श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम् पञ्चम: स्कन्ध: त्रयोविंश: अध्याय: श्री शुक उवाच - Shri Shuka said - अथ तस्मात्परतस्त्रयोदशलक्षयोजनान्तरतो यत्तद्विष्णो: परमं पदमभिवदन्ति यत्र ह महाभागवतो ध्रुव औत्तानपादिरग्निनेन्द्रेण प्रजापतिना कश्यपेन धर्मेण च समकालयुग्भि: सबहुमानं दक्षिणत: क्रियमाण इदानीमपि कल्पजीविनामाजीव्य उपास्ते तस्येहानुभाव उपवर्णित: ॥१॥
अथ तस्मात्-परत: further, from its (the Great Bear's) beyond
त्रयोदश-लक्ष-योजन-अन्तरत: at thirteen lakhs yojana distance यत्-तत्-विष्णो: that which Vishnu's परमम् पदम्-अभिवदन्ति ultimate abode, is worshipped as यत्र ह महा-भागवत: ध्रुव: where indeed the great devotee Dhruva औत्तानपादि:-अग्निना-इन्द्रेण Uttaanapaada's son, by Fire, Indra, प्रजापतिना कश्यपेन धर्मेण च Prajaapati, Kashyapa and Dharma, सम-काल-युग्भि: at the same time together सबहुमानम् with great respect दक्षिणत: क्रियमाण: circumambulation performing इदानीम्-अपि कल्प-जीविनाम्- now also, those outliving the Kalpa आजीव्य उपास्ते तस्य- of people is the resort, his इह-अनुभाव: उपवर्णित: here glory is described From beyond the Great Bear at a distance of thirteen lakhs of Yojanas, that which is the ultimate abode of Vishnu, where the great devotee Dhruva the son of Uttaanapaada is worshipped. The god of Fire, Indra, Prajaapati, Kashyapa, and Dharma perform circumambulation for him with great respect, and he is the resort of those people outliving the Kalpa. His glory has been described here.


स हि सर्वेषां ज्योतिर्गणानां ग्रहनक्षत्रादीनामनिमिषेणाव्यक्तरंहसा भगवता कालेन भ्राम्यमाणानां स्थाणुरिवावष्टम्भ ईश्वरेण विहित: शश्वदवभासते ॥२॥
स: हि सर्वेषाम् he indeed, of all
ज्योतिर्गणानाम् ग्रह-नक्षत्र- the luminaries, planets, lunar mansions आदीनाम्-अनिमिषेण- others', ever vigilant अव्यक्त-रंहसा with incomprehensible speed भगवता कालेन by lord Time भ्राम्यमाणानाम् made to revolve स्थाणु:-इव-अवष्टम्भ: post like support ईश्वरेण विहित: by The Lord fixed शश्वद्-अवभासते eternally shines He is ever vigilant, indeed, and shines eternally, fixed by The Lord as a post like support, for all the luminaries, planets and lunar mansions, and made to revolve with incomprehensible speed by The Lord Time.


