Shloka 13
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
उशनसा बुधो व्याख्यातस्तत उपरिष्टाद्विलक्षयोजनतो बुध: सोमसुत उपलभ्यमान: प्रायेण शुभकृद्यदार्काद् व्यतिरिच्येत तदातिवाताभ्रप्रायानावृष्ट्यादिभयमाशंसते ॥ १३ ॥
uśanasā budho vyākhyātas tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanato budhaḥ soma-suta upalabhyamānaḥ prāyeṇa śubha-kṛd yadārkād vyatiricyeta tadātivātābhra-prāyānāvṛṣṭy-ādi-bhayam āśaṁsate.
Mercury, the son of the Moon, is said to resemble Venus: at times it moves behind the Sun, at times before it, and at times along with it. Situated sixteen lakhs of yojanas above Venus, it is generally auspicious for the beings of the universe; yet when it does not course together with the Sun, it foretells cyclones, dust, irregular rains, and waterless clouds, bringing fearful conditions through scant or excessive rainfall.
FAQs
This verse says Budha (Mercury), described by Uśanā, is generally auspicious, but when it deviates from its proper relation to the Sun it is regarded as indicating fearful disturbances like strong winds, heavy clouding, and drought.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks while instructing King Parīkṣit about the structure of the universe and the movements of the luminaries, showing how cosmic order and disorder are perceived within Vedic cosmology.
It encourages attentiveness to order and deviation: when harmony is disturbed, wise people take practical precautions and deepen their dependence on the Supreme Lord, rather than becoming complacent about “normal” auspicious conditions.