आदित्य हृदयम् | Āditya hṛdayam
“The Sun in the Heart”

The Aditya Hrdayam is a complete chapter from the Ramayana or "Tales of Rama" written by the poet Valmiki.

The Ramayana tells the adventures of Sri Rama, an incarnation of the god Visnu. He is incarnated as the epitome of righteousness. He is, and represents, the Divine Spirit in human beings.

Rama's chief adversary is Ravana, who represents that side of human nature that is ever ready to indulge in limited, earthly, mundane feelings and circumstances.

While he is still a young man, Sri Rama wins the hand of the beautiful and divine Sita in marriage. She is his sakti, his better half, and who completes him for without her he cannot manifest his true divinity through seemingly visible form. Sita is in fact an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi.

Due to intrigues at the royal court, Rama and Sita are banished and sent into exile in the surrounding wild forests. While there, they have many adventures as Rama gradually proves his prowess in overcoming the many trials and tribulations of life that the forests represent. Then one day the beautiful Sita is seen by Ravana. He immediately lusts after her and kidnaps her, taking her off to his court in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). This lust and capture of Sita by Ravana represents the potential and addiction that all humans have for the outer form of things. It is the all-too-human tendency to be ensnared by the material world, thus taking it to be something that it is not.

Rama's mission now is to recapture Sita, and restore both him and her to their primordial unity of meditative understanding incarnate. Rama's many adventures in the forests now continue in the company of the mighty monkey god Hanuman, his help-mate. Hanuman assists Rama in his quest for reunification with Sita.

When Rama and Hanuman eventually track Ravana, the demon king, down to Sri Lanka and confront him, Ravana despatches his many lieutenants to fight Rama on his behalf. One by one, they come, with their armies in tow … and one by one, Rama vanquishes them. The Aditya Hradayam begins at the point where Rama is so weary he feels he has no more energy to face anything further. Knowing how competent and fiercesome an adversary Ravana is, Rama is full of despondency and is beginning to wonder if he has the wherewithal to even stir himself to take on his greatest adversary, never mind be victorious. He is even wondering if the battle to reclaim his truer and better nature, in the form of Sita, is worth fighting, and worth the effort he must make.

It is at this point of Sri Rama's greatest despair that the divine sage Agastya appears before him and speaks to him. Agastya, a son of the Sun, reminds Rama that the light of the Sun, which is the Light of the Universe, and so which is the courage and meaning he seeks, can always be found by learning to be still, and by seeking within. Ravana, says Agastya, is not so much an external enemy as our own nature within. It is the nature that is ever prone to doubting its capabilities, insisting that the merely material is "our true purpose".

Agastya chants the Adita Hrdayam to Rama and reminds him of the properties and qualities of both the physical sun in the solar system; and of the inner Sun that is the Divine Presence. Agastya thus reminds Rama of the Sun's unfailing ability to light up the darkness and brighten human lives, giving warmth, hope and purpose. By the time Sage Agastya has finished his hymn in praise of the light that is the Sun dwelling within, Rama has regained his strength, energy and composure. He has been successfully reminded who he truly is. The moment of his greatest self-doubt and despair is now safely behind him. The end of the canto thus sees Rama suitably reinvogorated and completely ready to face his biggest enemy: his own self-doubt and misdirected mindfulness. These are what Ravana, the demon-king, in fact represent. Rama has learned that Ravana can only hold sway over him when he forgets his true self and loses sight of the Light. The Aditya Hrdayam is intended to assist us in remembering our own true selves at all times.

AUDIO AVAILABLE:

[introduction]

Aum

Aum.

॥श्रीमद्वल्मीकि रामायणान्तर्गतम्॥

śrīmadvalmīki rāmāyaṇāntargatam

From within the Ramayana of Valmiki

॥आदित्य हृदयम्॥

āditya hṛdayam

“The Sun in the heart”

॥युद्ध काण्डे॥

yuddha kāṇḍe

In the book entitled “The Struggle”

॥त्रयोद्धशोतर॥

trayoddhaśotara

In lines of 13 syllables

॥एकशततमस्सर्गः॥

ekaśatatamassargaḥ

The 107th Chapter

 

 

[verse 1]

ततो युद्ध परिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम्।

tato yuddha pariśrāntaṁ samare cintayā sthitam

Upon he being exhausted from the struggle; worrying, wearying in the fight;

रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्॥१॥

rāvaṇaṁ cāgrato dṛṣṭvā yuddhāya samupasthitam

And also seeing Ravana before him; standing: due, ready, and fresh for battle

[verse 2]

दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम्।

daivataiśca samāgamya draṣṭumabhyāgato raṇam

In company with the gods he came; having journeyed to witness the struggle

उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः॥२॥

upāgamyābravīdrāmamagastyo bhagavānṛṣiḥ

And having approached Rama he spoke; the divine sage Agastya.

