The Rāmāyana, Volume 3. Yuddhakāndam

Then the revered Agastya, who, desirous of witnessing the fight, had along with the deities come there,—seeing Rāvana spent with the toil of conflict, staying in the field plunged in thought, and stationed before Rāma for engaging in encounter,—addressed Rāma, drawing near to him, saying,—"Rāma, Rāma, O mighty-armed one, hearken to the eternal secret, whereby, my child, thou wilt conquer all foes in fight,—Aditya-hridaya,404 sacred, capable of destroying all foes, bringing victory—the recitation, enduring and indestructible,—and supremely good; fraught with all welfare, removing every sin,—chasing away anxiety and grief, bringing length of days; and excellent. Do thou worship Vivaçwata's offspring—the Sun—lord of the world, furnished with rays,—who maketh people engage in work, and who is bowed down to by deities and Asuras. This effulgent one, producing rays is instinct with the spirits of all the deities; and he with his rays ruleth all creatures—and the hosts of celestials and Asuras. This Sun is Brahmā and Vishnu and Siva and Skanda405 and Prajapati,406 and Mahendra and Dhanada407 and the Destroyer—Yama—and Soma408 and the Lord of waters; and the Pitris,409 and the Vasus, and the Sadhyas410 and the two Açwinis411 and the Maruts and Manu,412 and the Wind-god and the God of fire and the creatures and the Creator of life and the seasons.

And he is Aditya413 and Savitā414 and Suryya415 and Khaga416 and Pusha417 and Gavastimān418 and the Golden-looking and Bhānu419 and Hiranyaretā420 and Divākara.421 And he is Haridaçwa422 and Saltasrārchi423 and Saptasapti424 and Marichimān.425 And he subdueth darkness, and he is Sambhu426 and Tashta427 and Mārtandaka428 and Ançumān.429 And he is Hiranyagarbha,430 Sicira,431 and Tapana,432 and Ahaskara433 and Ravi,434 and Agnigarbha,435 and Aditi's son,436 and Sankha,437 and Siciranāçana,438 Byomanātha439 and Tamabheda,440 the one proficient in Rik, Yajus and Sāma; and Ghanavrishti,441 and the friend of the Apas,442 and he that swiftly courseth in the Vindhya way. And he is Ātapi443 and Mandali444 and Mrityu.445 And he is Pingala,446 and the destroyer of everything, and the Omniscient, and he having the universe for his form,447 and the exceedingly energetic one, and the beloved of all, and that one lording it over all kinds of actions. And he is the lord448 of stars and planets and constallations, and the origin of everything, and the one powerful pre-eminently of powerful things449—and the one having twelve forms.450 I bow unto thee (having these forms and functions). Salutation unto the Eastern mount and the mount of the West. Salutation unto the lord of the stellar bodies and salutation also unto the lord of day. Salutation and salutation unto him that bringeth victory, and the joy that springeth up from victory; and unto him of yellow steeds. Salutation, salutation, O thousand-rayed one; Salutation and salutation unto Āditya.

Salutation unto him that keepeth his senses under subjection; Salutation and salutation unto the Hero,451 and unto Sāranga452 and unto him that awakenest the Lotus.453 And (salutation) unto thee, O fierce one. Salutation unto the Lord himself of Brahmā, Içāna454 and Achchyuta,455 and unto Sura456 and unto him that constitutes the knowledge of Āditya, and unto him that unfoldeth me and not-me; and unto the devourer of all, and unto the form of the destroyer of the darkness of ignorance, Salutation unto the destroyer of darkness, and unto the destroyer of enemies, and unto him of immeasurable Soul, and unto the destroyer of the ingrate, and unto the deity, and unto the lord of all stellar bodies. And salutation unto him that boasteth of the splendour of burning gold, unto the destroyer of all mental obscurity,—and unto the maker of the universe. Salutation unto the remover of darkness; unto the illuminator of the Soul; unto the all-beholding one of all the worlds. The lord createth everything and verily destroyeth it. And with his rays he sucketh up, and destroyeth and createth (everything). When all are asleep, this one waketh, and he is resident in the hearts of all creatures. This one is both Agnihotra as well as the fruit reaped by the sacrifices thereof. And he constitutes the gods and the sacrifices and the fruit also thereof; and he is the lord of all acts that are performed by creatures. If a person recites this (hymn), he, O Rāghava, doth not come by misfortune, when he is in peril of his life, or is ill, or in a lonely place, or in fear.

Do thou, with concentration, worship this god of gods, this lord of the universe. By reciting (this hymn) instinct with the three virtues, thou wilt obtain victory in battle. This very instant, O mighty-armed one, thou wilt conquer Rāvana". Having said this, Agastya went whither from he had come. Hearing this, that exceedingly energetic one had his grief gone, Then, well pleased, Rāghava, exerting himself, contemplated (the hymn). And reciting this, he beholding the Sun, attained excess of joy. And sipping water again and again, and becoming purified, that powerful one, taking up his bow, and viewing Rāvana, advanced with a delighted heart, to obtain victory. And he became intent on his death with his dearest energies. Then exceedingly delighted, and filled with rejoicings, the Sun, in the midst of the celestial hosts knowing that the destruction of the Sovereign of the night-rangers was at hand,—spoke unto Rāma "Bestir thyself".