The Hymn to the Sun

Verse 1 (markandeya.104.1)

लिख्यमाने ततो भानौ विश्वकर्मा प्रजापतिः । उद्भूतपुलकः स्तोत्रमिदं चक्रे विवस्वतः ॥ 104.1 ॥

likhyamāne tato bhānau viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ udbhūtapulakaḥ stotramidaṁ cakre vivasvataḥ

Even as the Sun's radiant form was thus being pared down, Vishvakarma Prajapati, his hair standing on end with reverence, composed this hymn to Vivasvat (the Sun).

Verse 2 (markandeya.104.2)

विवस्वते प्रणतहितानुकम्पिने महात्मने समजवसप्तसप्तये । सुतेजसे कमलकुलावबोधिने नमस्तमः पटलपटावपाटिने ॥ 104.2 ॥

vivasvate praṇatahitānukampine mahātmane samajavasaptasaptaye sutejase kamalakulāvabodhine namastamaḥ paṭalapaṭāvapāṭine

Salutation to Vivasvat — the great-souled one, compassionate toward those who bow before him, whose seven steeds move with equal swiftness, of great splendor, who awakens the host of lotuses, who tears apart the very veil of darkness.

Verse 3 (markandeya.104.3)

पावनातिशयपुण्यकर्मणे नैककामविषयप्रदायिने । भास्वरानलमयूखशायिने सर्वलोकहितकारिणे नमः ॥ 104.3 ॥

pāvanātiśayapuṇyakarmaṇe naikakāmaviṣayapradāyine bhāsvarānalamayūkhaśāyine sarvalokahitakāriṇe namaḥ

Salutation to him whose deeds are of surpassing, purifying sanctity, who grants the manifold objects of desire, who rests upon rays that blaze like fire, who works the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 4 (markandeya.104.4)

अजाय लोकत्रयकारणाय भूतात्मने गोपतये वृषाय । नमो महाकारुणिकोत्तमाय सूर्याय चक्षुःप्रभवालयाय ॥ 104.4 ॥

ajāya lokatrayakāraṇāya bhūtātmane gopataye vṛṣāya namo mahākāruṇikottamāya sūryāya cakṣuḥprabhavālayāya

Salutation to the unborn one, the cause of the three worlds, the soul of all beings, the lord of rays, the giver of rain, the most compassionate of all, to Surya, the very source from which sight itself arises.

Verse 5 (markandeya.104.5)

विवस्वते ज्ञानमृतेंऽतरात्मने जगत्प्रतिष्ठाय जगद्धितैषिणे । स्वयम्भुवे लोकसमस्तचक्षुषे सुरोत्तमायामिततेजसे नमः ॥ 104.5 ॥

vivasvate jñānamṛteṁ’tarātmane jagatpratiṣṭhāya jagaddhitaiṣiṇe svayambhuve lokasamastacakṣuṣe surottamāyāmitatejase namaḥ

Salutation to Vivasvat, whose inner self is the very nectar of knowledge, the foundation of the world, who desires the world's welfare, the self-existent one, the eye of all the worlds, the foremost of the gods, of immeasurable splendor.

Verse 6 (markandeya.104.6)

क्षणमुदयाचलमौलिमणिः सुरगणमहित हितो जगतः । त्वमु मयूखसहस्रवपुर्जगति विभासि तमांसि नुदन् ॥ 104.6 ॥

kṣaṇamudayācalamaulimaṇiḥ suragaṇamahita hito jagataḥ tvamu mayūkhasahasravapurjagati vibhāsi tamāṁsi nudan

For a moment you become the crest-jewel of the mountain of sunrise, O you who are honored by the hosts of gods, benefactor of the world — with your form of a thousand rays you shine throughout the world, dispelling the darkness.

Verse 7 (markandeya.104.7)

भवतिमिरासवपानमदाद्भवति विलोहितविग्रहता । मिहिर विभासि यतः सुतरां त्रिभुवनभावनभानिकरैः ॥ 104.7 ॥

bhavatimirāsavapānamadādbhavati vilohitavigrahatā mihira vibhāsi yataḥ sutarāṁ tribhuvanabhāvanabhānikaraiḥ

As if from the intoxication of drinking deep the wine-like darkness of the world, your form takes on a ruddy hue, O Mihira — you shine forth ever more brilliantly with your rays that sustain the three worlds.

Verse 8 (markandeya.104.8)

रथमधिरुह्य समावयवं चारुविकम्पितमुरुरुचिरम् । सततमखिन्नहयैर्भगवंश्चरसि जगद्धिताय विततम् ॥ 104.8 ॥

rathamadhiruhya samāvayavaṁ cāruvikampitamururuciram satatamakhinnahayairbhagavaṁścarasi jagaddhitāya vitatam

Mounting your chariot, symmetrical in its parts, gracefully swaying, of great splendor, O Lord, you course far and wide for the welfare of the world, drawn by your ever-untiring steeds.

Verse 9 (markandeya.104.9)

अमृतमयेन रसेन समं विबुधपितॄनपि तर्पयसे । अरिगणसूदन तेन तव प्रणतिमुपेत्य लिखामि वपुः ॥ 104.9 ॥

amṛtamayena rasena samaṁ vibudhapitṝnapi tarpayase arigaṇasūdana tena tava praṇatimupetya likhāmi vapuḥ

With your nectar-like essence you satisfy the gods and the ancestors alike, O slayer of hordes of enemies — therefore, having first bowed before you, I now set about paring your form.

Verse 10 (markandeya.104.10)

शुकसमवर्णह्यप्रथितं तव पदपांसुपवित्रतमम् । नतजनवत्सल मां प्रणतं त्रिभुवनपावन पाहि रवे ॥ 104.10 ॥

śukasamavarṇahyaprathitaṁ tava padapāṁsupavitratamam natajanavatsala māṁ praṇataṁ tribhuvanapāvana pāhi rave

The dust of your feet, most purifying, is glorious beyond compare — O you who love those who bow before you, protect me, who bow to you, O Ravi, purifier of the three worlds.

Verse 11 (markandeya.104.11)

इति सकलजगप्रसूतिभूतं त्रिभुवनभावनधामहेतुमेकम् । रविमखिलजगत्प्रदीपभूतं त्रिदशवर प्रणतोऽस्मि सर्वदा त्वाम् ॥ 104.11 ॥

iti sakalajagaprasūtibhūtaṁ tribhuvanabhāvanadhāmahetumekam ravimakhilajagatpradīpabhūtaṁ tridaśavara praṇato’smi sarvadā tvām

Thus do I ever bow before you, O Ravi, the source from which the whole world is born, the sole cause and abode that sustains the three worlds, the lamp of the entire universe, O best among the gods.