यथा मेढीस्तम्भ आक्रमणपशव: संयोजितास्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: सवनैर्यथास्थानं मण्डलानि चरन्त्येवं भगणा ग्रहादय एतस्मिन्नन्तर्बहिर्योगेन कालचक्र आयोजिता ध्रुवमेवावलम्ब्य वायुनोदीर्यमाणा आकल्पान्तं परिचङ्क्रमन्ति नभसि यथा मेघा: श्येनादयो वायुवशा: कर्मसारथय: परिवर्तन्ते एवं ज्योतर्गणा: प्रकृतिपुरुषसंयोगानुगृहीता: कर्मनिर्मितगतयो भुवि न पतन्ति ॥३॥
यथा मेढी-स्तम्भे just as, to the post, (to which the oxen are tied)
आक्रमण-पशव: the trampling animals संयोजिता:-त्रिभि:-स्त्रिभि: tied three by three सवनै:-यथा-स्थानम् by rope in proper place मण्डलानि चरन्ति- in groups move एवम् भगणा: ग्रह-आदय: like that, the luminaries, planets etc., एतस्मिन्-अन्त:-बहि:-योगेन in its inside and outside sequences काल-चक्र आयोजिता: by Time wheel fastened ध्रुवम्-एव-अवलम्ब्य Dhruva only as pivot वायुना-उदीर्यमाणा: by the wind propelled आकल्पान्तम् परिचङ्क्रमन्ति till the end of the Kalpa, revolve नभसि यथा मेघा: in the sky, like the clouds श्येन-आदय: वायुवशा: eagles etc., by air suspended कर्म-सारथय: by (their) destiny परिवर्तन्ते एवम् move, like that ज्योतर्गणा: प्रकृति-पुरुष the luminaries, by matter and Spirit संयोग-अनुगृहीता: union brought (into existence) कर्म-नर्मित-गतय: by destiny created speed भुवि न पतन्ति on the earth do not fall Just as, the oxen which are tied with three ropes of three sizes, near the post, far from the post and in the middle of these two, to the post which is in the middle of the thrashing floor, they go around the post forming a circle as they trample the corn, like that, the hosts of luminaries and planets, which are fastened to the wheel of Time, in the inner circle or the remote circle, propelled by the wind, revolve around the pivotal pole star, till the end of the Kalpa, northwards, southwards and along the equator. And just as the birds and eagles move about suspended in the air, and helped by their destiny of being birds, so also the the hosts of luminaries and planets, brought about by the union of the matter and The Spirit, and as destined to be so, reaping the fruits of their past actions, move about in the air and do not fall to the earth.


केचनैतज्ज्योतिरनीकं शिशुमारसंस्थानेन भगवतो वासुदेवस्य योगधारणायामनुवर्णयन्ति ॥४॥
केचन- some people
एतत्-ज्योति:-अनीकम् this stellar sphere शिशुमार-संस्थानेन in dolphin's shape भगवत: वासुदेवस्य of Lord Vasudeva योग-धारणायाम्- capable of being meditated upon अनुवर्णयन्ति describe Some people describe this stellar sphere as Lord Vasudeva's dolphin form, worthy of being meditated upon.


यस्य पुच्छाग्रेऽवाक्शिरस: कुण्डलीभूतदेहस्य ध्रुव उपकल्पितस्तस्य लाङ्गूले प्रजापतिरग्निरिन्द्रो धर्म इति पुच्छमूले धाता विधाता च कट्यां सप्तर्षय: । तस्य दक्षिणावर्तकुण्डलीभूतशरीरस्य यान्युदगयनानि दक्षिणपार्श्वे तु नक्षत्राण्युपकल्पयन्ति दक्षिणायनानि तु सव्ये। यथा शिशुमारस्य कुण्डलाभोगसन्निवेशस्य पार्श्वयोरुभयोरप्यवयवा: समसंख्या भवन्ति। पृष्ठे त्वजवीथी आकाशगङ्गा चोदरत: ॥५॥
यस्य पुच्छ-अग्रे- at whose tail's end tip
अवाक्-शिरस: (with) head downwards कुण्डली-भूत-देहस्य of the coiled body ध्रुव: उपकल्पित:- Dhruva is supposed to be तस्य लाङ्गूले on its tail प्रजापति:-अग्नि:- are Prajaapati, Fire, इन्द्र: धर्म: इति Indra, Dharma thus पुच्छ-मूले धाता विधाता at the root of the tail (are) Dhaataa and Vidhaataa च कट्याम् सप्तर्षय: and in the waist the seven seers तस्य दक्षिणावर्त- on its left side कुण्डली-भूत-शरीरस्य of the coiled body यानि-उदगयनानि those of the northern course दक्षिण-पार्श्वे तु on the right side indeed नक्षत्राणि-उपकल्पयन्ति the constellations are supposed to be दक्षिणायनानि तु सव्ये the southern course (constellations) indeed on the right यथा शिशुमारस्य just as the dolphin, कुण्डलाभोग-सन्निवेशस्य when is coiled, form पार्श्वयो:-उभयो:-अपि-अवयवा: on sides both, also of the body सम-संख्या भवन्ति equal in number are पृष्ठे-तु-अजवीथी on the back indeed Ajaveethee आकाशगङ्गा च-उदरत: and the milky way on the belly The shape of the stellar sphere is compared to the body of the dolphin. Its body is coiled and at the tip end of its tail, with its head downwards, the pole star is placed. On its tail are Prajaapati, Agni (Fire), Indra and Dharma, thus. At the root of the tail are Dhaata and Vidhaataa, and in the waist are the seven seers, (the Great Bear). On the left side of the coiled body are the constellations which take the northern course, and on the right side of the coiled body are the constellations which take the southern course. On both sides of the coiled body, the number of the constellations are equal. On the back is Ajaveethee and on its belly is the milky way.


