Chapter CV: Section CVI

Then the revered Agastya, who, desirous of witnessing the fight, had along with the deities come there,--seeing Ravana spent with the toil of conflict, staying in the field plunged in thought, and stationed before Rama for engaging in encounter,--addressed Rama, drawing near to him, saying,--"Rama, Rama, 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 Vivacwata'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 Brahma and Vishnu and Siva and Skanda[405] and Prajapati,[406] and Mahendra and Dhanada[407] and the Destroyer--Yama--and Soma[408] and the Lord of waters; and the Pitris,[409] and the Vasus, and the Sadhyas[410] and the two Acwinis[411] 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 Aditya[413] and Savita[414] and Suryya[415] and Khaga[416] and Pusha[417] and Gavastiman[418] and the Golden-looking and Bhanu[419] and Hiranyareta[420] and Divakara.[421] And he is Haridacwa[422] and Saltasrarchi[423] and Saptasapti[424] and Marichiman.[425] And he subdueth darkness, and he is Sambhu[426] and Tashta[427] and Martandaka[428] and Ancuman.[429] And he is Hiranyagarbha,[430] Sicira,[431] and Tapana,[432] and Ahaskara[433] and Ravi,[434] and Agnigarbha,[435] and Aditi's son,[436] and Sankha,[437] and Siciranacana,[438] Byomanatha[439] and Tamabheda,[440] the one proficient in Rik, Yajus and Sama; and Ghanavrishti,[441] and the friend of the Apas,[442] and he that swiftly courseth in the Vindhya way. And he is Atapi[443] and Mandali[444] 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 lord[448] of stars and planets and constallations, and the origin of everything, and the one powerful pre-eminently of powerful things[449]--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 Aditya. Salutation unto him that keepeth his senses under subjection; Salutation and salutation unto the Hero,[451] and unto Saranga[452] and unto him that awakenest the Lotus.[453] And (salutation) unto thee, O fierce one. Salutation unto the Lord himself of Brahma, Icana[454] and Achchyuta,[455] and unto Sura[456] and unto him that constitutes the knowledge of Aditya, 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 Raghava, 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 Ravana". Having said this, Agastya went whither from he had come. Hearing this, that exceedingly energetic one had his grief gone, Then, well pleased, Raghava, 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 Ravana, 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 Rama "Bestir thyself".

[404] _Lit_--The heart of the Sun.--the designation of a Vedic Hymn.

[405] The celestial generallissimo. The commentator gives a spiritual
interpretation. 'He that by means of his rays openeth up the five
organs of perception.'

[406] The lord of all creatures, by virtue of his bringing forth all
beings through his energy.

[407] Dispenser of riches, a name of Kuvera.

[408] Furnished with splendour, a name of the Moon. According to some
'endowed with energy.'

[409] _Lit._ the ancestral manes. Here the generator of everything.

[410] An order of semi-divine beings. Here, 'He who is adored by the
spiritual.'

[411] In virtue of his omnipresence and his being the healer of all
ailments.

[412] All-knowing and being the primaeval sovereign.

[413] 'He from whom all derive sustenance.'

[414] 'The producer of heart and the spiritual faculties by heat, and
corn, _etc._ by showers.'

[415] 'Coursing alone, according to the commentator. It may also
means--'He that sets people to work.'

[416] 'Coursing the highest heavens,' or says the commentator 'the
heavens of the heart.'

[417] 'The maintainer.'

[418] _Gavastiman_--'Ray-furnished, or having the all-permeating Spirit
of Auspiciousness.'

[419] _Bhanu_--'having brightness.'

[420] _Hiranyareta_--'instinct with the cosmic energy.'

[421] _Divakara_--'maker of day'

[422] _Haridacwa_--'pervading all sides' or 'having black steeds.'

[423] _Sahasrarchi_--'thousand-rayed. The commentator explains
spiritually, He whose cognition points in infinite directions.'

[424] 'He from whom proceed the seven organs of sense of people.' Or 'he
who has seven steeds.'

[425] 'Having rays.'

[426] 'He from whom proceed the several sorts of happiness.'

[427] 'He who removes the misfortunes of his votaries.'

[428] 'He that infuses life into the lifeless mundane egg.'

[429] 'Having rays.'

[430] The cause of the creation, preservation and destruction of the
Universe.

[431] 'Good-natured.'

[432] _Tapa_--means 'wealth.' _Tapana--the possessor of all riches._

[433] _Ahas_--day and _Kara--maker._

[434] _Rauti--teacheth_--Ravi--_he that teacheth._

[435] _Lit. fire-wombed_. He that carries the fire of doom within
himself.

[436] Aditi--'without destruction'--means 'Brahma knowledge.'

[437] Supreme happiness.

[438] The remover of intellectual stupor or evil-mindedness.

[439] Lord of the welkin.

[440] Dispeller of darkness.

[441] He from whom floweth the fruit of acts: or he from whom come
downpours. The latter epithet is justified on grounds of Physical
Geography, _rain being ultimately dependant on solar heat_.

[442] Apas may mean either 'the good,' or 'water.' Vindhya way means
either the way known as Brahmanari or the orbit of the San.

[443] He that is intent on creating the cosmos.

[444] Ray-crowned or adorned with gems.

[445] The bringer of death.

[446] The motive force of the blood-tube called Pingala.

[447] Or the ornament of the Universe.

[448] _i.e._ the controller of them, remarks Ramanuja.

[449] Such as, observes the commentator, as fire.

[450] _i.e._ the months of the year.

[451] Him that leadeth the senses, and that is endowed with the prowess
of slaying Tripura etc.

[452] Him that deservest the _pranaba_, the holiest formula in all Hindu
Scripture.

[453] That awakenest the external lotus as well as the lotus of the
heart.

[454] Siva.

[455] Vishnu.

[456] The sun.