Surya Upanishad,Atharva Veda - Lyrics with Meanings

Suryopanishad - Atharva Veda

Suryopanishad by my Whatsapp Vedam learner Shravanti

OM bhadram karNebhiH shR^iNuyaama devaaH
bhadram pashyemaaksha-bhir-yajatraaH

O Gods ( devaaH ) ! May we listen ( shR^iNuyaama ) with our ears ( karNebhiH ) what is auspicious ( bhadraM ) and good.

O Gods ( yajatraaH ) ! May we see ( pashyema ) with our eyes ( akshabir ) what is auspicious and good.

O God ! May we sing Your praises

sthirair-a-Ngi-stushhTuvaa(gm)-sas-tanuubhiH
vyashema deva-hitaM yadaayuH

May we glorify ( stushhTu-vaa(gm) ) You.

May we enjoy ( vyashema ) with out strong limbs ( sthirair-a-Ngai ) and bodies ( tanuubhiH ) the lifespan ( yad-aayuH) bestowed on us so that it is spent in harmony ( hitaM - benefit ) with nature ( deva - God ; every aspect of nature is worshiped as God in the Vedas ).

svasti na indro vR^iddhasravaaH
svasti naH (f) puushhaa visva-vedaaH

May Indra,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ), strength - both physical and mental,and vsatness ( vRiddha ) of hearing ( shravaaH) which will enable clarity of thought and intelligence.

May Puusha ( Sun ) , the omniscient ( vishvavedaaH ) One ,grant auspiciousness ( svasti )

svasti nastaarkshyo arishhTanemiH
svasti no bR^ihaspatir-dadhaatu
OM shaantiH shaantiH shaantiH

May Taarkshya ( Garuda ) who fights poisonous snakes,and ArishhTanemiH , who removes obstacles and grants protective armour,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ).May Brihaspati ( the Supreme Teacher ) grant ( dadhaatu ) us auspiciousness ( svasti ) and success in our study.Peace,peace,peace - Peace to the body,mind and soul.

OM atha suurya-atharvaa-Ngi-rasaM vyaakhyaasyaamaH

Now ( atha ) we shall expound ( vyaakhyaasyaamaaH ) the essence ( rasaM) of the Atharva Veda in relation to the Sun.

bramhaa R^ishhiH
gaayatrii chhandaH
aadityo devata
haMsaH so.ahamagni-naaraayaNa-yuktam biijam
hR^llekhaa shaktiH

The seer ( R^ishhiH) is bramhaa ; the metre ( chhandaH ) is Gayatri ; the deity ( devataa ) is the Sun ( aadityo ).

The basic sounds ( biijam - seed ) for the entire chant are - haMsah,sohaM,agni and naaraayaNa. ( So Ham is also the sound of our breath - So when inhaling and Ham when exhaling.The meaning of SoHam is - I am THAT ( absolute consciousness which is expressed as Lord Surya in this Upanishad )

The Shakti ( Power ) to this Upanishad is the extension of the sound hr,which means the spiritual heart ( hrdaya ).Hrllekhhaa = Hr + lekha = line.

viyadaadi-sarga-samyuktaM kiilakam
chaturvidha-purushha-artha siddyarthe viniyogaH

The Kiilakam ( pin or key ) for this Upanishadic mantra is the manifest creation from ether

viyat-adi-sarga - Viyat = primordial ether
aadi = pertaining to creation
samyuktam = together with

A kilakam is like a key which unlocks the potential contained within a mantra.

This Upanishad is chanted for attaining the four human goals ( chaturvidha-purushhaartha) of righteousness,wealth,desire for noble causes and liberation.

shhaT-svaraaruuDhena biijena
shhaDa-Ngam raktaambuja sansthitaM
sapta-ashva-rathinaM hiraNya-varNam
chaturbhujaM padma-dvayaa.abhayavarada hastaM 
kaalachakra-praNetaraaM 

The six ( shhaT ) limbs consists of the seed ( biijena ) with six vowels added.
Lord Surya Narayana ( Sun God ) is mounted on the chariot ( rathinaM) that is set in red ( rakta ) lotus and drawn by seven horses ( sapta-ashva ) - which could represent the 7 wavelengths that make up light / 7 days of the week

He is golden-hued ( hiraNya-varNaM ) ; has four arms ( chaturbhujaM ) and holds two lotuses ( padma-dvayaa ).

