SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 5

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus far I managed to tell you about the estimates of the measurement and the characteristics of the arrangement of the whole universe.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus far I so could with certainty tell you about the estimates of the measurement and the characteristics of the arrangement of the whole universe. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The experts are able to estimate and instruct on the form of the globe of the sky above, that, just as with the two halves of a grain of wheat, is divided in the two adjoining parts of the outer space on both sides.

The experts are able to estimate and instruct on the form of the globe of the sky above, that, just as with the two halves of a grain of wheat, is divided in the two adjoining parts of the outer space on both sides. (Vedabase)

Text 3

In the middle is situated the most powerful master of all the heavenly bodies governing, the burning sun, that by its heat heats the three worlds and lights them by its rays. That sunglobe passing through the north, through the south or crossing the equator, is known differently depending on its slowness, swiftness or equality of movement. In its rising and setting or staying up in different positions, is it, while it as ordained moves through the different signs of the zodiac, making long days, short days or days of equal length.

(3) In the middle is situated the most powerful master of all the heavenly bodies governing, the burning sun, that by his heat heats the three worlds and lights them by his rays; that sunglobe passing through the north and through the south or crossing the equator is known differently depending on his slowness or swiftness or equality of movement in rising and setting or staying up in different positions, as ordained moving through the different signs of the zodiac, making long days, short days or days of equal length. (Vedabase)

Text 4

When the sun is in the first sign and the sign counterbalancing [Mesha and Tulâ, or at the equinoxes], are at that time the days and nights of an equal length, and when it moves through the five first ones headed by Taurus and Gemini do the days [at first] certainly increase and do the nights decrease by half an hour every month [depending on the latitude].

When the sun is in the first sign and the sign counterbalancing [Mesha and Tulâ, or at the equinoxes] are at that time the days and nights of an equal length, and when he moves through the five first ones headed by Taurus and Gemini do the days [at first] certainly increase and do the nights decrease by half an hour every month [depending on the latitude]. (Vedabase)

Text 5

The time he stays in the five of Scorpio are the days and nights of the opposite.

The time he stays in the five of Scorpio are the days and nights of the opposite. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Until the sun passes through the south are the days longer and until he passes through the north are the nights longer.

Until the sun passes through the south are the days longer and until he passes through the north are the nights longer. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Thus encircling with an orbit to the Mânasottara mountains of ninety-five million one hundred thousand yojanas long, so the scholars teach [see footnote], is on the east of Meru found Devadhânî, the city of King Indra, south of it the one named Samyamanî of Yamarâja, in the west the one named Nimlocanî of Varuna, and in the north the one of the moon named Vibhâvarî. At all of these four sides of Meru thus making for the sunrise, the sunset, the noon and the midst of night, causes he the particular times of the living beings to be active or to cease their activity.

Thus encircling with an orbit to the Mânasottara mountains of ninety-five million one hundred thousand yojanas long, so the scholars teach [see footnote], is on the east of Meru found Devadhânî, the city of king Indra, south of it the one named Samyamanî of Yamarâja, in the west the one named Nimlocanî of Varuna, and in the north the one of the moon named Vibhâvarî. At all of these four sides of Meru thus making for the sunrise, the sunset, the noon and the midst of night causes he the particular times of the living beings to be active or to cease activity. (Vedabase)

Text 8-9

The ones living there are, positioned to the middle of the day, by the sun always heated; to the left of the immovable and to the right is where he moves from the point of rising to that position diametrically opposite where he is sure to set. There where one sees the sun no longer because he has set does it cause the people to sleep while diametrically opposite to that place he is sure to make the people sweat heating them.

The ones living there are, positioned to the middle of the day, by the sun always heated; to the left of the immovable [the mountain] and to the right is where he moves from the point of rising to that position diametrically opposite where he is sure to set. There where one sees the sun no longer because he has set does it cause the people to sleep while diametrically opposite to that place he is sure to make the people sweat heating them. (Vedabase)

Text 10

When the sun in fifteen ghathikâs [six hours] moves from the residence of Indra to that of Yamarâja covers it a distance of 23.775.000 yojanas [a quarter of the circumference].

When he in fifteen ghathikâs [six hours] moves from the residence of Indra to that of Yamarâja covers he a distance of 23.775.000 yojanas [a quarter of the circumference]. (Vedabase)

Text 11

From there goes it this way from where Varuna resides to the realm of the moon and then again to the place of Indra with which also the other planets and stars headed by the moon are seen rising and setting in the celestial sky.

