Shloka 8

सोमवर्णनम्

Graha–Ratha–Aśva Varṇana, Dhruva-Nibaddha Gati, Maṇḍala-Pramāṇa, Graha-Arcana

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रसूर्याश् च तथा ग्रहतारागणैः सह उन्मुखाभिमुखाः सर्वे चक्रभूताः श्रिता दिवि

Transliteration

nakṣatrasūryāś ca tathā grahatārāgaṇaiḥ saha unmukhābhimukhāḥ sarve cakrabhūtāḥ śritā divi

Translation

The constellations and the Sun, together with the planets and the hosts of stars—each facing upward and toward one another—abide in the heavens as a single wheel-like order, upheld within the cosmic expanse governed by the Lord (Pati).

Word by Word

• नक्षत्र (nakṣatra): lunar mansions/constellations

• सूर्याः (sūryāḥ): the Suns/the Sun (solar principle)

• च (ca): and

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

• ग्रह (graha): planets/seizers

• तारा (tārā): stars

• गणैः (gaṇaiḥ): with groups/hosts

• सह (saha): together with

• उन्मुख (unmukha): facing upward/turned toward the higher

• अभिमुखाः (abhimukhāḥ): facing toward/turned toward one another

• सर्वे (sarve): all

• चक्रभूताः (cakrabhūtāḥ): having become a wheel/constituting a wheel

• श्रिताः (śritāḥ): stationed/resting/abiding

• दिवि (divi): in heaven/in the sky.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It frames the heavens as an ordered wheel sustained by the Supreme Pati; Linga worship mirrors this by centering the devotee (pashu) on Shiva as the unmoving axis amid cosmic motion.

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

By implying a unified celestial order, it points to Shiva-tattva as the governing intelligence and support (ādhāra) of the moving grahas and stars—Pati who regulates pasha-like constraints such as time and fate.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Graha-śānti and time-aligned Shiva-puja are suggested: orienting worship with nakshatra/solar cycles, and in Pashupata Yoga, steadying awareness on the inner axis (linga-bhāva) while the ‘wheel’ of thoughts revolves.