The Greatness of Sambaditya

Verse 1 (skanda.6.56.1)

सूत उवाच॥ तस्यापि नातिदूरस्थं सांबादित्यं सुरेश्वरम्॥ दृष्ट्वा कामानवाप्नोति सर्वान्मर्त्यो हृदि स्थितान्

sūta uvāca tasyāpi nātidūrasthaṁ sāṁbādityaṁ sureśvaram dṛṣṭvā kāmānavāpnoti sarvānmartyo hṛdi sthitān

Suta said: "Not far from him too stands Sambaditya, lord of gods; beholding him, a mortal obtains all the desires held in his heart."

Verse 2 (skanda.6.56.2)

यस्तु माघस्य शुक्लायां सप्तम्यां रविवासरे॥ भक्त्या संपश्यते मर्त्यो नरकान्न स पश्यति

yastu māghasya śuklāyāṁ saptamyāṁ ravivāsare bhaktyā saṁpaśyate martyo narakānna sa paśyati

And whoever, on the bright seventh of Magha falling on a Sunday, beholds him with devotion, that mortal never beholds the hells.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.56.3)

आसीत्पूर्वं द्विजो नाम गालवः स महामुनिः॥ स्वाध्यायनिरतो नित्यं वेदवेदांगपारगः

āsītpūrvaṁ dvijo nāma gālavaḥ sa mahāmuniḥ svādhyāyanirato nityaṁ vedavedāṁgapāragaḥ

Long ago there was a brahmin named Galava, a great sage, ever devoted to the recitation of scripture, well versed in the Vedas and their auxiliary texts.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.56.4)

शुचिव्रतपरः शांतो देवद्विजपरायणः॥ कृतज्ञश्च सुशीलश्च यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणः

śucivrataparaḥ śāṁto devadvijaparāyaṇaḥ kṛtajñaśca suśīlaśca yajñakarmavicakṣaṇaḥ

He was devoted to pure vows, tranquil, wholly given to gods and brahmins, grateful, of good conduct, and skilled in sacrificial rites.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.56.5)

तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य संप्राप्तं पश्चिमं वयः॥ अपुत्रस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठास्ततो दुःखं व्यजायत

tasyaivaṁ vartamānasya saṁprāptaṁ paścimaṁ vayaḥ aputrasya dvijaśreṣṭhāstato duḥkhaṁ vyajāyata

While he lived thus, O best of brahmins, his final years arrived, and, being without a son, great sorrow arose in him.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.56.6)

ततः सर्वं परित्यज्य गृहकृत्यं स भक्तिमान्॥ सूर्यमाराधयामास क्षेत्रेऽत्रैव समाहितः

tataḥ sarvaṁ parityajya gṛhakṛtyaṁ sa bhaktimān sūryamārādhayāmāsa kṣetre'traiva samāhitaḥ

Then, abandoning all his household duties, that devoted man worshipped the Sun, with a composed mind, right here in this sacred field.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.56.7)

वटवृक्षं समाश्रित्य श्रद्धया परया युतः॥ स्थापयित्वा रवेरर्चां यथोक्तां पंचरात्रिके

vaṭavṛkṣaṁ samāśritya śraddhayā parayā yutaḥ sthāpayitvā raverarcāṁ yathoktāṁ paṁcarātrike

Taking shelter beneath a banyan tree, filled with supreme faith, he set up the image of the Sun as prescribed in the five-night rite.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.56.8)

वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते जलसंश्रयः॥ पंचाग्निसाधको ग्रीष्मे निराहारो जितेन्द्रियः

varṣāsvākāśaśāyī ca hemaṁte jalasaṁśrayaḥ paṁcāgnisādhako grīṣme nirāhāro jitendriyaḥ

In the rainy season he slept in the open sky, in winter he stood immersed in water, in summer he practised the discipline of the five fires, and he remained without food, his senses conquered.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.56.9)

ततः पंचदशे वर्षे संप्राप्ते भगवान्रविः॥ वटवृक्षं समाश्रित्य समीपस्थमुवाच तम्

tataḥ paṁcadaśe varṣe saṁprāpte bhagavānraviḥ vaṭavṛkṣaṁ samāśritya samīpasthamuvāca tam

Then, when the fifteenth year arrived, the blessed Sun, taking his stand near the banyan tree, spoke to him, who was close by:

Verse 10 (skanda.6.56.10)

श्रीसूर्य उवाच॥ वरदोस्म्यद्य भद्रं ते वरं प्रार्थय गालव॥ अतिदुर्लभमप्याशु तव दास्याम्यसंशयम्

śrīsūrya uvāca varadosmyadya bhadraṁ te varaṁ prārthaya gālava atidurlabhamapyāśu tava dāsyāmyasaṁśayam

Lord Surya said: "Today I am your boon-giver; may all be well with you. Ask a boon, Galava; even one very hard to obtain, I shall give it to you swiftly, without doubt."

