Eighth Skandha · Chapter 15
Sourceश्रीनारायण उवाच अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि भानोर्गमनमुत्तमम् । शीघ्रमन्दादिगतिभिस्त्रिविधं गमनं रवेः ॥ १ ॥ सर्वग्रहाणां त्रीण्येव स्थानानि सुरसत्तम । स्थानं जारद्गवं मध्यं तथैरावतमुत्तरम् ॥ २ ॥ वैश्वानरं दक्षिणतो निर्दिष्टमिति तत्त्वतः । अश्विनी कृत्तिका याम्या नागवीथीति शब्दिता ॥ ३ ॥ रोहिण्यार्द्रा मृगशिरो गजवीथ्यभिधीयते । पुष्याश्लेषा तथाऽऽदित्या वीथी चैरावती स्मृता ॥ ४ ॥ एतास्तु वीथयस्तिस्र उत्तरो मार्ग उच्यते । तथा द्वे चापि फल्गुन्यौ मघा चैवार्षभी मता ॥ ५ ॥ हस्तश्चित्रा तथा स्वाती गोवीथीति तु शब्दिता । ज्येष्ठा विशाखानुराधा वीथी जारद्गवी मता ॥ ६ ॥ एतास्तु वीथयस्तिस्रो मध्यमो मार्ग उच्यते । मूलाषाढोत्तराषाढा अजवीथ्यभिशब्दिता ॥ ७ ॥ श्रवणं च धनिष्ठा च मार्गी शतभिषक् तथा । वैश्वानरी भाद्रपदे रेवती चैव कीर्तिता ॥ ८ ॥ एतास्तु वीथयस्तिस्रो दक्षिणो मार्ग उच्यते । उत्तरायणमासाद्य युगाक्षान्तर्निबद्धयोः ॥ ९ ॥ कर्षणं पाशयोर्वायुबद्धयो रोहणं स्मृतम् । तदाभ्यन्तरगान्मण्डलाद्रथस्य गतेर्भवेत् ॥ १० ॥ मान्द्यं दिवसवृद्धिश्च जायते सुरसत्तम । रात्रिह्रासश्च भवति सौम्यायनक्रमो ह्ययम् ॥ ११ ॥ दक्षिणायनके पाशे प्रेरणादवरोहणम् । बहिर्मण्डलवेशेन गतिशैघ्र्यं तदा भवेत् ॥ १२ ॥ तदा दिनाल्पता रात्रिवृद्धिश्च परिकीर्तिता । वैषुवे पाशसाम्यात्तु समावस्थानतो रवेः ॥ १३ ॥ मध्यमण्डलवेशश्च साम्यं रात्रिदिनादिके । आकृष्येते यदा तौ तु ध्रुवेण समधिष्ठितौ ॥ १४ ॥ तदाभ्यन्तरतः सूर्यो भ्रमते मण्डलानि च । ध्रुवेण मुच्यमानेन पुना रश्मियुगेन तु ॥ १५ ॥ तथैव बाह्यतः सूर्यो भ्रमते मण्डलानि च । तस्मिन्मेरौ पूर्वभागे पुर्यैन्द्री देवधानिका ॥ १६ ॥ दक्षिणे वै संयमनी नाम याम्या महापुरी । पश्चान्निम्लोचनी नाम वारुणी वै महापुरी ॥ १७ ॥ तदुत्तरे पुरी सौम्या प्रोक्ता नाम विभावरी । ऐन्द्रपुर्यां रवेः प्रोक्त उदयो ब्रह्मवादिभिः ॥ १८ ॥ संयमन्यां च मध्याह्ने निम्लोचन्यां निमीलनम् । विभावर्यां निशीथः स्यात्तिग्मांशोः सुरपूजितः ॥ १९ ॥ प्रवृत्तेश्च निमित्तानि भूतानां तानि सर्वशः । मेरोश्चतुर्दिशं भानोः कीर्तितानि मया मुने ॥ २० ॥ मेरुस्थानां सदा मध्यं गत एव विभाति हि । सव्यं गच्छन्दक्षिणेन करोति स्वर्णपर्वतम् ॥ २१ ॥ उदयास्तमये चैव सर्वकालं तु सम्मुखे । दिशास्वशेषासु तथा सुरर्षे विदिशासु च ॥ २२ ॥ यैर्यत्र दृश्यते भास्वान्स तेषामुदयः स्मृतः । तिरोभावं च यत्रैति तत्रैवास्तमनं रवेः ॥ २३ ॥ नैवास्तमनमर्कस्य नोदयः सर्वदा सतः । उदयास्तमनाख्यं हि दर्शनादर्शनं रवेः ॥ २४ ॥ शक्रादीनां पुरे तिष्ठन्स्पृशत्येष पुरत्रयम् । विकर्णौ द्वौ विकर्णस्थस्त्रीन्कोणान्द्वे पुरे तथा ॥ २५ ॥ सर्वेषां द्वीपवर्षाणां मेरुरुत्तरतः स्थितः । यैर्यत्र दृश्यते भानुः सैव प्राचीति चोच्यते ॥ २६ ॥ तद्वामभागतो मेरुर्वर्ततेति विनिर्णयः । यदि चैन्द्र्याः प्रचलते घटिका दशपञ्चभिः ॥ २७ ॥ याम्यां तदा योजनानां सपादं कोटियुग्मकम् । सार्धद्वादशलक्षाणि पञ्चनेत्रसहस्रकम् ॥ २८ ॥ प्रक्रामति सहस्रांशुः कालमार्गप्रदर्शकः । एवं ततो वारुणीं च सौम्यामैन्द्रीं सहस्रदृक् ॥ २९ ॥ पर्येति कालचक्रात्मा द्युमणिः कालबुद्धये । तथा चान्ये ग्रहाः सोमादयो ये दिग्विचारिणः ॥ ३० ॥ नक्षत्रैः सह चोद्यन्ति सह चास्तं व्रजन्ति ते । एवं मुहूर्तेन रथो भानोरष्टशताधिकम् ॥ ३१ ॥ योजनानां चतुस्त्रिंशल्लक्षाणि भ्रमति प्रभुः । त्रयीमयश्चतुर्दिक्षु पुरीषु च समीरणात् ॥ ३२ ॥ प्रवहाख्यात्सदा कालचक्रं पर्येति भानुमान् । यस्य चक्रं रथस्यैकं द्वादशारं त्रिनाभिकम् ॥ ३३ ॥ षण्नेमि कवयस्तं च वत्सरात्मकमूचिरे । मेरुमूर्धनि तस्याक्षो मानसोत्तरपर्वते ॥ ३४ ॥ कृतेतरविभागो यः प्रोतं तत्र रथाङ्गकम् । तैलकारकयन्त्रेण चक्रसाम्यं परिभ्रमन् । ३५ ॥ मानसोत्तरनाम्नीह गिरौ पर्येति चांशुमान् । तस्मिन्नक्षे कृतं मूलं द्वितीयोऽक्षो ध्रुवे कृतः ॥ ३६ ॥ तुर्यमानेन तैलस्य यन्त्राक्षवदितीरितः । कृतोपरितनो भागः सूर्यस्य जगतां पतेः ॥ ३७ ॥ रथनीडस्तु षट्त्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनमायतः । तत्तुर्यभागतः सोऽयं परिणाहेन कीर्तितः ॥ ३८ ॥ तावानर्करथस्यात्र युगस्तस्मिन्हयाः शुभाः । सप्तच्छन्दोऽभिधानाश्च सूरसूतेन योजिताः ॥ ३९ ॥ वहन्ति देवमादित्यं लोकानां सुखहेतवे । पुरस्तात्सवितुः सूतोऽरुणः पश्चान्नियोजितः ॥ ४० ॥ सौत्ये कर्मणि संयुक्तो वर्तते गरुडाग्रजः । तथैव बालखिल्याख्या ऋषयोऽङ्गुष्ठपर्वकाः ॥ ४१ ॥ प्रमाणेन परिख्याताः षष्टिसाहस्रसंख्यकाः । स्तुवन्ति पुरतः सूर्यं सूक्तवाक्यैः सुशोभनैः ॥ ४२ ॥ तथा चान्ये च ऋषयो गन्धर्वा अप्सरोरगाः । ग्रामण्यो यातुधानाश्च देवाः सर्वे परेश्वरम् ॥ ४३ ॥ एकैकशः सप्त सप्त मासि मासि विरोचनम् । सार्धलक्षोत्तरं कोटिनवकं भूमिमण्डलम् ॥ ४४ ॥ द्विसहस्रं योजनानां स गव्यूत्युत्तरं क्षणात् । पर्येति देवदेवेशो विश्वव्यापी निरन्तरम् ॥ ४५ ॥
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi bhānorgamanamuttamam | śīghramandādigatibhistrividhaṃ gamanaṃ raveḥ || 1 || sarvagrahāṇāṃ trīṇyeva sthānāni surasattama | sthānaṃ jāradgavaṃ madhyaṃ tathairāvatamuttaram || 2 || vaiśvānaraṃ dakṣiṇato nirdiṣṭamiti tattvataḥ | aśvinī kṛttikā yāmyā nāgavīthīti śabditā || 3 || rohiṇyārdrā mṛgaśiro gajavīthyabhidhīyate | puṣyāśleṣā tathā''dityā vīthī cairāvatī smṛtā || 4 || etāstu vīthayastisra uttaro mārga ucyate | tathā dve cāpi phalgunyau maghā caivārṣabhī matā || 5 || hastaścitrā tathā svātī govīthīti tu śabditā | jyeṣṭhā viśākhānurādhā vīthī jāradgavī matā || 6 || etāstu vīthayastisro madhyamo mārga ucyate | mūlāṣāḍhottarāṣāḍhā ajavīthyabhiśabditā || 7 || śravaṇaṃ ca dhaniṣṭhā ca mārgī śatabhiṣak tathā | vaiśvānarī bhādrapade revatī caiva kīrtitā || 8 || etāstu vīthayastisro dakṣiṇo mārga ucyate | uttarāyaṇamāsādya yugākṣāntarnibaddhayoḥ || 