Aditya Hridayam — Lyrics with Meaning

Verse 1

Tato yuddha-parishrantam samare chintaya sthitam | Ravanam chagrato drishtva yuddhaya samupasthitam ||1||

Shri Ram stood on the battlefield, tired from fighting and lost in thought, while Ravan stood before him ready for battle.

Verse 2

Daivataishcha samagamya drashtum abhyagato ranam | upagamyabravid Ramam Agastyo bhagavan rishih ||2||

The revered sage Agastya, who had come with the gods to watch the battle, approached Ram and spoke.

Verse 3

Rama Rama mahabaho shrinu guhyam sanatanam | yena sarvan arin vatsa samare vijayishyasi ||3||

O mighty-armed Ram, listen to this ancient secret, my child, by which you will overcome all your enemies in battle.

Verse 4

Aditya-hridayam punyam sarva-shatru-vinashanam | jayavaham japen nityam akshayyam paramam shivam ||4||

This Aditya Hridayam is holy; it destroys enemies and brings victory. It should be chanted daily, for it is unfailing and supremely auspicious.

Verse 5

Sarva-mangala-mangalyam sarva-papa-pranashanam | chinta-shoka-prashamanam ayur-vardhanam uttamam ||5||

It is the most auspicious of all blessings, removes sins, calms worry and grief, and is traditionally said to lengthen life.

Verse 6

Rashmimantam samudyantam devasura-namaskritam | pujayasva vivasvantam bhaskaram bhuvaneshvaram ||6||

Worship the radiant rising Sun, honoured by gods and demons alike — Vivasvan, the maker of light, lord of the worlds.

Verse 7

Sarva-devatmako hyesha tejasvi rashmi-bhavanah | esha devasura-ganan lokan pati gabhastibhih ||7||

The Sun holds all the gods within him, shining and giving life through his rays. With those rays he protects gods, demons and all the worlds.

Verse 8

Esha Brahma cha Vishnushcha Shivah Skandah Prajapatih | Mahendro dhanadah kalo Yamah Somo hyapam patih ||8||

He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiv, Skanda and Prajapati; he is Indra, Kuber, Time, Yama, the Moon and Varun, lord of the waters.

Verse 9

Pitaro vasavah sadhya hyashvinau maruto manuh | vayur vahnih praja-prana ritu-karta prabhakarah ||9||

He is the ancestors, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Ashvins, the Maruts and Manu; he is wind and fire, the breath of all beings, maker of the seasons and giver of light.

Verse 10

Adityah savita suryah khagah pusha gabhastiman | suvarna-sadrisho bhanur hiranya-reta divakarah ||10||

He is Aditya, Savita, Surya, the sky-traveller, the nourisher, the one with rays; golden in colour, the shining one with golden seed, the maker of day.

Verse 11

Haridashvah sahasrarchih sapta-saptir marichiman | timironmathanah shambhus tvashta martanda amshuman ||11||

He has green horses and a thousand rays, rides seven steeds and is full of light; he destroys darkness, brings good, shapes all things, and is Martanda, the radiant one.

Verse 12

Hiranyagarbhah shishiras tapano bhaskaro ravih | agnigarbho'diteh putrah shankhah shishira-nashanah ||12||

He is the golden womb of creation, both cooling and heating, the light-maker Ravi; fire lives within him, he is Aditi's son, and he drives away the cold.

Verse 13

Vyomanathas tamobhedi rig-yajuh-sama-paragah | ghana-vrishtir apam mitro vindhya-vithi-plavangamah ||13||

Lord of the sky, he pierces darkness and has mastered the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas; he brings heavy rain, is the friend of the waters, and moves swiftly along the path over the Vindhyas.

Verse 14

Atapi mandali mrityuh pingalah sarva-tapanah | kavir vishvo mahatejah raktah sarva-bhavodbhavah ||14||

He gives heat, shines as a disc, is also death, golden-hued and warms all; he is the wise one, the universe itself, of great brilliance, red in glow, and the source of all that exists.

Verse 15

Nakshatra-graha-taranam adhipo vishva-bhavanah | tejasam api tejasvi dvadashatman namo'stu te ||15||

You are lord of the stars, planets and constellations, the sustainer of the universe, brightest of all bright things. O Sun of twelve forms, I bow to you.

