Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
श्रीशुक उवाच अधस्तात्सवितुर्योजनायुते स्वर्भानुर्नक्षत्रवच्चरतीत्येके योऽसावमरत्वं ग्रहत्वं चालभत भगवदनुकम्पया स्वयमसुरापसद: सैंहिकेयो ह्यतदर्हस्तस्य तात जन्म कर्माणि चोपरिष्टाद्वक्ष्याम: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca adhastāt savitur yojanāyute svarbhānur nakṣatravac caratīty eke yo ’sāv amaratvaṁ grahatvaṁ cālabhata bhagavad-anukampayā svayam asurāpasadaḥ saiṁhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tāta janma karmāṇi copariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers of the Purāṇas, say that 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] below the sun is the planet known as Rāhu, which moves like one of the stars. The presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Siṁhikā, is the most abominable of all asuras, but although he is completely unfit to assume the position of a demigod or planetary deity, he has achieved that position by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later I shall speak further about him.
FAQs
This verse states that some authorities describe Svarbhānu (Rāhu) as moving like a star below the sun at a distance of ten thousand yojanas, having attained graha-status by the Lord’s compassion.
Śukadeva highlights a contrast: Rāhu is inherently degraded and unfit, yet by bhagavad-anukampā (the Lord’s mercy) he still obtained extraordinary status—showing the supremacy of divine will over mere qualification.
Do not presume entitlement based on birth or merit; cultivate humility and devotion, recognizing that real elevation comes by the Lord’s grace, not by ego or worldly qualification.