Bhagavatapurana 5.23

5.23.1

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/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
atha tasmāt paratas trayodaśa-lakṣa-yojanāntarato yat tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṃ padam abhivadanti yatra ha mahā-bhāgavato dhruva auttānapādir agninendreṇa prajāpatinā kaśyapena dharmeṇa ca samakāla-yugbhiḥ sabahu-mānaṃ dakṣiṇataḥ kriyamāṇa idānīm api kalpa-jīvinām ājīvya upāste tasyehānubhāva upavarṇitaḥ //

1. Now beyond the seven sages at the distance of thirteen lakhs of yojanas lies what the wise call the highest abode of Vishnu, where even now remains the great devotee Dhruva, Son of Uttanapada, while Agni, Indra, Prajapati, Kasyapa, Dhruva, (in the form of stars) simultaneously and in due veneration go round keeping him on their right, and himself is the support of all those that are known to live throughout the Kalpa, and his greatness has been already described (here, in this work).

5.23.2

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sa hi sarveṣāṃ jyotir-gaṇānāṃ graha-nakṣatrādīnām animiṣeṇāvyakta-raṃhasā bhagavatā kālena bhrāmyamāṇānāṃ sthāṇur ivāvaṣṭambha īśvareṇa vihitaḥ śaśvad avabhāsate //

2. And that Dhruva indeed shines constant in his place being appointed like a post to be the support of all the hosts of Luminaries, planets, constellations and others, that are, by the glorious Lord who is in the form of Time, made to go round without a winking space of pause (ceaselessly and in incomprehensible velocity).

5.23.3

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yathā meḍhīstambha ākramaṇa-paśavaḥ saṃyojitās tribhis tribhiḥ savanair yathā-sthānaṃ maṇḍalāni caranty evaṃ bhagaṇā grahādaya etasminn antar-bahir-yogena kāla-cakra āyojitā dhruvam evāvalambya vāyunodīryamāṇā ākalpāntaṃ paricaṅ kramanti nabhasi yathā meghāḥ śyenādayo vāyu-vaśāḥ karma-sārathayaḥ parivartante evaṃ jyotirgaṇāḥ prakṛti-puruṣa-saṃyogānugṛhītāḥ karma-nirmita-gatayo bhuvi na patanti //

3. Just as oxen in treading corn stalks are tied to a central post and go round and round over the same ground, during all the three divisions of time (as they are driven by tillers); so also the

celestial bodies, planets and others fastened to the Kalachakra on the inside and outside, and having their hold upon Dhruva make their circuit in the sky to the end of kalpa, being impelled by Vayu (wind), in the same manner as the clouds, eagles and other birds do under the influence of the wind, and their Karma helped on jointly by Prakriti and Purusha who set them in motion owing to their Karma, they do not fall down to the Earth.

5.23.4

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kecanaitaj jyotir-anīkaṃ śiśumāra-saṃsthānena bhagavato vāsudevasya yoga-dhāraṇāyām anuvarṇayanti //

4. Some others say that this system of heavenly bodies has its support in the yoga power of the glorious Vasudeva who for the purpose has assumed a form like that of the Gangetic porpoise.

5.23.5

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yasya pucchāgre 'vākśirasaḥ kuṇḍalī-bhūta-dehasya dhruva upakalpitas tasya lāṅgūle prajāpatir agnir indro dharma iti puccha-mūle dhātā vidhātā ca kaṭyāṃ saptarṣayaḥ tasya dakṣiṇāvarta-kuṇḍalī-bhūta-śarīrasya yāny udagayanāni dakṣiṇa-pārśve tu nakṣatrāṇy upakalpayanti dakṣiṇāyanāni tu savye yathā śiśumārasya kuṇḍalā-bhoga-sanniveśasya pārśvayor ubhayor apy avayavāḥ samasaṅkhyā bhavanti pṛṣṭhe tv ajavīthī ākāśa-gaṅgā codarataḥ //