पुनर्वसुपुष्यौ दक्षिणवामयो: श्रोण्योरार्द्राश्लेषे च दक्षिणवामयो: पश्चिमयो: पादयोरभिजिदुत्तराषाढे दक्षिणवामयोर्नासिकयोर्यथासंख्यं श्रवणपूर्वाषाढे दक्षिणवामयोर्लोचनयोर्धनिष्ठा मूलं च दक्षिणवामयो: कर्णयोर्मघादीन्यष्ट नक्षत्राणि दक्षिणायनानि वामपार्श्ववङ्क्रिषु युञ्जीत तथैव मृगशीर्षादीन्युदगयनानि दक्षिणपार्श्ववङ्क्रिषु प्रातिलोम्येन प्रयुञ्जीत शतभिषाज्येष्ठे स्कन्धयोर्दक्षिणवामयोर्न्यसेत् ॥६॥
पुनर्वसु-पुष्यौ Punarvasu and Pushya
दक्षिण-वामयो: श्रोण्यो:- at right and left loins आर्द्रा-आश्लेषे च Aardraa Aaashlesha and दक्षिण-वामयो: right left पश्चिमयो: पादयो:- hind legs अभिजित्-उत्तराषाढे Abhijit Uttaraashadha दक्षिण-वामयो:- right and left नासिकयो:-यथा-संख्यम् nostrils, as per numbers श्रवण-पूर्वाषाढे Sravana and Poorvaashadha दक्षिण-वामयो:-लोचनयो:- in right and left eyes घनिष्ठा मूलम् च Ghanishthaa and Moola दक्षिण-वामयो: कर्णयो:- right and left ears मघ-आदीनि- Magha and other अष्ट नक्षत्राणि eight constellations दक्षिण-अयनानि the southern course वाम-पार्श्व-वङ्क्रिषु left side ribs युञ्जीत तथा-एव (should) place and similarly मृगशीर्ष-आदीनि-उदगयनानि Maargasheersh and other of the northern course दक्षिण-पार्श्व-वङ्क्रिषु right sided ribs प्रातिलोम्येन प्रयुञ्जीत in the reverse order (should) place शतभिषा-ज्येष्ठे Shatabhishaa and Jyeshttha स्कन्धयो:- in the shoulders दक्षिण-वामयो:-न्यसेत् right and left should place On the body of the dolphin one should locate Punarvasu and Pushya in the right and left loins, Aardra and Aashlesha in the right and left hind legs, Abhijit and Uttaraashaadha in the right and left nostrils, in equal numbers. Sravana and Poorvaashaadha are in the right and left eyes, Ghanishthaa and Moola are in the right and left ears. The eight constellations, the Magha and others treading the southern course are placed in the right sided ribs and the Mrigasheersha and other eight, coursing the northern course are placed in the left ribs, in reverse order. The two, Shatabhishaa and Jyeshthaa are in the right and left shoulders.


