विष्णुपुराणम् — द्वितीयांशे अष्टमोऽध्यायः

प्राशर उवाच ।

व्याख्यातमैतद्ब्रह्मण्डसंस्थानं तव सुव्रत ।
ततः प्रमाणसंस्थाने सूर्यादीनां शृणुष्व मै ॥

Summary AI Parāśara informs Maitreya that having explained the structure of the universe, he will now describe the dimensions and arrangements of Sūrya and other celestial bodies.

२.८.२

योजनानां सहस्राणि भास्करस्य रथो नव ।
ईषादण्डस्तथैवास्य द्विगुणो मुनिसत्तम ॥

Summary AI The chariot of Bhāskara measures nine thousand yojanas in length, and its pole-shaft is twice that distance, totaling eighteen thousand yojanas.

२.८.३

सार्धकोटिस्तथा सप्त नियुतान्यधिकानि वै ।
योजनानां तु तस्याक्षस्तत्र चक्रं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

Summary AI The axle of the chariot is fifteen million seven hundred thousand yojanas long, upon which the wheel is firmly established.

२.८.४

त्रिनाभिमति पञ्चारे षण्णेमिन्यत्रयात्मके ।
संवत्सरमये कृत्स्त्रं कालचक्रं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

Summary AI The entire wheel of time, representing the year, is fixed there. It possesses three hubs, five spokes, and six rims, embodying a triple nature.

२.८.५

हयाश्च सप्तच्छदांसि तेषां नामानि मे शृणु ।
गायत्री च बृहत्युष्णिग्जगती त्रिष्टुभेव च ।
अनुष्टुप्पङ्क्तिरित्युक्ता छन्दांसि हरयो रवेः ॥

Summary AI Hear the names of the seven horses of Ravi, which are the Vedic meters: Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, Uṣṇih, Jagatī, Triṣṭup, Anuṣṭup, and Paṅkti.

२.८.६

चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि द्वितीयो ऽक्षो विवस्वतः ।
पञ्चान्यानि तु सार्धानि स्यन्दनस्य महामते ॥

Summary AI The second axle of the chariot of Vivasvān measures forty-five thousand five hundred yojanas in length.

२.८.७

आक्षप्रमाणमुभयोः प्रमाणं तद्युगार्धयो ।
ह्रस्वोक्षस्तद्युगार्धेन ध्रुवाधारो रथस्य वै ।
द्वितीयेक्षे तु तच्चक्रं सस्थितं मानसाचले ॥

Summary AI The axles correspond to the half-yokes; the shorter axle is supported by Dhruva, while the wheel on the second axle is positioned on Mount Mānasottara.

२.८.८

मानसोत्तरशैलस्य पूर्वतो वासवी पुरी ।
दक्षिणे तु यम स्यान्याप्रतीच्यां वरुणस्य च ।
उत्तरेण च सोमस्य तासां नामानि मे शृणु ॥

Summary AI To the east of Mount Mānasottara lies Indra's city; to the south is Yama's, to the west is Varuṇa's, and to the north is Soma's. Hear their names.

२.८.९

वस्वौकसारा शक्रस्य याम्या संयमनी तथा ।
पुरी सुखाजलेशस्य सोमस्य च विभावरी ॥

Summary AI The city of Śakra is Vasvaukasārā, Yama's is Saṃyamanī, Varuṇa's is Sukhā, and Soma's city is named Vibhāvarī.

२.८.१०

काष्ठां गतो दक्षिणतः क्षिप्तेषुरिव सर्पति ।
मैत्रेय भगवान्भानुर्ज्योतिषां चक्रसंयुतः ॥

Summary AI Joined by the circle of celestial lights, Lord Bhānu glides like an arrow shot from a bow when he moves toward the southern quarter, O Maitreya.

२.८.११

अहोरात्रव्यवस्थानकारणं भगवान्रविः ।
देवयानः परः पन्था योगिनां क्लेशसंक्षये ॥

Summary AI Lord Ravi is the cause of the arrangement of day and night. He is the supreme Devayāna path for yogīs seeking the destruction of all worldly afflictions.

