Chapter Twenty-one

                       The Movements of the Sun

 

   This chapter informs us of the movements of the sun. The sun is not stationary; it is also moving like the other planets. The sun's movements determine the duration of night and day. When the sun travels north of the equator, it moves slowly during the day and very quickly at night, thus increasing the duration of the daytime and decreasing the duration of night. Similarly, when the sun travels south of the equator, the exact opposite is true--the duration of the day decreases, and the duration of night increases. When the sun enters Karkata-rasi (Cancer) and then travels to Simha-rasi (Leo) and so on through Dhanuh-rasi (Sagittarius), its course is called Daksinayana, the southern way, and when the sun enters Makara-rasi (Capricorn) and thereafter travels through Kumbharasi (Aquarius) and so on through Mithuna-rasi (Gemini), its course is called Uttarayana, the northern way. When the sun is in Mesa-rasi (Aries) and Tula-rasi (Libra), the duration of day and night are equal.

   On Manasottara Mountain are the abodes of four demigods. East of Sumeru Mountain is Devadhani, where King Indra lives, and south of Sumeru is Samyamani, the abode of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death. Similarly, west of Sumeru is Nimlocani, the abode of Varuna, the demigod who controls the water, and north of Sumeru is Vibhavari, where the demigod of the moon lives. Sunrise, noon, sunset and midnight occur in all these places because of the movements of the sun. Diametrically opposite the place where the sunrise takes places and the sun is seen by human eyes, the sun will be setting and passing away from human vision. Similarly, the people residing diametrically opposite the point where it is midday will be experiencing midnight. The sun rises and sets with all the other planets, headed by the moon and other luminaries.

   The entire kala-cakra, or wheel of time, is established on the wheel of the sun-god's chariot. This wheel is known as Samvatsara. The seven horses pulling the chariot of the sun are known as Gayatri, Brhati, Usnik, Jagati, Tristup, Anustup and Pankti. They are harnessed by a demigod known as Arunadeva to a yoke 900,000 yojanas wide. Thus the chariot carries Adityadeva, the sun-god. Always staying in front of the sun-god and offering their prayers are sixty thousand sages known as Valikhilyas. There are fourteen Gandharvas, Apsaras and other demigods, who are divided into seven parties and who perform ritualistic activities every month to worship the Supersoul through the sun-god according to different names. Thus the sun-god travels through the universe for a distance of 95,100,000 yojanas (760,800,000 miles) at a speed of 16,004 miles at every moment.

 

                                TEXT 1

 

                                 TEXT

 

                            sri-suka uvaca

 

  etavan eva bhu-valayasya sannivesah pramana-laksanato vyakhyatah.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   sri-sukah uvaca--Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; etavan--so much; eva--certainly; bhu-valayasya sannivesah--the arrangement of the whole universe; pramana-laksanatah--according to measurement (fifty crores of yojanas, or four billion miles in width and length) and characteristics; vyakhyatah--estimated.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, I have thus far described the diameter of the universe [fifty crores of yojanas, or four billion miles] and its general characteristics, according to the estimations of learned scholars.

 

                                TEXT 2

 

                                 TEXT

 

etena hi divo mandala-manam tad-vida upadisanti yatha dvi-dalayor nispavadinam te antarenantariksam tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   etena--by this estimation; hi--indeed; divah--of the upper planetary system; mandala-manam--the measurement of the globe; tat-vidah--the experts who know about it; upadisanti--instruct; yatha--just as; dvi-dalayoh--in the two halves; nispava-adinam--of grain such as wheat; te--of the two divisions; antarena--in the intervening space; antariksam--the sky or outer space; tat--by the two; ubhaya--on both sides; sandhitam--where the two parts join.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As a grain of wheat is divided into two parts and one can estimate the size of the upper part by knowing that of the lower, so, expert geographers instruct, one can understand the measurements of the upper part of the universe by knowing those of the lower part. The sky between the earthly sphere and heavenly sphere is called antariksa, or outer space. It adjoins the top of the sphere of earth and the bottom of that of heaven.