उत्तराहनावगस्तिरधराहनौ यमो मुखेषु चाङ्गारक: शनैश्चर उपस्थे बृहस्पति: ककुदि वक्षस्यादित्यो हृदये नारायणो मनसि चन्द्रो नाभ्यामुशना स्तनयोरश्विनौ बुध: प्राणापानयो राहुर्गले केतव: सर्वाङ्गेषु रोमसु सर्वे तारागणा: ॥७॥
उत्तर-अहनौ-अगस्ति:- in the upper jaw is Agastya
अधर-अहनौ यम: in the lower jaw, Yama मुखेषु च-अङ्गारक: in the mouth and Mars शनैश्चर: उपस्थे Saturn in the penis बृहस्पति: ककुदि (Jupiter) Brihaspati in the hump वक्षसि-आदित्य: in the chest, the Sun हृदये नारायण: in the heart Naaraayana, मनसि चन्द्र: in the mind, the moon नाभ्याम्-उशना in the navel Ushana (Venus) स्तनयो:-अश्विनौ in the breasts, the two Ashawinis बुध: प्राण-अपानयो: Budha (Mercury) in the in going and out going breath राहु:-गले Raahu in the neck केतव: सर्व-अङ्गेषु the Ketavas (comets) in all parts of the body रोमसु सर्वे तारागणा: in the hair of the body the hosts of stars In its upper jaw is Agastya, in the lower jaw is Yama, in the mouth is Mangala (Mars), Shanishchara (Saturn) is in the penis, Brihaspati (Jupiter) is in the hump, the Sun is in the chest, Naaraayana is in the heart, the Moon is in the mind, Ushanas (Venus) is in the navel, the two Ashwinis are in the two breasts, Budha (Mercury) is in the in-going and out-going breath, Raahu is in the neck, the ketavas, (comets) are in all the parts of the body, and the hosts of stars are in the hair of the body.


एतदु हैव भगवतो विष्णो: सर्वदेवतामयं रूपमहरह: सन्ध्यायां प्रयतो वाग्यतो निरीक्षमाण उपतिष्ठेत नमो ज्योतिर्लोकाय कालायनायानिमिषां पतये महापुरुषायाभिधीमहीति ॥८॥
एतत्-उ ह-एव this indeed is only
भगवत: विष्णो: Lord Vishnu's सर्व-देवतामयम् रूपम्- all gods representative form अह:-अह: सन्ध्यायाम् day to day and in the evening प्रयत: वाग्यत: with concentration and silently निरीक्षमाण उपतिष्ठेत gazing (one should) wait upon नम: ज्योति:-लोकाय (praying) Hail to the luminaries' hosts' support काल-अयनाय- Time wheel अनिमिषाम् पतये of the gods The Ruler महा-पुरुषाय-अभिधीमहि-इति The Supreme Person! We meditate on Him This itself is the form of Lord Vishnu, representing all the gods. Every evening, day to day, one must meditate on this form with fixed gaze and wait upon The Support of the hosts of the luminaries, the Wheel of Time, the Ruler of the gods, and The Supreme Person! We meditate on Him.


ग्रहर्क्षतारामयमाधिदैविकं पापापहं मन्त्रकृतां त्रिकालम् ।
नमस्यत: स्मरतो वा त्रिकालं नश्येत तत्कालजमाशु पापम् ॥९॥
ग्रह-ऋक्ष-तारामयम्- the lunar mansions, planets and stars consisting
आधिदैविकम् पाप-अपहम् The Lord of gods, sins wiping मन्त्र-कृताम् त्रिकालम् to those who chant the Mantra, three times in the day नमस्यत: स्मरत: bowing and remembering वा त्रिकालम् or three times a day नश्येत तत्-कालजम्- disposes in that time committed आशु पापम् soon the sins This form of Lord Vishnu, The Ruler of the gods, consisting of the lunar mansions planets and all other stars, wipes away the sins of those who chant this mantra three times a day or bows or remembers three times a day, wipes out even the sins committed in the immediate past.


इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां संहितायां पञ्चमे स्कन्धे शिशुमार संस्थावर्णनं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्याय: ॥२३॥ Thus ends the twenty-third discourse entitled 'The disposition of the stellar sphere represented in the form of a 'dolphin' in Book Five of the great and glorious Bhaagavata-Puraana.