His hand ( hastaM ) is raised in blessing ( abhaya-varada) and for granting the boon of fearlessness.

He is the impeller of the wheel of time ( kaala-chakra ).

shrii-suurya-naaraayaNam ya evam veda
sa vai braamhaNaH

Indeed ( vai ) , only ( evam ) one ( ya ) who knows ( veda ) the Lord ( described above ) is a learned person ( braamhaNaH )

OM bhuur-bhuvaH suvaH
tat savitur-vareNyam bhargo devasya dhiimahi
dhiyo yo naH ( f) prachodayaat

We contemplate the glory of Light illuminating the three realms ( gross - bhuur ) , ( subtle - bhuvaH ) , and ( causal - suvaH )

The most exalted ( vareNyam ) Divine is the source of all the three worlds.We meditate ( dhiimahi ) upon the Divine Light of the Sun.

May the Lord fertilize ( prachodayaat ) our ( naH ) intellect such that our intelligence blossoms into wisdom and we get illumined.

suurya aatmaa jagatas-tasthushhash-cha 
suuryaad-vai khalvimani bhuutaani jaayante
suuryaad-yaGYag (f) parjanyo.annam-aatma

The Sun ( suurya ) is the inner self ( aatma ) of the world ( jagat ) ,both animate and inanimate.

Indeed ( vai ) , the beings ( bhuutani ) and the fire sacrifice ( yaGYah ) arise ( jaayante - born ) from the Sun ( suuryaad ).

Rain ( parjanyo),food (annam ) and the Self ( aatmaa ) arise from the Sun.

namaste aditya
tvameva pratyaksham karma kartaasi

Salutations ( namaste ) to the Sun ( aaditya ).
You alone ( tvameva ) are the doer ( kartaasi ) of all actions ( karma ).

tvameva pratyakshm bramhaasi
tvameva pratyaksham vishhNurasi
tvameva pratyaksham rudro.asi
tvameva pratyaksham R^igasi
tvameva pratyaksham yajurasi
tvameva pratyaksham saamaasi

You are the manifestation ( pratyaksham ) of the Creator ( bramhaa )
You are (asi) the manifestation of the protector ( vishhNu)
You are the manifestation of the destroyer ( rudro )
You are the manifestation of Rig Veda ( R^ig )
You are the manifestation of the Yajur Veda ( yajur )
You are the manifestation of Sama Veda ( saama )

tvameva pratyaksham-atharvaasi
tvameva sarvaM chhando.asi

You are the manifestation of the Atharva Veda ( atharva )
You are the basis for all Vedas ( chhando - also refers to Vedic metres )

aadityaad-vaayur-jaayate
aadityaad-bhuumir-jaayate
aadityaad-aapo-jaayante
aadityaad-jyotir-jaayate
aadityaad vyoma disho jaayante
aadityaad devaa jaayante
aadityaad-veda jaayante

From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate )  Air ( vaayu )
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate )  Earth ( bhuumir ) 
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) Water ( aapo )
From the Sun ( aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayate ) light ( jyotir )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the directions ( disho )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the Gods ( devaa )
From the Sun (aadityaad ) emerged ( jaayante ) the Vedas ( vedaa ) 

vaa eshha etanmaNDalam tapati
asaavaadityo bramhaa
aadityo.antaH-karaNa-mano-buddhi-chitta-ahankaaraaH

The Sun shines ( tapati ) on this sphere ( maNDalam - the earth ).This Sun is the Supreme Consciousness ( bramhaa )

The Sun,representing the illumined intellect,is the basis of our inner self ( antaH-karaNa),the mind ( mano ) , intellect ( buddhi ),consciousness ( chitta ) and ego ( ahankaaraaH )

aadityo vai vyaanas-samaano-daano.apaanaH (f) praaNaH

Verily (vai), The Sun ( aadityo ) is the basis of the five vital life-breaths  - vyaana,samaana,udaana,apaana and praaNa.

