The Shishumara Wheel of the Stars

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.17.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । अथर्षिमण्डलादूर्ध्वं योजनानां प्रमाणतः । लक्षैस्त्रयोदशमितैः परमं वैष्णवं पदम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | atharṣimaṇḍalādūrdhvaṁ yojanānāṁ pramāṇataḥ | lakṣaistrayodaśamitaiḥ paramaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ padam

Shri Narayana said: Now, above the orbit of the Seven Sages, at a distance measured by thirteen lakh yojanas, lies the supreme abode of Vishnu,

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.17.2)

महाभागवतः श्रीमान् वर्तते लोकवन्दितः । औत्तानपादिरिन्द्रेण वह्निना कश्यपेन च

mahābhāgavataḥ śrīmān vartate lokavanditaḥ | auttānapādirindreṇa vahninā kaśyapena ca

— where the glorious great devotee, honored by all the worlds, dwells — Dhruva, son of Uttanapada. Together with Indra, Agni, and Kashyapa,

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.17.3)

धर्मेण सह चैवास्ते समकालयुजा ध्रुवः । बहुमानं दक्षिणतः कुर्वद्भिः प्रेक्षकैः सदा

dharmeṇa saha caivāste samakālayujā dhruvaḥ | bahumānaṁ dakṣiṇataḥ kurvadbhiḥ prekṣakaiḥ sadā

— and together with Dharma as well, joined at the same central point, Dhruva abides, ever surrounded by onlookers who, keeping him to their right, pay him great honor,

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.17.4)

आजीव्यः कल्पजीविनामुपास्ते भगवत्पदम् । ज्योतिर्गणानां सर्वेषां ग्रहनक्षत्रभादिनाम्

ājīvyaḥ kalpajīvināmupāste bhagavatpadam | jyotirgaṇānāṁ sarveṣāṁ grahanakṣatrabhādinām

— he who is the life-sustaining support of those who live a full kalpa, worships that abode of the Blessed Lord. Of all the hosts of luminaries — planets, lunar mansions, stars, and the rest —

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.17.5)

कालेनानिमिषेणायं भ्राम्यतां व्यक्तरंहसा । अवष्टम्भस्थाणुरिव विहितश्चेश्वरेण सः

kālenānimiṣeṇāyaṁ bhrāmyatāṁ vyaktaraṁhasā | avaṣṭambhasthāṇuriva vihitaśceśvareṇa saḥ

— which revolve through ceaseless time with manifest velocity, he has been established by the Lord as their fixed pivot, like a supporting post,

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.17.6)

भासते भासयन्भासा स्वीयया देवपूजितः । मेढिस्तम्भे यथा युक्ताः पशवः कर्षणार्थकाः

bhāsate bhāsayanbhāsā svīyayā devapūjitaḥ | meḍhistambhe yathā yuktāḥ paśavaḥ karṣaṇārthakāḥ

— he shines, illuminating others with his own light, honored by the gods; just as animals tethered to a central threshing-post circle it as they tread out the grain,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.17.7)

मण्डलानि चरन्तीमे सवनत्रितयेन च । एवं ग्रहादयः सर्वे भगणाद्या यथाक्रमम्

maṇḍalāni carantīme savanatritayena ca | evaṁ grahādayaḥ sarve bhagaṇādyā yathākramam

— in just this way, all the planets and the other luminaries, the host of stars and the rest, circle through their orbits over the three daily periods, each in due order,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.17.8)

अन्तर्बहिर्विभागेन कालचक्रे नियोजिताः । ध्रुवमेवावलम्ब्याशु वायुनोदीरिताश्च ते

antarbahirvibhāgena kālacakre niyojitāḥ | dhruvamevāvalambyāśu vāyunodīritāśca te

— set in motion within the wheel of time in inner and outer divisions, and, resting on Dhruva alone, driven swiftly by the wind,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.17.9)

आकल्पान्तं च क्रमन्ति खे श्येनाद्याः खगा इव । कर्मसारथयो वायुवशगाः सर्व एव ते

ākalpāntaṁ ca kramanti khe śyenādyāḥ khagā iva | karmasārathayo vāyuvaśagāḥ sarva eva te

— they travel through the sky until the end of the kalpa, like hawks and other birds; all of them, subject to the wind, have their own past karma as charioteer.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.17.10)

एवं ज्योतिर्गणाः सर्वे प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्य च । संयोगानुगृहीतास्ते भूमौ न निपतन्ति च

evaṁ jyotirgaṇāḥ sarve prakṛteḥ puruṣasya ca | saṁyogānugṛhītāste bhūmau na nipatanti ca

Thus all the hosts of luminaries, sustained by grace through the union of Prakriti and Purusha, do not fall down to the earth.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.17.11)

