विष्णुपुराणम् — द्वितीयांशे एकादशोऽध्यायः | viṣṇupurāṇam

मैत्रेय उवाच ।

यदेतद्भगवानाह गणः सप्तविधो रवेः ।
मण्डले हिमतापादेः कारणं तन्मया श्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI O venerable one, I have heard your description of the sevenfold group within the Sun's orb, which you identified as the cause of cold, heat, and other seasonal phenomena.

२.११.२

व्यापारश्चापिकथितो गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् ।
ऋषीणां वालखिल्यानां तथैवाप्सरसां गुरो ॥

Summary AI O Teacher, you have also explained the various functions performed by the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākṣasas, Ṛṣis, Vālakhilyas, and Apsarases.

२.११.३

यक्षाणां च रथे भानोर्विष्णुशक्तिधृतात्मनाम् ।
किं चादित्यस्य यत्कर्म तन्नात्रोक्तं त्वया मुने ॥

Summary AI O Sage, while the roles of the Yakṣas—whose souls are sustained by Viṣṇu’s energy—were mentioned, you have not yet described the specific activities of the Sun god himself.

२.११.४

यदि सप्तगणो वारि हिममुष्णं च वर्षति ।
तत्किमत्र रवेर्येन वृष्टिः सूर्यादितीर्यते ॥

Summary AI If the sevenfold group is responsible for the discharge of water, frost, and heat, then what is the specific role of the Sun, given that rain is said to originate from him?

२.११.५

विवस्वानुदितो मध्ये यात्यस्तमिति किं जनः ।
ब्रवीत्येतत्समं कर्म यदि सप्तगणस्य तत् ॥

Summary AI If those tasks are performed equally by all members of the sevenfold group, why do people specifically say that the Sun rises, reaches the meridian, and sets?

पराशर उवाच ।

२.११.६

मैत्रेयश्रूयतामेतद्यद्भवान्परिपृच्चति ।
यथा सप्तगणोप्येकः प्राधान्येनाधिको रविः ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, listen to the explanation of your inquiry. Although the sevenfold group acts as a single unit, the Sun remains the most prominent and principal among them.

२.११.७

सर्वशक्तिः परा विष्णो ऋग्यजुःसामसंज्ञिता ।
सैषात्रयी तपत्यंहो जगतश्च हिनस्ति या ॥

Summary AI The supreme, all-encompassing power of Viṣṇu is designated as the three Vedas (Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma). This Trayī (triple radiance) shines and destroys the sins of the world.

२.११.८

सैष विष्णुः स्थितः स्थित्यां जगतः पालनोद्यतः ।
ऋग्यजुः सामभूतोन्तः सवितुर्द्विजतिष्ठति ॥

Summary AI O twice-born one, Viṣṇu, who is intent on preserving the universe, resides within the Sun in the form of the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas.

२.११.९

मासिमासि रविर्योयस्तत्र तत्र हि सा परा ।
त्रयीमयी विष्णुशक्तिरवस्थानं करोति वै ॥

Summary AI In every passing month, that supreme power of Viṣṇu, consisting of the three Vedas, remains present within whichever form the Sun takes.

२.११.१०

ऋचस्तुवन्तिः पूर्वाह्ने मध्याह्नेथ यजूंषि वै ।
बृहद्रथन्तरादीनि सामान्यह्नः क्षये रविम् ॥

Summary AI The Ṛg verses praise the Sun in the morning, the Yajur verses at noon, and the Sāma hymns, such as Bṛhat and Rathantara, at the close of the day.

२.११.११

अङ्गमेषा त्रयी विष्णो ऋग्यजुः सामसंज्ञिता ।
विष्णुशक्तिरवस्थानं सदादित्ये करोति सा ॥

Summary AI This triple collection known as Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma is an embodiment of Viṣṇu. That divine power of Viṣṇu is eternally stationed within the Sun.

२.११.१२

न केवलं रवेः शक्तिर्वैष्णवी सा त्रयीमयी ।
ब्रह्माथ पुरुषो रुद्रस्त्रयमेतत्त्रयीमयम् ॥

Summary AI That Vaiṣṇava power comprising the three Vedas is not limited to the Sun alone; Brahmā, Viṣṇu (as Puruṣa), and Rudra are also manifestations of this triple essence.

२.११.१३

सर्गादौ ऋङ्मयो ब्रह्मा स्थितौ विष्णुर्यजुर्मयः ।
रुद्रः साममयोन्ताय तस्मात्तस्याशुचिर्थ्वनिः ॥

Summary AI At creation's start, Brahmā consists of Ṛg; for preservation, Viṣṇu is Yajur; for dissolution, Rudra is Sāma. Hence, the Sāma sound is considered inauspicious for other studies during dissolution.

