The Sun's Chariot and Its Course

Verse 1 (bhagavata.5.21.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावानेव भूवलयस्य सन्निवेशः प्रमाणलक्षणतो व्याख्यातः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca etāvān eva bhū-valayasya sanniveśaḥ pramāṇa-lakṣaṇato vyākhyātaḥ.

Shukadeva Gosvami said: This much, then, is the arrangement of the earthly circle, described according to measurement and characteristics.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.5.21.2)

एतेन हि दिवो मण्डलमानं तद्विद उपदिशन्ति यथा द्विदलयोर्निष्पावादीनां ते अन्तरेणान्तरिक्षं तदुभयसन्धितम् ॥ २ ॥

etena hi divo maṇḍala-mānaṁ tad-vida upadiśanti yathā dvi-dalayor niṣpāvādīnāṁ te antareṇāntarikṣaṁ tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.

By this same measure, those who know instruct us in the extent of the heavenly sphere as well, just as the two halves of a split grain, such as a pea, correspond to one another, so does antariksha, the space of the sky, lie joined between the two, uniting them both.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.5.21.3)

यन्मध्यगतो भगवांस्तपतपतिस्तपन आतपेन त्रिलोकीं प्रतपत्यवभासयत्यात्मभासा स एष उदगयनदक्षिणायनवैषुवतसंज्ञाभिर्मान्द्यशैघ्य्रसमानाभिर्गतिभिरारोहणावरोहणसमानस्थानेषु यथासवनमभिपद्यमानो मकरादिषु राशिष्वहोरात्राणि दीर्घह्रस्वसमानानि विधत्ते ॥ ३ ॥

yan-madhya-gato bhagavāṁs tapatāṁ patis tapana ātapena tri-lokīṁ pratapaty avabhāsayaty ātma-bhāsā sa eṣa udagayana-dakṣiṇāyana-vaiṣuvata-saṁjñābhir māndya-śaighrya-samānābhir gatibhir ārohaṇāvarohaṇa-samāna-sthāneṣu yathā-savanam abhipadyamāno makarādiṣu rāśiṣv aho-rātrāṇi dīrgha-hrasva-samānāni vidhatte.

In the midst of that space resides Bhagavan, lord of the heat-givers, the sun, who by his heat warms the three worlds and by his own radiance illumines them. Moving through what are called the northern course, the southern course, and the equinoctial passage, at speeds slow, swift or moderate, and arriving, in step with the seasons, at points of ascent, descent, or equal standing among the zodiacal signs beginning with Makara, he establishes days and nights that are, in turn, long, short, or equal.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.5.21.4)

यदा मेषतुलयोर्वर्तते तदाहोरात्राणि समानानि भवन्ति यदा वृषभादिषु पञ्चसु च राशिषु चरति तदाहान्येव वर्धन्ते ह्रसति च मासि मास्येकैका घटिका रात्रिषु ॥ ४ ॥

yadā meṣa-tulayor vartate tadāho-rātrāṇi samānāni bhavanti yadā vṛṣabhādiṣu pañcasu ca rāśiṣu carati tadāhāny eva vardhante hrasati ca māsi māsy ekaikā ghaṭikā rātriṣu.

When the sun is in Aries or Libra, day and night become equal in length. When it passes through the five signs beginning with Taurus, the days grow longer, and the nights shorten by one ghatika with each passing month.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.5.21.5)

यदा वृश्चिकादिषु पञ्चसु वर्तते तदाहोरात्राणि विपर्ययाणि भवन्ति ॥ ५ ॥

yadā vṛścikādiṣu pañcasu vartate tadāho-rātrāṇi viparyayāṇi bhavanti.

When the sun is in the five signs beginning with Scorpio, the pattern of day and night reverses, and the nights grow longer instead.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.5.21.6)

यावद्दक्षिणायनमहानि वर्धन्ते यावदुदगयनं रात्रयः ॥ ६ ॥

yāvad dakṣiṇāyanam ahāni vardhante yāvad udagayanaṁ rātrayaḥ.

As long as the sun travels its southern course, the days grow longer; as long as it travels its northern course, the nights grow longer.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.5.21.7)

एवं नव कोटय एकपञ्चाशल्लक्षाणि योजनानां मानसोत्तरगिरिपरिवर्तनस्योपदिशन्ति तस्मिन्नैन्द्रीं पुरीं पूर्वस्मान्मेरोर्देवधानीं नाम दक्षिणतो याम्यां संयमनीं नाम पश्चाद्वारुणीं निम्लोचनीं नाम उत्तरतः सौम्यां विभावरीं नाम तासूदयमध्याह्नास्तमयनिशीथानीति भूतानां प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिनिमित्तानि समयविशेषेण मेरोश्चतुर्दिशम् ॥ ७ ॥

evaṁ nava koṭaya eka-pañcāśal-lakṣāṇi yojanānāṁ mānasottara-giri-parivartanasyopadiśanti tasminn aindrīṁ purīṁ pūrvasmān meror devadhānīṁ nāma dakṣiṇato yāmyāṁ saṁyamanīṁ nāma paścād vāruṇīṁ nimlocanīṁ nāma uttarataḥ saumyāṁ vibhāvarīṁ nāma tāsūdaya-madhyāhnāstamaya-niśīthānīti bhūtānāṁ pravṛtti-nivṛtti-nimittāni samaya-viśeṣeṇa meroś catur-diśam.

