Navagraha Suktam [Odes on the Nine Planets] Translated by P. R. Ramachander [Planets are called Grahas in Sanskrit.

According to the Hindu concept there are nine grahas viz. Sun (Adhithya ! "oon (So"a ! #ars (Angaraka ! #ercury ($udha ! %upiter (&rahaspathi ! 'enus (Shuka ! (ahu and )ethu. *he last t+o o, the" are called shado+ planets. *hese nine are deities (not planets in the 'edas. *he prayers to these deities occur "ainly in (ig 'eda and Atharvana 'eda. A collection o, such relevant prayers along +ith a ritual $eginning is this prayer called Nava Graha Suktha. *his is chanted to paci,y - attract the nine planets and ,ul,ill our +ishes. .t is interesting to note that in the prayer! they are not re,erred to as planets and "ost o, the prayers are addressed to .ndra and Agni (,ire +ho are $oth very po+er,ul 'edic Gods and not to individual planets. *he language and "eter used in these Sukthas are in 'edic Sanskrit. Since "y kno+ledge o, 'edic Sanskrit is not up to the "ark! . have relied on the translation given $y (/ )ashyap (0112 in 'eda #anthras and Sukthas o, SA)S.! &angalore. *his translation is "y o+n. *he sukthas in 3evanagari script are given in lansingte"ple.org-navagrahas-prayers-NG401Sukta".pd,. *he te5t used $y "e slightly di,,ers ,ro" +hat is given in the +e$ site as . have relied on the te5t given in the a$ove re,erred $ook. . have $roken up the lines in to s"aller ones +hile translating so that the "eaning is "ore clear.] Preli"inary #anthra O" Nava Graha Suktha" O" Shukla" $aradara" vishnu" sasi varna" chathur $u6a" Prasanna vadana" dhyayeth sarva vigno$a santhaye. 3ressed in +hite you are! Oh! all pervading one! And glo+ing +ith the colour o, "oon. 7ith ,our ar"s! you are! the all kno+ing one . "editate on your ever8s"iling ,ace! And pray! 9 (e"ove all o$stacles on "y +ay:. O# &hoo! O" &huva! Ogu" Suva! O" #aha. O" %ana. O" *hapa! O" thathsa vithurvarenya" $hargo devasya dee"ahi dhiyo yona

prachodayath! O" AApa! 6yothi rasa! $hoor$huvas+aro" 7e "editate on the seven upper +orlds and the great #antra Gayathri. #a"o partha duritha kshaya d+ara Sri Para"esh+ara preethyartha" Adithyadhi nava graha na"askaran )arishye. ;or re"oving all "y pro$le"s and pleasing /ord Para"esh+ara . a" praying to Sun God and other nine planets! I. Adithya [Sun God] (Adithya is the Sun God and is the son o, Sage )ashyapa and Adhithi. He is strong! splendid! $old! regal! +arlike! victorious and energetic<. He travels in a chariot dra+n $y seven horses and his charioteer is Aruna. < *he characteristics o, all planets are "entioned &y sage Aura$indo and are reproduced. O" Aa krishnena ra6asa vartha"ano nivesayanna"rutha" "arthya cha! Hiranyayena savitha rathena aa devo yati! &huvanani pasyan. = #oving through darkness! (ecognizing the "ortal and i""ortal! *he God Savitha (Sun co"es in a golden chariot! And sees the +orld. Agni" dhootha" vrune"ahe! Hotara" vis+a vedasa"! Asya yagnasya sukrutha". 0 7e choose the ,ire as the "essenger! &ecause he has the kno+ledge o, entire +orld! And also $ecause he does per,or" ya6na properly. >esha" eesepasupathi pasoonaa"! ?hathushpatha" utha cha dvi pada"! Nishkeerthoya" yagniya" $haga"ethu! (ayasposha ya6na "anasya santhu. @

