Shloka 49

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

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

वसन्ति ग्रीष्मकौ मासौ मित्रश् च वरुणश् च ह ऋषिरत्रिर्वसिष्ठश् च तक्षको नाग एव च

Transliteration

vasanti grīṣmakau māsau mitraś ca varuṇaś ca ha ṛṣiratrirvasiṣṭhaś ca takṣako nāga eva ca

Translation

For the seasons of Spring and Summer, the presiding powers are Mitra and Varuṇa; the seers Atri and Vasiṣṭha also preside, and Takṣaka, the nāga, as well. Thus time is ordered through deities, ṛṣis, and subtle beings—sustained under the Lord Pati (Śiva), by whose governance the moving world remains bound to rhythm and law.

Word by Word

• वसन्ति: spring

• ग्रीष्मकौ: the two (seasonal periods) spring and summer / pertaining to summer

• मासौ: months/seasonal months

• मित्रः: Mitra (solar deity of friendship/covenant)

• च: and

• वरुणः: Varuṇa (deity of ṛta/cosmic order and waters)

• च: and

• ह: indeed/also

• ऋषिः: seer

• अत्रिः: Atri (ṛṣi)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha (ṛṣi)

• च: and

• तक्षकः: Takṣaka (serpent-king)

• नागः: nāga/serpent-being

• एव: indeed/only

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmological correspondences of time to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Mitra
• Varuna
• Atri
• Vasistha
• Taksaka

FAQs

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

It frames time (kāla) as a divinely ordered cycle. In Linga worship, observances, fasts, and seasonal rites gain validity because the Lord (Pati) upholds cosmic order through such presiding powers.

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

Though Shiva is not named here, the verse implies a governed cosmos where time and seasons function through assigned intelligences. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this ordered functioning points to Pati as the ultimate regulator of kāla, while pashus remain bound (pāśa) to temporal cycles until liberated.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Seasonal discipline: aligning vrata, pūjā timing, and inner sādhana with kāla (ritu/masa). This supports Pāśupata-oriented practice by training steadiness and observance within the rhythms of time.