aadityo vai shotra-tvak-chakshuu-rasana-ghraaNaaH

The Sun is the basis of our five organs of perception or cognition,i.e., hearing ( shrotra ), touch ( tvak ) , sight ( chakshuu) , taste ( rasana ) and smell ( ghraaNaaH )

aadityo vai vaak-paaNipaada-paayuupasthaaH

The Sun is also the basis of our five organs of action , i.e.,tongue ( vaak-speech ), hands ( paaNi ) , legs ( paada ) , excretory organ ( paayu ) and organs of generation ( upasthaaH).

aadityo vai shabdasparsha-ruupa-rasa-gandhaaH
aadityo vai vachaana-daanaa-gamana visargaanandaaH
aanandamayo viGYaanamayo viGYaanaghana aadityaH

Verily ( vai ) the Sun powers our five abilities of perceiving sound ( shabda ),touch ( sparsha ) ,sight ( ruupa-form ) , taste ( rasa ) and smell ( gandhaaH ).

The Sun is the basis of joy ( aanandaaH ) we experience during chanting ( vachana - speech ) and during the pauses ( visarga ) in the flow ( gamana-movement ) of the chant.

The Sun is the basis of our intellectual ( viGYaanamayo ) and bliss ( aanandamayo ) sheaths.

namo mitraaya bhaanave mR^ityormaa paahi
bhraajishhNave vishva-hetave namaH

I bow ( namo ) to the shining ( bhaanave ) Sun ( mitraaya ) who can release ( paahi-protect ) me ( maa ) from death ( mR^ityor ).

suuryaad-bhavanti bhuutani suuryeNa paalitaani tu

O Resplendent One ! ( bhraajishhNave ) You exist for the welfare ( hetave ) of the whole world ( vishva ).

All are born ( bhavanti-become ) due to the Sun and all are protected ( paalitaani ) by Him.

suurye layaM praapnuvanti yaH 
suuryaH so.ahameva cha

O Sun ! May I acquire the opportunity ( praapnuvanti ) to merge ( layaM ) with You who is the embodiment of Soham

chakshurno devaH savitaa chakshurna uta parvataH
chakshur-dhaataaa dadhaatu naH

He is the God of vision and Highest source ( savitaa ) of sight ( chakshur-vision ).Please grant ( dadhaatu ) us ( naH ) the right vision.

aadityaaya vidmahe sahasra-kiraNaaya dhiimahi
tannaH suuryaH (f) prachodayaat

May we know ( vidmahe ) or realise the Sun ( aadityaa ).May we meditate ( dhiimahi ) upon the innumerable ( sahasra-thousand ) rays ( kiraNaaya ) of the Sun.

May He fertilize ( prachodayaat ) our ( naH ) intellect such that our intelligence blossoms into wisdom and we get illumined.

savitaa purastaat-savitaa pashchaattaat-savitottaraattaat

Savita- the source of all life-is in the front ( purastaat ) of us
Savita - the source of all life - is behind ( pashchaat ) and above ( uttaraat ) us.

savitaadharaattaat-savitaa naH

Savita - the source of all life - is below ( adharaat ) of us ( naH ).

suvatu sarvataati(gm) savitaa no raasataaM dhiirgham-aayuH

May He enfold us ( no ) from all sides and grant us a long life ( dhiirgham-aayuH )

omityekaaksharaM bramhaa
ghR^iNiriti dve akshare
suurya ityakshara-dvayam
aaditya iti triiN-yaksharaaNi

bramhaa is the one syllabled ( ekaaksharaM) OM
ghR^iNi has two syllables ( dve akshare )
suurya is also two syllabled ( akshara-dvayam )
aaditya has three ( triinNy ) syllables ( aksharaaNi )

etasyaiva suuryasya-ashhTa-aksharo manuH

Thus,this is the mantra of eight ( ashhTa) syllables ( aksharo ).

yaH sadaa-haraharjapati sa vai braamhaNo bhavati sa vai braamhaNo bhavati

Verily ( vai),he ( sa) who chants ( japati ) this always ( sadaa ) becomes ( bhavati ) a learned person ( braamhaNo ).

suuryaabhi-mukho japtvaa mahaa-vyaadhi bhayaat-pramuchyate

When one chants ( japtvaa ) this upanishad while facing the Sun ( suuryabhi-mukho) , he is released from major diseases ( mahaa-vyaadhi ).

