यथा कदंबकुसुमं किंजल्कैः सर्वतोवृतम्
Just as the kadamba flower is covered everywhere by its filaments,
दूराद्रविं स विज्ञाय धृततामरसद्वयम् 4.1.9.
Recognizing the substance from afar, he holds two lotuses.
विचित्रेणैकचक्रेण सप्तसप्तियुतेन च
With a wondrous single wheel, and drawn by seven horses,
अप्सरोमुनिगंधर्व सर्पग्रामणि नैर्ऋतैः
With apsaras, sages, gandharvas, chiefs of serpents, and spirits of the night.
तस्य प्रणामंदेवोपि भ्रूभंगेनानुमन्य च
Even the god, with a gesture of his brow, accepted his reverential salutation.
प्रक्रांते द्युमणौ दूरं शिवशर्मातिशर्मवान्
When the sun had moved far onward, Shivaśarma, possessed of great merit, departed.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुमाचक्षाथां ममाग्रतः
I wish to hear this; please tell it before me.
शृणु द्विज महाप्राज्ञ त्वय्यकथ्यं न किंचन
Listen, O learned twice-born; nothing should be withheld from you.
नियंता सर्वभूतानां य एकःकारणं परम्
He alone is the supreme cause, the controller of all beings.
आविर्भाव तिरोभावौ यद्भूनर्तनवर्तिनौ
Manifestation and dissolution, which occur in the dance of existence, are his.
योसावादित्यपुरुषः सोसावहमिति स्फुटम्
That person of the sun, he is clearly myself.
निश्चितार्थां श्रुतिमिमां ब्राह्मणासो द्विजोत्तम 4.1.9.
The Brahmins, O best of twice-born, examine the Veda to ascertain its meaning.
उपलभ्य च सावित्रीं नोपतिष्ठेत यः पराम्
And having realized the Sāvitrī, whoever does not worship the supreme one—
तावत्प्रातर्जपंस्तिष्ठेद्यावदर्धोदयो रवेः
He should recite the morning prayer as long as the sun is half-risen.
सादित्यां मध्यमां संध्यां जपेदादित्यसंमुखः
He should recite the midday Sandhyā facing the sun.
काले फलंत्योषधयः काले पुष्पंति पादपाः
Plants bear fruit in due time; trees blossom in due time.
मंदेहदेहनाशार्थमुदयास्तमये रविः
The sun rises and sets for the destruction of the Maṃdehas.
गायत्रीमंत्रतोयाढ्यं दत्तं येनांजलित्रयम्
Whoever gives three handfuls of water, enriched with the Gāyatrī mantra—
किं किं न सविता सूते काले सम्यगुपासितः
What does Savitṛ not produce, when properly worshipped in due time?
मित्रपुत्र कलत्राणि क्षेत्राणि विविधानि च
Friends, sons, wives, fields, and various possessions—
अष्टादश सुविद्यासु मीमांसातिगरीयसी
Among the eighteen branches of knowledge, Mīmāṃsā is the most weighty.
ततोपि धर्मशास्त्राणि तेभ्यो गुर्वी श्रुतिर्द्विज 4.1.9.
Then come the Dharmaśāstras; above them, O twice-born, is the Veda.
दुर्लभा सर्वमंत्रेषु गायत्री प्रणवान्विता
Among all mantras, the Gāyatrī joined with the Praṇava is rare to obtain.
न गायत्री समो मंत्रो न काशी सदृशी पुरी
There is no mantra equal to the Gāyatrī, nor any city comparable to Kāśī.
गायत्री वेदजननी गायत्री ब्राह्मणप्रसूः
The Gāyatrī is the mother of the Vedas; the Gāyatrī is the source of the Brāhmaṇa.
वाच्यवाचकसंबंधो गायत्र्याः सवितुर्द्वयोः
There is a relationship of the expressed and the expresser between the Gāyatrī and Savitṛ.
प्रभावेणैव गायत्र्याः क्षत्रियः कौशिको वशी
By the very power of the Gāyatrī, the Kṣatriya Kauśika became a master.
सामर्थ्यं प्राप चात्युच्चैरन्यद्भुवनसर्जने
He attained supreme ability in the creation of another world.
न ब्राह्मणो वेदपाठान्न शास्त्रपठनादपि
Not by reciting the Vedas, nor by studying the śāstras, does one become a Brāhmaṇa.
गायत्र्येव परं विष्णुर्गायत्र्येव परःशिवः
The Gāyatrī alone is the supreme Viṣṇu; the Gāyatrī alone is the supreme Śiva.