From there goes he this way from where Varuna resides to the realm of the moon and then again to the place of Indra with which also the other planets and stars headed by the moon are seen rising and setting in the celestial sky. (Vedabase)

Text 12

So does the vehicle of the sungod, known by the three of heaven, earth and the vital sphere, in 3.400.800 yojanas in a muhûrta [modern science: 39.163 million km/hr] move through the four residences.

So does the vehicle of the sungod, known by the three of heaven, earth and the vital sphere, in 3.400.800 yojanas per muhûrta [modern science: 39.163 million km/hr] move through the four residences. (Vedabase)

Text 13

It has only one wheel with twelve spokes [the months], six segments [the seasons] and three pieces to its hub [four month-periods], which in its entirety is known as a tropical year [samvatsara]; its axle is fixed on the top of Meru with Mânasottara at the other end. The wheel of the chariot of the sun is fixed there rotating on the mountain range of Mânasottara like a wheel of an oil-pressing machine.

It has only one wheel [a solar year] with twelve spokes [the months], six segments [the seasons] and three pieces to its hub [the four month-periods], that in its entirety is known as a tropical year [samvatsara]; its axle is fixed on the top of Meru with Mânasottara at the other end. The wheel of the chariot of the sun is fixed there rotating on the mountain range of Mânasottara like a wheel of an oil-pressing machine. (Vedabase)

Text 14

To that axle with its fixed base there is a second one which, like with the axle of an oilpressing machine, measures one quarter of it. By its upper portion it is fixed to Dhruvaloka [the center of the stars]

To that axle with its fixed base there is a second one that, like with the axle of an oilpressing machine, measures one quarter of it. By its upper portion it is fixed to Dhruvaloka [the center of the stars]. (Vedabase)

Text 15

The inside of the vehicle measuring 3.6 million yojanas long is but a quarter of it as wide, it is pulled by seven horses named to the vedic meters [Gâyatrî, Brihati, Ushnik, Jagatî, Trishthup, Anushthup and Pankti] that are hooked up by Arunadeva to a yoke as wide as the vehicle, in order to carry the god of the sun [the actual diameter of the sun itself is 1.392 million kilometers].

The inside of the vehicle measuring 3.6 million yojanas long is but a quarter of it as wide, it is pulled by seven horses named to the vedic meters [Gâyatrî, Brihati, Ushnik, Jagatî, Trishthup, Anushthup and Pankti] that are hooked up by Arunadeva to a yoke equally long, in order to carry the god of the sun. [the actual diameter of the sun itself is 1.392 million kilometers]. (Vedabase)

Text 16

Although Aruna, sure to keep to the job of being the charioteer, sits in front of the sungod, looks he backwards.

Although Aruna, sure to keep to the job of being the charioteer, sits in front of the sungod, does he look backward. (Vedabase)

Text 17

There, in front of the sungod, are the sixty thousand thumbsized great sages named the Vâlikhilyas, engaged in offering their prayers, expressed eloquently [see also 4.1: 39].

There, in front of the sungod, are the sixty thousand thumbsized great sages named the Vâlikhilyas, engaged in offering their prayers, speaking eloquently [see also 4.1:39]. (Vedabase)

Text 18

So too do, with a variety of names, fourteen others knowing the saints, the Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nâgas, Yakshas, Râkshasas and the demigods, thus one by one in seven groups of two, every month worship the most powerful sungod Sûrya, who is the life of the universe and who carries different names depending on the different ceremonies. (**)

So too do, with a variety of names, fourteen others knowing the saints, the Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nâgas, Yakshas, Râkshasas and the demigods, thus one by one in seven groups of two, every month worship the most powerful sungod Sûrya, who is the life of the universe and who carries different names depending on the different ceremonies (**). (Vedabase)

Text 19

Thus does the sungod traverse the 95.1 million yojanas of the circumference of the earthly sphere with a speed of two thousand and half a yojana in about a kshana. (± 1,6 sec; see verse 12)

Thus does the sungod traverse the 95.1 million yojanas of the circumference of the earthly sphere with a speed of two thousand and half a yojana in about a kshana [± 1,6 sec; see also verse 12]. (Vedabase)