*hus the lord o, all $eings sees! *he ,our legged and t+o legged $eings! /et hi" accept the re,ined sacri,icial share! And let the glorious +ealth reach the per,or"er o, >a6na. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya Adithyaya na"a. O" "y salutations to sun God +ith all his peripheral gods. II. Angaraka [Mars] (*his is the planet #ars also called as )u6a and #angala. . could not trace his lineage. He is a politician! soldier! cra,ty! unscrupulous and tyrannical O" Agni "oordha divah kakut! Pathi prithya! Aya" aapa" retha"si 6in+athi. = O" ;ire is in the peak o, heaven! And is the consort (lord o, the earth! And it sets in "otion the essence o, +aters Syona prithvi $hava. Anrukshara nivesini! >acha na shar"a sapradha. 0 Oh earth $e happy! Give us thorn less a$ode! 7hich is +ide and grants us re,uge. )shethrasya pathina vaya" hitheneva! %aya"asi ga" ashva" poshayitnva! Saa no "rulathee drushe. @ *hrough the "aster o, the $ody +ho is ,riendly! &e victorious!in getting that +hich nourishes our energy! And let he appear to us gracious.

O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya Angarakaya na"a. O" "y salutations to #ars God +ith all his peripheral gods. III. Shukra [Venus] (Shukra is the planet 'enus and is the son o, sage &rugu. His "otherAs na"e is )avyaa. He +as adopted as their Guru $y the Asuras and he guided the" in their +ars +ith devas. He is sel, +illed! lust,ul! "aster o, state cra,t! poet! thinker and philosopher O" Pra va shukraya $hanave $haradh+a"! Havya" "ati" cha agnaya suputa"! >o daivani "anisha 6anu"shi! Anthar vish+ani vid"ana 6igathi. = &ring the ,ire ,ro" the light o, the sun! Oh Shukra! O,,er the $rain as sacred o,,ering in that puri,ied ,ire! 7hich travels +ith the kno+ledge o, "an! &et+een the $irths in earth and heavens. .ndrani" aasu naarishhu su$haga"! Aha" srava"! Na hi asya apara" chana 6arasaa "arate pati! 'i+as"ad indra uttarah. 0 *he +i,e o, .ndra is "ost $lessed a"ong +o"en! So . have heard! ;or her consort +ill never die in any $attle! And he is the one +ho is supre"e in this universe. .ndra" vis+ahtahs pari! Hava"ahe 6ane$hya! As"ka" asthu kevalaa. @ .ndra is a$ove the entire universe! And all people give hi" o$lations! And let hi" $e our only o$6ect o, +orship. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya Shukraya na"a.

O" "y salutations to Shukra God +ith all his peripheral gods. IV. Soma [Moon] (He is the "oon God and rose ,ro" the ocean o, "ilk +hen it +as churned. He is inconsistent! a"orous! char"ing! i"aginative and poetical. O" Gaurir "i"aya salilani thakshathi! Bkapadhi! dvipadhi sa chathushpadi! Ashtapadi navapadi $a$oovushi! SAhasrakshara para"e vyo"an. = ;or"ing +ater o, consciousness! the co+ o, speech is cra,ted! .n to one ,ooted! t+o ,ooted ,our ,ooted! And she +ho has $eco"e eight ,ooted $eco"es nine ,ooted! And the one +ith thousand letters is supre"e. Aapyasva! Sa"ethu they vis+atha so"a vrushnya"! &havaa vaa6asya sa"gadhe! 0 Oh "oon! gro+ +ith us! /et your sparkling ,ire $eco"e united! And $e +ith us in our o$lation. Apsu "ay so"o a$raveedh! Anthar vis+ani $hesha6a! Ani" cha vish+a sha"$huva"! Aapascha vis+a$hesha6i. @ #oon has told "e! All "edicines are in +ater! And the ,ire $esto+s happiness o, all! And +aters are the panacea. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya So"aaya na"a. O" "y salutations to "oon God +ith all his peripheral gods.