ज्योतिश्चक्रं केचिदेतच्छिशुमारस्वरूपकम् । सोपयोगं भगवतो योगधारणकर्मणि

jyotiścakraṁ kecidetacchiśumārasvarūpakam | sopayogaṁ bhagavato yogadhāraṇakarmaṇi

Some describe this wheel of luminaries as taking the form of a Shishumara (a dolphin-like shape), useful as a support for the Lord's practice of yogic meditation,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.17.12)

यस्यार्वाक्शिरसः कुण्डलीभूतवपुषो मुने । पुच्छाग्रे कल्पितो योऽयं ध्रुव उत्तानपादजः

yasyārvākśirasaḥ kuṇḍalībhūtavapuṣo mune | pucchāgre kalpito yo'yaṁ dhruva uttānapādajaḥ

— its head pointing downward, its body coiled like a ring, O sage; at the very tip of its tail is placed this Dhruva, son of Uttanapada,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.17.13)

लाङ्गूलेऽस्य च सम्प्रोक्तः प्रजापतिरकल्मषः । अग्निरिन्द्रश्च धर्मश्च तिष्ठन्ते सुरपूजिताः

lāṅgūle'sya ca samproktaḥ prajāpatirakalmaṣaḥ | agnirindraśca dharmaśca tiṣṭhante surapūjitāḥ

— and on its tail is said to reside the sinless Prajapati; Agni, Indra, and Dharma, honored by the gods, dwell there too,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.17.14)

धाता विधाता पुच्छान्ते कट्यां सप्तर्षयस्ततः । दक्षिणावर्तभोगेन कुण्डलाकारमीयुषः

dhātā vidhātā pucchānte kaṭyāṁ saptarṣayastataḥ | dakṣiṇāvartabhogena kuṇḍalākāramīyuṣaḥ

— Dhatri and Vidhatri at the very tail-end, and, at the hip region, the Seven Sages — the whole figure thus having taken a coiled, ring-like form through its rightward-turning folds,

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.17.15)

उत्तरायणभानीह दक्षपार्श्वेऽर्पितानि च । दक्षिणायनभानीह सव्ये पार्श्वेऽर्पितानि च

uttarāyaṇabhānīha dakṣapārśve'rpitāni ca | dakṣiṇāyanabhānīha savye pārśve'rpitāni ca

— here the northern-course asterisms are placed along its right flank, and the southern-course asterisms are placed along its left flank,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.17.16)

कुण्डलाभोगवेशस्य पार्श्वयोरुभयोरपि । समसङ्ख्याश्चावयवा भवन्ति कजनन्दन

kuṇḍalābhogaveśasya pārśvayorubhayorapi | samasaṅkhyāścāvayavā bhavanti kajanandana

— of this coiled body, on both flanks the number of parts (asterisms) is equal, O son of Kaja (Narada).

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.17.17)

अजवीथी पृष्ठभागे आकाशसरिदौदरे । पुनर्वसुश्च पुष्यश्च श्रोण्यौ दक्षिणवामयोः

ajavīthī pṛṣṭhabhāge ākāśasaridaudare | punarvasuśca puṣyaśca śroṇyau dakṣiṇavāmayoḥ

The Aja-vithi (Goat path) lies along its back; the celestial river (the Milky Way) lies along its belly. Punarvasu and Pushya are its two hips, right and left,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.17.18)

आर्द्राश्लेषे पश्चिमयोः पादयोर्दक्षवामयोः । अभिजिच्चोत्तराषाढा नासयोर्दक्षवामयोः

ārdrāśleṣe paścimayoḥ pādayordakṣavāmayoḥ | abhijiccottarāṣāḍhā nāsayordakṣavāmayoḥ

Ardra and Ashlesha are its right and left hind feet; Abhijit and Uttarashadha are its right and left nostrils,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.17.19)

यथासङ्ख्यं च देवर्षे श्रुतिश्च जलभं तथा । कल्पिते कल्पनाविद्भिर्नेत्रयोर्दक्षवामयोः

yathāsaṅkhyaṁ ca devarṣe śrutiśca jalabhaṁ tathā | kalpite kalpanāvidbhirnetrayordakṣavāmayoḥ

— and likewise, O divine sage, Shravana and Purva-Ashadha (jalabha) are conceived by those learned in this symbolism as its right and left eyes,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.17.20)

धनिष्ठा चैव मूलं च कर्णयोर्दक्षवामयोः । मघादीन्यष्टभानीह दक्षिणायनगानि च

dhaniṣṭhā caiva mūlaṁ ca karṇayordakṣavāmayoḥ | maghādīnyaṣṭabhānīha dakṣiṇāyanagāni ca

