श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम् पञ्चम: स्कन्ध: द्वाविंश: अध्याय: राजा उवाच - The king (Pareekshita) asked - यदेतद्भगवत आदित्यस्य मेरुं ध्रुवं च प्रदक्षिणेन परिक्रामतो राशीनामभिमुखं प्रचलितं चाप्रदक्षिणं भगवतोपवर्णितममुष्य वयं कथमनुमिमीमहीति ॥१॥
यत्-एतत्-भगवत: आदित्यस्य that, this, of the glorious Sun
मेरुम् ध्रुवम् च the Mount Meru pole star and प्रदक्षिणेन परिक्रामत: on the right side revolves राशीनाम्-अभिमुखम् of the zodiac sign facing प्रचलितम् च-अप्रदक्षिणम् revolves and to the left भगवता-उपवर्णितम्- by glorious (yourself) described अमुष्य वयम् कथम्- this we how अनुमिमीमहि-इति are to understand, thus As described by your glorious self, that this glorious Sun revolves on the right side of the Mount Meru and the pole star, and that facing the zodiac signs, he revolves on the left side, how are we to understand this.


स ह-उवाच - The sage indeed said - यथा कुलालचक्रेण भ्रमता सह भ्रमतां तदाश्रयाणां पिपीलिकादीनां गतिरन्यैव प्रदेशान्तरेष्वप्युपलभ्यमानत्वादेवं नक्षत्रराशिभिरुपलक्षितेन कालचक्रेण ध्रुवं मेरुं च प्रदक्षिणेन परिधावता सह परिधावमानानां तदाश्रयाणां सूर्यादीनां ग्रहाणां गतिरन्यैव नक्षत्रान्तरे राश्यन्तरे चोपलभ्यमानत्वात् ॥२॥
यथा कुलाल-चक्रेण just as potter's wheel
भ्रमता सह rotating with भ्रमताम् तत्-आश्रयाणाम् rotating on it's support पिपीलिका-आदीनाम् ants and others गति:-अन्या-एव course is different only प्रदेशान्तरेषु-अपि- on places different also उपलभ्यमानत्वात्- as is seen एवम् नक्षत्र-राशिभि:- like that by the planets and zodiac signs उपलक्षितेन काल-चक्रेण seen by the Time wheel ध्रुवम् मेरुम् च the pole star and Meru प्रदक्षिणेन परिधावता revolving while moving सह परिधावमानानाम् along with moving तत्-आश्रयाणाम् its supported सूर्य-आदीनाम् the Sun and others ग्रहाणाम् गति:-अन्या-एव planets course is different only नक्षत्र-अन्तरे in planets different राशि-अन्तरे in zodiac signs different च-उपलभ्यमानत्वात् and being seen Just as the course of movement of an ant crawling on a rotating potter's wheel, looks different than the course of the wheel itself. The ant also is seen to be at different places on the wheel, while the wheel rotates. So also the Sun, the other planets and the zodiac signs which are supported on the wheel of Time, seem to be coursing in different directions, and are seen at different places, while rotating on the wheel of Time, on the axis of the pole star and Mount Meru.


स एष भगवानादिपुरुष एव साक्षान्नारायणो लोकानां स्वस्तय आत्मानं त्रयीमयं कर्मविशुद्धिनिमित्तं कविभिरपि च वेदेन विजिज्ञास्यमानो द्वादशधा विभज्य षट्सु वसन्तादिष्वृतुषु यथोपजोषमृतुगुणान् विदधाति ॥३॥
स: एष: That This
भगवान्-आदि-पुरुष: एव The Lord, The Ancient Person only साक्षात्-नारायण: Himself Naaraayana लोकानाम् स्वस्तये for the living beings' welfare आत्मानम् त्रयीमयम् His own Self the three Vedas embodied कर्म-विशुद्धि-निमित्तम् for the purification of past actions', purpose कविभि:-अपि च वेदेन by the wise also and by the Vedas विजिज्ञास्यमान: critically inquired into द्वादशधा विभज्य into twelve (months) dividing षट्सु वसन्त-आदि six spring and other ऋतुषु यथा-उपजोषम्- seasons as per ऋतुगुणान् विदधाति the seasons qualities manifests That This, is no other than The Lord Naaraayana, Himself, The Ancient Person, the three Vedas embodied, Who is critically inquired into by the wise men and the Vedas. He, for the benefit of the living beings, i.e.., for the purification of their past actions, splits His own Self into twelve months, and into spring and other six seasons and as per every season manifests as the seasons' qualities.


