Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
उशनसा बुधो व्याख्यातस्तत उपरिष्टाद्विलक्षयोजनतो बुध: सोमसुत उपलभ्यमान: प्रायेण शुभकृद्यदार्काद् व्यतिरिच्येत तदातिवाताभ्रप्रायानावृष्ट्यादिभयमाशंसते ॥ १३ ॥
uśanasā budho vyākhyātas tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanato budhaḥ soma-suta upalabhyamānaḥ prāyeṇa śubha-kṛd yadārkād vyatiricyeta tadātivātābhra-prāyānāvṛṣṭy-ādi-bhayam āśaṁsate.
Mercury is described to be similar to Venus, in that it moves sometimes behind the sun, sometimes in front of the sun and sometimes along with it. It is 1,600,000 miles above Venus, or 7,200,000 miles above earth. Mercury, which is the son of the moon, is almost always very auspicious for the inhabitants of the universe, but when it does not move along with the sun, it forbodes cyclones, dust, irregular rainfall, and waterless clouds. In this way it creates fearful conditions due to inadequate or excessive rainfall.
FAQs
This verse says Budha (Mercury), described by Uśanā, is generally auspicious, but when it deviates from its proper relation to the Sun it is regarded as indicating fearful disturbances like strong winds, heavy clouding, and drought.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks while instructing King Parīkṣit about the structure of the universe and the movements of the luminaries, showing how cosmic order and disorder are perceived within Vedic cosmology.
It encourages attentiveness to order and deviation: when harmony is disturbed, wise people take practical precautions and deepen their dependence on the Supreme Lord, rather than becoming complacent about “normal” auspicious conditions.