Aditya Hridayam

Then, weary from battle and standing in the battlefield lost in thought, Rama saw Ravana before him, ready for combat.

The blessed sage Agastya, having come together with the gods to witness the battle, approached Rama and spoke.

O Rama, O mighty-armed one, listen to this eternal secret, by which you shall surely conquer all your foes in battle.

This Aditya Hridayam, the sacred heart of the Sun, destroys all enemies, bestows victory, and is to be chanted daily; it is imperishable and supremely auspicious.

It is the most blessed of all blessings, the destroyer of all sins, the quietener of worry and grief, and the supreme augmenter of life.

Worship the radiant Sun, who is rising, adored by gods and demons, the resplendent one, the illuminator, the lord of the universe.

For He is the very essence of all gods, the radiant one, the source of rays. He protects the hosts of gods and demons and all worlds with His beams.

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati, Great Indra, Kubera, Time, Yama, the Moon, and the Lord of the Waters.

He is the Manes, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Ashvins, the Maruts, Manu, Vayu, Agni, the life force of all creatures, the creator of seasons, the source of light.

He is Aditya, Savita, Surya, Khaga, Pusha, Gabhastiman, the one of golden hue, Bhanu, Hiranyareta, and Divakara.

He is Haridashva, Sahasrarchi, Saptasapti, Marichiman, the destroyer of darkness, Shambhu, Tvashta, Martanda, and Anshuman.

He is Hiranyagarbha, Shishira, Tapana, Bhaskara, Ravi, Agnigarbha, the son of Aditi, Shankha, and the dispeller of chill.

He is the lord of the sky, the piercer of darkness, the knower of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, the giver of rain, the friend of waters, and the swift mover across the Vindhya region.

He is the heat-producing one, the discus-bearer, death, the tawny one, the all-heater, the seer, the all-pervading, the greatly radiant, the red one, and the origin of all that exists.

He is the ruler of stars, planets, and constellations, the sustainer of the universe, the most brilliant of all brilliant beings. O twelve-formed Sun, homage be to You.

Homage to the eastern mountain, homage to the western mountain, homage to the lord of all luminaries, homage to the sovereign of the day.

Salutations again and again to the victorious one, to the auspicious victor, to the lord of green horses. Salutations again and again, O thousand-rayed one, O Aditya, salutations again and again.

Homage to the fierce one, to the heroic one, to the variegated-hued one, homage and homage. Homage to the one who awakens the lotuses, to Martanda, homage and homage.

Homage to the lord of Brahma, Ishana, and Achyuta, to the one whose splendor is that of Surya and Aditya, to the luminous one, to the all-consumer, to the fierce embodiment.

Homage to the destroyer of darkness, the destroyer of frost, the destroyer of foes, the infinite self, the slayer of the ungrateful, the shining god, the lord of all luminaries.

Homage to the one with the luster of molten gold, to the fire, to the cosmic architect, to the vanquisher of gloom, to the shining one, to the witness of all worlds.

He alone destroys all beings, He alone creates them, the Lord. He protects, He heats, He sends rain through His rays.

He remains wakeful while all beings sleep, for He is ever poised within them. He is the Agnihotra itself and the reward attained by those who offer it.

The Vedas, the sacrificial rites, the fruits of those rites, and all activities in the worlds — all this is indeed the Lord Surya.

O Raghava, any person who glorifies Him during calamities, hardships, in desolate places, or in moments of fear, never comes to grief.

Worship Him with unwavering focus, the God of gods, the Lord of the universe. After reciting this three times, you shall triumph in battle.

O mighty-armed one, at this very moment you shall vanquish Ravana. So saying, Agastya then returned as he had come.

Upon hearing this, the supremely radiant Raghava, freed from all sorrow, became greatly delighted and, with a purified heart, firmly held it.

Then, looking at the Sun and reciting the hymn, he experienced immense joy. After sipping water thrice and purifying himself, the mighty hero took up his bow.

Beholding Ravana, his spirit elated, he advanced for battle. With all his might, he became resolute in destroying him.

Then the Sun, gazing upon Rama with a joyful heart and feeling immense delight, knowing that the lord of the night-stalkers would soon be destroyed, spoke from among the assembly of gods: "Make haste!"