5. Dhruva is stationed at the end of the tail of that Sisumara that lies in coils with its head downwards; and (a little downwards) on the tail are placed Prajapati, Agni, Indra and Dharma and at the root of the tail, Dhata and Vidhata; and on the hip the seven sages; on the right side of it whose coils are formed from right to left, the constellations marking the northern course (Uttarayana) and on the left those marking the southward course, are stationed, just as the Gangetic porpoise lying in coils has members equal in number on both its sides; on its back lies the Ajaveethi, (the first portion of the southern course); and the heavenly Ganga lies against its stomach.

5.23.6

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punarvasu-puṣyau dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ śroṇyor ārdrāśleṣe ca dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ paścimayoḥ pādayor abhijid-uttarāṣāḍhe dakṣiṇa-vāmayor nāsikayor yathā-saṅkhyaṃ śravaṇa-pūrvāṣāḍhe dakṣiṇa-vāmayor locanayor dhaniṣṭhā mūlaṃ ca dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ karṇayor maghādīny aṣṭa nakṣatrāṇi dakṣiṇāyanāni vāma-pārśva-vaṅkriṣu yuñjīta tathaiva mṛga-śīrṣādīny udagayanāni dakṣiṇa-pārśva-vaṅkriṣu prātilomyena prayuñjīta śatabhiṣā-jyeṣṭhe skandhayor dakṣiṇa-vāmayor nyaset //

6. The constellations of Punarvasu and Pushya lie on its right and left hips; Ardra and Aslesha on its right and left hind feet; Abhijit and Uttarashadha on its right and left nostrils; Sravana and Purvashadha lie on its right and left eyes; Dhanishtha and Moola on its right and left ears; Makha and other eight marking the southward course are connected with the left ribs; similarly Mrigasirsha and others of Uttarayana are connected with the right ribs in the reverse order; and Satabhisha and Jyeshtha rest on the right and left shoulders.

5.23.7

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uttarā-hanāv agastir adharā-hanau yamo mukheṣu cāṅgārakaḥ śanaiścara upasthe bṛhaspatiḥ kakudi vakṣasy ādityo hṛdaye nārāyaṇo manasi candro nābhyām uśanā stanayor aśvinau budhaḥ prāṇāpānayo rāhur gale ketavaḥ sarvāṅgeṣu romasu sarve tārā-gaṇāḥ //

7. On the upper chin Agasti, and on the lower Yama; in the mouth Angaraka (Mars); Saturn on the organ of generation; Brihas-

pati on the hump, on the chest Aditya; at the heart Narayana; in the Manas, (Mind) Chandra, in the navel Sukra; on the breasts Aswins; in Prana and Apana Budha; Rahu about the neck; Ketus in all members; and on Hari all over, the hosts of stars.

5.23.8

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etad u haiva bhagavato viṣṇoḥ sarva-devatāmayaṃ rūpam aharahaḥ sandhyāyāṃ prayato vāgyato nirīkṣamāṇa upatiṣṭheta namo jyotir-lokāya kālāyanāyānimiṣāṃ pataye mahā-puruṣāyābhidhīmahīti //

8. This indeed a manifestation of the glorious Vishnu in which all the gods find their place. One should piously and silently see that form every evening and worship it with the following Mantra. We bow to the one abode of light, the wheel of Time (Kalachakra), the protector of the gods, the Supreme Person. We contemplate Thee.

5.23.9

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graharkṣatārāmayam ādhidaivikaṃ pāpāpahaṃ mantra-kṛtāṃ tri-kālam /
namasyataḥ smarato vā tri-kālaṃ naśyeta tat-kālajam āśu pāpam //

9. That sin is at once and then and there washed off which is committed by the Person who thrice a day worships with the said Mantra and contemplates that Supreme Ruler of the gods as Sisumara that embodies in Himself all the planets, constellations and stars, and purifies His worshippers.