Shloka 35

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

कुलालचक्रमध्यस्थो यथा मन्दं प्रसर्पति तथोदगयने सूर्यः सर्पते मन्दविक्रमः

Transliteration

kulālacakramadhyastho yathā mandaṃ prasarpati tathodagayane sūryaḥ sarpate mandavikramaḥ

Translation

কুমাৰৰ চকাৰ মাজত থকা জন যেন ধীৰে সৰি আছে বুলি লাগে, তেনেকৈ উদগায়নত (উত্তরায়নত) সূৰ্য মন্দ বিক্ৰমে, যেন সংযত পদক্ষেপে, আগবাঢ়ে—এই সকলো জগতধাৰণকাৰী বিধিৰে।

Word by Word

कुलालचक्रमध्यस्थःstanding in the middle of a potter's wheel

यथाjust as

मन्दम्slowly

प्रसर्पतिcreeps/moves along

तथाso, likewise

उदगयनेin the northern course (udagayana)

सूर्यःthe Sun

सर्पतेmoves/creeps

मन्दविक्रमःslow in movement

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Surya (the Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of udagayana (Uttarāyaṇa) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames udagayana as a distinct phase of the Sun’s annual course, described as a gradual, measured advance—important for understanding seasonal time and the cosmic order that regulates it.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Sun’s motion here?

Parāśara uses a visual analogy: like the hub of a potter’s wheel that appears to move slowly compared to the rim, the Sun in udagayana is depicted as progressing with restrained pace, emphasizing relative motion and orderly cycles.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse speaks of solar motion, the Purāṇic intent is that cosmic rhythms—time, seasons, and celestial paths—operate under the supreme governance of Vishnu, the sustaining Reality behind universal order.