Shloka 19

सूर्यरथः, सप्तगणाः, मासाधिकारिणः

The Sun’s Chariot and the Sevenfold Monthly Governors

Devanagari script

मासेष्व् एतेषु मैत्रेय वसन्त्य् एते तु सप्तकाः सवितुर् मण्डले ब्रह्मन् विष्णुशक्त्युपबृंहिताः

Transliteration

māseṣv eteṣu maitreya vasanty ete tu saptakāḥ savitur maṇḍale brahman viṣṇuśaktyupabṛṃhitāḥ

Translation

In diesen Monaten, o Maitreya, weilen diese Siebenergruppen im Sonnenkreis des Savitṛ; und, o Brahmane, sie werden durch die Kraft Viṣṇus genährt und gestärkt.

Word by Word

मासेषुin the months

एतेषुin these

मैत्रेयO Maitreya

वसन्तिthey dwell

एतेthese

तुindeed/but

सप्तकाःthe groups of seven

सवितुःof Savitṛ (the Sun)

मण्डलेin the orb/sphere

ब्रह्मन्O Brahman (sage)

विष्णुशक्त्युपबृंहिताःstrengthened by Viṣṇu’s energy

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Characters & Entities

Maitreya

Savitṛ (Sun)

Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the “sevenfold groups” (saptakāḥ) in the Vishnu Purana?

They represent the organized divine functionaries associated with the Sun’s operation through the months, showing that cosmic time and solar power are administered through structured divine agencies.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the source of the Sun’s sustaining power?

Parāśara states that the solar sphere and its attendant septads are ‘upabṛṃhitāḥ’—strengthened and maintained—by Viṣṇu’s śakti, making Viṣṇu the ultimate ground of cosmic activity.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Viṣṇu is presented as the supreme sustainer whose power energizes even the Sun’s functions, implying that all visible cosmic sovereignty is rooted in Viṣṇu as the highest reality.