Thus, the learned teach, the circuit around Mount Manasottara measures ninety-five million one hundred thousand yojanas. Upon it, to the east of Meru, lies Indra's city, called Devadhani; to the south, Yama's city, called Samyamani; to the west, Varuna's city, called Nimlochani; and to the north, the moon-god's city, called Vibhavari. In these four cities, set around Meru in the four directions, sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight occur according to their own fixed times, and thereby set in motion, or bring to rest, the activities of all beings.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.5.21.8)

तत्रत्यानां दिवसमध्यङ्गत एव सदाऽऽदित्यस्तपति सव्येनाचलं दक्षिणेन करोति ॥ ८ ॥

tatratyānāṁ divasa-madhyaṅgata eva sadādityas tapati savyenācalaṁ dakṣiṇena karoti;

For those who dwell there, at the summit of Meru, the sun always burns as if it were midday, keeping the mountain to its left and to its south.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.5.21.9)

यत्रोदेति तस्य ह समानसूत्रनिपाते निम्लोचति यत्र क्वचन स्यन्देनाभितपति तस्य हैष समानसूत्रनिपाते प्रस्वापयति तत्र गतं न पश्यन्ति ये तं समनुपश्येरन् ॥ ९ ॥

yatrodeti tasya ha samāna-sūtra-nipāte nimlocati yatra kvacana syandenābhitapati tasya haiṣa samāna-sūtra-nipāte prasvāpayati tatra gataṁ na paśyanti ye taṁ samanupaśyeran.

Wherever the sun rises, at the point exactly opposite in a straight line it sets; and wherever its rays are burning, at the point exactly opposite it brings on sleep, that is, night. Those who look toward that far side cannot perceive the condition of one who has gone there.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.5.21.10)

यदा चैन्द्य्राः पुर्याः प्रचलते पञ्चदशघटिकाभिर्याम्यां सपादकोटिद्वयं योजनानां सार्धद्वादशलक्षाणि साधिकानि चोपयाति ॥ १० ॥

yadā caindryāḥ puryāḥ pracalate pañcadaśa-ghaṭikābhir yāmyāṁ sapāda-koṭi-dvayaṁ yojanānāṁ sārdha-dvādaśa-lakṣāṇi sādhikāni copayāti.

When the sun travels from Devadhani, Indra's city, to Samyamani, Yama's city in the south, it covers, in fifteen ghatikas, a distance of two crore twelve and a half lakh yojanas, and a little more besides.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.5.21.11)

एवं ततो वारुणीं सौम्यामैन्द्रीं च पुनस्तथान्ये च ग्रहाः सोमादयो नक्षत्रैः सह ज्योतिश्चक्रे समभ्युद्यन्ति सह वा निम्लोचन्ति ॥ ११ ॥

evaṁ tato vāruṇīṁ saumyām aindrīṁ ca punas tathānye ca grahāḥ somādayo nakṣatraiḥ saha jyotiś-cakre samabhyudyanti saha vā nimlo-canti.

Thus, from Yama's city it travels to Varuna's, then to the moon-god's, and again back to Indra's. In just the same way, the other luminaries, headed by the moon, together with the constellations, rise together and set together upon this wheel of the stars.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.5.21.12)

एवं मुहूर्तेन चतुस्त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनान्यष्टशताधिकानि सौरो रथस्त्रयीमयोऽसौ चतसृषु परिवर्तते पुरीषु ॥ १२ ॥

evaṁ muhūrtena catus-triṁśal-lakṣa-yojanāny aṣṭa-śatādhikāni sauro rathas trayīmayo ’sau catasṛṣu parivartate purīṣu.

Thus, in a single muhurta, the sun's chariot, which embodies the essence of the three Vedas, travels a distance of thirty-four lakh eight hundred yojanas, revolving in turn through these four cities.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.5.21.13)

यस्यैकं चक्रं द्वादशारं षण्नेमि त्रिणाभि संवत्सरात्मकं समामनन्ति तस्याक्षो मेरोर्मूर्धनि कृतो मानसोत्तरे कृतेतरभागो यत्र प्रोतं रविरथचक्रं तैलयन्त्रचक्रवद् भ्रमन्मानसोत्तरगिरौ परिभ्रमति ॥ १३ ॥

yasyaikaṁ cakraṁ dvādaśāraṁ ṣaṇ-nemi tri-ṇābhi saṁvatsarātmakaṁ samāmananti tasyākṣo meror mūrdhani kṛto mānasottare kṛtetara-bhāgo yatra protaṁ ravi-ratha-cakraṁ taila-yantra-cakravad bhraman mānasottara-girau paribhramati.

