Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

यावद्दक्षिणायनमहानि वर्धन्ते यावदुदगयनं रात्रय: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

yāvad dakṣiṇāyanam ahāni vardhante yāvad udagayanaṁ rātrayaḥ.

Translation

Solange die Sonne auf dem dakṣiṇāyana (Südbahn) wandert, werden die Tage länger; und solange sie auf dem udagayana (Nordbahn) wandert, werden die Nächte länger.

Synonyms

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Parimāṇa (परिमाण/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्ययम् (as long as/so much as)

• दक्षिणायनम्: the southward course (dakṣiṇāyana)
• दक्षिणायनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (दक्षिणं अयनम्)

• अहानि: days
• अहानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• वर्धन्ते: increase
• वर्धन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Parimāṇa (परिमाण/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-वाचक-अव्ययम्

• उदगयनम्: the northward course (udagayana)
• उदगयनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक्/उदग् (प्रातिपदिक) + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (उदक् अयनम् = northward course)

• रात्रयः: nights
• रात्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचनम्

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about dakshinayana and uttarayana?

In this verse, Śukadeva explains that during the sun’s southern course (dakṣiṇāyana) the days increase, and during the sun’s northern course (udagayana) the nights increase.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the sun’s movement to King Parīkṣit?

Because Canto 5 presents the Bhagavatam’s cosmology—how time, seasons, and celestial motions function within the Lord’s universal arrangement—so Parīkṣit can understand creation as governed by Bhagavān.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages awareness that time and nature move in ordered cycles under divine governance, helping one cultivate steadiness, humility, and purposeful spiritual practice through changing seasons.