Shloka 28

सोमचक्रः, ग्रह-रथाः, ध्रुवबन्धनं, शिशुमारसंनिवेशः, विष्णु-सर्वात्मकता

Moon, Planets, Dhruva-Tethering, Śiśumāra, and Vishnu as All

Devanagari script

अलातचक्रवद् यान्ति वातचक्रेरितानि तु यस्माज् ज्योतींषि वहति प्रवहस् तेन स स्मृतः

Transliteration

alātacakravad yānti vātacakreritāni tu yasmāj jyotīṃṣi vahati pravahas tena sa smṛtaḥ

Translation

জ্বলন্ত অঙ্গারের ঘূর্ণিবৃত্তের মতো এই জ্যোতিগুলি বায়ুচক্রের প্রেরণায় গতি করে। যেহেতু সেই মহাপ্রবাহ তাদের বহন করে, তাই তার নাম স্মৃতিতে ‘প্রবহ’।

Word by Word

अलातचक्रवत्like a firebrand-circle

यान्तिthey go/move

वातचक्रेरितानिimpelled by the wind-wheel

तुbut

यस्मात्from which; because of which

ज्योतींषिluminaries

वहतिcarries

प्रवहःthe current/stream (of wind)

तेनby that; therefore

सःit/he

स्मृतःis called/known

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Pravaha (cosmic wind/current)

Luminaries (Sun, Moon, planets, stars)

FAQs

What is the significance of Pravaha in the Vishnu Purana?

Pravaha is described as the cosmic current/wind that carries the luminaries, explaining their steady, ordered motion as part of the universe’s regulated design.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the motion of the heavenly bodies here?

He uses the image of a firebrand whirled in a circle: the lights appear to move in a continuous circuit because they are propelled by the revolving ‘wheel’ of winds.

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

Even when describing physical cosmology, the Purana implies a higher sovereignty: the universe’s orderly motions operate under the supreme governance of Vishnu, the ground of cosmic law.