Bhagavatapurana 5.22: atha dvāviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

5.22.1

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/0 rājovāca
yad etad bhagavata ādityasya meruṃ dhruvaṃ ca pradakṣiṇena parikrāmato rāśīnām abhimukhaṃ pracalitaṃ cāpradakṣiṇaṃ bhagavatopavarṇitam amuṣya vayaṃ katham anumimīmahīti //

1. The King said:— It has been stated by thy worshipful self that the divine Sun going about with Meru and Dhruva on his right, marches towards the signs of the Zodiac on his left; how could we make out that statement?

5.22.2

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/0 sa hovāca
yathā kulāla-cakreṇa bhramatā saha bhramatāṃ tad-āśrayāṇāṃ pipīlikādīnāṃ gatir anyaiva pradeśāntareṣv apy upalabhyamānatvād evaṃ nakṣatra-rāśibhir upalakṣitena kāla-cakreṇa dhruvaṃ meruṃ ca pradakṣiṇena paridhāvatā saha paridhāvamānānāṃ tad-āśrayāṇāṃ sūryādīnāṃ grahāṇāṃ gatir anyaiva nakṣatrāntare rāśy-antare copalabhyamānatvāt //

2. Suka said:— When the potter's wheel is in motion, the course of ants and other living things moving on it is quite different as they are seen to be at different places on that wheel; similarly when the _Kalachakra_ (the Solar system) comprising constellations of stars moves (as a whole) in great velocity with Dhruva and Meru on its right, the motion of the Sun and other planets depending upon _it_, while it moves in great velocity, is also different, as they are observed in conjunction with different constellations and signs (at different points of time).

5.22.3

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sa eṣa bhagavān ādi-puruṣa eva sākṣān nārāyaṇo lokānāṃ svastaya ātmānaṃ trayīmayaṃ karma-viśuddhi-nimittaṃ kavibhir api ca vedena vijijñāsyamāno dvādaśadhā vibhajya ṣaṭsu vasantādiṣv ṛtuṣu yathopa-joṣam ṛtu-guṇān vidadhāti //

3. The very same glorious Narayana who is the first cause and supreme Person and the subject of the three Vedas, who is the cause of the world's well-being, as well as the purification of all the world's activity and who is being enquired into even by men of wisdom with the help of the Vedas, exhibits Himself in twelve forms and infuses into the six seasons commencing with Vasanta their characteristics to make them severally enjoyable.

5.22.4

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tam etam iha puruṣās trayyā vidyayā varṇāśramācārānupathā uccāvacaiḥ karmabhir āmnātair yoga-vitānaiś ca śraddhayā yajanto 'ñjasā śreyaḥ samadhigacchanti //

4. Here mortals worship the Sun who has been just now spoken of by following the path of duties laid down in the three Vedas for *Varnas* and *asramas*, by the righteous acts, great and small, described in the Vedas, through extensive course of meditation, with faith and piety and attain to the desired goal (eternal happiness).

5.22.5

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atha sa eṣa ātmā lokānāṃ dyāv-āpṛthivyor antareṇa nabho-valayasya kālacakra-gato dvādaśa māsān bhuṅkte rāśi-saṃjñān saṃvatsarāvayavān māsaḥ pakṣa-dvayaṃ divā naktaṃ ceti sapādarkṣa-dvayam upadiśanti yāvatā ṣaṣṭham aṃśaṃ bhuñjīta sa vai ṛtur ity upadiśyate saṃvatsarāvayavaḥ //

5. Further that Lord of worlds standing in relation to Kalachakra in the middle of the sky midway between the Earth and heaven holds his sway on the twelve months called the twelve signs, the divisions of a year; a month consists of two fortnights which are the day and night (of Pitris) and it is also said to be two stars and a quarter (*i. e.*, the period called a month is the time taken by the sun to traverse two constellations and a quarter in space); the time by which he traverses one-sixth of the orbit is said to be a season or *Rithu* forming a distinct part of the year.

5.22.6

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atha ca yāvatārdhena nabho-vīthyāṃ pracarati taṃ kālam ayanam ācakṣate //

6. The time by which he traverses one half of his heavenly path (*i. e.*, one half of the orbit) is called an Ayana.

5.22.7

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atha ca yāvan nabho-maṇḍalaṃ saha dyāv-āpṛthivyor maṇḍalābhyāṃ kārtsnyena sa ha bhuñjīta taṃ kālaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ parivatsaram iḍāvatsaram anuvatsaraṃ vatsaram iti bhānor māndya-śaighrya-sama-gatibhiḥ samāmananti //

7. The time by which he completes his circuit in his orbit encompassing the circle of heaven and earth in its entirety is called *Samvatsara*, *Parivatsara*, *Idavatsara*, *Anuvatsara*, or *Vatsara* according as the velocity of the Sun's march is slow or rapid or moderate.

5.22.8

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evaṃ candramā arka-gabhastibhya upariṣṭāl lakṣa-yojanata upalabhyamāno 'rkasya saṃvatsara-bhuktiṃ pakṣābhyāṃ māsa-bhuktiṃ sapādarkṣābhyāṃ dinenaiva pakṣa-bhuktim agracārī drutatara-gamano bhuṅkte //

8. Similarly Chandra (the Moon), placed at a height of laksha Yojanas beyond the range of the Sun's rays, completes in two fortnights the circuit which the Sun makes in a year; and in two days a quarter of that distance which the Sun traverses in a month; the Moon goes in advance of the Sun in greater velocity and in the course of a day passes over the distance which the Sun takes a fortnight to do.

