all moving and unmoving beings is sustained.
देवेषु त्वत्समो नास्ति भगवंस्त्वखिलेषु च। सर्वत्र तेऽस्ति सद्भावस्त्वयैव धारितं जगत्
O blessed one, there is none among the gods or anywhere else equal to you; your true being is everywhere, and by you alone is the world upheld.
रूपगंधादिकारी त्वं रसानां स्वादुता त्वया। एवं विश्वेश्वरः सूरो निखिलस्थितिकारकः
You are the lord of form, scent, and the like; the sweetness of tastes is by you; thus, O lord of the universe, the Sun is the cause of all existence.
तीर्थानां पुण्यक्षेत्राणां मखानां जगतः प्रभो। त्वमेकः प्रयतो हेतुस्सर्वसाक्षी गुणाकरः
Of holy waters, sacred places, and sacrifices, O lord of the world, you alone are the chief cause, the witness of all, the repository of virtues.
सर्वज्ञः सर्वकर्ता च हर्ता पाता सदोत्सुकः। ध्वांतपंकामयघ्नश्च दारिद्र्यदुःखनाशनः
All-knowing, the doer of all, the destroyer, the protector, ever eager; destroyer of the mire of darkness, remover of poverty and suffering.
प्रेत्येह च परो बंधुः सर्वज्ञः सर्वलोचनः। त्वदृते सर्वलोकानामुपकारी न विद्यते
After death and in this world, the supreme friend is the all-knowing, all-seeing one; apart from you, there is no one who benefits all beings.
आदित्य उवाच-। पितामह महाप्राज्ञ विश्वेंद्र विश्वभावक। ब्रूहि शीघ्रं परं यत्ते करिष्यामि मतं विधे
The Sun said: O Grandfather, O greatly wise one, Lord of the universe, origin of all, quickly tell me your supreme wish; I will carry out your decision.
ब्रह्मोवाच-। मयूखस्त्वतिचंडश्च लोकानामतिदुःसहः। यथैव मृदुतामेति तथा कुरु सुरेश्वर
Brahmā said: Your rays are exceedingly fierce and unbearable for the worlds; O Lord of the gods, make them gentle as before.
आदित्य उवाच-। किरणाः कोटिकोटिर्मे लोकनाशकराः पराः। न चाभीष्टकरा लोके प्रयोगाच्छिन्धि तान्प्रभो
The Sun said: My rays, countless crores in number, are supreme and destructive to the worlds; they do not bring benefit here—O Lord, remove them by your power.