[verse 3]

राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम्।

rāma rāma mahābāho śṛṇu guhyaṁ sanātanam

Rama, Rama, you great embodied one, listen to the mystic-truth eternal

येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि॥३॥

yena sarvānarīnvatsa samare vijayiṣyasi

By means of it, in all your strifes, dear son … in the battle with them, will you be victorious.

[verse 4]

आदित्य हृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्।

āditya hṛdayaṁ puṇyaṁ sarvaśatruvināśanam

“The Sun in the heart” … it is propitious; it is the vanquisher of all impediments

जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्॥४॥

jayāvahaṁ japennityamakṣayyaṁ paramaṁ śivam

The usherer of victory, it is to be meditated eternally; it is unfailing, it is supreme, it is beneficent

[verse 5]

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रनाशनम्।

sarvamaṅgalamāṅgalyaṁ sarvapāpapranāśanam

The most auspicious amongst the auspicious; the destroyer of all wrongs

चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम्॥५॥

cintāśokapraśamanamāyurvardhanamuttamam

The remover of both woes and the propensity for woes; the best at bringing health and wealth

[verse 6]

रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम्।

raśmimantaṁ samudyantaṁ devāsuranamaskṛtam

Having many rays and rising swiftly; saluted alike by gods and demons

पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम्॥६॥

pūjayasva vivasvantaṁ bhāskaraṁ bhuvaneśvaram

Worthy of being adored; shining forth; the giver of light; the lord of all

[verse 7]

सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः।

sarvadevātmako hyeṣa tejasvī raśmibhāvanaḥ

This very Sun—the embodiment of all deities; brilliant, illuminating, surpassing all

एष देवासुरगनान्लोकान्पाति गभस्थिभिः॥७॥

eṣa devāsuraganānlokānpāti gabhasthibhiḥ

This very Sun—the hosts of gods and demons; in all places protecting, guarding them with its rays<

[verse 8]

एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवस्स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः।

eṣa brahmā ca viṣṇuśca śivasskandaḥ prajāpatiḥ

This very Sun: it is the creator and the sustainer; it is the auspicious, the life force, the overlord

महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमस्सोमो ह्यपां पतिः॥८॥

mahendro dhanadaḥ kālo yamassomo hyapāṁ patiḥ

The origin of strength, of wealth, of time … the master of all, of the moon … lord of the waters …

[verse 9]

पितरो वसवस्साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः।

pitaro vasavassādhyā hyaśvinau maruto manuḥ

Ruler of the ancestors, of the bright ones, of the seekers; of the bringers of treasure, the heavenly children, the progenitor

वयुर्वह्निः प्रजाः प्राण ऋत्कर्ता प्रभाकरः॥९॥

vayurvahniḥ prajāḥ prāṇa ṛtkartā prabhākaraḥ

Of wind, of fire … it is bestower of life’s breath, creator of the seasons, the source of all glory

[verse 10]

आदित्यसविता सुर्यः खगः पूष गभस्तिमान्।

ādityasavitā suryaḥ khagaḥ pūṣa gabhastimān

Born of the universal power, creator, in constant motion, mover in the ether, nourisher, possessor of many rays

सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः॥१०॥

suvarṇasadṛśo bhānurhiraṇyaretā divākaraḥ

Of brilliant yellow, illuminator, seed of the universe, maker of days

[verse 11]

हरिदश्वस्सहस्राचिस्सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान्।

haridaśvassahasrācissaptasaptirmarīcimān

Having yellow horses (pervader of all regions), having infinite rays, having seven horses, vibrating with the effulgence

तिमिरोन्मथनश्शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मर्तण्डकोंऽशुमान्॥११॥

timironmathanaśśambhustvaṣṭā martaṇḍakoṁ’śumān

Dispeller of ignorance, bringer of happiness, eliminator of suffering; breather of life, rich in luminence

[verse 12]

हिरण्यगर्भश्शिशिरस्तपनोऽहस्करो रविः।

hiraṇyagarbhaśśiśirastapano’haskaro raviḥ

Seed of the universe, bringer of comfort, able to burn, creator of morning’s light, praised by all

अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रश्शङ्खश्शिशिरनाशनः॥१२॥

agnigarbho’diteḥ putraśśaṅkhaśśiśiranāśanaḥ

Seed of all fires, born of the universal creative force, of unlimited being, remover of chills

[verse 13]

व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुस्सामपारगः।

vyomanāthastamobhedī ṛgyajussāmapāragaḥ

Sovereign of the skies, dispeller of darkness; supreme in knowing the sacred teachings

घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः॥१३॥

ghanavṛṣṭirapāṁ mitro vindhyavīthīplavaṅgamaḥ

Dispenser of abundant rains, befriender of the waters, freely moving to the southern regions

[verse 14]

आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः।

ātapī maṇḍalī mṛtyuḥ piṅgalassarvatāpanaḥ

Ablaze with heat, vessel of light, lord over death, of the colour of honey, able to make all swelter

कविर्विश्वो महातेजा रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः॥१४॥

kavirviśvo mahātejā raktassarvabhavodbhavaḥ

Omniscient, manifester of all, of great brilliance; adored by all, initiator of all activities [14]

[verse 15]

नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः।

nakṣatragrahatārāṇāmadhipo viśvabhāvanaḥ

Over stellar bodies of their different types … the overlord; originator of the universe

तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते॥१५॥

tejasāmapi tejasvī dvādaśātmannamo’stu te

The most luminous amongst all luminous bodies prostrations to you who appear in the twelve forms

[verse 16]

नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः।

namaḥ pūrvāya giraye paścimāyādraye namaḥ

Salutations to the one rising by the mountain in the east; salutations to the one setting by the mountain in the west

ज्योतिर्गणाणां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः॥१६॥

jyotirgaṇāṇāṁ pataye dinādhipataye namaḥ

To the lord of luminous bodies, to the lord of days, salutations

[verse 17]

जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः।

jayāya jayabhadrāya haryaśvāya namo namaḥ

To the one who brings success, to the one whose form is success, to the one who pervades all, salutations and again salutations

नमो नमस्सहस्राम्शो आदित्याय नमो नमः॥१७॥

namo namassahasrāmśo ādityāya namo namaḥ

Salutations and salutations to the one with infinite beams, to the issue of the cosmic progenitor, salutations and more salutations

[verse 18]

नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः।

nama ugrāya vīrāya sāraṅgāya namo namaḥ

Salutations to the ferocious, mighty one; to the swift mover in space, salutations and yet more salutations

नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय प्रचण्डाय नमोऽस्तु ते॥१८॥

namaḥ padmaprabodhāya pracaṇḍāya namo’stu te

Salutations to the one who makes the lotuses bloom; O formidable one, salutations to you

[verse 19]

ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूरायादित्यवर्चसे।

brahmeśānācyuteśāya sūrāyādityavarcase

To the creator, sustainer and annihilator; to the one who crosses the sky, to the one who brightly shines

भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः॥१९॥

bhāsvate sarvabhakṣāya raudrāya vapuṣe namaḥ

To the possessor of all brilliance, to the devourer of all; to the one whose form is fierce … salutations

[verse 20]

तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने।

tamoghnāya himaghnāya śatrughnāyāmitātmane

To the remover of darkness, to the ender of the cold season, to the conqueror of enemies, whose nature is limitless

कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः॥२०॥

kṛtaghnaghnāya devāya jyotiṣāṁ pataye namaḥ

To the one who punishes the ungrateful, to the one who is divine, to the chief amongst the luminous bodies, salutations

[verse 21]

तप्तचामीकराभाय हरये विश्वकर्मणे।

taptacāmīkarābhāya haraye viśvakarmaṇe

To the one who shines like pure gold; to the destroyer of suffering, the maker of the universe

नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिने॥२१॥

namastamo’bhinighnāya rucaye lokasākṣine

Salutations to the dispeller of the dark night; to the one who shines, to the one witness of the world

[verse 22]

नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तमेव सृजति प्रभुः।

nāśayatyeṣa vai bhūtaṁ tameva sṛjati prabhuḥ

The very destroyer of all that exists, the excellent one, bringing it all back again

पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्थिभिः॥२२॥

pāyatyeṣa tapatyeṣa varṣatyeṣa gabhasthibhiḥ

Protecting as lord, warming as lord: showering down as lord, radiating

[verse 23]