5.22.9

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atha cāpūryamāṇābhiś ca kalābhir amarāṇāṃ kṣīyamāṇābhiś ca kalābhiḥ pit-ṇām aho-rātrāṇi pūrva-pakṣāpara-pakṣābhyāṃ vitanvānaḥ sarva-jīva-nivaha-prāṇo jīvaś caikam ekaṃ nakṣatraṃ triṃśatā muhūrtair bhuṅkte //

9. In the region of the celestials and the Pitris the moon makes days and nights respectively by means of his waxing and waning rays, which give rise to the bright and dark fortnights; the Moon is the life of all the living beings, hence also called 'Life';

and he occupies (is in conjunction with) each of the 28 constellations for 30 muhurthas (i. e., 24 hrs).

5.22.10

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ya eṣa ṣoḍaśa-kalaḥ puruṣo bhagavān manomayo 'nnamayo 'mṛtamayo deva-pitṛ-manuṣya-bhūta-paśu-pakṣi-sarīsṛpa-vīrudhāṃ prāṇāpy āyana-śīlatvāt sarvamaya iti varṇayanti //

10. And this person (the Moon) of 16 parts full of glory, is the ruler of all minds, the food of all, the embodiment of Nectar; and by nature being the cause of satisfaction of all living things, the gods, birds, reptiles, plants and creepers, he is said to be all and the Ruler of all.

5.22.11

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tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanato nakṣatrāṇi meruṃ dakṣiṇenaiva kālāyana īśvara-yojitāni sahābhijitāṣṭā-viṃśatiḥ //

11. Beyond that region, at a distance of 3 lakhs of Yojanas are the Nakshatras twenty eight in number including *Abhijit*, fixed by the Supreme Lord on to the *Kalachakra* which is placed only on the right side of the Meru.

5.22.12

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tata upariṣṭād uśanā dvi-lakṣa-yojanata upalabhyate purataḥ paścāt sahaiva vārkasya śaighrya-māndya-sāmyābhir gatibhir arkavac carati lokānāṃ nityadānukūla eva prāyeṇa varṣayaṃś cāreṇānumīyate sa vṛṣṭi-viṣṭambha-grahopaśamanaḥ //

12. Still higher up at a distance of two lakhs of Yojanas appears Sukra (Venus) who, before or after, or along with the Sun courses through the heavens in rapid, slow, or moderate marches; he is always shedding good influence on the world; by his specially rapid marches he generally causes rain; and he is also observed to counteract the obstacles to the fall of rain.

5.22.13

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uśanasā budho vyākhyātas tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanato budhaḥ soma-suta upalabhyamānaḥ prāyeṇa śubha-kṛd yadārkād vyatiricyeta tadātivātābhra-prāyānāvṛṣṭy-ādi-bhayam āśaṃsate //

13. By (describing) Sukra Budha also is described. Budha is to be seen two lakhs of Yojanas above Sukra; he is the son of Soma; generally he does good; when separated from the Sun he indicates too much of winds that toss away the clouds, failure of rain and other fearful conditions.

5.22.14

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ata ūrdhvam aṅgārako 'pi yojana-lakṣa-dvitaya upalabhyamānas tribhis tribhiḥ pakṣair ekaikaśo rāśīn dvādaśānubhuṅkte yadi na vakreṇābhivartate prāyeṇāśubha-graho 'gha-śaṃsaḥ //

14. Still further at a distance of two lakhs of Yojanas is to be seen Angaraka (Mars), generally traversing each of the signs of the Zodiac in three fortnights, completes his revolution through all the twelve signs; except when he is in retrograde progress, he generally indicates evil influence and hence he is accounted as an inauspicious planet.

5.22.15

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tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanāntara-gatā bhagavān bṛhaspatir ekaikasmin rāśau parivatsaraṃ parivatsaraṃ carati yadi na vakraḥ syāt prāyeṇānukūlo brāhmaṇa-kulasya //

15. Further on at a distance of two lakhs of Yojanas appears the praise-worthy Brihaspati who moves about each sign for a complete year; if not in his retrograde progress, he is generally favoura-

ble to the Brahmin race.

5.22.16

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tata upariṣṭād yojana-lakṣa-dvayāt pratīyamānaḥ śanaiścara ekaikasmin rāśau triṃśan māsān vilambamānaḥ sarvān evānuparyeti tāvadbhir anuvatsaraiḥ prāyeṇa hi sarveṣām aśāntikaraḥ //

16. Still further above, at a distance of two lakhs of Yojanas appears Sanaischara (Saturn) he moves about each sign for a period of thirty months and in as many years he completes his circuit through all the twelve signs; and he is generally said to bode evil to all.

5.22.17

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tata uttarasmād ṛṣaya ekādaśa-lakṣa-yojanāntara upalabhyante ya eva lokānāṃ śam anubhāvayanto bhagavato viṣṇor yat paramaṃ padaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ prakramanti //

17. Farther than Saturn, at a distance of eleven lakhs of Yojanas are seen the seven sages who are always thinking of the good of the world and go round (the most exalted) abode of Vishnu lying on their right.