Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 3
The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot
यन्मध्यगतो भगवांस्तपतपतिस्तपन आतपेन त्रिलोकीं प्रतपत्यवभासयत्यात्मभासा स एष उदगयनदक्षिणायनवैषुवतसंज्ञाभिर्मान्द्यशैघ्य्रसमानाभिर्गतिभिरारोहणावरोहणसमानस्थानेषु यथासवनमभिपद्यमानो मकरादिषु राशिष्वहोरात्राणि दीर्घह्रस्वसमानानि विधत्ते ॥ ३ ॥
yan-madhya-gato bhagavāṁs tapatāṁ patis tapana ātapena tri-lokīṁ pratapaty avabhāsayaty ātma-bhāsā sa eṣa udagayana-dakṣiṇāyana-vaiṣuvata-saṁjñābhir māndya-śaighrya-samānābhir gatibhir ārohaṇāvarohaṇa-samāna-sthāneṣu yathā-savanam abhipadyamāno makarādiṣu rāśiṣv aho-rātrāṇi dīrgha-hrasva-samānāni vidhatte.
In the midst of that region of outer space [antarikṣa] 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.
Lord Brahmā prays in his Brahma-saṁhitā (5.52) :
FAQs
This verse states that the Sun, empowered by the Supreme Lord, moves in courses called udagayana (northward) and dakṣiṇāyana (southward), and through these motions the seasonal shifts and the changing lengths of day and night are ordained.
Śukadeva teaches that the Sun’s heat and light are not independent; the Sun functions as an empowered manifestation/agency of the Supreme Lord, who regulates cosmic order, time, and seasons.
It cultivates reverence for time and natural cycles as sacred governance of the Lord, encouraging disciplined living (daily rhythm, gratitude, and dharmic use of time) rather than seeing nature as random or merely mechanical.