तमेतमिह पुरुषास्त्रय्या विद्यया वर्णाश्रमाचारानुपथा उच्चावचै: कर्मभिराम्नातैर्योगवितानैश्च श्रद्धया यजन्तोऽञ्जसा श्रेय: समधिगच्छन्ति ॥४॥
तम्-एतम्-इह पुरुषा: Him, This (Lord), here the beings
त्रय्या विद्यया by the three Vedas वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-अनुपथा: the Varnas, Aashramas, and rituals following उच्च-अवचै: कर्मभि:- by high and low rituals आम्नातै:-योग-वितानै:-च by the deities, by the Yoga's system and श्रद्धया यजन्त:- devoutly worshipping अञ्जसा श्रेय: easily blessings समधिगच्छन्ति attain In this world, the beings, following their respective Varnas, Aashramas, and with high and low rituals worship the deities, and by following the system of Yoga, and by the three Vedas devoutly worshipping Him, This Lord, easily and duly attain the blessings of final beatitude.


अथ स एष आत्मा लोकानां द्यावापृथिव्योरन्तरेण नभोवलयस्य कालचक्रगतो द्वादश मासान् भुङ्क्ते राशिसंज्ञान् संवत्सरावयवान्मास: पक्षद्वयं दिवा नक्तं चेति सपादर्क्षद्वयमुपदिशन्ति यावता षष्ठमंशं भुञ्जीत स वै ऋतुरित्युपदिश्यते संवत्सरावयव: ॥५॥
अथ स: एष: आत्मा further, he, this, (the Sun) the soul
लोकानाम् द्यावा-पृथिव्य:- of the worlds, heavenly sphere, terrestrial sphere अन्तरेण नभ:-वलयस्य in the middle of the sky circle काल-चक्र-गत: Time wheel bound द्वादश मासान् भुङ्क्ते twelve months passes राशि-संज्ञान् as the zodiac signs named संवत्सर-अवयवान्-मास: one year's portions the months पक्ष-द्वयम् (are of) fortnights two दिवा नक्तं च-इति day and night thus सपाद-ऋक्ष-द्वयम्- with half Nakshatras and two उपदिशन्ति is said to be यावता षष्ठम्-अंशम् till when sixth part भुञ्जीत स: वै passes he (the Sun) indeed ऋतु:-इति-उपदिश्यते season thus is said to be संवत्सर-अवयव: the year's that portion Further, He, the soul of the worlds, as the Sun, moves in the firmament, bound by the Time wheel, between the heavenly sphere and the terrestrial sphere. He passes through the twelve months of the year through the so called twelve zodiac portions, and the two fortnights of the month and the days and nights. It is also said that the two and a half Nakshatras, the sixth portion when he passes through are the seasons of that portion of the year.


अथ च यावतार्धेन नभोवीथ्यां प्रचरति तं कालमयनमाचक्षते ॥६॥
अथ च यावत्-अर्धेन further and till half of
नभ:-वीथ्याम् the firmament path प्रचरति तम् कालम्- courses, that time अयनम्-आचक्षते Ayana is called And further, till he courses half of the path of the firmament, that time is called Ayana.