alakshmir nashyati

His poverty ( alakshmiir ) is destroyed ( nashyati )

abhakshya bhakshaNaat puuto bhavati
agamya-agamanaat puuto bhavati

He becomes ( bhavati ) free from the sins of consuming ( bhaksha ) undesirable ( abhakshya ) food ( for all senses ) and going to undesirable ( agamya ) places ( sexual misconduct )

patita saMbhaashhaNaat puuto bhavati
asat saMbhaashhaNaat puuto bhavati

He becomes free from the sins of conversing ( saMbhaashhaNaat ) with people who bring us down ( patita ) and of speaking the untruth ( asat ).

madhyaahne suuryaabhi-mukhaH (f) paThet
sadyotpanna-paJNcha-mahaapaataka-kaat-pramuchyate

At midday ( madhyaahne),when one contemplates ( paThet-studies ) on this hymn facing the Sun ( suuryabhi-mukhaH ), he ( sa ) is released ( pramuchyate ) from the five ( paJNcha ) great sins ( mahaa-paata )

saishhaa saavitriiM vidyaaM na kinchidapi na kasmaichit-prashamsayet

One should not impart this knowledge of the Sun ( saavitriiM vidyaaM ) to anyone ( kasmaichit ) who is not  (na) honourable ( prashamsayet - praiseworthy ), on any account ( kinchidapi ).

ya etaaM mahaa-bhaagaH (f) praataH (f) paThati sa bhaagyavaan jaayate

When one contemplates ( paThati - studies ) this hymn at dawn ( praataH ) he becomes fortunate ( bhaagyavaan ).

pashuunvindati
vedaarthaM labhate

He gets live-stock ( pashuu) and attains ( labhate ) the essence of the Vedas ( vedaarthaM)

trikaala-metaj-japtvaa kratushata-phalam-avaapnoti
hastaaditye japati sa mahaa-mR^ityuM tarati sa mahaa-mR^ityuM tarati ya evaM veda

When one recites ( japtvaa ) during the three periods ( trikaala -dawn,noon and dusk ),he gets the fruit ( phalam) of a hundred ( shata ) sacrifices.

Only by chanting ( japati ) and knowing ( veda ) tis hymn to the Sun,he ( sa) conquers ( tarati-crosses ) death ( mR^tyuM)

ityupanishhat 

Thus ( iti),says the Upanishad.

OM bhadram karNebhiH shR^iNuyaama devaaH
bhadram pashyemaaksha-bhir-yajatraaH

O Gods ( devaaH ) ! May we listen ( shR^iNuyaama ) with our ears ( karNebhiH ) what is auspicious ( bhadraM ) and good.

O Gods ( yajatraaH ) ! May we see ( pashyema ) with our eyes ( akshabir ) what is auspicious and good.

O God ! May we sing Your praises

sthirair-a-Ngi-stushhTuvaa(gm)-sas-tanuubhiH
vyashema deva-hitaM yadaayuH

May we glorify ( stushhTu-vaa(gm) ) You.

May we enjoy ( vyashema ) with out strong limbs ( sthirair-a-Ngai ) and bodies ( tanuubhiH ) the lifespan ( yad-aayuH) bestowed on us so that it is spent in harmony ( hitaM - benefit ) with nature ( deva - God ; every aspect of nature is worshiped as God in the Vedas ).

svasti na indro vR^iddhasravaaH
svasti naH (f) puushhaa visva-vedaaH

May Indra,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ), strength - both physical and mental,and vsatness ( vRiddha ) of hearing ( shravaaH) which will enable clarity of thought and intelligence.

May Puusha ( Sun ) , the omniscient ( vishvavedaaH ) One ,grant auspiciousness ( svasti )

svasti nastaarkshyo arishhTanemiH
svasti no bR^ihaspatir-dadhaatu
OM shaantiH shaantiH shaantiH

May Taarkshya ( Garuda ) who fights poisonous snakes,and ArishhTanemiH , who removes obstacles and grants protective armour,grant us auspiciousness ( svasti ).May Brihaspati ( the Supreme Teacher ) grant ( dadhaatu ) us auspiciousness ( svasti ) and success in our study.Peace,peace,peace - Peace to the body,mind and soul.

Also Read : 

(1) Significance of Surya Upanishad


Adapted from : Vedic Chants,Vols. 1-6 Lalitha Vaitilingam , Nirmala Sekhar