The Greatness of Nagararka (the Sun of Nagara)

Verse 1 (skanda.7.239.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि हिरण्यापार्श्वतः स्थितम्। प्रत्युक्तं नागरादित्यं सर्वव्याधिविनाशनम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi hiraṇyāpārśvataḥ sthitam| pratyuktaṁ nāgarādityaṁ sarvavyādhivināśanam

Ishvara said: O Mahadevi, next one should go to Nagaraditya, situated on the bank of the Hiranya, already mentioned before, the destroyer of all diseases.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.239.2)

पुरा सत्राजिता राज्ञा द्वारवत्यां गतेन तु। आराधितो भास्करोऽभूद्यादवेन महात्मना

purā satrājitā rājñā dvāravatyāṁ gatena tu| ārādhito bhāskaro'bhūdyādavena mahātmanā

Long ago, the great-souled Yadava king Satrajit, who dwelt in Dvaraka, worshipped Lord Surya (Bhaskara).

Verse 3 (skanda.7.239.3)

महाव्रतमुपास्थाय निघ्नपुत्रेण धीमता। तस्य तुष्टस्तदा भानुः स्यमन्तकमणिं ददौ

mahāvratamupāsthāya nighnaputreṇa dhīmatā| tasya tuṣṭastadā bhānuḥ syamantakamaṇiṁ dadau

The wise son of Nighna undertook a great vow of worship; pleased by this, Bhanu (the Sun) gave him the Syamantaka gem.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.239.4)

स मणिः सवते नित्यं भारानष्टौ दिनेदिने। सुवर्णस्य सुशुद्धस्य भक्त्या व्रततपोयुतः

sa maṇiḥ savate nityaṁ bhārānaṣṭau dinedine| suvarṇasya suśuddhasya bhaktyā vratatapoyutaḥ

That gem produced eight bharas of pure gold every single day — this boon came to him through devoted observance of vows and austerity.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.239.5)

भूयोऽपि भानुना प्रोक्तो वरं ब्रूहि वरानने। स चाह देवदेवेशं भास्करं वारितस्करम्

bhūyo'pi bhānunā prokto varaṁ brūhi varānane| sa cāha devadeveśaṁ bhāskaraṁ vāritaskaram

O fair one, Bhanu again told him to ask another boon; and he addressed Bhaskara, the God of gods, the queller of thieves.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.239.6)

यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे देव वरदानं करोषि च। अत्रैव चाश्रमे पुण्ये नित्यं संनिहितो भव

yadi tuṣṭo'si me deva varadānaṁ karoṣi ca| atraiva cāśrame puṇye nityaṁ saṁnihito bhava

'O Lord, if you are pleased with me and wish to grant me a boon, then remain forever present here in this sacred hermitage.'

Verse 7 (skanda.7.239.7)

एवं भविष्यतीत्युक्त्वा सूर्यः सत्राजितं नृपम्। अभिनंद्य वरं तस्य तत्रैवादर्शनं गतः

evaṁ bhaviṣyatītyuktvā sūryaḥ satrājitaṁ nṛpam| abhinandya varaṁ tasya tatraivādarśanaṁ gataḥ

Saying, 'So be it,' Surya, having honoured King Satrajit's boon, vanished from sight right there.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.239.8)

तेनापि निघ्नपुत्रेण देवदेवस्य भास्वतः। स्थापिता प्रतिमा शुभ्रा तत्रैव वरवर्णिनि

tenāpi nighnaputreṇa devadevasya bhāsvataḥ| sthāpitā pratimā śubhrā tatraiva varavarṇini

O fair one, that son of Nighna then installed there a radiant image of Bhasvan, the God of gods.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.239.9)

शंखदुंदुभिनिर्घोषैर्ब्रह्मघोषैश्चपुष्कलैः। ततस्तुनागरान्सर्वान्समाहूय द्विजोत्तमान्। अब्रवीत्प्रणतो भूत्वा दत्त्वा वृत्तिमनुत्तमाम्