Verse 16

Namah purvaya giraye pashchimayadraye namah | jyotir-gananam pataye dinadhipataye namah ||16||

Salutations to you as the eastern mountain where you rise and the western mountain where you set. Salutations to the lord of all lights and the ruler of the day.

Verse 17

Jayaya jaya-bhadraya haryashvaya namo namah | namo namah sahasramsho adityaya namo namah ||17||

Again and again I bow to the one who is victory, who blesses through victory, whose horses are green. O thousand-rayed Aditya, I bow to you again and again.

Verse 18

Nama ugraya viraya sarangaya namo namah | namah padma-prabodhaya martandaya namo namah ||18||

Salutations to the fierce, the heroic, the swift one. Salutations again and again to Martanda, who makes the lotus bloom.

Verse 19

Brahmeshanachyuteshaya suryayaditya-varchase | bhasvate sarva-bhakshaya raudraya vapushe namah ||19||

Salutations to Surya, lord even of Brahma, Shiv and Vishnu, shining with Aditya's splendour. Salutations to the brilliant one who consumes all and takes a fierce form.

Verse 20

Tamoghnaya himaghnaya shatrughnayamitatmane | kritaghna-ghnaya devaya jyotisham pataye namah ||20||

Salutations to the one who destroys darkness, cold and enemies, whose being has no limit. Salutations to the god who punishes the ungrateful, lord of all lights.

Verse 21

Tapta-chamikarabhaya vahnaye vishvakarmane | namas tamo'bhinighnaya ruchaye loka-sakshine ||21||

Salutations to the one who glows like molten gold, who is fire and the maker of the world. Salutations to the bright one who destroys darkness and witnesses all the worlds.

Verse 22

Nashayatyesha vai bhutam tadeva srijati prabhuh | payatyesha tapatyesha varshatyesha gabhastibhih ||22||

This lord ends all beings and creates them again. With his rays he sustains, heats and brings rain.

Verse 23

Esha supteshu jagarti bhuteshu parinishthitah | esha evagnihotram cha phalam chaivagnihotrinam ||23||

He stays awake within all beings even while they sleep. He is the sacred fire ritual itself and also its reward for those who perform it.

Verse 24

Vedashcha kratavashchaiva kratunam phalam eva cha | yani krityani lokeshu sarva esha ravih prabhuh ||24||

The Vedas, the sacrifices and their fruits — and every action done in the world — all of these have the Sun as their lord.

Verse 25

Enam apatsu krichchhreshu kantareshu bhayeshu cha | kirtayan purushah kashchin navasidati Raghava ||25||

O Raghav, whoever sings his praise in danger, in hardship, in a dense forest or in fear does not sink into despair.

Verse 26

Pujayasvainam ekagro deva-devam jagatpatim | etat trigunitam japtva yuddheshu vijayishyasi ||26||

Worship this god of gods, lord of the world, with a focused mind. Chant this hymn three times and you will be victorious in battle.

Verse 27

Asmin kshane mahabaho Ravanam tvam vadhishyasi | evam uktva tadagastyo jagama cha yathagatam ||27||

O mighty-armed one, in this very moment you will defeat Ravan. Saying this, Agastya left the way he had come.

Verse 28

Etach chhrutva mahateja nashta-shoko'bhavat tada | dharayamasa suprito Raghavah prayatatmavan ||28||

Hearing this, the radiant Ram was freed of his sorrow. Pleased and with a disciplined mind, he took the hymn to heart.

Verse 29

Adityam prekshya japtva tu param harsham avaptavan | trir achamya shuchir bhutva dhanur adaya viryavan ||29||

Looking at the Sun and chanting, Ram felt great joy. He sipped water three times to purify himself, and the hero picked up his bow.

Verse 30

Ravanam prekshya hrishtatma yuddhaya samupagamat | sarva-yatnena mahata vadhe tasya dhrito'bhavat ||30||

Seeing Ravan, Ram went forward to fight with a joyful heart, firmly resolved with all his strength to defeat him.

Verse 31

Atha ravir avadan nirikshya Ramam mudita-manah paramam prahrishyamanah | nishichara-pati-sankshayam viditva suragana-madhyagato vachas tvareti ||31||

Then the Sun, standing among the gods, looked at Ram with great joy and, knowing the end of the demon king was near, said: Hurry!