Verse 11 (skanda.6.56.11)

गालव उवाच॥ अपुत्रोऽहं सुरश्रेष्ठ पश्चिमे वयसि स्थितः॥ तस्माद्देहि सुतं मह्यं वंशवृद्धिकरं परम्

gālava uvāca aputro'haṁ suraśreṣṭha paścime vayasi sthitaḥ tasmāddehi sutaṁ mahyaṁ vaṁśavṛddhikaraṁ param

Galava said: "O best of gods, I am without a son and now in my final years; therefore grant me a supreme son who will increase my lineage."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.56.12)

श्रीसूर्य उवाच॥ वंशवृद्धिकरो विप्र पुत्रस्तव भविष्यति॥ तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च शास्त्रज्ञो वेदपारगः

śrīsūrya uvāca vaṁśavṛddhikaro vipra putrastava bhaviṣyati tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca śāstrajño vedapāragaḥ

Lord Surya said: "O brahmin, you shall have a son who will increase your lineage -- radiant, renowned, learned in the scriptures, and versed in the Vedas."

Verse 13 (skanda.6.56.13)

येयं त्वया कृता मेऽर्चा सांबसूर्यस्य संनिधौ॥ सांबसूर्याभिधानोऽयं भविष्यति धरातले

yeyaṁ tvayā kṛtā me'rcā sāṁbasūryasya saṁnidhau sāṁbasūryābhidhāno'yaṁ bhaviṣyati dharātale

"'This image of mine that you have made, in the presence of Sambasurya, shall become known on this earth by the name Sambasurya.'"

Verse 14 (skanda.6.56.14)

अन्योऽपि श्रद्रयोपेतो य एनं पूजयिष्यति॥ सप्तम्यां सूर्यवारेण यावद्द्वादश भास्कराः

anyo'pi śradrayopeto ya enaṁ pūjayiṣyati saptamyāṁ sūryavāreṇa yāvaddvādaśa bhāskarāḥ

"'Any other man too, filled with faith, who worships this image on the seventh falling on a Sunday, for as many as twelve occasions,'"

Verse 15 (skanda.6.56.15)

सप्तम्यश्च द्विजश्रेष्ठ निराहारस्तु भक्तितः या॥ स प्राप्स्यति न संदेहः पुत्रं वंशविवर्धनम्

saptamyaśca dvijaśreṣṭha nirāhārastu bhaktitaḥ yā sa prāpsyati na saṁdehaḥ putraṁ vaṁśavivardhanam

"'observing those seventh-tithis without food, O best of brahmins, with devotion -- he shall surely obtain a son who increases his lineage, of this there is no doubt.'"

Verse 16 (skanda.6.56.16)

एवमुक्त्वा च सप्ताश्वो विरराम दिवाकरः॥ गालवोऽपि प्रहृष्टात्मा जगाम निजमंदिरम्

evamuktvā ca saptāśvo virarāma divākaraḥ gālavo'pi prahṛṣṭātmā jagāma nijamaṁdiram

Having said this, the seven-horsed Sun fell silent; and Galava too, filled with joy, went to his own dwelling.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.56.17)

नातिदीर्घेण कालेन ततस्तस्याभवत्सुतः॥ यथोक्तस्तेन देवेन सर्वलक्षणलक्षितः

nātidīrgheṇa kālena tatastasyābhavatsutaḥ yathoktastena devena sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitaḥ

Not long after, a son was born to him, marked with every auspicious sign, exactly as that god had promised.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.56.18)

ततश्चक्रे पिता नाम वटेश्वर इति स्वयम्॥ वटस्थेन यतो दत्तः संतुष्टेनांशुमालिना

tataścakre pitā nāma vaṭeśvara iti svayam vaṭasthena yato dattaḥ saṁtuṣṭenāṁśumālinā

Then his father himself gave him the name Vateshvara, since he was granted by the sun-god, satisfied while standing at that banyan tree.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.56.19)

वटेश्वरसुतान्दृष्ट्वा पौत्रांश्च द्विजसत्तमाः॥ गालवः सूर्यमापन्नः कृत्वा सुविपुलं तपः

vaṭeśvarasutāndṛṣṭvā pautrāṁśca dvijasattamāḥ gālavaḥ sūryamāpannaḥ kṛtvā suvipulaṁ tapaḥ

