> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 5

> > *******

> > Chapter Twenty-one: The Movements of the Sun

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > etâvân eva bhû-valayasya sannivesah pramâna-laksanato

> > vyâkhyâtah.

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; etâvân--so much; eva--certainly; bhû-valayasya sannivesah--the arrangement of the whole universe; pramâna-laksanatah--according to measurement (fifty crores of yojanas, or four billion miles in width and length) and characteristics; vyâkhyâtah--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

> > etena hi divo mandala-mânam tad-vida upadisanti yathâ dvi-dalayor

> > nispâvâdînâm te antarenântariksam tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.

> > etena--by this estimation; hi--indeed; divah--of the upper planetary system; mandala-mânam--the measurement of the globe; tat-vidah--the experts who know about it; upadisanti--instruct; yathâ--just as; dvi-dalayoh--in the two halves; nispâva-âdînâm--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

> > yan-madhya-gato bhagavâms tapatâm patis tapana âtapena tri-lokîm

> > pratapaty avabhâsayaty âtma-bhâsâ sa esa udagayana-daksinâyana-

> > vaisuvata-samjnâbhir mândya-saighrya-samânâbhir gatibhir

> > ârohanâvarohana-samâna-sthânesu yathâ-savanam abhipadyamâno

> > makarâdisu râsisv aho-râtrâni dîrgha-hrasva-samânâni vidhatte.

> > yat--of which (the intermediate space); madhya-gatah--being situated in the middle; bhagavân--the most powerful; tapatâm patih--the master of those that heat the whole universe; tapanah--the sun; âtapena--by heat; tri-lokîm--the three worlds; pratapati--heats; avabhâsayati--lights; âtma-bhâsâ--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; samjnâbhih--by different names; mândya--characterized by slowness; saighrya--swiftness; samânâbhih--and by equality; gatibhih--by movement; ârohana--of rising; avarohana--of going down; samâna--or of staying in the middle; sthânesu--in positions; yathâ-savanam--according to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhipadyamânah--moving; makara-âdisu--headed by the sign Makara (Capricorn); râsisu--in different signs; ahah-râtrâni--the days and nights; dîrgha--long; hrasva--short; samânâni--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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > yadâ mesa-tulayor vartate tadâho-râtrâni samânâni bhavanti yadâ

> > vrsabhâdisu pancasu ca râsisu carati tadâhâny eva vardhante hra-

> > sati ca mâsi mâsy ekaikâ ghatikâ râtrisu.

> > yadâ--when; mesa-tulayoh--in Mesa (Aries) and Tulâ (Libra); vartate--the sun exists; tadâ--at that time; ahah-râtrâni--the days and nights; samânâni--equal in duration; bhavanti--are; yadâ--when; vrsabha-âdisu--headed by Vrsabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini); pancasu--in the five; ca--also; râsisu--signs; carati--moves; tadâ--at that time; ahâni--the days; eva--certainly; vardhante--increase; hrasati--is diminished; ca--and; mâsi mâsi--in every month; eka-ekâ--one; ghatikâ--half hour; râtrisu--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

> > yadâ vrscikâdisu pancasu vartate tadâho-râtrâni viparyayâni bhavanti.

> > yadâ--when; vrscika-âdisu--headed by Vrscika (Scorpio); pancasu--five; vartate--remains; tadâ--at that time; ahah-râtrâni--the days and nights; viparyayâni--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

> > yâvad daksinâyanam ahâni vardhante yâvad udagayanam râtrayah.

> > yâvat--until; daksina-ayanam--the sun passes to the southern side; ahâni--the days; vardhante--increase; yâvat--until; udagayanam--the sun passes to the northern side; râtrayah--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

> > evam nava kotaya eka-pancâsal-laksâni yojanânâm mânasottara-

> > giri-parivartanasyopadisanti tasminn aindrîm purîm pûrvasmân meror

> > devadhânîm nâma daksinato yâmyâm samyamanîm nâma pascâd

> > vârunîm nimlocanîm nâma uttaratah saumyâm vibhâvarîm nâma

> > tâsûdaya-madhyâhnâstamaya-nisîthânîti bhûtânâm pravrtti-nivrtti-

> > nimittâni samaya-visesena meros catur-disam.