V. Budha [Mercury] (He is the planet #ercury. He is the illicit child o, #oon and his teacher &rahaspathiAs +i,e. He is speculative scienti,ic! skil,ul. O" Cdh$hayasva agne prathi 6agrahi! *va" ishta poorthe s"sru "edha "aya" cha! Puna krunvana pitara yuvana! Anvaatha" sithvayi thanthu "etha". = Oh ,ire! $e alert and conscious o, us! #ay you and the /ord o, the ya6na create the o,,ering! #ake "y ,ather ,eel young again! #ay he carry out the sacri,ice supported $y you. .da" vishnur vichakra"e! *redha ni thadhe pada"! SA"ulha" asya paa"sure. 0 *hus 'ishnu strode! And placed his ,eet thrice! And all +ere esta$lished in the dust o, his ,eet! 'ishno rarat"asi! vishno prashta"asi! 'ishno sh6napathra stho! 'ishno syoorasi! vishnor dhruva"asi! 'aishnava" asi vishnava tva. @ >a6na is the ,orehead o, 'ishnu. .t is the $ack o, 'ishnu! >a6na is the puri,ier acting ,or 'ishnu! >a6na is the thread o, 'ishnu! >a6na is the i""ortal 'ishnu! *he principle o, 'ishnu e5ists and . +ant to $e one +ith it. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya &udhaya na"a. O" "y salutations to &udha God +ith all his peripheral gods. VI. Brahaspathi [Jupiiter]

(He is the planet %upiter and the son o, sage Angeeras. *here is also a story that he is the son o, /ord &rah"a hi"sel,. He +as adopted as their teacher $y 3evas. He is religious learned! and philosopher! +ise and a states"an. O" &rahaspathe athi yad aaryao arhad! 3hyu"at vi$hadhi kruthu"a66anneshu! >ad didhayat cchavasa rithapra6ath! *had as"asu dravina" dehi chithra". = Oh &rahaspati! you do not deserve a ,oe! >ou shine a"ong holy people ,ull o, po+er! >ou shine +ith the strength $orn out o, truth! >ou are the great treasure given to us! Oh son o, truth. .ndra "aruth+a eha pahi so"a"! >adha saaryathe api$ha suthasya! *hava praneethi thava soora shar"an! AA'ivasvanthi kavaya suya6na. 0 Oh .ndra! drink So"a along +ith #aruths! As you are drinking it along +ith Sharayata! &e pleased! oh heroic &rah"in! *he sages e5pert in >agna are eager to serve you. &rah"a 6a6naanaan pradha"a" purasthaath! 'isee"atha surucho vena aava! Sa$udhniya upa"a asya vishtaa! Sathascha yoni" asathascha viva. @ *he Sun +as $orn ,irst as an e,,ect o, the +ord! His $rilliance spreads over the entire +orld! He has revealed every thing in various ,or"s! He has revealed the $irth place o, the visi$le and invisi$le. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya &rihaspathyaya na"a. O" "y salutations to &rahaspathi God +ith all his peripheral gods.

VII. Shanaischara [Saturn] (He is the planet Saturn and the son o, Sun God. He is la"e and "oves slo+ly. He is cruel! vindictive! gloo"y! i""oral and destructive. O" Sha" no devir a$heeshtaya! aapo $havanthu peethaye! Sha" yora$hi sravanthu na. = #ay the Goddess ,ul,ill our +ishes like +ater! #ay our +ishes $e satis,ied $y drinking it! #ay the +aters ,lo+ $liss,ully to+ards our happiness. Pra6apathe na tvadethani aanyo! 'is+aa 6aathani pari thaa $ha$hoova! >ath ka"asthe 6uhu"asthanno asthu! 'aya" sya"a pathayo rayeena". 0 Oh creator! there is none like you! >ou pervade all that has co"e in to $eing! /et our desires rise to you as prayers! #ay +e $eco"e the lord o, riches. ."a" ya"a prasthara"a hi seedha! Anghiro$hi pithru$hi sa"vidhana! Aa thva "antra kavishastha vahanthu! >ena ra6an havisha "adhayasva. @ Oh >a"a co"e and $e seated on this altar! Along +ith sage Angiras and the "anes! /et the "antras chanted $y sages carry and $ring thee! And let this o,,ering "ake you happy! Oh king. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya Sanaischaraaya na"a. O" "y salutations to Saturn God +ith all his peripheral gods. VIII. aahu

