Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 17

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

सरथो ऽधिष्ठितो देवैर् आदित्यैर्मुनिभिस् तथा गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश् च ग्रामणीसर्पराक्षसैः

saratho 'dhiṣṭhito devair ādityairmunibhis tathā gandharvairapsarobhiś ca grāmaṇīsarparākṣasaiḥ

Jener Wagen wurde bestiegen und von den Devas begleitet—von den Ādityas und den Weisen gleichermaßen—zusammen mit Gandharvas und Apsarasen, ebenso von den Anführern der Scharen, den Schlangen (Nāgas) und den Rākṣasas.

sa-rathaḥwith the chariot / the chariot
sa-rathaḥ:
adhiṣṭhitaḥmounted, occupied, presided over
adhiṣṭhitaḥ:
devaiḥby the gods
devaiḥ:
ādityaiḥby the Ādityas (solar deities)
ādityaiḥ:
munibhiḥby sages
munibhiḥ:
tathāand also
tathā:
gandharvaiḥby Gandharvas (celestial musicians)
gandharvaiḥ:
apsarobhiḥby Apsarases (celestial nymphs)
apsarobhiḥ:
caand
ca:
grāmaṇīleaders/chieftains (of hosts)
grāmaṇī:
sarpaserpents/Nāgas
sarpa:
rākṣasaiḥby Rākṣasas
rākṣasaiḥ:

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya; contextual)

D
Devas
A
Adityas
M
Munis
G
Gandharvas
A
Apsarases
N
Nagas (Sarpa)
R
Rakshasas

FAQs

It portrays a universal convergence of beings—Devas, sages, celestial artists, Nāgas, and Rākṣasas—implying that the Linga’s sovereignty (as Pati) draws all orders of existence into reverent alignment, a key motif behind public processions, consecrations, and collective Linga-pūjā.

By showing every class of being attending a single sacred movement, the verse reflects Shiva-tattva as the supreme integrator: Pati who harmonizes mutually opposed forces (deva and rākṣasa, serpent and sage) beyond pasha-bound divisions, indicating his transcendence and lordship over all realms.

The imagery supports the purāṇic model of śiva-yātrā and utsava (processional worship) and, at a yogic level, suggests saṅgati—bringing all faculties and ‘inner hosts’ under one focus—mirroring Pāśupata orientation where the pashu (individual self) turns toward Pati through unified devotion.