अथ च यावन्नभोमण्डलं स ह द्यावापृथिव्योर्मण्डलाभ्यां कार्त्स्न्येन सह भुञ्जीत तं कालं संवत्सरं परिवत्सरमिडावत्सरमनुवत्सरं वत्सरमिति भानोर्मान्द्यशैघ्र्यसमगतिभि: समामनन्ति ॥७॥
अथ च further, and
यावत्-नभ:-मण्डलम् till when the sky's extent सह द्यावा-पृथिव्यो:- with the heavenly and the terrestrial मण्डलाभ्याम् कार्त्स्न्येन both spheres the whole स ह भुञ्जीत he indeed courses तम् कालम् संवत्सरम् that time Samvatsara, परिवत्सरम्-इडावत्सरम्- Parivatsara, Idaavatsara, अनुवत्सरम् वत्सरम्-इति Anuvatsara, Vatsara thus भानो:-मान्द्य-शैघ्र्य- of the Sun's slow rapid सम-गतिभि: समामनन्ति moderate speed, are said to be And, further, till when the Sun indeed courses the whole of the heavenly and terrestrial spheres, that time is said to be a Samvatsara, Parivatsara, Idaavatsara, Anuvatsara, Vatsara thus are said to be according to his slow, rapid and moderate speed.


एवं चन्द्रमा अर्कगभस्तिभ्य उपरिष्टाल्लक्षयोजनत उपलभ्यमानोऽर्कस्य संवत्सरभुक्तिं पक्षाभ्यां मासभुक्तिं सपादर्क्षाभ्यां दिनेनैव पक्षभुक्तिमग्रचारी द्रुततरगमनो भुङ्क्ते ॥८॥
एवम् चन्द्रमा Similarly, the moon,
अर्क-गभस्तिभ्य: from the Sun's orbit उपरिष्टात्-लक्ष-योजनत: more than a lakh of Yojanas beyond उपलभ्यमान:-अर्कस्य is seen the Sun's संवत्सर-भुक्तिम् पक्षाभ्याम् one year's path in two fortnights मास-भुक्तिम् month's path सपाद-ऋक्षाभ्याम् in two and a quarter Nakshatras दिनेन-एव पक्ष-भुक्तिम्- and in one day the fortnight अग्रचारी leading द्रुततर-गमन: भुङ्क्ते faster moving covers Similarly, the moon is seen more than one lakh Yojanas beyond the Sun's orbit and moves faster than the Sun and so leads the other constellations. It courses in one month, that is, in two fortnights the circuit made by the Sun in one year and the distance covered in a fortnight, in two and a quarter Nakshatras or one day.


अथ चापूर्यमाणाभिश्च कलाभिरमराणां क्षीयमाणाभिश्च कलाभि: पितृणामहोरात्राणि पूर्वपक्षापरपक्षाभ्यां वितन्वान: सर्वजीवनिवहप्राणो जीवश्चैकमेकं नक्षत्रं त्रिंशता मुहूर्तैर्भुङ्क्ते ॥९॥
अथ च- then and
आपूर्यमाणाभि:-च by the increasing and कलाभि:-अमराणाम् splendour of the gods क्षीयमाणाभि:-च कलाभि: receding and splendour पितृणाम्-अहोरात्राणि of the manes, days and nights पूर्वपक्ष- of the bright fortnight अपरपक्षाभ्याम् and the dark fortnight both वितन्वान: determining सर्व-जीव-निवह- all living beings grouped प्राण: जीव:-च-एकम्-एकम् life and life force, one each नक्षत्रम् त्रिंशता Nakshatras (constellation) in thirty मुहूर्तै:-भुङ्क्ते Muhurta (hours) passes Then, the moon, by its increasing splendour and it receding splendour, determines the bright fortnight of the gods and the dark fortnight of the manes and passes through each Nakshatras, constellation, in thirty Muhurta, hours, he, the life and life force of all living beings.


य एष षोडशकल: पुरुषो भगवान्मनोमयोऽन्नमयोऽमृतमयो देवपितृमनुष्यभूतपशुपक्षिसरीसृपवीरुधां प्राणाप्यायनशीलत्वात्सर्वमय इति वर्णयन्ति ॥१०॥
य: एष: षोडशकल: पुरुष: that this, sixteen splendored person
भगवान्-मनोमय:- the lord presiding over the mind अन्नमय:-अमृतमय: the food nectar personified देव-पितृ-मनुष्य-भूत- of the gods, manes, human beings and spirit पशु-पक्षि-सरीसृप-वीरुधाम् animals, birds, reptiles and trees प्राण-आप्यायन-शीलत्वात्- life force nourisher, by nature सर्वमय: इति वर्णयन्ति one with all thus, describe (the wise) The wise describe that this person of sixteen splendours, the moon, as presiding over the mind, is the food of the gods, manes, human beings, spirit, animals, birds, reptiles and plants, by nature their life force, nourisher, one with all, and the very personification of nectar.