śaṅkhaduṁdubhinirghoṣairbrahmaghoṣaiśca puṣkalaiḥ| tatastu nāgarān sarvān samāhūya dvijottamān| abravītpraṇato bhūtvā dattvā vṛttimanuttamām

Amid the resounding of conches and kettledrums and the abundant chanting of Vedic hymns, he then summoned all the excellent Nagara brahmins, granted them an excellent livelihood, and, bowing humbly, said:

Verse 10 (skanda.7.239.10)

युष्मत्पादप्रसादेन सूर्यस्यानुग्रहेण वै। साधयित्वा तपश्चोग्रं स्थापिता प्रतिमा मया

yuṣmatpādaprasādena sūryasyānugraheṇa vai| sādhayitvā tapaścograṁ sthāpitā pratimā mayā

'By the grace of your feet and by the favour of Surya himself, having performed severe austerity, I have installed this image.'

Verse 11 (skanda.7.239.11)

इंद्रलोकादिहानीता जित्वा शक्रं सुरारिणा। दशाननस्य पुत्रेण लंकायां स्थापिता पुरा

indralokādihānītā jitvā śakraṁ surāriṇā| daśānanasya putreṇa laṅkāyāṁ sthāpitā purā

In former times, the son of Ten-headed Ravana, an enemy of the gods, had conquered Indra, brought this image from Indra's realm, and installed it in Lanka.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.239.12)

तं निहत्य तु रामेण लक्ष्मणानुगतेन वै। अयोध्यायां समानीता सौमित्रिजयलक्षिका

taṁ nihatya tu rāmeṇa lakṣmaṇānugatena vai| ayodhyāyāṁ samānītā saumitrijayalakṣikā

Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana, slew him and brought this image, the token of Saumitri's victory, to Ayodhya.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.239.13)

मित्रावरुणपुत्राय वसिष्ठाय समर्पिता। तेनापि मम तुष्टेन द्वारकायां निवेदिता

mitrāvaruṇaputrāya vasiṣṭhāya samarpitā| tenāpi mama tuṣṭena dvārakāyāṁ niveditā

It was then given to Vasishtha, son of Mitra and Varuna; and he, pleased with me, presented it to me in Dvaraka.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.239.14)

मयापि स्थापिता चात्र ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रमनुत्तमम्। किमत्र बहुनोक्तेन भवद्भिः सर्वथैव हि

mayāpi sthāpitā cātra jñātvā kṣetramanuttamam| kimatra bahunoktena bhavadbhiḥ sarvathaiva hi

And knowing this to be the most excellent of fields, I too have installed it here. What need is there of saying more? All of you must, in every way—

Verse 15 (skanda.7.239.15)

परिपाल्या प्रयत्नेन यावच्चंद्रार्कतारकम्। तस्माद्युष्माकमादिष्टा प्रतिमेयं मया शुभा

paripālyā prayatnena yāvaccandrārkatārakam| tasmādyuṣmākamādiṣṭā pratimeyaṁ mayā śubhā

—protect it diligently for as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure. Therefore I have entrusted this auspicious image to your keeping.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.239.16)

नागराणां तु विप्राणां सोमेशपुरवासिनाम्। तस्मान्नाम मया दत्तं नागरादित्यमेव हि

nāgarāṇāṁ tu viprāṇāṁ someśapuravāsinām| tasmānnāma mayā dattaṁ nāgarādityameva hi

Since it was entrusted to the Nagara brahmins dwelling in Someshvarapura, I have given it the name Nagaraditya.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.239.17)

ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः। सर्वमेव करिष्यामो देवस्य परिपालनम्। यावन्मही च चंद्रार्कौ यावत्तिष्ठति सागरः। तावत्ते ह्यक्षया कीर्तिः स्थाने चास्मिन्भविष्यति

brāhmaṇā ūcuḥ| sarvameva kariṣyāmo devasya paripālanam| yāvanmahī ca candrārkau yāvattiṣṭhati sāgaraḥ| tāvatte hyakṣayā kīrtiḥ sthāne cāsminbhaviṣyati

The brahmins said: We shall undertake the entire protection of this god. As long as this earth, the sun and moon, and the ocean endure, your fame in this place shall remain undiminished.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.239.18)

एवमुक्त्वा तु ते सर्वे नागरा द्विजपुंगवाः। राजापि तुष्टः प्रययौ तदा द्वारवतीं पुरीम्

evamuktvā tu te sarve nāgarā dvijapuṅgavāḥ| rājāpi tuṣṭaḥ prayayau tadā dvāravatīṁ purīm

Having said this, all those excellent Nagara brahmins departed; and the king too, satisfied, then returned to the city of Dvaraka.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.239.19)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि तस्मिन्दृष्टे तु यत्फलम्। गोशतस्य प्रयागेषु सम्यग्दत्तस्य यत्फलम्। तत्फलं समवाप्नोति नागरार्कस्य दर्शनात्

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi tasmindṛṣṭe tu yatphalam| gośatasya prayāgeṣu samyagdattasya yatphalam| tatphalaṁ samavāpnoti nāgarārkasya darśanāt

Ishvara said: Listen, O Devi, I shall now describe the fruit of beholding that image. Whatever merit is gained by rightly donating a hundred cows at Prayaga, that same merit is obtained merely by the sight of Nagararka.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.239.20)

दारिद्र्यदुःखशोकार्त्तेः कोन्योस्ति हरणक्षमः। प्रभासे पावने क्षेत्रे मुक्त्वा नागरभास्करम्

dāridryaduḥkhaśokārtteḥ ko'nyo'sti haraṇakṣamaḥ| prabhāse pāvane kṣetre muktvā nāgarabhāskaram

In this sacred field of Prabhasa, who else besides Nagara-Bhaskara is capable of removing the affliction of poverty, sorrow, and grief?

Verse 21 (skanda.7.239.21)

बंधकुष्ठादिकं दुःखं ये भजंत्यल्पबुद्धयः। तत्र ते नैव जानंति वैद्यं नागरभास्करम्

bandhakuṣṭhādikaṁ duḥkhaṁ ye bhajaṁtyalpabuddhayaḥ| tatra te naiva jānaṁti vaidyaṁ nāgarabhāskaram

Those of little wisdom who suffer afflictions such as bondage and leprosy do not even know that Nagara-Bhaskara is the true physician for them.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.239.22)

स्नात्वा हिरण्यातोयेन यस्तं पूजयते नरः। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि सूर्यलोके महीयते

snātvā hiraṇyātoyena yastaṁ pūjayate naraḥ| kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi sūryaloke mahīyate

One who bathes in the waters of the Hiranya and worships him is honoured in the world of the Sun for thousands of crores of kalpas.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.239.23)

शुक्लपक्षे तु सप्तम्यां यदा संक्रमते रविः। महाजया तदा ख्याता सप्तमी भास्करप्रिया

śuklapakṣe tu saptamyāṁ yadā saṁkramate raviḥ| mahājayā tadā khyātā saptamī bhāskarapriyā

When the sun enters a new sign on the seventh day of the bright fortnight, that seventh tithi is called Mahajaya and is especially dear to Bhaskara.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.239.24)

स्नानं दानं जपो होमः पितृदेवाभिपूजनम्। सर्वं कोटिगुणं प्रोक्तं भास्करस्यवचो यथा

snānaṁ dānaṁ japo homaḥ pitṛdevābhipūjanam| sarvaṁ koṭiguṇaṁ proktaṁ bhāskarasya vaco yathā

Bathing, charity, japa, fire-oblation, and the worship of ancestors and gods — all these, as declared by Bhaskara's own word, are said to yield a million-fold reward on that day.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.239.25)

