Shloka 19
सूर्यरथः, सप्तगणाः, मासाधिकारिणः
The Sun’s Chariot and the Sevenfold Monthly Governors
मासेष्व् एतेषु मैत्रेय वसन्त्य् एते तु सप्तकाः सवितुर् मण्डले ब्रह्मन् विष्णुशक्त्युपबृंहिताः
māseṣv eteṣu maitreya vasanty ete tu saptakāḥ savitur maṇḍale brahman viṣṇuśaktyupabṛṃhitāḥ
In these months, O Maitreya, these sevenfold groups abide within the orb of Savitṛ, the Sun; and, O brahmin, they are sustained and empowered by the very energy of Viṣṇu.
Sage Parāśara
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the solar attendants function and by what power they are sustained
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: revealing
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)
Concept: All cosmic offices—even the Sun’s monthly cohorts—are empowered by Viṣṇu-śakti, revealing the Lord as inner ruler and sustaining cause.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman
Application: Cultivate īśvara-smaraṇa: see every capacity (energy, duty, success) as derived from the Lord, fostering humility and steady devotion.
Vishishtadvaita: Affirms the world and its powers as real yet wholly dependent modes (prakāra) of the Supreme—Viṣṇu as immanent controller (antaryāmin) and cause.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
Jagat Karana: Yes
FAQs
They represent the organized divine functionaries associated with the Sun’s operation through the months, showing that cosmic time and solar power are administered through structured divine agencies.
Parāśara states that the solar sphere and its attendant septads are ‘upabṛṃhitāḥ’—strengthened and maintained—by Viṣṇu’s śakti, making Viṣṇu the ultimate ground of cosmic activity.
Viṣṇu is presented as the supreme sustainer whose power energizes even the Sun’s functions, implying that all visible cosmic sovereignty is rooted in Viṣṇu as the highest reality.