Shloka 1

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे ज्योतिश्चक्रे सूर्यगत्यादिकथनं नाम चतुःपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच छरिओत् ओफ़् सूर्य सौरं संक्षेपतो वक्ष्ये रथं शशिन एव च ग्रहाणाम् इतरेषां च यथा गच्छति चाम्बुपः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge jyotiścakre sūryagatyādikathanaṃ nāma catuḥpañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca chariot of Sūrya sauraṃ saṃkṣepato vakṣye rathaṃ śaśina eva ca grahāṇām itareṣāṃ ca yathā gacchati cāmbupaḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, within the section on the wheel of luminaries, begins the fifty-fourth chapter on the course of the Sun and related matters. Sūta said: “I shall briefly describe the Sun’s chariot, and likewise the Moon’s chariot, and also how the other planets proceed in their courses through the sky.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section

• jyotiḥ-cakre: in the wheel/system of luminaries (astral order)

• sūrya-gati-ādi-kathanam: the narration of the Sun’s motion and related topics

• nāma: named

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• sūryasya: of the Sun

• sauraṃ: belonging to Sūrya/solar

• saṃkṣepataḥ: briefly

• vakṣye: I will explain

• ratham: chariot

• śaśinaḥ: of the Moon

• eva ca: and also

• grahāṇām: of the planets

• itareṣām: of the others

• ca: and

• yathā: how/in what manner

• gacchati: they move/proceed

• ambupaḥ: in the sky/ether (as a moving expanse)

Speaker

Sūta (Sūta Gosvāmin) narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya

Characters & Entities

• Sūrya
• Śaśin (Candra)
• Grahāḥ (planets)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames time (kāla) and cosmic order as a knowable sacred structure; in Shaiva understanding, such order functions under Pati’s niyati, supporting correct timing for vrata, dāna, and Śiva-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Śiva is not named directly, the verse points to an ordered cosmos; in Shaiva Siddhānta this regularity belongs to Pati’s governance—Śiva as the transcendent yet immanent regulator of kāla and gati without being bound like the paśu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it supports jyotiṣa-based observance—choosing proper tithi/nakṣatra for Śiva-vratas and pūjā; no specific Pāśupata-yoga technique is taught in this opening verse.