 

                                TEXT 3

 

                                 TEXT

 

yan-madhya-gato bhagavams tapatam patis tapana atapena tri-lokim pratapaty avabhasayaty atma-bhasa sa esa udagayana-daksinayana-vaisuvata-samjnabhir mandya-saighrya-samanabhir gatibhir arohanavarohana-samana-sthanesu yatha-savanam abhipadyamano makaradisu rasisv aho-ratrani dirgha-hrasva-samanani vidhatte.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yat--of which (the intermediate space); madhya-gatah--being situated in the middle; bhagavan--the most powerful; tapatam patih--the master of those that heat the whole universe; tapanah--the sun; atapena--by heat; tri-lokim--the three worlds; pratapati--heats; avabhasayati--lights; atma-bhasa--by its own illuminating rays; sah--that; esah--the sun globe; udagayana--of passing to the northern side of the equator; daksina-ayana--of passing to the southern side of the equator; vaisuvata--or of passing through the equator; samjnabhih--by different names; mandya--characterized by slowness; saighrya--swiftness; samanabhih--and by equality; gatibhih--by movement; arohana--of rising; avarohana--of going down; samana--or of staying in the middle; sthanesu--in positions; yatha-savanam--according to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhipadyamanah--moving; makara-adisu--headed by the sign Makara (Capricorn); rasisu--in different signs; ahah-ratrani--the days and nights; dirgha--long; hrasva--short; samanani--equal; vidhatte--makes.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   In the midst of that region of outer space [antariksa] is the most opulent sun, the king of all the planets that emanate heat, such as the moon. By the influence of its radiation, the sun heats the universe and maintains its proper order. It also gives light to help all living entities see. While passing toward the north, toward the south or through the equator, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is said to move slowly, swiftly or moderately. According to its movements in rising above, going beneath or passing through the equator--and correspondingly coming in touch with various signs of the zodiac, headed by Makara [Capricorn]--days and nights are short, long or equal to one another.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   Lord Brahma prays in his Brahma-samhita (5.52):

 

                yac caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam

                 raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah

               yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro

                govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 

   "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light." Although the sun is described as bhagavan, the most powerful, and although it is actually the most powerful planet within the universe, it nevertheless has to carry out the order of Govinda, Krsna. The sun-god cannot deviate even an inch from the orbit designated to him. Therefore in every sphere of life, the supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is carried out. The entire material nature carries out His orders. However, we foolishly see the activities of material nature without understanding the supreme order and Supreme Person behind them. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih: material nature carries out the orders of the Lord, and thus everything is maintained in an orderly way.

 

                                TEXT 4

 

                                 TEXT

 

yada mesa-tulayor vartate tadaho-ratrani samanani bhavanti yada vrsabhadisu pancasu ca rasisu carati tadahany eva vardhante hrasati ca masi masy ekaika ghatika ratrisu.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yada--when; mesa-tulayoh--in Mesa (Aries) and Tula (Libra); vartate--the sun exists; tada--at that time; ahah-ratrani--the days and nights; samanani--equal in duration; bhavanti--are; yada--when; vrsabha-adisu--headed by Vrsabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini); pancasu--in the five; ca--also; rasisu--signs; carati--moves; tada--at that time; ahani--the days; eva--certainly; vardhante--increase; hrasati--is diminished; ca--and; masi masi--in every month; eka-eka--one; ghatika--half hour; ratrisu--in the nights.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the sun passes through Mesa [Aries] and Tula [Libra], the durations of day and night are equal. When it passes through the five signs headed by Vrsabha [Taurus], the duration of the days increases [until Cancer], and then it gradually decreases by half an hour each month, until day and night again become equal [in Libra].

 

                                TEXT 5

 

                                 TEXT

 

yada vrscikadisu pancasu vartate tadaho-ratrani viparyayani bhavanti.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yada--when; vrscika-adisu--headed by Vrscika (Scorpio); pancasu--five; vartate--remains; tada--at that time; ahah-ratrani--the days and nights; viparyayani--the opposite (the duration of the day decreases, and that of night increases); bhavanti--are.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the sun passes through the five signs beginning with Vrscika [Scorpio], the duration of the days decreases [until Capricorn], and then gradually it increases month after month, until day and night become equal [in Aries].