२.११.१४

एवं सा सात्त्विकी शक्तिर्वैष्णवी या त्रयीमयी ।
आत्मसप्तगणस्थं तं भास्वन्तमधितिष्ठति ॥

Summary AI Thus, that pure (sāttvika) power of Viṣṇu, which is the essence of the three Vedas, presides over the radiant Sun who is accompanied by his sevenfold group.

२.११.१५

तया चाधिष्ठितः सो ऽपि जाज्वलीति स्वरश्मिभिः ।
तमः समस्तजगतां नाशंनयति चाखिलम् ॥

Summary AI Empowered by that divine energy, the Sun shines brilliantly with his own rays and completely destroys the darkness of all the worlds.

२.११.१६

स्तुवन्ति चैनं मुनयो गन्धर्वैर्गीयते पुरः ।
नृत्यन्त्यो ऽप्सरसो यान्ति तस्य चानु निशाचराः ॥

Summary AI The Ṛṣis offer him praises, the Gandharvas sing in front of him, the Apsarases dance, and the Nisācaras (demons) follow in his wake.

२.११.१७

वहन्ति पन्नगा यक्षैः क्रियते ऽभीषुसंग्रहः ।
वालखिल्यास्तथैवैनं परिवार्य समासते ॥

Summary AI The serpents carry him, the Yakṣas manage the reins, and the Vālakhilyas surround him as his attendants.

२.११.१८

नोदेता नास्तमेता च कदाचिच्छक्तिरूपधृक् ।
विष्णुर्विष्णोः पृथक्तस्य गणाःसप्तविधो ऽप्ययम् ॥

Summary AI Viṣṇu, in the form of this power, never truly rises or sets. This sevenfold group remains distinct from the essence of Viṣṇu himself.

२.११.१९

स्तम्भस्थदर्पणस्येव यो ऽयमासन्नतां गतः ।
छायादर्शनसंयोगं स तं प्राप्नोत्यथात्मनः ॥

Summary AI Just as one sees their own reflection in a mirror fixed to a pillar, the group in proximity to the divine power attains a reflection or vision of its own nature.

२.११.२०

एवं सा वैष्णवी शक्तिर्नैवापैति ततो द्विज ।
मासानुमासं भास्वन्तमध्यास्ते तत्र संस्थितम् ॥

Summary AI O twice-born one, in this manner, the Vaiṣṇava power never departs from the Sun; month after month, it resides within the radiant Sun stationed there.

२.११.२१

पितृदेवमनुष्यादीन्स सदाप्याययन्प्रभुः ।
परिवर्तत्यहोरात्रकारणं सविता द्वज ॥

Summary AI O twice-born one! That powerful Lord Savitā, the cause of day and night, continuously revolves, nourishing the ancestors, gods, humans, and all other beings.

२.११.२२

सूर्यरश्मिसुषुम्णायस्तर्पितस्तेन चन्द्रमाः ।
कृष्णपक्षेमरैः शश्वत्पीयते वै सुधामयः ॥

Summary AI The moon, having been nourished by the solar ray known as Suṣumṇa, becomes full of nectar and is continuously consumed by the immortals during the dark fortnight.

२.११.२३

पीतं तं द्विकलं सोमं कृष्णपक्षक्षये द्विज ।
पिबन्ति पतरस्तेषां भास्करात्तर्पमं तथा ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, at the end of the dark fortnight, the ancestors consume the remaining two digits of the moon; thus, they receive their satisfaction through the sun.

२.११.२४

आदत्ते रश्मिभिर्यंतु क्षितिसंस्थं रसं रविः ।
तमुत्सृजति भूतानां पुष्ट्यर्थं सस्यवृद्धये ॥

Summary AI The sun draws up moisture from the earth using its rays and then releases it for the nourishment of all beings and the growth of grain.

२.११.२५

तेन प्रीणात्यशेषाणि भूतानि भगवान्रविः ।
पितृदेवमनुष्यादीनेवमाप्याययत्यसौ ॥

Summary AI Through this cycle, the divine Sun gladdens all living entities; in this manner, he provides sustenance to the ancestors, gods, humans, and others.

२.११.२६

पक्षतृप्तिं तु देवानां पितॄणां चैव मासिकीम् ।
शश्वत्तृप्तिं च मर्त्यानां मैत्रेयार्कः प्रयच्छति ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, the sun provides fortnightly satisfaction to the gods, monthly satisfaction to the ancestors, and constant daily nourishment to mortals.

इति श्रीविष्णुमहापुराणे द्वितीयेंश एकादशो ऽध्यायः ।

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