Shloka 18
The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot
तथान्ये च ऋषयो गन्धर्वाप्सरसो नागा ग्रामण्यो यातुधाना देवा इत्येकैकशो गणा: सप्त चतुर्दश मासि मासि भगवन्तं सूर्यमात्मानं नानानामानं पृथङ्नानानामान: पृथक्कर्मभिर्द्वन्द्वश उपासते ॥ १८ ॥
tathānye ca ṛṣayo gandharvāpsaraso nāgā grāmaṇyo yātudhānā devā ity ekaikaśo gaṇāḥ sapta caturdaśa māsi māsi bhagavantaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ nānā-nāmānaṁ pṛthaṅ-nānā-nāmānaḥ pṛthak-karmabhir dvandvaśa upāsate.
Similarly, other ṛṣis, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and demigods—arranged in pairs within their groups—assume different names each month and, through varied ritual duties, continually worship the Supreme Lord as Sūryadeva, the mighty deva of many names.
In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said:
FAQs
This verse states that many classes of beings worship the Supreme Lord specifically in His form as Surya, recognizing Him as their very Self (Paramatma), and they serve Him with distinct names and duties month by month.
In Canto 5 Chapter 21, Shukadeva explains the cosmic administration and the Sun’s movement; describing the Sun’s worship shows that Surya’s power is sustained by devotional service to the Supreme Lord, not by an independent force.
See natural powers (like the Sun) as energies and forms of service to the Supreme Lord, cultivate gratitude and regulated daily worship, and remember that different duties can still be devotional when offered to Bhagavan.