 

                                TEXT 6

 

                                 TEXT

 

    yavad daksinayanam ahani vardhante yavad udagayanam ratrayah.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yavat--until; daksina-ayanam--the sun passes to the southern side; ahani--the days; vardhante--increase; yavat--until; udagayanam--the sun passes to the northern side; ratrayah--the nights.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Until the sun travels to the south the days grow longer, and until it travels to the north the nights grow longer.

 

                                TEXT 7

 

                                 TEXT

 

evam nava kotaya eka-pancasal-laksani yojananam manasottara-giri-parivartanasyopadisanti tasminn aindrim purim purvasman meror devadhanim nama daksinato yamyam samyamanim nama pascad varunim nimlocanim nama uttaratah saumyam vibhavarim nama tasudaya-madhyahnastamaya-nisithaniti bhutanam pravrtti-nivrtti-nimittani samaya-visesena meros catur-disam.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--thus; nava--nine; kotayah--ten millions; eka-pancasat--fifty-one; laksani--hundred thousands; yojananam--of the yojanas; manasottara-giri--of the mountain known as Manasottara; parivartanasya--of the circumambulation; upadisanti--they (learned scholars) teach; tasmin--on that (Manasottara Mountain); aindrim--of King Indra; purim--the city; purvasmat--on the eastern side; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; devadhanim--Devadhani; nama--of the name; daksinatah--on the southern side; yamyam--of Yamaraja; samyamanim--Samyamani; nama--named; pascat--on the western side; varunim--of Varuna; nimlocanim--Nimlocani; nama--named; uttaratah--on the northern side; saumyam--of the moon; vibhavarim--Vibhavari; nama--named; tasu--in all of them; udaya--rising; madhyahna--midday; astamaya--sunset; nisithani--midnight; iti--thus; bhutanam--of the living entities; pravrtti--of activity; nivrtti--and cessation of activity; nimittani--the causes; samaya-visesena--by the particular times; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; catuh-disam--the four sides.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Sukadeva Gosvami continued; My dear King, as stated before, the learned say that the sun travels over all sides of Manasottara Mountain in a circle whose length is 95,100,000 yojanas [760,800,000 miles]. On Manasottara Mountain, due east of Mount Sumeru, is a place known as Devadhani, possessed by King Indra. Similarly, in the south is a place known as Samyamani, possessed by Yamaraja, in the west is a place known as Nimlocani, possessed by Varuna, and in the north is a place named Vibhavari, possessed by the moon-god. Sunrise, midday, sunset and midnight occur in all those places according to specific times, thus engaging all living entities in their various occupational duties and also making them cease such duties.

 

                              TEXTS 8-9

 

                                 TEXT

 

tatratyanam divasa-madhyangata eva sadadityas tapati savyenacalam daksinena karoti; yatrodeti tasya ha samana-sutra-nipate nimlocati yatra kvacana syandenabhitapati tasya haisa samana-sutra-nipate prasvapayati tatra gatam na pasyanti ye tam samanupasyeran.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatratyanam--for the living entities residing on Mount Meru; divasa-madhyangatah--being positioned as at midday; eva--indeed; sada--always; adityah--the sun; tapati--heats; savyena--to the left side; acalam--Sumeru Mountain; daksinena--to the right (being forced by wind blowing to the right, the sun moves to the right); karoti--moves; yatra--the point where; udeti--it rises; tasya--of that position; ha--certainly; samana-sutra-nipate--at the diametrically opposite point; nimlocati--the sun sets; yatra--where; kvacana--somewhere; syandena--with perspiration; abhitapati--heats (at midday); tasya--of that; ha--certainly; esah--this (the sun); samana-sutra-nipate--at the diametrically opposite point; prasvapayati--the sun causes to sleep (as at midnight); tatra--there; gatam--gone; na pasyanti--do not see; ye--who; tam--the sunset; samanupasyeran--seeing.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The living entities residing on Sumeru Mountain are always very warm, as at midday, because for them the sun is always overhead. Although the sun moves counterclockwise, facing the constellations, with Sumeru Mountain on its left, it also moves clockwise and appears to have the mountain on its right because it is influenced by the daksinavarta wind. People living in countries at points diametrically opposite to where the sun is first seen rising will see the sun setting, and if a straight line were drawn from a point where the sun is at midday, the people in countries at the opposite end of the line would be experiencing midnight. Similarly, if people residing where the sun is setting were to go to countries diametrically opposite, they would not see the sun in the same condition.

