Shloka 12

सूर्यरथः, सप्तगणाः, मासाधिकारिणः

The Sun’s Chariot and the Sevenfold Monthly Governors

Devanagari script

विश्वावसुर् भरद्वाजः पर्जन्यैरावतौ तथा विश्वाची सेनजिच् चापि कार्त्तिके चाधिकारिणः

Transliteration

viśvāvasur bharadvājaḥ parjanyairāvatau tathā viśvācī senajic cāpi kārttike cādhikāriṇaḥ

Translation

For the month of Kārttika, the appointed celestial functionaries are: Viśvāvasu and Bharadvāja; likewise Parjanya and Airāvata; and also Viśvācī and Senajit—each holding authority in the sphere ordained.

Word by Word

• विश्वावसुः: Viśvāvasu (name)
• विश्वावसुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (विश्वः+वसुः)

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja (name)
• भरद्वाजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भरत्/भरद्+वाज)

• पर्जन्यः: Parjanya (rain-god; name)
• पर्जन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ऐरावतः: Airāvata (name)
• ऐरावतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/and also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (indeclinable adverb: ‘likewise’)

• विश्वाची: Viśvācī (apsaras name)
• विश्वाची: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वाची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सेनजित्: Senajit (name; ‘conqueror of armies’)
• सेनजित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सेनायाः जित्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (particle: ‘also/even’)

• कार्त्तिके: in Kārttika (month)
• कार्त्तिके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• अधिकारिणः: the presiding authorities/officials
• अधिकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Monthly (Kārttika) solar attendants and their ordained offices (adhikāra) in maintaining time.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic time is upheld through specific delegated powers (adhikāriṇaḥ) functioning in harmony with the Sun’s course.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Observe sacred months (like Kārttika) with heightened discipline—dāna, vrata, japa—seeing them as openings in cosmic order.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s sovereignty is mediated through real, distinct agents who remain dependent—supporting a qualified unity of ruler and ruled rather than identity.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Viśvāvasu
• Bharadvāja
• Parjanya
• Airāvata
• Viśvācī
• Senajit
• Kārttika

FAQs

What is the significance of listing Kārttika’s adhikārins in the Vishnu Purana?

It shows that time is not random: each month has designated celestial functionaries who uphold cosmic order, ultimately under Viṣṇu’s supreme governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic administration in this section?

He presents a structured roster of beings—sage, deity, Gandharva, Apsaras, and others—assigned to specific temporal units, illustrating delegated authority within a single divine order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when multiple deities are named, the Purāṇa frames them as offices within a unified cosmic system whose sustaining power and sovereignty rest with Viṣṇu as the Supreme Reality.