> > evam--thus; nava--nine; kotayah--ten millions; eka-pancâsat--fifty-one; laksâni--hundred thousands; yojanânâm--of the yojanas; mânasottara-giri--of the mountain known as Mânasottara; parivar-tanasya--of the circumambulation; upadisanti--they (learned scholars) teach; tasmin--on that (Mânasottara Mountain); aindrîm--of King Indra; purîm--the city; pûrvasmât--on the eastern side; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; devadhânîm--Devadhânî; nâma--of the name; daksinatah--on the southern side; yâmyâm--of Yamarâja; samyamanîm--Samyamanî; nâma--named; pascât--on the western side; vârunîm--of Varuna; nimlocanîm--Nimlocanî; nâma--named; uttaratah--on the northern side; saumyâm--of the moon; vibhâvarîm--Vibhâvarî; nâma--named; tâsu--in all of them; udaya--rising; madhyâhna--midday; astamaya--sunset; nisîthâni--midnight; iti--thus; bhûtânâm--of the living entities; pravrtti--of activity; nivrtti--and cessation of activity; nimittâni--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 Mahasottara 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8-9

> > tatratyânâm divasa-madhyangata eva sadâdityas tapati savyenâcalam

> > daksinena karoti. yatrodeti tasya ha samâna-sûtra-nipâte nimlocati

> > yatra kvacana syandenâbhitapati tasya haisa samâna-sûtra-nipâte

> > prasvâpayati tatra gatam na pasyanti ye tam samanupasyeran.

> > tatratyânâm--for the living entities residing on Mount Meru; divasa-madhyangatah--being positioned as at midday; eva--indeed; sadâ--always; âdityah--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; samâna-sûtra-nipâte--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); samâna-sûtra-nipâte--at the diametrically opposite point; prasvâpayati--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

> > yadâ caindryâh puryâh pracalate pancadasa-ghatikâbhir yâmyâm

> > sapâda-koti-dvayam yojanânâm sârdha-dvâdasa-laksâni sâdhikâni

> > copayâti.

> > yadâ--when; ca--and; aindryâh--of Indra; puryâh--from the residence; pracalate--it moves; pancadasa--by fifteen; ghatikâbhih--half hours (actually twenty-four minutes); yâmyâm--to the residence of Yamarâja; sapâda-koti-dvayam--two and a quarter crores (22,500,000); yojanânâm--of yojanas; sârdha--and one half; dvâdasa-laksâni--twelve hundred thousand; sâdhikâni--twenty-five thousand more; ca--and; upayâti--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].

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > evam tato vârunîm saumyâm aindrîm ca punas tathânye ca grahâh

> > somâdayo naksatraih saha jyotis-cakre samabhyudyanti saha vâ

> > nimlocanti.

> > evam--in this way; tatah--from there; vârunîm--to the quarters where Varuna lives; saumyâm--to the quarters where the moon lives; aindrîm ca--and to the quarters where Indra lives; punah--again; tathâ--so also; anye--the others; ca--also; grahâh--planets; soma-âdayah--headed by the moon; naksatraih--all the stars; saha--with; jyotih-cakre--in the celestial sphere; samabhyudyanti--rise; saha--along with; vâ--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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > evam muhûrtena catus-trimsal-laksa-yojanâny asta-satâdhikâni sauro

> > rathas trayîmayo 'sau catasrsu parivartate purîsu.

> > evam--thus; muhûrtena--in a muhûrta (forty-eight minutes); catuh-trimsat--thirty-four; laksa--hundred thousands; yojanâni--yojanas; asta-satâ-dhikâni--increased by eight hundred; saurah rathah--the chariot of the sun-god; trayî-mayah--which is worshiped by the Gâyatrî mantra (om bhûr bhuvah svah tat savitur, etc.); asau--that; catasrsu--to the four; parivartate--he moves; purîsu--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

> > yasyaikam cakram dvâdasâram san-nemi tri-nâbhi

> > samvatsarâtmakam samâmananti tasyâkso meror mûrdhani krto

> > mânasottare krtetara-bhâgo yatra protam ravî-ratha-cakram

> > taila-yantra-cakravad bhraman mânosottara-girau paribhramati.