२.८.१२

दिवसस्य वरिर्मध्ये सर्वाकालं व्यवस्थितः ।
सर्वद्वीपेषु मैत्रेय निशार्धस्य च सन्मुखः ॥

Summary AI The Sun is perpetually positioned such that he is at the meridian for some regions while simultaneously facing the middle of the night for others across all continents.

२.८.१३

उदयास्तमने चैव सर्वकालं तु संमुखे ।
विदिशासु त्वशेषासु तथा ब्रह्मन्दिशासु च ॥

Summary AI Sunrise and sunset are always occurring simultaneously across all cardinal and intermediate directions throughout time, O Brāhmaṇa.

२.८.१४

यैर्यत्र दृश्यते भास्वान्स तेषामुदयः स्मृतः ।
तिरोभावं च यत्रैति तत्रैवास्तमनं रवेः ॥

Summary AI Wherever the Sun is seen by people, that is considered his sunrise for them. Wherever he disappears from sight, that is marked as his sunset.

२.८.१५

नैवास्तमनमर्कस्य नोदयः सर्वदा सतः ।
उदयास्तमनाख्यं हि दर्शनादर्शनं रवेः ॥

Summary AI For Arka, who is eternally present, there is truly no rising or setting. What are called sunrise and sunset are merely the visibility and invisibility of the Sun.

२.८.१६

शक्रादीनां पुरे तिष्ठन्स्पृशत्येष पुरत्रयम् ।
विकोणौ द्वौ विकोणस्थस्त्रीन्कोणान्द्वे पुरे तथा ॥

Summary AI Positioned over the cities of Śakra and others, the Sun's light touches three cities and two corners, or three corners and two cities respectively.

२.८.१७

उदितो वर्धमानाभिरामध्याह्नात्तपन्रविः ।
ततः परं ह्रसन्तीभिर्गोभिरस्तं नियच्छति ॥

Summary AI From the moment of rising, Ravi shines with increasing intensity until midday; thereafter, he moves toward his setting with rays that gradually diminish.

२.८.१८

उदयास्तमनाभ्यां च स्मृते पूर्वापरे दिशौ ।
यावत्पुरस्तात्तपति तावत्पृष्ठे च पार्श्वयोः ॥

Summary AI The directions of east and west are defined by the Sun's rising and setting. He illuminates as much in front of him as he does behind and to his sides.

२.८.१९

ऋते ऽमरगिरेर्मेरोरुपरि ब्रह्मणः सभाम् ।
येये मरीचयोर्कस्य प्रयान्ति ब्रह्मणः सभाम् ।
तेते निरस्तास्तद्भासा प्रतीपमुपयान्ति वै ॥

Summary AI Except for the summit of Mount Meru, the Sun's rays reach everywhere. Rays entering the assembly of Brahmā are repelled by its superior brilliance and turn back.

२.८.२०

तस्माद्दिश्युत्तरस्यां वै दिवारात्रिः सदैव हि ।
सर्वेषां द्वीपवर्षाणां सेरुरुत्तरतो यतः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, the sequence of day and night is perpetually maintained in the northern direction, as Mount Meru is situated to the north of all continents.

२.८.२१

प्रभा विवस्वतो रात्रावस्तं गच्छति भास्करे ।
विशत्यग्निमतो रात्रौ वह्निर्दूरात्प्रकाशते ॥

Summary AI When the Sun sets, the light of Vivasvat enters the fire at night. Therefore, fire shines from a distance during the night.

२.८.२२

वह्नोः प्रभा तथा भानुर्दिनेष्वाविशति द्विज ।
अतीव वह्निसंयोगादतः सूर्यः प्रकाशते ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, similarly, the Sun enters the light of the fire during the days. Thus, the Sun shines intensely due to its union with fire.

२.८.२३

तेजसी भास्कराग्नेये प्रकाशोष्णस्वरूपिणी ।
परस्परानुप्रवेशादाप्यायेते दिवानिशम् ॥

Summary AI The two splendors of the Sun and fire, characterized by light and heat respectively, nourish each other day and night through mutual interpenetration.