एष सुप्तेषु जगार्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः।

eṣa supteṣu jagārti bhūteṣu pariniṣṭhitaḥ

Even as they sleep, the sun quickens all things; the abiding vitality within all living creatures

एष चैवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्नि होत्रिणाम्॥२३॥

eṣa caivāgnihotraṁ ca phalaṁ caivāgni hotriṇām

This lord alone is the personification of fire; and the one because of whom all fires burn

[verse 24]

वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च।

vedāśca kratavaścaiva kratūnāṁ phalameva ca

The knowledge, its realization; and the end results attained by knowledge

यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्वेषु परमप्रभुः॥२४॥

yāni kṛtyāni lokeṣu sarveṣu paramaprabhuḥ

Whatever activies in whatever locations; omnipotent and omnipresent

[verse 25]

एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च।

enamāpatsu kṛcchreṣu kāntāreṣu bhayeṣu ca

This very Sun—in calamities, in travails; upon difficult paths and in times of fear

कीर्तयन्पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव॥२५॥

kīrtayanpuruṣaḥ kaścinnāvasīdati rāghava

Whatever person sings this glory; will not be laid low, O child of the Raghava clan

[verse 26]

पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम्।

pūjayasvainamekāgro devadevaṁ jagatpatim

To this very one be single-mindedly devoted; the lord of lords and ruler of the universe

एतत्त्रिगुनितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि॥२६॥

etattrigunitaṁ japtvā yuddheṣu vijayiṣyasi

If ever this hymn has been three times recited; then will you be victorious in the struggle

[verse 27]

अस्मिन्क्सणे महाबहो रावणं त्वं जहिष्यसि।

asminksaṇe mahābaho rāvaṇaṁ tvaṁ jahiṣyasi

This moment is the right one, O great embodied one; for you to defeat Ravana

एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽगस्त्यो जगाम स यथागतम्॥२७॥

evamuktvā tato’gastyo jagāma sa yathāgatam

And thus having spoken, so did Agastya; depart the same way that he had come

[verse 28]

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा।

etacchrutvā mahātejā naṣṭaśoko’bhavattadā

And having heard this, being powerful and majestic; he became one whose afflictions had been exorcised

धारयामास सुप्रितो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान्॥२८॥

dhārayāmāsa suprito rāghavaḥ prayatātmavān

He memorized it, he became contented; the child of the Raghavas held himself in perfect poise

[verse 29]

आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वेदं परं हर्षमवाप्तवान्।

ādityaṁ prekṣya japtvedaṁ paraṁ harṣamavāptavān

Having seen the sun, and having recited this; he gained immense joy

त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भुत्वा धनुरादाय विर्यवान्॥२९॥

trirācamya śucirbhutvā dhanurādāya viryavān

Having sipped water three times, which purified him; the warrior of prowess took bow in hand

[verse 30]

रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा जयार्थं समुपागमत्।

rāvaṇaṁ prekṣya hṛṣṭātmā jayārthaṁ samupāgamat

And having spied Ravana, his heart filled to bursting … and … set upon becoming victorious he proceeded forth

सर्वयत्नेन महाता वृतस्तस्य वधेऽभवत्॥३०॥

sarvayatnena mahātā vṛtastasya vadhe’bhavat

Striving mightily with every sinew, he prepared to vanquish him

[verse 31]

अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमनः।

atha raviravadannirīkṣya rāmaṁ muditamanāḥ paramaṁ prahṛṣyamanaḥ

Then the sun, having seen Rama, exclaimed: … mind filled with joy, feeling ecstatic

निशिचरपतिसन्क्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति॥३१॥

niśicarapatisankṣayaṁ viditvā suragaṇamadhyagato vacastvareti

Knowing that the king of demons was to be destroyed; standing in the midst of the deities … he spoke this one word … “Hasten”

[coda]

॥इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये युद्धकाण्डे षदुत्तरशततमस्सर्गः॥

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe vālmīkīye ādikāvye yuddhakāṇḍe ṣaduttaraśatatamassargaḥ

Here lies from the sage … from the blessed Ramayana of Valmiki … first amongst the poets … from the book entitled “The Struggle” … from Chapter 107

॥आदित्य हृदयं स्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्॥

āditya hṛdayaṁ stotraṁ sampūrṇam

The recitation of the Adityya Hrdayam is now completed

ॐ ॐ ॐ

aum aum aum