Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena Suriyo devaputto Rāhunā asurindena gahito hoti. Atha kho Suriyo devaputto Bhagavantaṁ anussaramāno tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi.
Thus have I heard: On one occasion the Blessed One was living in Sāvatthi, at Jetavana, at Anāthapiņḍika’s monastery. At that time Sūriya, the sun deity, was captured by Rāhu, one of the kings of the Asuras. Thereupon calling to mind the Blessed One, Sūriya, the sun deity, recited this stanza:
Namo te Buddha vīra’tthu – Vippamutto’si sabbadhi
Sambādhapaṭipanno’smi – Tassa me saraṇaṁ bhavā’ti.
Oh Buddha, the Hero I pay homage to you. You are completely free from all suffering. I have fallen into trouble. Please be my refuge and help me.
Atha kho Bhagavā Sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ ārabbha Rāhuṁ asurindaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi.
Then the Blessed One addressed Rāhu the Asura, in verse, on behalf of the deity Sūriya, thus:
Tathāgataṁ Arahantaṁ – Suriyo saraṇaṁ gato
Rāhu Sūriyaṁ pamuñcassu – Buddhā lokānukampakā’ti.
Oh Rāhu, Sūriya has gone for refuge to the Tathāgata, the Arahant. Oh Rāhu, release Sūriya. The Buddhas radiate compassion on the beings of the world.
Yo andhakāre tamasī pabhaṁkaro – Verocano, maṇḍalī uggatejo
Mā Rāhu gilī caraṁ antalikkhe – Pajaṁ mama Rāhu, pamuñca Sūriyaṇ’ti.
Oh Rāhu, do not swallow the dispeller of darkness, the shining one, the radiant onewith mighty rays. Oh Rāhu, release Sūriya, my son, the traveler through the sky.
Atha kho Rāhu asurindo Sūriyaṁ devaputtaṁ muñcitvā taramānarūpo yena Vepacitti asurindo ten’upasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā saṁviggo lomahaṭṭajāto ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho Rāhuṁ asurindaṁ Vepacitti asurindo gāthāya ajjhabhāsi.
Thereupon Rāhu the Asura, released the deity Sūriya, and immediately went to the presence of Vepacitti, the leader of Asuras, and stood beside him trembling with fear, with hair standing on end. Then Vepacitti the Asura addressed Rāhu the Asura with this stanza.
Kinnu santaramāno’va – Rāhu, Sūriyaṁ pamuñcasi?
Saṁviggarūpo āgamma – Kinnu bhīto’va tiṭṭhasī’ti?
Rāhu, why did you suddenly release Sūriya? Why have you come here trembling, and why are you standing here terrified?
Sattadhā me phale muddhā – Jīvanto na sukhaṁ labhe
Buddhagāthābhigīto’mhi – No ce muñceyya Suriyan’ti.
I have been spoken to by the Buddha, in a stanza, requesting me to release Sūriya. If I had not released Sūriya my head would have split into seven pieces. If I lived, I would not have had any happiness.
Etena saccena suvatthi hotu!
By this truth, may there be well-being!
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Translation from The Mahamevnawa Pali English Paritta Chanting Book.