२.८.२४

दक्षिणोत्तरभूम्यर्ध समुत्तिष्ठति भास्करे ।
आहोरात्रं विशत्यम्भस्तमः प्राकाश्यशीलवत् ॥

Summary AI As the Sun rises over the southern and northern hemispheres of the earth, light and darkness alternately enter the waters throughout the day and night.

२.८.२५

आताम्रा हि भवत्यापो दिवानक्तप्रवेशनात् ।
दिनं विशति चैवांभो भास्करेस्तमुपेयुषि ।
तस्माच्छुक्ला भवन्त्यापो नक्तमह्नः प्रवेशनात् ॥

Summary AI The waters become reddish due to the alternate entry of day and night. When the Sun sets, the day enters the waters; therefore, at night, the waters appear white because of the entry of the day.

२.८.२६

एवं पुष्करमध्येन यदा याति दिवाकरः ।
त्रिंशद्भागस्तु मेदिन्यास्तदा मौहूर्तिकी गतिः ॥

Summary AI When the Sun travels through the middle of Puṣkara, its movement across a thirtieth part of the earth constitutes the duration of a muhūrta.

२.८.२७

कुलालचक्रपर्यन्ते भ्रमन्नेष दिवाकरः ।
करोत्यहस्तथा रात्रिं विमुञ्चन्मेदिनीं द्विजः ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, the Sun, revolving like the circumference of a potter’s wheel, creates day and night while traversing the earth.

२.८.२८

अयनस्योत्तरस्यादौ मकरं याति भास्करः ।
ततः कुम्भं च मीनं च राशे राश्यन्तरं द्विज ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, at the beginning of the northern solstice, the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn), and then proceeds from one sign to another, namely Kumbha (Aquarius) and Mīna (Pisces).

२.८.२९

त्रिष्वेतेष्वथ भुक्तेषु ततो वैषुवतीं गतिम् ।
प्रयाति सविता कुर्वन्नहोरात्रं ततः समम् ॥

Summary AI After passing through these three signs, the Sun reaches the equinoctial point, making the day and night of equal duration.

२.८.३०

ततो रात्रिः क्षयं याति ।
वर्धते ऽनुदिनं दिनम् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, the night decreases and the day increases day by day.

२.८.३१

ततश्च मिथुनस्यान्ते परां काष्ठामुपागतः ।
राशिं कर्कटकं प्राप्य कुरुते दक्षिणायनम् ॥

Summary AI Then, reaching the extreme limit at the end of Mithuna (Gemini) and entering the sign of Karkaṭaka (Cancer), the Sun begins the southern solstice (dakṣiṇāyana).

२.८.३२

कुलालचक्रपर्यन्तो यथाशीघ्रं प्रवर्तते ।
दक्षिणप्रक्रमे सूर्यस्तथा शीघ्रं प्रवर्तते ॥

Summary AI Just as the circumference of a potter’s wheel moves rapidly, so the Sun moves swiftly during its southern course.

२.८.३३

अतिवेगितया कालं वायुवेगबलाच्चरन् ।
तस्मात्प्रकष्टां भूमिं तु कालेनाल्पेन गच्छति ॥

Summary AI Moving through time with great velocity driven by the force of the wind, the Sun traverses a vast extent of the earth in a short period.

२.८.३४

सूर्यो द्वादशभिः शैघ्र्यान्मुहूर्ते दक्षिणायने ।
त्रयोदशार्धमृक्षाणामह्ना तु चरति द्विज ।
मुहूर्तैस्तावदृक्षाणि नक्तमष्टादशैश्चरन् ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, during the southern solstice (dakṣiṇāyana), the Sun swiftly traverses thirteen and a half constellations in twelve muhūrtas of day, and the same number of constellations in eighteen muhūrtas of night.

२.८.३५

कुलालचक्रमध्यस्थो यथा मन्दं प्रसर्पति ।
तथोदगयने सूर्यः सर्पते मन्दविक्रमः ॥

Summary AI Just as the middle portion of a potter's wheel moves slowly, so the Sun moves with slow speed during the northern solstice (uttarāyaṇa).

