Shloka 4

The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot

Devanagari script

यदा मेषतुलयोर्वर्तते तदाहोरात्राणि समानानि भवन्ति यदा वृषभादिषु पञ्चसु च राशिषु चरति तदाहान्येव वर्धन्ते ह्रसति च मासि मास्येकैका घटिका रात्रिषु ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

yadā meṣa-tulayor vartate tadāho-rātrāṇi samānāni bhavanti yadā vṛṣabhādiṣu pañcasu ca rāśiṣu carati tadāhāny eva vardhante hrasati ca māsi māsy ekaikā ghaṭikā rātriṣu.

Translation

Wenn die Sonne durch Meṣa (Widder) und Tulā (Waage) zieht, sind Tag und Nacht gleich lang. Wenn sie durch die fünf Zeichen wandert, die mit Vṛṣabha (Stier) beginnen, werden die Tage länger, und die Nächte verkürzen sich Monat für Monat um eine ghaṭikā (eine halbe Stunde), bis in Tulā Tag und Nacht wieder gleich sind.

Synonyms

यदाwhen

मेष-तुलयोःof Aries and Libra

वर्ततेis present/moves (occurs)

तदाthen

अहः-रात्राणिdays and nights

समानानिequal

भवन्तिbecome/are

यदाwhen

वृषभ-आदिषुin Taurus etc.

पञ्चसुin five

चand

राशिषुin the signs

चरतिmoves

तदाthen

अहानिdays (daytimes)

एवindeed/only

वर्धन्तेincrease

ह्रसतिdecreases

चand

मासिin a month

मासिmonth by month

एक-एकाone each

घटिकाa ghaṭikā (time-unit)

रात्रिषुin the nights

Characters & Entities

Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about equal day and night (equinox)?

This verse states that when the Sun is in Aries and Libra, day and night become equal in duration.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Sun’s movement to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

In Canto 5, Śukadeva explains the structure and functioning of the universe, showing how time, seasons, and cosmic order operate under the Lord’s arrangement.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It encourages seeing time and seasonal rhythms as part of a higher cosmic order, supporting disciplined living (routine, balance) and remembrance that all time ultimately moves under divine governance.