Shloka 15
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
तत उपरिष्टाद्विलक्षयोजनान्तरगता भगवान् बृहस्पतिरेकैकस्मिन् राशौ परिवत्सरं परिवत्सरं चरति यदि न वक्र: स्यात्प्रायेणानुकूलो ब्राह्मणकुलस्य ॥ १५ ॥
tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanāntara-gatā bhagavān bṛhaspatir ekaikasmin rāśau parivatsaraṁ parivatsaraṁ carati yadi na vakraḥ syāt prāyeṇānukūlo brāhmaṇa-kulasya.
Above that, at an interval of sixteen lakhs of yojanas, is the venerable planet Jupiter, Bṛhaspati. It traverses each zodiacal sign over the span of one parivatsara; when its course is not curved, Jupiter is generally favorable to the brāhmaṇa communities of the universe, fostering dharma and sacred learning.
FAQs
In Bhagavatam 5.22.15, Śukadeva explains that Bṛhaspati moves through each zodiacal sign for about one year, and his position is described within the planetary orbits of Canto 5’s cosmology.
This verse states that when Bṛhaspati is not retrograde (vakra), he is generally anukūla—favorable—to brāhmaṇas, reflecting his traditional role as the guru of the devas and a support for dharma, learning, and sacred conduct.
The verse highlights respect for dharma and guidance (guru-tattva): cultivate learning, integrity, and sattvic habits—qualities associated with Bṛhaspati—rather than becoming overly anxious about astrological fluctuations.