एकं यो भोजयेत्तत्र ब्राह्मणं सूर्यसंनिधौ। कोटिभोज्यं कृतं तेन इत्याह भगवान्हरिः

ekaṁ yo bhojayettatra brāhmaṇaṁ sūryasaṁnidhau| koṭibhojyaṁ kṛtaṁ tena ityāha bhagavānhariḥ

One who feeds even a single brahmin there in the presence of Surya is said, by the Lord Hari himself, to have fed a million brahmins.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.239.26)

एतन्मया ते कथितं पुरा नोक्तं वरानने। यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या स गच्छेद्भास्करं पदम्

etanmayā te kathitaṁ purā noktaṁ varānane| yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā sa gacchedbhāskaraṁ padam

O fair-faced one, I have told you this, which was never spoken before. Whoever hears it with devotion attains the supreme abode of Bhaskara.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.239.27)

सूर्यस्य देवि नामानि रहस्यानि शृणुश्व मे। अलं नामसहस्रेण पठस्वैनं शुभं स्तवम्

sūryasya devi nāmāni rahasyāni śṛṇuśva me| alaṁ nāmasahasreṇa paṭhasvainaṁ śubhaṁ stavam

O Devi, now hear from me the secret names of Surya. There is no need for a thousand names — recite instead this one auspicious hymn.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.239.28)

विकर्त्तनो विवस्वांश्च मार्त्तंडो भास्करो रविः। लोकप्रकाशकः श्रीमाँल्लोकचक्षुर्ग्रहेश्वरः

vikarttano vivasvāṁśca mārttaṇḍo bhāskaro raviḥ| lokaprakāśakaḥ śrīmāṁllokacakṣurgraheśvaraḥ

Vikartana, Vivasvan, Martanda, Bhaskara, Ravi, Lokaprakashaka (illuminator of the worlds), Shriman, Lokachakshu (eye of the world), and Graheshvara (lord of the planets) —

Verse 29 (skanda.7.239.29)

लोकसाक्षी त्रिलोकेशः कर्त्ता हर्त्ता तमिस्रहा। तपनस्तापनश्चैव शुचिः सप्ताश्ववाहनः

lokasākṣī trilokeśaḥ karttā harttā tamisrahā| tapanastāpanaścaiva śuciḥ saptāśvavāhanaḥ

Lokasakshi (witness of the world), Trilokesha (lord of the three worlds), Karta (creator), Harta (destroyer), Tamisraha (dispeller of darkness), Tapana, Tapana, Shuchi (the pure), and Saptashvavahana (borne by seven horses) —

Verse 30 (skanda.7.239.30)

गभस्तिहस्तो ब्रह्मा च सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः। एकविंशक इत्येष नागरार्कस्तवः स्मृतः

gabhastihasto brahmā ca sarvadevanamaskṛtaḥ| ekaviṁśaka ityeṣa nāgarārkastavaḥ smṛtaḥ

Gabhastihasta (whose rays are hands), Brahma, and Sarvadevanamaskrita (saluted by all gods) — thus, with these twenty-one names, this hymn to Nagararka is remembered.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.239.31)

स्तवराज इति ख्यातः शरीरारोग्यवृद्धिदः

stavarāja iti khyātaḥ śarīrārogyavṛddhidaḥ

It is renowned as the King of Hymns and bestows bodily health and prosperity.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.239.32)

य एतेन महादेवि द्वे संध्येऽस्तमनोदये। नागरार्कं तु संस्तौति स लभेद्वांछितं फलम्

ya etena mahādevi dve saṁdhye'stamanodaye| nāgarārkaṁ tu saṁstauti sa labhedvāṁchitaṁ phalam

O Mahadevi, whoever praises Nagararka with this hymn at both twilights — at sunrise and sunset — obtains the fruit he desires.