Aditya Hridaya Stotra

Then, seeing Sri Rama standing exhausted from the battle and absorbed in deep thought on the battlefield, with Ravana standing before him fully prepared for war —

At that time, the glorious Sage Agastya, who had come along with the gods to witness the encounter, approached Sri Rama and spoke these words —

O Rama, O Rama, mighty-armed one! O dear child! Listen to this eternal secret by which you shall vanquish all your enemies in battle.

Aditya Hridayam is the most sacred, the destroyer of all enemies, the bestower of victory, eternal, supremely auspicious, and yields imperishable results. It should be recited daily.

It is the most auspicious of all that is auspicious, the destroyer of all sins, the remover of worry and grief, and the supreme bestower of long life.

Worship Lord Surya — the rising one radiating his rays, worshipped by both gods and demons, the source of all light, the Lord of all the worlds.

He embodies all the gods, is full of radiance, and sustains all beings with his rays. With his luminous rays, he protects the gods, demons, and all the worlds.

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati, Indra, Kubera (lord of wealth), Kala (time), Yama (death), Soma (moon), and Varuna (lord of waters).

He is the Pitrs (ancestors), Vasus, Sadhyas, the Ashwini twins, Maruts, Manu, Vayu (wind), Agni (fire), the life-breath of all beings, the creator of seasons, and the giver of light.

He is Aditya, Savita, Surya, Khaga (mover in the sky), Pushan (nourisher), the bearer of rays, golden-hued, Bhanu, Hiranyareta (golden-seed), Divakara (creator of the day).

He has green horses, a thousand rays, seven horses pull his chariot, he is adorned with rays, dispeller of darkness, source of bliss, creator (Tvashta), Martanda, and Amshuman.

Hiranyagarbha (golden-wombed), Shishira (cooling), Tapana (heating), Bhaskara, Ravi, Agnigarbha (fire-wombed), son of Aditi, Shankha (auspicious), and destroyer of cold.

Lord of the sky, dispeller of darkness, master of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, bringer of heavy rains, friend of waters, and swift mover across the Vindhya path.

He who gives heat, of circular form, death personified, tawny-colored, who heats everything, the seer-poet, universal, supremely radiant, red-hued, and the source of all existence.

Lord of constellations, planets, and stars, creator of the universe, more radiant than all radiances, the twelve-formed Aditya — Salutations to you!

Salutations to the eastern mountain (sunrise), salutations to the western mountain (sunset). Salutations to the lord of all luminaries and to the lord of the day.

Salutations again and again to the victorious one, the bestower of victory and welfare, the lord with green horses. Salutations again and again to the thousand-rayed Aditya.

Salutations to the fierce, the heroic, the swift-moving one. Salutations again and again to the awakener of lotuses and to Martanda.

Salutations to the Lord of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. To Surya, who has the radiance of Aditya, the shining one, the all-consuming, of fierce form (during dissolution).

Salutations to the destroyer of darkness, the destroyer of cold, the destroyer of enemies, of immeasurable self, destroyer of the ungrateful, the divine lord of all luminaries.

Salutations to the one shining like molten gold, fire-formed, the architect of the universe, complete destroyer of darkness, of brilliant luster, witness of all worlds.

This Lord alone destroys all beings, and again creates them. With his rays he draws up water, heats it, and pours it down as rain.

He remains awake even when all beings sleep, dwelling within them. He alone is the sacred fire-offering (agnihotra) and the fruit obtained by those who perform it.

The Vedas, the sacrifices, the fruits of sacrifices, and all actions performed in all the worlds — Lord Ravi (Surya) is the master of them all.

O Raghava! Whoever extols this Lord Surya in times of calamity, suffering, in difficult paths, or in fear, never falls into despair.

Therefore, O Rama, worship this Lord of lords, the master of the universe, with single-pointed devotion. By chanting this hymn three times, you will achieve victory in battle.

O mighty-armed one! In this very moment you shall slay Ravana. Having spoken thus, Sage Agastya departed as he had come.

Hearing this, the supremely radiant Sri Rama's sorrow vanished. With great joy and a focused mind, Raghava memorized this hymn.

Gazing at the Sun and reciting the hymn three times, Sri Rama attained supreme joy. Performing achamana (sipping water) thrice and becoming purified, the valiant Rama took up his bow.

With a delighted heart, he beheld Ravana and advanced to battle, firmly resolved with all his might to slay him.

Then, knowing that the destruction of Ravana (the lord of night-rangers) was at hand, Lord Surya, surrounded by all the gods in heaven and filled with delight, gazed at Sri Rama and exclaimed: "Hurry! Be quick!"

|| Iti Aditya Hridaya Stotram Sampurnam ||