तत उपरिष्टात्त्रिलक्षयोजनतो नक्षत्राणि मेरुं दक्षिणेनैव कालायन ईश्वरयोजितानि सहाभिजिताष्टाविंशति: ॥११॥
तत: उपरिष्टात्- from its (the moon's) beyond
त्रि-लक्ष-योजनत: three lakhs Yojanas नक्षत्राणि the lunar mansions मेरुम् दक्षिणेन-एव the Meru towards the right only काल-अयन by the Time wheel ईश्वर-योजितानि by The Lord fixed सह-अभिजित- including Abhijit अष्टाविंशति: twenty eight The twenty eight lunar mansions, including Abhijit, are fixed by The Lord, by the Time wheel, and move towards the right only of the Meru, at a height of three lakh Yojanas, beyond the Moon.


तत उपरिष्टादुशना द्विलक्षयोजनत उपलभ्यते पुरत: पश्चात्सहैव वार्कस्य शैध्र्यमान्द्यसाम्याभिर्गतिभिरर्कवच्चरति लोकानां नित्यदानुकूल एव प्रायेण वर्षयंश्चारेणानुमीयते स वृष्टिविष्टम्भग्रहोपशमन: ॥१२॥
तत: उपरिष्टात्-उशना from its beyond Ushanaa (Venus)
द्वि-लक्ष-योजनत: by two lakhs of Yojanas उपलभ्यते पुरत: is seen in front पश्चात्-सह-एव behind together only वा-अर्कस्य शैध्र्य-मान्द्य- or of the Sun rapid, slow साम्याभि:-गतिभि:- moderate speed अर्क-वत्-चरति Sun like moves लोकानाम् नित्यदा- to the living beings always अनुकूल एव प्रायेण propitious only, invariably, वर्षयन्-चारेण-अनुमीयते raining, by movement is conjectured to be स: वृष्टि-विष्टम्भ- it rain suspending ग्रह-उपशमन: planets neutralizes From beyond these, the twenty eight lunar mansions, by two lakhs of Yojanas, is seen the Ushanaa, Venus. It moves like the Sun in rapid, slow or moderate speed, at times in front, or behind or together with the Sun. It is always propitious for the human beings, invariably raining, and by its movement, it is conjectured that it neutralizes the planets which suspend the rain.


उशनसा बुधो व्याख्यातस्तत उपरिष्टाद् द्विलक्षयोजनतो बुध: सोमसुत उपलभ्यमान: प्रायेण शुभकृद्यदार्काद् व्यतिरिच्येत तदातिवाताभ्रप्रायानावृष्ट्यादिभयमाशंसते ॥१३॥
उशनसा बुध: व्याख्यात:- by Ushana, (Venus), Budha (Mercury) is described
तत: उपरिष्टात्- that (Venus) from beyond द्वि-लक्ष-योजनत: by two lakhs of Yojanas बुध: सोम-सुत: उपलभ्यमान: Budha, Moon's son, is seen प्रायेण शुभकृत्- generally beneficial यदा-अर्कात्- व्यतिरिच्येत when the Sun it outstrips तदा-अति-वात-अभ्रप्राय-अनावृष्टि- then very windy, cloudy, draught आदि-भयम्-आशंसते and other unfavourable forebodes are doubted By the description of Venus, the Budha, the son of the Moon, Mercury is described. Mercury is seen from beyond two lakhs of Yojanas of Venus. Its influence is generally beneficial. But when it outstrips the course of the Sun, it forebodes unfavourable conditions like storm or cloudy weather or draught.


