Shloka 16

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

अंशुश्च काश्यपस्तार्क्ष्यो महापद्मस्तथोर्वशी / चित्रसेनस्तथा विद्युन्मार्गशीर्षाधिकारिणः

Transliteration

aṃśuśca kāśyapastārkṣyo mahāpadmastathorvaśī / citrasenastathā vidyunmārgaśīrṣādhikāriṇaḥ

Translation

Aṃśu, Kāśyapa, Tārkṣya, Mahāpadma und ebenso Urvaśī; ferner Citrasena und Vidyut — diese sind die vorstehenden Mächte des Monats Mārgaśīrṣa.

Word by Word

• अंशुः: Aṃśu (name)
• अंशुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• काश्यपः: Kāśyapa (name)
• काश्यपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तार्क्ष्यः: Tārkṣya (name/Garuḍa epithet)
• तार्क्ष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महापद्मः: Mahāpadma (name)
• महापद्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापद्म (प्रातिपदिक: महा + पद्म)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् पद्मः)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/also')

• उर्वशी: Urvaśī (apsaras)
• उर्वशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चित्रसेनः: Citrasena (name)
• चित्रसेनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (चित्रः सेनः/सेना यस्य) (as name)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• विद्युत्: Vidyut (name)
• विद्युत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• मार्गशीर्षाधिकारिणः: the presiding deities of Mārgaśīrṣa
• मार्गशीर्षाधिकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्गशीर्ष + अधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मार्गशीर्षस्य अधिकारिणः = presiding over Mārgaśīrṣa)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla is governed by appointed adhikārins; aligning with sacred time supports right living and ritual timing.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the inner regulator of kāla through devatā-adhikāra (cosmic administration under the Supreme).

Application: Observe month-based vrata/puṇyakāla with awareness of its presiding powers; cultivate discipline by living in rhythm with sacred time.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (solar-month adhikārins sequence across months)

Characters & Entities

• Aṃśu
• Kāśyapa
• Tārkṣya
• Mahāpadma
• Urvaśī
• Citrasena
• Vidyut
• Mārgaśīrṣa

FAQs

What is the importance of month-presiding authorities (adhikāri) in the Garuda Purana?

They map ritual time to specific divine/cosmic administrators, helping practitioners align vows, offerings, and observances with the month’s governing powers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it situates dharmic life within a regulated cosmic order where time itself has presiding beings; such order underlies the Purana’s broader teachings on rites that support the departed and uphold dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When planning vratas, pūjā schedules, or śrāddha-related observances, treat the month (here, Mārgaśīrṣa) as a sacred framework governed by specific deities, encouraging disciplined and timely practice.