Shloka 19

The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot

Devanagari script

लक्षोत्तरं सार्धनवकोटियोजनपरिमण्डलं भूवलयस्य क्षणेन सगव्यूत्युत्तरं द्विसहस्रयोजनानि स भुङ्क्ते ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

lakṣottaraṁ sārdha-nava-koṭi-yojana-parimaṇḍalaṁ bhū-valayasya kṣaṇena sagavyūty-uttaraṁ dvi-sahasra-yojanāni sa bhuṅkte.

Translation

O King, in his orbit through Bhū-maṇḍala the sun-god traverses 95,100,000 yojanas in a single moment; his speed is 2,000 yojanas and two krośas per moment.

Synonyms

• लक्षोत्तरम्: exceeding one lakh
• लक्षोत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of परिमण्डलम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘लक्षेण उत्तरम्’ (exceeding a lakh)

• सार्धनवकोटियोजनपरिमण्डलम्: a circuit/extent of nine crores (and a half) yojanas
• सार्धनवकोटियोजनपरिमण्डलम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sārdha (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + nava (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक) + parimaṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (measure compound): ‘(सार्ध) नव-कोटि-योजन-परिमण्डल’ = circumference/extent measured in yojanas

• भूवलयस्य: of the earth’s sphere/circle
• भूवलयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + valaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘भूः-वलय’ (earth-circle)

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: Karana (करण/time-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular); काल-करण (instrument of time)

• सगव्यूत्युत्तरम्: exceeding by a gavyūti
• सगव्यूत्युत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/measure qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + gavyūti (प्रातिपदिक) + uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (measure) of implied ‘अन्तरम्/परिमाणम्’; समासः—तत्पुरुष: ‘गव्यूत्या सह’ + ‘उत्तर’ (exceeding by a gavyūti)

• द्विसहस्रयोजनानि: two thousand yojanas
• द्विसहस्रयोजनानि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष/द्विगु-भाव: ‘द्वि-सहस्र’ (two thousand) qualifying ‘योजनानि’

• सः: he (the Sun)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भुङ्क्ते: traverses/enjoys (covers)
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Twenty-first Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Movements of the Sun.”

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the size of Bhū-maṇḍala in Canto 5?

This verse states that Bhū-maṇḍala has a circular extent of nine crores and a half of yojanas, plus an additional one lakh yojanas.

Who is speaking this cosmology verse in Bhagavatam 5.21.19 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is describing the universe’s measurements to King Parīkṣit as part of the Fifth Canto’s cosmological narration.

How can a devotee apply Bhagavatam’s cosmology teachings in modern life?

By cultivating humility and God-centered vision—seeing the vast cosmos as ordered under the Supreme’s governance—one reduces ego and deepens reverence, devotion, and steady sādhana.