अत ऊर्ध्वमङ्गारकोऽपि योजनलक्षद्वितय उपलभ्यमानस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: पक्षैरेकैकशो राशीन्द्वादशानुभुङ्क्ते यदि न वक्रेणाभिवर्तते प्रायेणाशुभग्रहोऽघशंस: ॥१४॥
अत: ऊर्ध्वम्- from this, beyond
अङ्गारक:-अपि Angaaraka (Mars) also योजन-लक्ष-द्वितय Yojanas lakh two उपलभ्यमान:- is observed त्रिभि:-त्रिभि: पक्षै: by three each fortnights एक-एकश: राशीन्- one each zodiac sign द्वादश-अनुभुङ्क्ते twelve (of them) passes यदि न वक्रेण-अभिवर्तते if not in retrograde course is, प्रायेण-अशुभ-ग्रह:- generally is inauspicious planet अघशंस: evil bringing Beyond this, is the Angaaraka, Mars, observed at a distance of two lakhs. It passes the twelve zodiac signs, one each in three fortnights and if it is not in a retrograde course, it is generally an inauspicious planet and brings evil.


तत उपरिष्टाद् द्विलक्षयोजनान्तरगतो भगवान् वृहस्पतिरेकैकस्मिन् राशौ परिवत्सरं परिवत्सरं चरति यदि न वक्र: स्यात्प्रायेणानुकूलो ब्राह्मणकुलस्य ॥१५॥
तत: उपरिष्टात् from its beyond,
द्वि-लक्ष-योजन-अन्तरगत: at two lakhs Yojanas distance भगवान् वृहस्पति:- lord Brihaspati (Jupiter) एक-एकस्मिन् राशौ in one zodiac sign each परिवत्सरम् परिवत्सरम् year by year चरति यदि न वक्र: स्यात्- passes, if not retrograde is प्रायेण-अनुकूल: generally is favourable ब्राह्मण-कुलस्य to the Braahmana race From beyond it, at a distance of two lakhs of Yojanas, is lord Brihaspati, Jupiter. It courses through the zodiac signs, one each every year. If it is not on retrograde course, it is generally beneficial to the Braahmana race.


तत उपरिष्टाद्योजनलक्षद्वयात्प्रतीयमान: शनैश्चर एकैकस्मिन् राशौ त्रिंशन्मासान् विलम्बमान: सर्वानेवानुपर्येति तावद्भिरनुवत्सरै: प्रायेण हि सर्वेषामशान्तिकर: ॥१६॥
तत: उपरिष्टात्-योजन- that from beyond, yojana
लक्ष-द्वयात्-प्रतीयमान: lakhs two, observed शनैश्चर: Shanaishchara (Saturn) एक-एकस्मिन् राशौ in one zodiac sign each, त्रिंशत्-मासान् विलम्बमान: in thirty months staying, सर्वान्-एव-अनुपर्येति all the signs crosses तावद्भि:-अनुवत्सरै: in those many years प्रायेण हि mostly indeed सर्वेषाम्-अशान्तिकर: for all is anxiety causing Two lakhs of Yojanas beyond that is observed the planet Shanaishchara, which stays in one zodiac sign each, for thirty months and passes through all of them in as many, that is, thirty years. It is mostly anxiety causing for all.


तत उत्तरस्मादृषय एकादशलक्षयोजनान्तर उपलभ्यन्ते य एव लोकानां शमनुभावयन्तो भगवतो विष्णोर्यत्परमं पदं प्रदक्षिणं प्रक्रमन्ति ॥१७॥
तत: उत्तरस्मात्-ऋषय: towards its north, the (seven) Rishis
एकादश-लक्ष योजन-अन्तरे at eleven lakhs Yojanas distance उपलभ्यन्ते are observed य: एवम् लोकानाम् who of these worlds' शम्-अनुभावयन्त: peace wishing for भगवत: विष्णो: Lord Vishnu's यत्-परमम् पदम् that highest abode प्रदक्षिणम् प्रक्रमन्ति circumambulatory moving Towards the north of Saturn are the seven Rishis, the Big Bear, or the Ursa Major, at a distance of eleven Yojanas. They circumambulate the highest abode of Lord Vishnu as they contemplate the good of all these worlds.


इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां पंचमे स्कन्धे ज्योतिश्चक्रवर्णने द्वाविंशोऽध्याय: ॥२२॥ Thus ends the twenty-second discourse, forming part of an account of the stellar sphere, in Book Five of the great and glorious Bhaagavata-Puraana.