> > yasya--of which; ekam--one; cakram--wheel; dvâdasa--twelve; aram--spokes; sat--six; nemi--the segments of the rim; tri-nâbhi--the three pieces of the hub; samvatsara-âtmakam--whose nature is a samvatsara; samâmananti--they fully describe; tasya--the chariot of the sun-god; aksah--the axle; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; mûrdhani--on the top; krtah--fixed; mânasottare--on the mountain known as Mânasottara; krta--fixed; itara-bhâgah--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; mânasottara-girau--on Mânasottara 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

> > tasminn akse krtamûlo dvitîyo 'ksas turyamânena sammitas

> > taila-yantrâksavad dhruve krtopari-bhâgah.

> > tasmin akse--in that axle; krta-mûlah--whose base is fixed; dvitîyah--a second; aksah--axle; turyamânena--by one fourth; sammitah--measured; taila-yantra-aksa-vat--like the axle of an oil-pressing machine; dhruve--to Dhruvaloka; krta--fixed; upari-bhâgah--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

> > ratha-nîdas tu sat-trimsal-laksa-yojanâyatas tat-turîya-bhâga-visâlas

> > tâvân ravi-ratha-yugo yatra hayâs chando-nâmânah saptâruna-yojitâ

> > vahanti devam âdityam.

> > ratha-nîdah--the interior of the chariot; tu--but; sat-trimsat-laksa-yojana-âyatah--3,600,000 yojanas long; tat-turîya-bhâga--one quarter of that measure (900,000 yojanas); visâlah--having a width; tâvân--so much also; ravi-ratha-yugah--the yoke for the horses; yatra--where; hayâh--horses; chandah-nâmânah--having the different names of Vedic meters; sapta--seven; aruna-yojitâh--hooked up by Arunadeva; vahanti--carry; devam--the demigod; âdityam--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 [900,00O 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > purastât savitur arunah pascâc ca niyuktah sautye karmani kilâste.

> > purastât--in front; savituh--of the sun-god; arunah--the demigod named Aruna; pascât--looking backward; ca--and; niyuktah--engaged; sautye--of a charioteer; karmani--in the work; kila--certainly; âste--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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > tathâ vâlakhilyâ rsayo 'ngustha-parva-mâtrâh sasti-sahasrâni puratah

> > sûryam sûkta-vâkâya niyuktâh samstuvanti.

> > tathâ--there; vâlikhilyâh--Vâlikhilyas; rsayah--great sages; angustha-parva-mâtrâh--whose size is that of a thumb; sasti-sahasrâni--sixty thousand; puratah--in front; sûryam--the sun-god; su-ukta-vâkâya--for speaking eloquently; niyuktâh--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

> > tathânye ca rsayo gandharvâpsaraso nâgâ grâmanyo yâtudhânâ devâ

> > ity ekaikaso ganâh sapta caturdasa mâsi mâsi bhagavantam sûryam

> > âtmânam nânâ-nâmânam prthan-nânâ-nâmânah prthak-karmabhir

> > dvandvasa upâsate.

> > tathâ--similarly; anye--others; ca--also; rsayah--saintly persons; gandharva-apsarasah--Gandharvas and Apsarâs; nâgâh--Nâga snakes; grâmanyah--Yaksas; yâtudhânâh--Râksasas; devâh--demigods; iti--thus; eka-ekasah--one by one; ganâh--groups; sapta--seven; caturdasa--fourteen in number; mâsi mâsi--in every month; bhagavantam--unto the most powerful demigod; sûryam--the sun-god; âtmânam--the life of the universe; nânâ--various; nâmânam--who possesses names; prthak--separate; nânâ-nâmânah--having various names; prthak--separate; karmabhih--by ritualistic ceremonies; dvandvasah--in groups of two; upâsate--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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > laksottaram sârdha-nava-koti-yojana-parimandalam bhû-valayasya

> > ksanena sagavyûty-uttaram dvi-sahasra-yojanâni sa bhunkte.

> > laksa-uttaram--increased by 100,000; sârdha--with 5,000,000; nava-koti-yojana--of 90,000,000 yojanas; parimandalam--circumference; bhû-valayasya--of the earthly sphere; ksanena--in one moment; sagavyûti-uttaram--augmented by two krosas (four miles); dvi-sahasra-yojanâni--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 [760,800,0O0 miles] at the speed of 2,000 yojanas and two krosas [16,004 miles] in a moment.

> > Back to the running text