 

                               TEXT 10

 

                                 TEXT

 

yada caindryah puryah pracalate pancadasa-ghatikabhir yamyam sapada-koti-dvayam yojananam sardha-dvadasa-laksani sadhikani copayati.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yada--when; ca--and; aindryah--of Indra; puryah--from the residence; pracalate--it moves; pancadasa--by fifteen; ghatikabhih--half hours (actually twenty-four minutes); yamyam--to the residence of Yamaraja; sapada-koti-dvayam--two and a quarter crores (22,500,000); yojananam--of yojanas; sardha--and one half; dvadasa-laksani--twelve hundred thousand; sadhikani--twenty-five thousand more; ca--and; upayati--he passes over.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   When the sun travels from Devadhani, the residence of Indra, to Samyamani, the residence of Yamaraja, it travels 23,775,000 yojanas [190,200,000 miles] in fifteen ghatikas [six hours].

 

                               PURPORT

 

   The distance indicated by the word sadhikani is panca-vimsati-sahasradhikani, or 25,000 yojanas. That plus two and a half crores and twelve and a half laksa of yojanas is the distance the sun travels between each two cities. This comes to 23,775,000 yojanas, or 190,200,000 miles. The total orbit of the sun is four times that distance, or 95,100,000 yojanas (760,800,000 miles).

 

                               TEXT 11

 

                                 TEXT

 

evam tato varunim saumyam aindrim ca punas tathanye ca grahah somadayo naksatraih saha jyotis-cakre samabhyudyanti saha va nimlo-canti.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--in this way; tatah--from there; varunim--to the quarters where Varuna lives; saumyam--to the quarters where the moon lives; aindrim ca--and to the quarters where Indra lives; punah--again; tatha--so also; anye--the others; ca--also; grahah--planets; soma-adayah--headed by the moon; naksatraih--all the stars; saha--with; jyotih-cakre--in the celestial sphere; samabhyudyanti--rise; saha--along with; va--or; nimlocanti--set.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   From the residence of Yamaraja the sun travels to Nimlocani, the residence of Varuna, from there to Vibhavari, the residence of the moon-god, and from there again to the residence of Indra. In a similar way, the moon, along with the other stars and planets, becomes visible in the celestial sphere and then sets and again becomes invisible.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In Bhagavad-gita (10.21) Krsna says, naksatranam aham sasi: "Of stars I am the moon." This indicates that the moon is similar to the other stars. The Vedic literature informs us that within this universe there is one sun, which is moving. The Western theory that all the luminaries in the sky are different suns is not confirmed in the Vedic literature. Nor can we assume that these luminaries are the suns of other universes, for each universe is covered by various layers of material elements, and therefore although the universes are clustered together, we cannot see from one universe to another. In other words, whatever we see is within this one universe. In each universe there is one Lord Brahma, and there are other demigods on other planets, but there is only one sun.

 

                               TEXT 12

 

                                 TEXT

 

evam muhurtena catus-trimsal-laksa-yojanany asta-satadhikani sauro rathas trayimayo 'sau catasrsu parivartate purisu.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   evam--thus; muhurtena--in a muhurta (forty-eight minutes); catuh-trimsat--thirty-four; laksa--hundred thousands; yojanani--yojanas; asta-satadhikani--increased by eight hundred; saurah rathah--the chariot of the sun-god; trayi-mayah--which is worshiped by the Gayatri mantra (om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur, etc.); asau--that; catasrsu--to the four; parivartate--he moves; purisu--through different residential quarters.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Thus the chariot of the sun-god, which is trayimaya, or worshiped by the words om bhur bhuvah svah, travels through the four residences mentioned above at a speed of 3,400,800 yojanas [27,206,400 miles] in a muhurta.

 

                               TEXT 13

 

                                 TEXT

 

yasyaikam cakram dvadasaram san-nemi tri-nabhi samvatsaratmakam samamananti tasyakso meror murdhani krto manasottare krtetara-bhago yatra protam ravi-ratha-cakram taila-yantra-cakravad bhraman manasottara-girau paribhramati.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   yasya--of which; ekam--one; cakram--wheel; dvadasa--twelve; aram--spokes; sat--six; nemi--the segments of the rim; tri-nabhi--the three pieces of the hub; samvatsara-atmakam--whose nature is a samvatsara; samamananti--they fully describe; tasya--the chariot of the sun-god; aksah--the axle; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; murdhani--on the top; krtah--fixed; manasottare--on the mountain known as Manasottara; krta--fixed; itara-bhagah--the other end; yatra--where; protam--fixed on; ravi-ratha-cakram--the wheel of the chariot of the sun-god; taila-yantra-cakra-vat--like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine; bhramat--moving; manasottara-girau--on Manasottara Mountain; paribhramati--turns.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as Samvatsara. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three catur-masya periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Manasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Manasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine.

 

                               TEXT 14

 

                                 TEXT

 

tasminn akse krtamulo dvitiyo 'ksas turyamanena sammitas taila-yantraksavad dhruve krtopari-bhagah.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tasmin akse--in that axle; krta-mulah--whose base is fixed; dvitiyah--a second; aksah--axle; turyamanena--by one fourth; sammitah--measured; taila-yantra-aksa-vat--like the axle of an oil-pressing machine; dhruve--to Dhruvaloka; krta--fixed; upari-bhagah--upper portion.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   As in an oil-pressing machine, this first axle is attached to a second axle, which is one-fourth as long [3,937,500 yojanas, or 31,500,000 miles]. The upper end of this second axle is attached to Dhruvaloka by a rope of wind.

 

                               TEXT 15

 

                                 TEXT

 

ratha-nidas tu sat-trimsal-laksa-yojanayatas tat-turiya-bhaga-visalas tavan ravi-ratha-yugo yatra hayas chando-namanah saptaruna-yojita vahanti devam adityam.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   ratha-nidah--the interior of the chariot; tu--but; sat-trimsat-laksa-yojana-ayatah--3,600,000 yojanas long; tat-turiya-bhaga--one quarter of that measure (900,000 yojanas); visalah--having a width; tavan--so much also; ravi-ratha-yugah--the yoke for the horses; yatra--where; hayah--horses; chandah-namanah--having the different names of Vedic meters; sapta--seven; aruna-yojitah--hooked up by Arunadeva; vahanti--carry; devam--the demigod; adityam--the sun-god.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My dear King, the carriage of the sun-god's chariot is estimated to be 3,600,000 yojanas [28,800,000 miles] long and one-fourth as wide [900,000 yojanas, or 7,200,000 miles]. The chariot's horses, which are named after Gayatri and other Vedic meters, are harnessed by Arunadeva to a yoke that is also 900,000 yojanas wide. This chariot continuously carries the sun-god.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the Visnu purana it is stated:

 

                       gayatri ca brhaty usnig

                        jagati tristup eva ca

                      anustup panktir ity uktas

                        chandamsi harayo raveh

 

   The seven horses yoked to the sun-god's chariot are named Gayatri, Brhati, Usnik, Jagati, Tristup, Anustup and Pankti. These names of various Vedic meters designate the seven horses that carry the sun-god's chariot.

 

                               TEXT 16

 

                                 TEXT

 

  purastat savitur arunah pascac ca niyuktah sautye karmani kilaste.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   purastat--in front; savituh--of the sun-god; arunah--the demigod named Aruna; pascat--looking backward; ca--and; niyuktah--engaged; sautye--of a charioteer; karmani--in the work; kila--certainly; aste--remains.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Although Arunadeva sits in front of the sun-god and is engaged in driving the chariot and controlling the horses, he looks backward toward the sun-god.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the Vayu Purana the position of the horses is described:

 

                       saptasva-rupa-cchandamsi

                         vahante vamato ravim

                        cakra-paksa-nibaddhani

                        cakre vaksah samahitah

 

   Although Arunadeva is in the front seat, controlling the horses, he looks back toward the sun-god from his left side.