9 || karṣaṇaṃ pāśayorvāyubaddhayo rohaṇaṃ smṛtam | tadābhyantaragānmaṇḍalādrathasya gaterbhavet || 10 || māndyaṃ divasavṛddhiśca jāyate surasattama | rātrihrāsaśca bhavati saumyāyanakramo hyayam || 11 || dakṣiṇāyanake pāśe preraṇādavarohaṇam | bahirmaṇḍalaveśena gatiśaighryaṃ tadā bhavet || 12 || tadā dinālpatā rātrivṛddhiśca parikīrtitā | vaiṣuve pāśasāmyāttu samāvasthānato raveḥ || 13 || madhyamaṇḍalaveśaśca sāmyaṃ rātridinādike | ākṛṣyete yadā tau tu dhruveṇa samadhiṣṭhitau || 14 || tadābhyantarataḥ sūryo bhramate maṇḍalāni ca | dhruveṇa mucyamānena punā raśmiyugena tu || 15 || tathaiva bāhyataḥ sūryo bhramate maṇḍalāni ca | tasminmerau pūrvabhāge puryaindrī devadhānikā || 16 || dakṣiṇe vai saṃyamanī nāma yāmyā mahāpurī | paścānnimlocanī nāma vāruṇī vai mahāpurī || 17 || taduttare purī saumyā proktā nāma vibhāvarī | aindrapuryāṃ raveḥ prokta udayo brahmavādibhiḥ || 18 || saṃyamanyāṃ ca madhyāhne nimlocanyāṃ nimīlanam | vibhāvaryāṃ niśīthaḥ syāttigmāṃśoḥ surapūjitaḥ || 19 || pravṛtteśca nimittāni bhūtānāṃ tāni sarvaśaḥ | meroścaturdiśaṃ bhānoḥ kīrtitāni mayā mune || 20 || merusthānāṃ sadā madhyaṃ gata eva vibhāti hi | savyaṃ gacchandakṣiṇena karoti svarṇaparvatam || 21 || udayāstamaye caiva sarvakālaṃ tu sammukhe | diśāsvaśeṣāsu tathā surarṣe vidiśāsu ca || 22 || yairyatra dṛśyate bhāsvānsa teṣāmudayaḥ smṛtaḥ | tirobhāvaṃ ca yatraiti tatraivāstamanaṃ raveḥ || 23 || naivāstamanamarkasya nodayaḥ sarvadā sataḥ | udayāstamanākhyaṃ hi darśanādarśanaṃ raveḥ || 24 || śakrādīnāṃ pure tiṣṭhanspṛśatyeṣa puratrayam | vikarṇau dvau vikarṇasthastrīnkoṇāndve pure tathā || 25 || sarveṣāṃ dvīpavarṣāṇāṃ meruruttarataḥ sthitaḥ | yairyatra dṛśyate bhānuḥ saiva prācīti cocyate || 26 || tadvāmabhāgato merurvartateti vinirṇayaḥ | yadi caindryāḥ pracalate ghaṭikā daśapañcabhiḥ || 27 || yāmyāṃ tadā yojanānāṃ sapādaṃ koṭiyugmakam | sārdhadvādaśalakṣāṇi pañcanetrasahasrakam || 28 || prakrāmati sahasrāṃśuḥ kālamārgapradarśakaḥ | evaṃ tato vāruṇīṃ ca saumyāmaindrīṃ sahasradṛk || 29 || paryeti kālacakrātmā dyumaṇiḥ kālabuddhaye | tathā cānye grahāḥ somādayo ye digvicāriṇaḥ || 30 || nakṣatraiḥ saha codyanti saha cāstaṃ vrajanti te | evaṃ muhūrtena ratho bhānoraṣṭaśatādhikam || 31 || yojanānāṃ catustriṃśallakṣāṇi bhramati prabhuḥ | trayīmayaścaturdikṣu purīṣu ca samīraṇāt || 32 || pravahākhyātsadā kālacakraṃ paryeti bhānumān | yasya cakraṃ rathasyaikaṃ dvādaśāraṃ trinābhikam || 33 || ṣaṇnemi kavayastaṃ ca vatsarātmakamūcire | merumūrdhani tasyākṣo mānasottaraparvate || 34 || kṛtetaravibhāgo yaḥ protaṃ tatra rathāṅgakam | tailakārakayantreṇa cakrasāmyaṃ paribhraman | 35 || mānasottaranāmnīha girau paryeti cāṃśumān | tasminnakṣe kṛtaṃ mūlaṃ dvitīyo'kṣo dhruve kṛtaḥ || 36 || turyamānena tailasya yantrākṣavaditīritaḥ | kṛtoparitano bhāgaḥ sūryasya jagatāṃ pateḥ || 37 || rathanīḍastu ṣaṭtriṃśallakṣayojanamāyataḥ | tatturyabhāgataḥ so'yaṃ pariṇāhena kīrtitaḥ || 38 || tāvānarkarathasyātra yugastasminhayāḥ śubhāḥ | saptacchando'bhidhānāśca sūrasūtena yojitāḥ || 39 || vahanti devamādityaṃ lokānāṃ sukhahetave | purastātsavituḥ sūto'ruṇaḥ paścānniyojitaḥ || 40 || sautye karmaṇi saṃyukto vartate garuḍāgrajaḥ | tathaiva bālakhilyākhyā ṛṣayo'ṅguṣṭhaparvakāḥ || 41 || pramāṇena parikhyātāḥ ṣaṣṭisāhasrasaṃkhyakāḥ | stuvanti purataḥ sūryaṃ sūktavākyaiḥ suśobhanaiḥ || 42 || tathā cānye ca ṛṣayo gandharvā apsaroragāḥ | grāmaṇyo yātudhānāśca devāḥ sarve pareśvaram || 43 || ekaikaśaḥ sapta sapta māsi māsi virocanam | sārdhalakṣottaraṃ koṭinavakaṃ bhūmimaṇḍalam || 44 || dvisahasraṃ yojanānāṃ sa gavyūtyuttaraṃ kṣaṇāt | paryeti devadeveśo viśvavyāpī nirantaram || 45 ||
English translation
1-45. Narayana said O Narada! I will now describe the motion of the Sun. Hear. It is of three kinds; S’lghra (perihelionic), Manda (Aphelionic), and even. O Surasattama! Every planet has three positions. The name of the Madhyagati position is Jaradgava, the name of the northern position is Airavata; and the name of the southern position is VaisVanara. The asterisms AsVini Krittika and Bharani are known by the term Nagavithi. Rohini, Ardra, and Mrigas’ira are named Gaja Vithi; Pusya, As’lesa, and Punarvasu are named AiravatMthi. The three Vithis, above-mentioned are called Uttara Marga. Purvaphalguni, Uttara Phalguni and Magha are named Arsabhi Vithi. Hasta, Chitra and Svati are called Govithi; Jyestha, Vis’akha and Anuradha are named Jaradgavi Vithi. These three Vithis are named Madhyama Marga. Mula, Purbasadha, Uttarasadha are termed Ajavithi S’ravana, Dhanistha and S’atabhisa are termed Mriga Vithi. Uttara bhadrapada, Purvabhadrapada, and Revati are called VaisVanarivithi. These three Vithis (paths) are called Daksinamarga. During the Uttarayana time, as the Dhruva attracts the rope of air from both the sides of the Yuga, orbit (or axis), the chariot of the Sun ascends, (i.e., is drawn up by the rope). Thus when the Sun enters within the sphere, the motion of the chariot becomes slower and the day is lengthened and the night is shortened. O Sura Sattama! Know this to be the course of the path of the Sun.