This single wheel, it is reckoned, has twelve spokes, six-sectioned rims and three hubs, and is itself of the nature of the year. Its axle is set at the summit of Meru, its other end fixed upon Mount Manasottara; and there, strung upon that axle, the wheel of the sun's chariot turns continuously upon Mount Manasottara, revolving like the wheel of an oil-press.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.5.21.14)

तस्मिन्नक्षे कृतमूलो द्वितीयोऽक्षस्तुर्यमानेन सम्मितस्तैलयन्त्राक्षवद् ध्रुवे कृतोपरिभागः ॥ १४ ॥

tasminn akṣe kṛtamūlo dvitīyo ’kṣas turyamānena sammitas taila-yantrākṣavad dhruve kṛtopari-bhāgaḥ.

Rooted in that axle is a second axle, one-fourth its length, whose upper end, like the axle of an oil-press, is fixed upon Dhruvaloka.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.5.21.15)

रथनीडस्तु षट्त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनायतस्तत्तुरीयभागविशालस्तावान् रविरथयुगो यत्र हयाश्छन्दोनामानः सप्तारुणयोजिता वहन्ति देवमादित्यम् ॥ १५ ॥

ratha-nīḍas tu ṣaṭ-triṁśal-lakṣa-yojanāyatas tat-turīya-bhāga-viśālas tāvān ravi-ratha-yugo yatra hayāś chando-nāmānaḥ saptāruṇa-yojitā vahanti devam ādityam.

The chariot's carriage is thirty-six lakh yojanas long, and one-fourth that in breadth; and the sun-chariot's yoke is of that same measure, upon which seven horses, named after the Vedic meters and harnessed by Aruna, carry the sun-god onward.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.5.21.16)

पुरस्तात्सवितुररुणः पश्चाच्च नियुक्तः सौत्ये कर्मणि किलास्ते ॥ १६ ॥

purastāt savitur aruṇaḥ paścāc ca niyuktaḥ sautye karmaṇi kilāste.

Aruna sits in front of the sun-god, engaged in the task of driving the chariot, though he faces backward toward Him.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.5.21.17)

तथा वालिखिल्या ऋषयोऽङ्गुष्ठपर्वमात्राः षष्टिसहस्राणि पुरतः सूर्यं सूक्तवाकाय नियुक्ताः संस्तुवन्ति ॥ १७ ॥

tathā vālikhilyā ṛṣayo ’ṅguṣṭha-parva-mātrāḥ ṣaṣṭi-sahasrāṇi purataḥ sūryaṁ sūkta-vākāya niyuktāḥ saṁstuvanti.

Likewise, sixty thousand Valikhilya sages, each no larger than a thumb's joint, stand before the sun, appointed to the recitation of sacred hymns, and praise him without ceasing.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.5.21.18)

तथान्ये च ऋषयो गन्धर्वाप्सरसो नागा ग्रामण्यो यातुधाना देवा इत्येकैकशो गणाः सप्त चतुर्दश मासि मासि भगवन्तं सूर्यमात्मानं नानानामानं पृथङ्नानानामानः पृथक्कर्मभिर्द्वन्द्वश उपासते ॥ १८ ॥

tathānye ca ṛṣayo gandharvāpsaraso nāgā grāmaṇyo yātudhānā devā ity ekaikaśo gaṇāḥ sapta caturdaśa māsi māsi bhagavantaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ nānā-nāmānaṁ pṛthaṅ-nānā-nāmānaḥ pṛthak-karmabhir dvandvaśa upāsate.

In the same way, other sages, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nagas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and gods, seven groups paired into fourteen, worship Bhagavan the sun, the Self of all, who bears many different names, month by month, each pair under its own name, through its own particular activity.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.5.21.19)

लक्षोत्तरं सार्धनवकोटियोजनपरिमण्डलं भूवलयस्य क्षणेन सगव्यूत्युत्तरं द्विसहस्रयोजनानि स भुङ्क्ते ॥ १९ ॥

lakṣottaraṁ sārdha-nava-koṭi-yojana-parimaṇḍalaṁ bhū-valayasya kṣaṇena sagavyūty-uttaraṁ dvi-sahasra-yojanāni sa bhuṅkte.

Through the circuit of the earthly disc, measuring nine crore fifty-one lakh yojanas, the sun covers, in but a single instant, a distance of two thousand yojanas and one gavyuti more.