Dhanishtha and Mula are its right and left ears. The eight asterisms beginning with Magha, which belong to the southern course,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.17.21)

युञ्जीत वामपार्श्वीयवङ्क्रिषु क्रमतो मुने । तथैव मृगशीर्षादीन्युदग्भानि च यानि हि

yuñjīta vāmapārśvīyavaṅkriṣu kramato mune | tathaiva mṛgaśīrṣādīnyudagbhāni ca yāni hi

— one should assign, in order, O sage, to the ribs along its left side. And likewise the northern-course asterisms beginning with Mrigashira,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.17.22)

दक्षपार्श्वे वङ्क्रिकेषु प्रातिलोम्येन योजयेत् । शततारा तथा ज्येष्ठा स्कन्धयोर्दक्षवामयोः

dakṣapārśve vaṅkrikeṣu prātilomyena yojayet | śatatārā tathā jyeṣṭhā skandhayordakṣavāmayoḥ

— should be assigned in reverse order to the ribs along its right side. Shatataraka (Shatabhishak) and Jyeshtha are its right and left shoulders,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.17.23)

अगस्तिश्चोत्तरहनावधरायां हनौ यमः । मुखेष्वङ्गारकः प्रोक्तो मन्दः प्रोक्त उपस्थके

agastiścottarahanāvadharāyāṁ hanau yamaḥ | mukheṣvaṅgārakaḥ prokto mandaḥ prokta upasthake

Agastya is at its upper jaw, Yama at its lower jaw; Mars (Angaraka) is placed at the mouth; Saturn (Manda) is placed at the genitals,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.17.24)

बृहस्पतिश्च ककुदि वक्षस्यर्को ग्रहाधिपः । नारायणश्च हृदये चन्द्रो मनसि तिष्ठति

bṛhaspatiśca kakudi vakṣasyarko grahādhipaḥ | nārāyaṇaśca hṛdaye candro manasi tiṣṭhati

— Jupiter is at the hump, the sun, lord of the planets, at the chest; Narayana resides at the heart, and the Moon abides in the mind,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.17.25)

स्तनयोरश्विनौ नाभ्यामुशनाः परिकीर्तितः । बुधः प्राणापानयोश्च गले राहुश्च केतवः

stanayoraśvinau nābhyāmuśanāḥ parikīrtitaḥ | budhaḥ prāṇāpānayośca gale rāhuśca ketavaḥ

The two Ashvins are its breasts; Venus (Ushanas) is celebrated as residing at the navel; Mercury is at the organs of prana and apana; Rahu is at the throat, and the Ketus

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.17.26)

सर्वाङ्गेषु तथा रोमकूपे तारागणाः स्मृताः । एतद्भगवतो विष्णोः सर्वदेवमयं वपुः

sarvāṅgeṣu tathā romakūpe tārāgaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | etadbhagavato viṣṇoḥ sarvadevamayaṁ vapuḥ

— are found throughout all its limbs, and the multitudes of stars are remembered as dwelling in its very hair-pores. This is the all-god-embodying form of the Blessed Vishnu.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.17.27)

सन्ध्यायां प्रत्यहं ध्यायेत्प्रयतो वाग्यतो मुनिः । निरीक्षमाणश्चोत्तिष्ठेन्मन्त्रेणानेन धीश्वरः

sandhyāyāṁ pratyahaṁ dhyāyetprayato vāgyato muniḥ | nirīkṣamāṇaścottiṣṭhenmantreṇānena dhīśvaraḥ

At twilight, every day, a restrained and silent sage should meditate upon this form; and the wise one, gazing upon it, should rise while reciting this very mantra:

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.17.28)

नमो ज्योतिर्लोकाय कालायानिमिषां पतये महापुरुषायाभिधीमहीति

namo jyotirlokāya kālāyānimiṣāṁ pataye mahāpuruṣāyābhidhīmahīti

"Homage to the realm of light, to Time, to the Lord of the unblinking gods, to the Great Person" — thus let us meditate.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.17.29)

ग्रहर्क्षतारामयमाधिदैविकं पापापहं मन्त्रकृतां त्रिकालम् । नमस्यतः स्मरतो वा त्रिकालं नश्येत तत्कालजमाशु पापम्

graharkṣatārāmayamādhidaivikaṁ pāpāpahaṁ mantrakṛtāṁ trikālam | namasyataḥ smarato vā trikālaṁ naśyeta tatkālajamāśu pāpam

This divine form, composed of planets, constellations, and stars, removes the sins of those who recite this mantra at the three daily junctures. For one who, three times a day, bows to it or calls it to mind, whatever sin was committed in that time is swiftly destroyed.