२.८.३६

तस्माद्दीर्घेण कालेन भूमिमल्पां तु गच्चति ।
अष्टादशसुहूर्तं यदुत्तरायणपश्चिमम् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, it traverses a small portion of the earth in a long time, such as during the end of the northern solstice when the day lasts eighteen muhūrtas.

२.८.३७

अहर्भवति तच्चापि ।
चरते मन्दविक्रमः ॥

Summary AI That day indeed occurs, and the Sun travels with a slow pace.

२.८.३८

त्रयोदशार्धमह्ना तु ऋक्षाणां चरते रविः ।
मुहूर्तैस्तावदृक्षाणि रात्रौ द्वादशभिश्चरन् ॥

Summary AI The Sun traverses thirteen and a half constellations during eighteen muhūrtas of day, and the same number of constellations during twelve muhūrtas of night.

२.८.३९

अतो मन्दतरं नाभ्यां चक्रं भ्रमति वै यथा ।
मृत्पिण्ड इव मध्यस्थो ध्रुवो भ्रमति वै तथा ॥

Summary AI Just as the wheel rotates most slowly at the nave, similarly Dhruva (the Pole Star) revolves like a lump of clay situated in the center.

२.८.४०

कुलालचक्रनाभिस्तु यथा तत्रैववर्तते ।
ध्रुवस्तथा हि मैत्रेय तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, just as the nave of the potter’s wheel remains fixed in its place, so indeed does Dhruva revolve in that very spot.

२.८.४१

उभयोः काष्ठयोर्मध्ये भ्रमतो मण्डलानि तु ।
दिवा नक्तं च सूर्यस्य मन्दा शीघ्राच वै गतिः ॥

Summary AI While moving through the orbits between the two solstitial points, the Sun's speed is alternatively slow and fast during the day and night.

२.८.४२

मन्दाह्नि यस्मिन्नयने शीघ्रा नक्तं तदा गतिः ।
शीघ्रा निशि यदा चास्य तदा मन्दा दिवा गतिः ॥

Summary AI During the solstice when the Sun's motion is slow during the day, its speed is fast at night. Conversely, when its speed is fast at night, its motion is slow during the day.

२.८.४३

एक प्रमाणमेवैष मार्गं याति दिवाकरः ।
अहोरात्रेण यो भुङ्क्ते समस्ता राशयो द्विज ॥

Summary AI O twice-born, the Sun travels a path of uniform measure, traversing all the zodiac signs (rāśi) in the course of a single day and night.

२.८.४४

षडेव राशीन्यो भुङ्क्ते ।
रात्रावन्यांश्च षड्दिवा ॥

Summary AI The Sun traverses six zodiac signs during the night and the remaining six during the day.

२.८.४५

राशिप्रमाणजनिता दीर्घह्रस्वात्मता दिने ।
तथा निशायां राशीनां प्रमाणैर्लघुदीर्घता ॥

Summary AI The length or shortness of the day is determined by the duration of the zodiac signs; similarly, the duration of the signs causes the length or shortness of the night.

२.८.४६

दिनादेर्दिर्घह्रस्वत्वं तद्भोगेनैव जायते ।
उत्तरे प्रक्रमे शीघ्रा निशि मन्दा गतिर्दिवा ॥

Summary AI The variation in the length of days arises from the Sun's transit through these signs. During its northern course, its speed is fast at night and slow during the day.

२.८.४७

दक्षिणे त्वयने चैव ।
विपरीतां विवस्वतः ॥

Summary AI In the southern solstice, however, the movement of the Sun (Vivasvat) is exactly the opposite.

२.८.४८

उषा रात्रिः समाख्याताव्युष्टिश्चाप्युच्यते दिनम् ।
प्रोच्यते च तथा संध्या उषाव्युष्ट्योर्यदन्तरम् ॥

Summary AI Night is designated as uṣā, and day is called vyuṣṭi. The interval that lies between uṣā and vyuṣṭi is known as sandhyā (twilight).

२.८.४९

संध्याकाले च संप्राप्ते रौद्रे परमदारुणे ।
मन्देहा राक्षसा घोराः सूर्यमिच्छिन्ति खादितुम् ॥

Summary AI When the fierce and extremely terrible hour of twilight arrives, the formidable Mandeha demons desire to devour the Sun.