Dhaumya said : In the days of yore, all living beings that had been created were greatly afflicted with hunger. Thereupon Savita (sun) took compassion on them, as a father (does to his children). Going to the Northern declension, the sun drew up water by his rays and then coming back to the Southern declension and having centered his heat in himself, he stayed over the earth.
धौम्य उवाच ततोऽनुकम्पया पुरा सृष्टानि भूतानि पीड्यन्ते क्षुधया भृशम्। तेषां सविता स्वपिता यथा॥ गत्वोत्तरायणं तेजो रसानुद्धृत्य रश्मिभिः। दक्षिणायनमावृत्तो महीं निविशते रविः॥