When the cord draws towards the south, the Chariot descends and as the Sun then comes out of the sphere, the motion becomes quick The day shortens and the night is lengthened. Again when the cord is neither tightened nor is it slackened, rather its motion is exactly mid-way, the Sun also remains in a medium position and his Chariot enters within a sphere of equilibrium and the day and night become equal. When the cord of air, in a state of equilibrium is attracted by
the Polar Star, then it is that the Sun and the Solar system revolves; and when the Polar Star slackens its attraction over the cord of air, the Sun coming out of the middle sphere, revolves; and the Solar system also revolves. On the east of Meru is established the city of Indra and the Devas dwell there. It is called therefore Devadhanika. On the south of the Meru, is the famous city of Yama, the God of Death, named Samyamani. On the west of Meru, is the great city of Varuna, named Nimnochani. On the north of Meru is the city of the Moon, named Vibhavari. O Narada! The Brahmavadis say that the Sun first rises in the city of Indra. At noon the Sun goes to Samyamani; at evening the Sun goes to Nimnochani and He is said to set. In the night the Sun remains in Vibhavari. O Muni! The going of the Sun round Meru is the cause of all the beings getting themselves engaged in their respective duties. The inhabitants of the Meru see the Sun always in the central position. The Sun moves on, eastwards towards the stars, keeping the Meru to his left; but if the Zodiac be taken into account, it would appear that the Meru is left towards the south of the Sun. The rising and the setting of the Sun are always considered in front of Him. O Devarsi! Every point, every quarter, every person, seeing the Sun says that the Sun has risen there; again where he becomes invisible. He is considered to set there. The Sun always exists; so there is no rising nor setting for Him. It is His appearance and disappearance that make men say that the Sun rises or sets. When the Sun is in the Indra’s city. He illumines the three cities, those of Indra, Yama, and the Moon and illumines the north-east and east-west corners. So when He rests in the city of Fire, he illumines north-east, east-west, and south-west, the three corners, and at the same time the cities of Indra and Yama; and so on for the other cities and corners. O Narada! The Mont Meru is situated towards the north of all the Dvipas and Varsas. So whenever any person sees the Sun rise he calls that side “east.” But Meru exists towards the left of the Sun; so it is said. If the Sun travels in 15 (fifteen) Ghatikas, the distance from Indrapuri to Yamapuri, He is said to travel within that time a distance equal to 2% Kotis, 121/2 lakhs and 25000 Yojanas (22695000 Yojanas). The thousand-eyed and thousand rayed Sun God is the Manifester of
Time. He travels in the aforesaid way the cities of Varuna, Chandra and Indra respectively. He is the diadem of the Svarloka; and the Zodiac is his Atman. He travels thus, to mark off time to all persons. O Narada! The Moon and the other planets and stars rise and set in the aforesaid manner. Thus the powerful chariot of the Sun travels in a Muhurta 142,00000 Yojanas. By the force of Pravaha Vayu (air), the Sun God, the Incarnate of the Vedas travels round the cities, the Zodiac, in one Samvatsara (year). The wheel of the Sun’s Chariot is one year; twelve months are the spokes; three Chaturmasyas are the nave and the six seasons are the outer ring or circumference of the wheel. The learned men call this chariot as the Samvatsara (one year). The axis or axle points to the Meru on one side and to Manasottara mountain on the other. The end or circumference of the wheel marks off other divisions of the time as Kala, Kastha, Muhurta, Yama, Parahara, day and night, and fortnights. The wheel is fixed on the nave. The Sun goes on this wheel, like an oilman’s on his oil- machine, round and round the Manasottara mountain. The eastern side of the wheel is on that axis and the other part is fixed on the Pole Star. The dimension of the first axis is (15750000 Yoyanas).
The second axis measures one-fourth of the above (3937500 Yoyanas). It resembles the axis of an oil-machine. The upper side of that is considered to belong to the Sun. The seat of the Sun on his chariot measures 36 Lakh Yoyanas wide. The Yuga measures in length one fourth of the above dimensions, that of his seat. The Chariot is is moved by seven horses, consisting of the seven Chhandas, Gayatri, etc., driven by Aruna. The horses carry the Sun for the happiness of all. Though the charioteer sits in front of the Sun, his face is turned towards the west. He does his work as a charioteer in that state. Sixty thousand Valakhilya Risis, of the size of a thumb, chant the sweet Vedic hymns before Him. Other Risis, Apsaras, Uragas, Gramanis, Raksasas, and all the Devas, each divided in groups of seven, worship every month that highly lustrous Sun-god. The earth measures 90152000 Kros’a Yuga Yoyanas (1 Krosa - % Yoyana). The Sun passes over this distance in a moment. He does not take rest in his this work even for a day; no, not even for a moment.
Here ends the Fifteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the motion of the Sun in the Mahapuranam, S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, of 18000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23829, revision 73371 (2016-07-03T02:54:51Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk08ch15.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.