Eighth Skandha · Chapter 17
Sourceश्रीनारायण उवाच अथर्षिमण्डलादूर्ध्वं योजनानां प्रमाणतः । लक्षैस्त्रयोदशमितैः परमं वैष्णवं पदम् ॥ १ ॥ महाभागवतः श्रीमान् वर्तते लोकवन्दितः । औत्तानपादिरिन्द्रेण वह्निना कश्यपेन च ॥ २ ॥ धर्मेण सह चैवास्ते समकालयुजा ध्रुवः । बहुमानं दक्षिणतः कुर्वद्भिः प्रेक्षकैः सदा ॥ ३ ॥ आजीव्यः कल्पजीविनामुपास्ते भगवत्पदम् । ज्योतिर्गणानां सर्वेषां ग्रहनक्षत्रभादिनाम् ॥ ४ ॥ कालेनानिमिषेणायं भ्राम्यतां व्यक्तरंहसा । अवष्टम्भस्थाणुरिव विहितश्चेश्वरेण सः ॥ ५ ॥ भासते भासयन्भासा स्वीयया देवपूजितः । मेढिस्तम्भे यथा युक्ताः पशवः कर्षणार्थकाः ॥ ६ ॥ मण्डलानि चरन्तीमे सवनत्रितयेन च । एवं ग्रहादयः सर्वे भगणाद्या यथाक्रमम् ॥ ७ ॥ अन्तर्बहिर्विभागेन कालचक्रे नियोजिताः । ध्रुवमेवावलम्ब्याशु वायुनोदीरिताश्च ते ॥ ८ ॥ आकल्पान्तं च क्रमन्ति खे श्येनाद्याः खगा इव । कर्मसारथयो वायुवशगाः सर्व एव ते ॥ ९ ॥ एवं ज्योतिर्गणाः सर्वे प्रकृतेः पुरुषस्य च । संयोगानुगृहीतास्ते भूमौ न निपतन्ति च ॥ १० ॥ ज्योतिश्चक्रं केचिदेतच्छिशुमारस्वरूपकम् । सोपयोगं भगवतो योगधारणकर्मणि ॥ ११ ॥ यस्यार्वाक्शिरसः कुण्डलीभूतवपुषो मुने । पुच्छाग्रे कल्पितो योऽयं ध्रुव उत्तानपादजः ॥ १२ ॥ लाङ्गूलेऽस्य च सम्प्रोक्तः प्रजापतिरकल्मषः । अग्निरिन्द्रश्च धर्मश्च तिष्ठन्ते सुरपूजिताः ॥ १३ ॥ धाता विधाता पुच्छान्ते कट्यां सप्तर्षयस्ततः । दक्षिणावर्तभोगेन कुण्डलाकारमीयुषः ॥ १४ ॥ उत्तरायणभानीह दक्षपार्श्वेऽर्पितानि च । दक्षिणायनभानीह सव्ये पार्श्वेऽर्पितानि च ॥ १५ ॥ कुण्डलाभोगवेशस्य पार्श्वयोरुभयोरपि । समसंख्याश्चावयवा भवन्ति कजनन्दन ॥ १६ ॥ अजवीथी पृष्ठभागे आकाशसरिदौदरे । पुनर्वसुश्च पुष्यश्च श्रोण्यौ दक्षिणवामयोः ॥ १७ ॥ आर्द्राश्लेषे पश्चिमयोः पादयोर्दक्षवामयोः । अभिजिच्चोत्तराषाढा नासयोर्दक्षवामयोः ॥ १८ ॥ यथासंख्यं च देवर्षे श्रुतिश्च जलभं तथा । कल्पिते कल्पनाविद्भिर्नेत्रयोर्दक्षवामयोः ॥ १९ ॥ धनिष्ठा चैव मूलं च कर्णयोर्दक्षवामयोः । मघादीन्यष्टभानीह दक्षिणायनगानि च ॥ २० ॥ युञ्जीत वामपार्श्वीयवंक्रिषु क्रमतो मुने । तथैव मृगशीर्षादीन्युदग्भानि च यानि हि ॥ २१ ॥ दक्षपार्श्वे वंक्रिकेषु प्रातिलोम्येन योजयेत् । शततारा तथा ज्येष्ठा स्कन्धयोर्दक्षवामयोः ॥ २२ ॥ अगस्तिश्चोत्तरहनावधरायां हनौ यमः । मुखेष्वङ्गारकः प्रोक्तो मन्दः प्रोक्त उपस्थके ॥ २३ ॥ बृहस्पतिश्च ककुदि वक्षस्यर्को ग्रहाधिपः । नारायणश्च हृदये चन्द्रो मनसि तिष्ठति ॥ २४ ॥ स्तनयोरश्विनौ नाभ्यामुशनाः परिकीर्तितः । बुधः प्राणापानयोश्च गले राहुश्च केतवः ॥ २५ ॥ सर्वाङ्गेषु तथा रोमकूपे तारागणाः स्मृताः । एतद्भगवतो विष्णोः सर्वदेवमयं वपुः ॥ २६ ॥ सन्ध्यायां प्रत्यहं ध्यायेत्प्रयतो वाग्यतो मुनिः । निरीक्षमाणश्चोत्तिष्ठेन्मन्त्रेणानेन धीश्वरः ॥ २७ ॥ नमो ज्योतिर्लोकाय कालायानिमिषां पतये महापुरुषायाभिधीमहीति ॥ २८ ॥ ग्रहर्क्षतारामयमाधिदैविकं पापापहं मन्त्रकृतां त्रिकालम् । नमस्यतः स्मरतो वा त्रिकालं नश्येत तत्कालजमाशु पापम् ॥ २९ ॥
śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca atharṣimaṇḍalādūrdhvaṃ yojanānāṃ pramāṇataḥ | lakṣaistrayodaśamitaiḥ paramaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ padam || 1 || mahābhāgavataḥ śrīmān vartate lokavanditaḥ | auttānapādirindreṇa vahninā kaśyapena ca || 2 || dharmeṇa saha caivāste samakālayujā dhruvaḥ | bahumānaṃ dakṣiṇataḥ kurvadbhiḥ prekṣakaiḥ sadā || 3 || ājīvyaḥ kalpajīvināmupāste bhagavatpadam | jyotirgaṇānāṃ sarveṣāṃ grahanakṣatrabhādinām || 4 || kālenānimiṣeṇāyaṃ bhrāmyatāṃ vyaktaraṃhasā | avaṣṭambhasthāṇuriva vihitaśceśvareṇa saḥ || 5 || bhāsate bhāsayanbhāsā svīyayā devapūjitaḥ | meḍhistambhe yathā yuktāḥ paśavaḥ karṣaṇārthakāḥ || 6 || maṇḍalāni carantīme savanatritayena ca | evaṃ grahādayaḥ sarve bhagaṇādyā yathākramam || 7 || antarbahirvibhāgena kālacakre niyojitāḥ | dhruvamevāvalambyāśu vāyunodīritāśca te || 8 || ākalpāntaṃ ca kramanti khe śyenādyāḥ khagā iva | karmasārathayo vāyuvaśagāḥ sarva eva te || 9 || evaṃ jyotirgaṇāḥ sarve prakṛteḥ puruṣasya ca | saṃyogānugṛhītāste bhūmau na nipatanti ca || 10 || jyotiścakraṃ kecidetacchiśumārasvarūpakam | sopayogaṃ bhagavato yogadhāraṇakarmaṇi || 11 || yasyārvākśirasaḥ kuṇḍalībhūtavapuṣo mune | pucchāgre kalpito yo'yaṃ dhruva uttānapādajaḥ || 12 || lāṅgūle'sya ca samproktaḥ prajāpatirakalmaṣaḥ | agnirindraśca dharmaśca tiṣṭhante surapūjitāḥ || 13 || dhātā vidhātā pucchānte kaṭyāṃ saptarṣayastataḥ | dakṣiṇāvartabhogena kuṇḍalākāramīyuṣaḥ || 14 || uttarāyaṇabhānīha dakṣapārśve'rpitāni ca | dakṣiṇāyanabhānīha savye pārśve'rpitāni ca || 15 || kuṇḍalābhogaveśasya pārśvayorubhayorapi | samasaṃkhyāścāvayavā bhavanti kajanandana || 16 || ajavīthī pṛṣṭhabhāge ākāśasaridaudare | punarvasuśca puṣyaśca śroṇyau dakṣiṇavāmayoḥ || 17 || ārdrāśleṣe paścimayoḥ pādayordakṣavāmayoḥ | abhijiccottarāṣāḍhā nāsayordakṣavāmayoḥ || 18 || yathāsaṃkhyaṃ ca devarṣe śrutiśca jalabhaṃ tathā | kalpite kalpanāvidbhirnetrayordakṣavāmayoḥ || 19 || dhaniṣṭhā caiva mūlaṃ ca karṇayordakṣavāmayoḥ | maghādīnyaṣṭabhānīha dakṣiṇāyanagāni ca || 20 || yuñjīta vāmapārśvīyavaṃkriṣu kramato mune | tathaiva mṛgaśīrṣādīnyudagbhāni ca yāni hi || 21 || dakṣapārśve vaṃkrikeṣu prātilomyena yojayet | śatatārā tathā jyeṣṭhā skandhayordakṣavāmayoḥ || 22 || agastiścottarahanāvadharāyāṃ hanau yamaḥ | mukheṣvaṅgārakaḥ prokto mandaḥ prokta upasthake || 23 || bṛhaspatiśca kakudi vakṣasyarko grahādhipaḥ | nārāyaṇaśca hṛdaye candro manasi tiṣṭhati || 24 || stanayoraśvinau nābhyāmuśanāḥ parikīrtitaḥ | budhaḥ prāṇāpānayośca gale rāhuśca ketavaḥ || 25 || sarvāṅgeṣu tathā romakūpe tārāgaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ | etadbhagavato viṣṇoḥ sarvadevamayaṃ vapuḥ || 26 || sandhyāyāṃ pratyahaṃ dhyāyetprayato vāgyato muniḥ | nirīkṣamāṇaścottiṣṭhenmantreṇānena dhīśvaraḥ || 27 || namo jyotirlokāya kālāyānimiṣāṃ pataye mahāpuruṣāyābhidhīmahīti || 28 || graharkṣatārāmayamādhidaivikaṃ pāpāpahaṃ mantrakṛtāṃ trikālam | namasyataḥ smarato vā trikālaṃ naśyeta tatkālajamāśu pāpam || 29 ||
English translation
1-29. Narayana said Beyond the Saptarsi mandalam (the Great Bear), thirteen lakh Yojanas higher is situated, the Visnu’s Paramam Padam (the highest place of Visnu). The Great Bhagavat (devotee of God), the most respectful, S’riman Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada, is established there with Indra, Agni, Kas’yapa and Dharma and the Naksattras. The visitors pay to him always their respects. He is the patron of those who live till the end of a Kalpa. He is engaged in serving the lotus-feet of the Bhagavan. He has been made by God Himself the pillar round whom all the planets, stars, and the luminary bodies are revolving always and with great force in the Zodiac and in the celestial Heavens. The Devas also worship him. He, resplendent in his own glory, illumines and manifests all. As beasts tied to yoke go on tilling, so the planets and stars, fixed on the Zodiac, go quickly round and round this Dhruva, the Pole Star; some nearer, some further distant in spheres, propelled by Vayu. As the hawks hover round the sky, so the above-mentioned planets, go completely round and round under their own Karmas and controlled by the Vayu in the sky. Thus all the luminaries do not fall to the ground, as they are kept up in their respective positions by the favour of the union of Prakriti and Purusa. Some say that this Jyotischakra, the celestial Heavens (the Zodiac) is S’is’umara. It is kept duly in its position for the purpose of holding things up by the power of the Bhagavan. Hence it does not fall. It is resting with its body coiled round and with its head lower down. O Muni! Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada is staying at the tail end. And, in addition to him, also at the tail rests Brahma, the Sinless Prajapati, worshipped by the Gods, Agni, Indra and Dharma. Thus the creation is at the tail and the Saptarsimandal is staying at his waist. Thus the celestial wheel (Jyotischakra) is resting with his coils turned in a right-hand direction. On his right side are found the Uttarayana Naksattras, fourteen in number from Abhijit to Punarvasu and on his left side are found the other fourteen Daksinayanam Naksattras from Pusya to Uttarasadha. O Son of Brahma! Thus the
Naksattras form the coil-shaped body of the S’is’umara, the Zodiac; half the Naksattras on the one side and the other half Naksattras on the other. His back is on the Heavenly Ganges named Ajavithi. Punarvasu and Pusya form the right and left side of the loins; Ardra and As’les’a form the right and left feet (westward); Abhijit and Uttarasadha form the right and left nostrils. O Devarsi! S’ravana and Purvasadha form the right and left eyes respectively; so say the persons that form the Kalpanas (fancies). Dhanistha and Mula form his right and left ears; Magha, etc., the eight Daksinayanam Naksattras form the bones on the left side. O Muni! Mrigasirsa, the Uttarayana Naksattras form the bones on his right side, S’atabhisa and Jyestha form the right and left shoulders. Agasti (the Canopus) forms the upper jaw and Yama, the lower jaw. The planet Mars forms his face; Saturn forms his organ of generation; Brihaspati forms the hump on the shoulders; the Sun, the Lord of the planets, forms his breast; Narayana remains in the heart; and the Moon is in his mind. (Note S’is’umara is also the constellation Dolphinus and is sometimes meant for the polar star.) O Narada! The two As’vins form the nipples on his breast; Us’ana forms his navel; the Mercury is his Prana and Apana; Rahu is his neck and Ketu is all over his body and the stars are reigning all over the hairs of his body. This Zodiac is the body composed of the Devas of that All Pervading Bhagavan. So every intelligent person should daily meditate this S’is’umara in the Sandhya time, with perfect purity and keeping himself Mauna (silent), and with his whole heart. Then he should repeat the following mantras and get up and say “Thou art the Substratum of all the luminaries, we bow down to Thee; Thou createst and destroyest all. Thou art the Lord of all the celestials. Thou art the Adipurusa, the foremost of all the Purusas; we meditate fully on Thee. The planets, Naksattras, and the stars are Thy body. The Daiva is established in Thee alone. Thou destroyest the sins of those that compose the Mantras. The sins are completely destroyed for the time being of him who bows down or remembers Thee in the morning, afternoon and evening.”
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the Dhruva Mandalam in the Maha Puranam S'ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23827, revision 73369 (2016-07-03T02:50:04Z). 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/bk08ch17.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.