Shloka 28

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

तिष्ठंस्तिष्ठति वर्षं वै राशौराशौ बृहस्पतिः / आकाशसम्भवैरश्वैः शवलैः स्यन्दनं युतम्

Transliteration

tiṣṭhaṃstiṣṭhati varṣaṃ vai rāśaurāśau bṛhaspatiḥ / ākāśasambhavairaśvaiḥ śavalaiḥ syandanaṃ yutam

Translation

Bṛhaspati verweilt ein volles Jahr in jedem Tierkreiszeichen. Sein Wagen ist mit scheckigen Pferden bespannt, von denen man sagt, sie seien aus dem Himmel geboren.

Word by Word

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन (while standing)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वर्षम्: for a year
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालावधि-निर्देशः

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• राशौ: in a zodiac sign
• राशौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अराशौ: in another sign (non-own sign)
• अराशौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अराशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाशसम्भवैः: born of the sky
• आकाशसम्भवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आकाशात् सम्भवाः)

• अश्वैः: with horses
• अश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शवलैः: mottled, variegated
• शवलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्यन्दनम्: chariot
• स्यन्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• युतम्: joined, furnished (with)
• युतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; विशेषणम् (स्यन्दनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic time is structured; auspiciousness and guidance (guru-tattva) unfold in ordered cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a manifestation of Īśvara’s śakti; order (ṛta) supports dharma in the world.

Application: Plan learning, counsel, and ethical commitments with patience; honor long cycles—study steadily rather than seeking instant results.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial path / ecliptic stations

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (graha-gati and ratha descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Rashi (zodiac signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of Brihaspati’s one-year stay in each rashi in the Garuda Purana?

It presents a Purāṇic time-measure for Jupiter’s motion, linking cosmic order and calendrical/astrological reckoning to dharmic life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing regulated planetary movement, it frames the cosmos as law-governed (ṛta), within which karma and life-events unfold.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that time moves in cycles; plan duties and self-discipline steadily rather than impulsively, aligning actions with long-term dharma.