O best of brahmins, having seen the sons and grandsons of Vateshvara, Galava, having performed vast austerity, attained the world of the Sun.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.56.20)

वटेश्वरोऽपि संज्ञाय पित्रा संस्थापितं रविम्॥ तदर्थं कारयामास प्रासादं सुमनोहरम्

vaṭeśvaro'pi saṁjñāya pitrā saṁsthāpitaṁ ravim tadarthaṁ kārayāmāsa prāsādaṁ sumanoharam

And Vateshvara, recognizing the Sun that had been established by his father, had a most beautiful temple built for him.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.56.21)

ततःप्रभृति लोके च स वटादित्यसंज्ञितः॥ पुत्रप्रदो ह्यपुत्राणां विख्यातो भुवनत्रये

tataḥprabhṛti loke ca sa vaṭādityasaṁjñitaḥ putraprado hyaputrāṇāṁ vikhyāto bhuvanatraye

From then on he became known in the world by the name Vatasaditya, famed throughout the three worlds as the giver of sons to the sonless.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.56.22)

सप्तम्यां सूर्यवारेण उपवासपरायणः॥ यस्तं पूजयते भक्त्या सप्तमीर्द्वादश क्रमात्॥ स प्राप्नोति सुतं श्रेष्ठं स्ववंशस्य विवर्धनम्

saptamyāṁ sūryavāreṇa upavāsaparāyaṇaḥ yastaṁ pūjayate bhaktyā saptamīrdvādaśa kramāt sa prāpnoti sutaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ svavaṁśasya vivardhanam

Whoever, devoted to fasting, worships him with devotion on twelve successive seventh-tithis falling on Sunday, obtains an excellent son who increases his lineage.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.56.23)

निष्कामो वा नरो यस्तु तं पूजयति मानवः॥ स मोक्षमाप्नुयान्नूनं दुर्लभं त्रिदशैरपि

niṣkāmo vā naro yastu taṁ pūjayati mānavaḥ sa mokṣamāpnuyānnūnaṁ durlabhaṁ tridaśairapi

And the man who, free of desire, worships him surely attains liberation, hard to attain even for the gods.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.56.24)

अथ गाथा पुरा गीता नारदेन सुरर्षिणा॥ दृष्ट्वा पुत्रप्रदं देवं वटादित्यं सुरेश्वरम्

atha gāthā purā gītā nāradena surarṣiṇā dṛṣṭvā putrapradaṁ devaṁ vaṭādityaṁ sureśvaram

And here is a verse once sung by the celestial sage Narada, having beheld the god Vatasaditya, lord of gods, the giver of sons:

Verse 25 (skanda.6.56.25)

अपि वर्षशता नारी वंध्या वा दुर्भगापि वा॥ सांबसूर्यप्रसादेन सद्यो गर्भवती भवेत्

api varṣaśatā nārī vaṁdhyā vā durbhagāpi vā sāṁbasūryaprasādena sadyo garbhavatī bhavet

"'Even a woman barren for a hundred years, or unfortunate in every way, becomes pregnant at once by the grace of Sambasurya.'"

Verse 26 (skanda.6.56.26)

किं दानैः किं व्रतैर्ध्यानैः किं जपैः सोपवासकैः॥ पुत्रार्थं विद्यमानेऽथ सांबसूर्ये सुरेश्वरे

kiṁ dānaiḥ kiṁ vratairdhyānaiḥ kiṁ japaiḥ sopavāsakaiḥ putrārthaṁ vidyamāne'tha sāṁbasūrye sureśvare

"'What use are gifts, vows, meditations, or fasting recitations, when, for the sake of a son, the god Sambasurya himself is present?'"

Verse 27 (skanda.6.56.27)

वर्षमेकं नरो भक्त्या यः पश्येत्सूर्यवासरे॥ कृतक्षणोऽत्र पुत्रं स लभते चोत्तमं सुखम्

varṣamekaṁ naro bhaktyā yaḥ paśyetsūryavāsare kṛtakṣaṇo'tra putraṁ sa labhate cottamaṁ sukham

"'A man who, for a single year, beholds him with devotion on every Sunday, taking care to do so at the right moment, obtains a son and the highest happiness.'"

Verse 28 (skanda.6.56.28)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तं देवं यत्नतो द्विजाः॥ पश्येदात्महितार्थाय स्ववंशपरिवृद्धये

tasmātsarvaprayatnena taṁ devaṁ yatnato dvijāḥ paśyedātmahitārthāya svavaṁśaparivṛddhaye

Therefore, O brahmins, with every effort one should carefully behold that god, for one's own welfare and for the increase of one's lineage.