03.003
Library: Instructed by Daumya Yudhisthira worships Sun for the sustenance of Brahmanas.
Vaiśampāyana said.
But Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, after being addressed thus by Śaunaka, approached the priest and spoke these words among his brothers. (3-3-1)
O Man, these Brāhmaṇas, knowers of the Vedas, have departed; I am not capable of protection, being endowed with much suffering. (3-3-2)
I am unable to abandon completely, nor do I have the power to give. O Lord, please tell me what should be done by me here. (3-3-3)
After meditating for a moment and examining the path through righteousness, Dhaumya, the foremost among the upholders of dharma, spoke these words to Yudhishthira. (3-3-4)
In ancient times, all created beings were severely afflicted by hunger. Then, out of compassion for them, the Sun acted like their own father. (3-3-5)
After traversing the northern path and drawing up the essences of light with his rays, the Sun, upon returning to the southern path, enters the earth. (3-3-6)
When the earth had become a field, then, in that (field), the lord of herbs (the Moon), having drawn up energy from the sky, caused the herbs to be produced with water. (3-3-7)
Sprinkled with the moon's radiance, the sun, having reached the earth, produces herbs of six pure tastes; that food is for living beings on earth. (3-3-8)
Thus, food, which is composed of the sun, is truly the sustainer of life for all beings. He is the father of all creatures; therefore, seek refuge in him. (3-3-9)
Indeed, kings of great soul, purified by their birth and actions, uplift all their subjects by undertaking abundant austerities. (3-3-10)
Bhīma, Kārtavīrya, Vainya, and Nahuṣa, through their austerity, discipline, and deep concentration, indeed rescued the people from calamities. (3-3-11)
Therefore, you too, O righteous-souled Bhārata, having purified yourself through action and having embraced austerity in accordance with righteousness, should support the twice-born. (3-3-12)
Thus, when Dhaumya spoke words appropriate to the occasion, the pure-hearted Dharmarāja undertook the highest austerity. (3-3-13)
Having worshipped the Sun with offerings of flowers and oblations, the righteous-souled one, subsisting on air and having conquered his senses, resorted to yoga. After touching the water of the Ganges, he stood practicing breath-control. (3-3-14)
Janamejaya said.
How did King Yudhishthira, the foremost of the Kurus, worship the Sun of wondrous prowess for the sake of the Brāhmaṇas? (3-3-15)
Vaiśampāyana said.
O king, listen attentively, having purified and concentrated yourself. For a moment, pay heed, O chief of kings; I will explain everything in full. (3-3-16)
But, as Dhaumya instructed Pārtha, O noble-minded one, listen to those holy eight hundred names.
The sun is called by many names: Aryaman, Bhaga, Tvashtar, Pushan, Arka, Savitṛ, Ravi, the radiant one, the unborn, time, death, Dhata, and the illuminator. (3-3-18)
Earth, water, fire, space, air, and the supreme goal; also Soma (the Moon), Bṛhaspati (Jupiter), Śukra (Venus), Budha (Mercury), and Aṅgāraka (Mars) are included. (3-3-19)
Indra, Vivasvan, the radiant one, the pure one, Krishna, Saturn; Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Skanda, Vaishravana, and Yama. (3-3-20)
He is the electric, digestive, and fuel-related fire, the lord of energies; the banner of dharma, the creator of the Veda, the limb of the Veda, and the carrier of the Veda. (3-3-21)
The Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali yugas are the foundation for all the immortals; likewise, the divisions of time such as kalā, kāṣṭhā, muhūrta, as well as fortnights, months, and seasons are established. (3-3-22)
He is the maker of the year, the aśvattha tree, the wheel of time, fire, the eternal person, the yogi, both manifest and unmanifest, the ancient one. (3-3-23)
He is the overseer of the world and of beings, the creator of all, the dispeller of darkness, Varuṇa, the ocean, the ray of light, the cloud, the life-giver, and the destroyer of enemies. (3-3-24)
He is the support of all beings, the lord of beings, served by all beings, like a jewel and gold, the origin of beings, the fulfiller of desires, and one who faces all directions. (3-3-25)
He is victory, vast, the bestower of boons, swift-moving, the sustainer of life, Dhanvantari, the comet, the primordial god, and the son of Aditi. (3-3-26)
The twelve-souled, lotus-eyed one is the father, mother, and grandfather; he is the gate to heaven, the gate to progeny, the gate to liberation, and the heaven itself. (3-3-27)
He is the maker of bodies, tranquil in self, the soul of the universe, facing all directions, the soul of all that moves and does not move, the subtle self, endowed with a form of friendliness. (3-3-28)
This is indeed the meritorious eight hundred names of the praiseworthy and great-souled Sūrya, spoken by the great-souled Śakra. (3-3-29)
Nārada arrived from Śakra, and Dhaumya immediately after him. From Dhaumya, Yudhiṣṭhira obtained and fulfilled all his desires. (3-3-30)
Served by hosts of gods, ancestors, and yakṣas, and worshipped by asuras, night-wanderers, and siddhas, of excellent golden fire-like splendour; you too should fix your mind on Bhāskara, the Sun. (3-3-31)
Whoever recites this with concentration at sunrise attains sons, the accumulation of wealth and gems, always obtains remembrance of previous births, and as a man, attains supreme memory and intelligence. (3-3-32)
Whoever man recites this hymn of the best of gods with a pure and concentrated mind, he is freed from the ocean of the wildfire of sorrow and may obtain by his mind whatever desires he wishes. (3-3-33)