(He is the son o, sage )asyapa and his Asura +i,e Si"hika. 7hen

'ishnu as "ohini and +as distri$uting nectar to devas! he tried to get it $y deceit. /ord 'ishnu cut hi" in to t+o. (ahu is the head portion and )ethu the $ody part. He is violent! head strong! ,rank and ,urious. O" )ayaa naschithraa $hoovadhoothi! SAda vrudha sakha! )ayaa sachishtaya vruthaa. = Ho+ +ill .ndra co"e to us! picturesDue one! Oh ,riend +ho is ever +a5ing! And in co"pany o, the "ighty ones. AAyaa" go+ prashneer akra"idha! Asadan "atara" pura! Pitara" cha prayantsva. 0 *he variegated co+ o, kno+ledge has co"e! And sat $e,ore "other in the east! And is advancing to+ards ,atherAs heaven. >ath they devi nirrytheera $a$anda dha"a girvasu! Avicharthya"! .dha" they thad vishya" ayusho na "adhyaath! Adhaa 6eeva pithu"adhi pra"uktha. @ *he $ondage o, Goddess niruthi is on your neck! And should not $e unchained! &ut . +ill loosen it ,ro" the "iddle part o, li,e! And +hen it is loosened! you can eat So"a<. <*he eli5ir o, the Gods. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya (ahuve na"a. O" "y salutations to (ahu God +ith all his peripheral gods. I!. "ethu (He is the son o, sage )asyapa and his Asura +i,e Si"hika. 7hen 'ishnu as #ohini +as distri$uting nectar to devas! he tried to get it $y deceit. /ord 'ishnu cut hi" in to t+o. (ahu is the head portion and

)ethu the $ody part. He is secretive. "editative and unsocial. O" )ethu" krunvanna kethave! Pesho aarys aapesase! Sa" ushad $hir 6ayadhaa. = Oh strong one you create strength in the +eak! >ou give ,or" to the one +ho has no ,or"! And you are $orn in the da+n o, kno+ledge. &rah"a devaanaa" padavi kaveenaa"! (ishir vipraanaa" "ahisho "rugaanaa"! Syeno grudhraanaa s+adhithir! 'anaana"" so"a pavithra "athyerthi re$han. 0 &rah"a o, the Gods is the leader a"ong sages! Sages a"ong the +ise are the $ull a"ong ani"als! Ha+k a"ong vultures and sel,8la+ a"ong delights So sings So"a< a"ong those +ho puri,y. < "oon Sa chithra chithra" chithayantha"as"e! ?hithra kshathra chithratha"a" vayodhaa"! ?handra" rayi" puruveera" $ruhantha"! ?handra chandra a$hirgunathe yuvasva. @ Oh ,ire you are $rilliant and 6oin us +ith the $rilliant treasures! And ,ind the gro+th through lu"inous nights! Oh ?handra 6oin hi" +ith very delight,ul +ords! And have vast delight,ul +ealth and keepers o, heroes. O" adhidevatha prathyadhidevatha sahithaya )ethu$hyo na"a. O" "y salutations to )ethu God +ith all his peripheral gods. O# adithyadhi nava graha" devatha$hyo na"a. O" "y salutations to the nine planet Gods lead $y the Sun God. O" Shanthi! O" Shanthi! O" Shanthi /et there $e peace! let there $e peace and let there $e peace.