Hari Om.
Let us begin the one hundred and fifth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
As rAma launched his assault from the chariot that was deployed at his service by lord indra, navigated by his expert charioteer mAtali, the setup looked more even now. However, initially rAvaNa launched a huge assault that overwhelmed rAma. But, the heroic warrior copped it all and then launched back a bigger assault. It was so hard for rAvaNa that, his charioteer grasped the danger that faced his master and deftly deflected the chariot away from the battlefield. The warrior that rAvaNa was didn’t take this insult kindly and blasted his charioteer for his audacity to do so without his permission and questioned his integrity. The well-meaning charioteer justified his action that it was to provide a breather to his master and the horses which were very tired. Satisfied with his explanation, rAvaNa gifted him an ornament for being so mindful of his welfare and asked him to take the chariot back in fron of rAghava. On his part, rAma was also pretty exhausted and the gods and the Rshis noticed that. An intervention was in the offing. Onwards…
Then, noticing rAma who was very tired in the battle and was in deep contemplation as rAvaNa returned to the battle, from among the gods and the greats who had converged to witness the war, lord sage agastya approached rAma and said –
“O rAma, O mighty armed rAma, listen to this eternal secret by knowing which you shall gain victory over all the enemies in the battle, O dear one! This is auspicious hymn by name Aditya hRdayam which carries victory and ensures supreme and limitless good when recited daily. It is more auspicious than any other, destroys all sins, wipes out worries and grief and is a great way to enjoy long life.
Worship the repository of rays (rashmimAn) who has risen in the sky (not half risen disc but the full solar disc), the vivasvAn who spreads light (bhAskara), is the lord of all worlds (bhuvanEswara) and is prayed by both the gods and demons.
He is effulgent (tEjasvI), source of the rays (rashmibhAvana), embodiment of all the gods (sarvadEvatmaka) and through the streaks of his light, he protects the worlds that comprise of both the gods and the demons.
He is brahma, he is vishNu, he is Siva, he is skanda, he is prajApati (the progenitor), he is mahEndra, he is the wealth giver kubEra, he is yama, he is death, he is sOma and he is the lord of waters (apAmpati). He is the ancestor, the vasus are him, the aSvin duo are him, the sAdhyas, manu, vAyu (wind), vahni (fire) are him. He enlightens and being the effector of the seasons is the very life of people.
He is Aditya (son of aditi), savitA, sUrya, khaga (travels in the skies), pUshA(the nourisher), embodiment of the golden rays, the cause of the day, effulgence (bhAnu) and his seeds gold (hiraNya rEta).
His horses are green in complexion (haridaSwa), he has infinite (sahasra) rays, his chariot is yoked to seven horses (saptasapti) and he owns the beams of light. He dispels darkness (timirOnmathana), brings peace (Sambhu), he is tvashTa and he is mArtAnDa (born of a dead foetus). He is the source of the golden glow. He is SiSira who quells the trifold griefs (caused by divine causes, bodily causes and spiritual causes). He enlightens (bhAskara). He is eulogised by all (ravi). He is the son of Aditi with fire in his inner being (agnigarbha), the dispeller of the dew (SiSiranASana) and Sankha (becomes pleasant in the evening).
He is lord of the skies (vyOmanAtha) , the shredder of darkness (tamObhEdi), expert in the trifold vEdas of Rk, yaju and sAma. He is the cause of heavy rains(ghana vrshTi), the friend of the waters (apAm mitrah) leaps across (plavangama) on the streets of the sky (vindhyavIthi). He is the heater (Atapi), goes in circular path (manDali), he is death, he is bright red (pingala, in the morning) and heats up everything. He is adept (kavi), he is the universe (viSwa) (all pervasive), he is supreme effulgence (mahAtEja), he is red in complexion (rakta) and is the source of all beings.
The effector of the universe, he is the lord of the stars, planets and other celestial bodies. He is brighter than the brightest. O twelve-souled (manifests in twelve forms, dvAdaSAtmA), salutations to you.
Salutations to the eastern and the western mountains (where the sun rises and sets). Salutations to the lord of the luminous bodies and the lord of the day. Salutations to the one who is victory and ensures victory. Salutations to the one whose horses are green in complexion.
Salutations to Aditya who has a thousand (sahasra, infinite) rays. Salutations to the fierce one (ugra) who prods people into various actions (vIra) and the one who confers the essence. Salutations to the one who awakens the lotus and the one who was born of a dead foetus (mArtAnDa).
Salutations to the one who is the embodiment of brahma, vishNu, Siva, the sUrya, the glorious Aditya who enlightens all. Salutations to the one who gobbles all and has a terrifying manifestation. Salutations to the dispeller of darkness, the remover of dew and the vanquisher of foes who is the limitless self. Salutations to the vanquisher of ingratitude, the lord of the celestial glowing bodies.
Salutations to the golden bodies one, the god of fire who is the cause of the universe. Salutations to the witness of the world who dispels darkness through his rays.
He is the lord who brings the destructions of beings and also their source. By virtue of his rays, he protects, he heats and he causes rain. In the sleeping beings, he is established as the inner being. He is verily the sacrificial fire and the consummation of the seekers who propitiate the sacrificial fire.
He is the vEdas, he is the ritual as well as their result. Whatever action is performed in this world, everything belongs to this lord ravi.
Whoever extols him in times of crises, difficulties, in the forests or when they are swept by fear, never goes down.
O rAma, worship Him, the lord of the gods and the world, with single minded concentration. Recite this three times and secure victory in the war. At this very moment you shall slay rAvaNa”.
Having advised thus, sage agastya went in the way he had come. Grasping this advice, the illustrious rAma’s became free of anxiety and sorrow. The enterprising and self-assured rAma beheld the sun and contemplating on the eulogy that was just given to him and having recited it he derived supreme delight. Then having partaken water thrice (Achamana), he purified himself and the hero held his bow. He was happy to see rAvaNa who had come to the battle and became determined to vanquish him, no matter how much of a great effort it involved.
अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः ।
निशिचरपतिसङ्क्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥
As rAma worshipped the sun thus, the sun-god who had also converged onto the skies among the gods and Rshis who had assembled to witness the battle, was delighted and knowing that the death of the lord of the night-rangers was around the corner, he exhorted rAma – “come on, quick!”!!!
Here we conclude the one hundred and fifth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Click on the above link for word by word meaning from IITK website
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Next: 6.106. Ominous signs surround rAvaNa
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 