 

                               TEXT 17

 

                                 TEXT

 

tatha valikhilya rsayo 'ngustha-parva-matrah sasti-sahasrani puratah suryam sukta-vakaya niyuktah samstuvanti.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatha--there; valikhilyah--Valikhilyas; rsayah--great sages; angustha-parva-matrah--whose size is that of a thumb; sasti-sahasrani--sixty thousand; puratah--in front; suryam--the sun-god; su-ukta-vakaya--for speaking eloquently; niyuktah--engaged; samstuvanti--offer prayers.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   There are sixty thousand saintly persons named Valikhilyas, each the size of a thumb, who are located in front of the sun-god and who offer him eloquent prayers of glorification.

 

                               TEXT 18

 

                                 TEXT

 

tathanye ca rsayo gandharvapsaraso naga gramanyo yatudhana deva ity ekaikaso ganah sapta caturdasa masi masi bhagavantam suryam atmanam nana-namanam prthan-nana-namanah prthak-karmabhir dvandvasa upasate.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   tatha--similarly; anye--others; ca--also; rsayah--saintly persons; gandharva-apsarasah--Gandharvas and Apsaras; nagah--Naga snakes; gramanyah--Yaksas; yatudhanah--Raksasas; devah--demigods; iti--thus; eka-ekasah--one by one; ganah--groups; sapta--seven; caturdasa--fourteen in number; masi masi--in every month; bhagavantam--unto the most powerful demigod; suryam--the sun-god; atmanam--the life of the universe; nana--various; namanam--who possesses names; prthak--separate; nana-namanah--having various names; prthak--separate; karmabhih--by ritualistic ceremonies; dvandvasah--in groups of two; upasate--worship.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   Similarly, fourteen other saints, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nagas, Yaksas, Raksasas and demigods, who are divided into groups of two, assume different names every month and continuously perform different ritualistic ceremonies to worship the Supreme Lord as the most powerful demigod Suryadeva, who holds many names.

 

                               PURPORT

 

   In the Visnu Purana it is said:

 

                       stuvanti munayah suryam

                       gandharvair giyate purah

                       nrtyanto 'psaraso yanti

                         suryasyanu nisacarah

 

                       vahanti pannaga yaksaih

                       kriyate 'bhisusangrahah

                       valikhilyas tathaivainam

                          parivarya samasate

 

                      so 'yam sapta-ganah surya-

                         mandale muni-sattama

                        himosna vari-vrstinam

                        hetutve samayam gatah

 

   Worshiping the most powerful demigod Surya, the Gandharvas sing in front of him, the Apsaras dance before the chariot, the Nisacaras follow the chariot, the Pannagas decorate the chariot, the Yaksas guard the chariot, and the saints called the Valikhilyas surround the sun-god and offer prayers. The seven groups of fourteen associates arrange the proper times for regular snow, heat and rain throughout the universe.

 

                               TEXT 19

 

                                 TEXT

 

laksottaram sardha-nava-koti-yojana-parimandalam bhu-valayasya ksanena sagavyuty-uttaram dvi-sahasra-yojanani sa bhunkte.

 

                               SYNONYMS

 

   laksa-uttaram--increased by 100,000; sardha--with 5,000,000; nava-koti-yojana--of 90,000,000 yojanas; parimandalam--circumference; bhu-valayasya--of the earthly sphere; ksanena--in one moment; sagavyuti-uttaram--augmented by two krosas (four miles); dvi-sahasra-yojanani--2,000 yojanas; sah--the sun-god; bhunkte--traverses.

 

                             TRANSLATION

 

   My dear King, in his orbit through Bhu-mandala, the sun-god traverses a distance of 95,100,000 yojanas [760,800,000 miles] at the speed of 2,000 yojanas and two krosas [16,004 miles] in a moment.

 

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Twenty-first Chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled, "The Movements of the Sun."


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