Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 3
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
तन्निशम्योभयत्रापि भगवता रक्षणाय प्रयुक्तं सुदर्शनं नाम भागवतं दयितमस्त्रं तत्तेजसा दुर्विषहं मुहु: परिवर्तमानमभ्यवस्थितो मुहूर्तमुद्विजमानश्चकितहृदय आरादेव निवर्तते तदुपरागमिति वदन्ति लोका: ॥ ३ ॥
tan niśamyobhayatrāpi bhagavatā rakṣaṇāya prayuktaṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma bhāgavataṁ dayitam astraṁ tat tejasā durviṣahaṁ muhuḥ parivartamānam abhyavasthito muhūrtam udvijamānaś cakita-hṛdaya ārād eva nivartate tad uparāgam iti vadanti lokāḥ.
Als der Bhagavān Viṣṇu von den Gottheiten der Sonne und des Mondes von Rāhus Angriff hört, setzt Er zu ihrem Schutz Seine Scheibe namens Sudarśana ein. Sudarśana ist das dem Herrn liebste bhāgavata-Waffenwesen; die glühende Kraft seines Glanzes ist für Rāhu unerträglich, weshalb er erschrocken zurückweicht. Wenn Rāhu Sonne oder Mond bedrängt, nennt man dies eine Finsternis.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, is always the protector of His devotees, who are also known as demigods. The controlling demigods are most obedient to Lord Viṣṇu, although they also want material sense enjoyment, and that is why they are called demigods, or almost godly. Although Rāhu attempts to attack both the sun and the moon, they are protected by Lord Viṣṇu. Being very afraid of Lord Viṣṇu’s cakra, Rāhu cannot stay in front of the sun or moon for more than a muhūrta (forty-eight minutes). The phenomenon that occurs when Rāhu blocks the light of the sun or moon is called an eclipse. The attempt of the scientists of this earth to go to the moon is as demoniac as Rāhu’s attack. Of course. their attempts will be failures because no one can enter the moon or sun so easily. Like the attack of Rāhu, such attempts will certainly be failures.
FAQs
This verse explains that when Rāhu approaches the Sun or Moon, he is driven back by the Lord’s Sudarśana Cakra; the brief obscuration perceived during this encounter is called an eclipse.
Sudarśana is described as the Lord’s beloved weapon employed for protection—here, protecting the Sun and Moon from Rāhu’s attack.
The verse reinforces faith that divine protection operates for the Lord’s order and His dependents; devotees can respond to fear by remembering the Lord’s safeguarding power rather than panicking.