Shloka 16

सोमचक्रः, ग्रह-रथाः, ध्रुवबन्धनं, शिशुमारसंनिवेशः, विष्णु-सर्वात्मकता

Moon, Planets, Dhruva-Tethering, Śiśumāra, and Vishnu as All

Devanagari script

वाय्वग्निद्रव्यसंभूतो रथश् चन्द्रसुतस्य च पिशङ्गैस् तुरगैर् युक्तः सो ऽष्टाभिर् वायुवेगिभिः

Transliteration

vāyvagnidravyasaṃbhūto rathaś candrasutasya ca piśaṅgais turagair yuktaḥ so 'ṣṭābhir vāyuvegibhiḥ

Translation

The chariot of the Moon’s son was fashioned from substances born of wind and fire; it was harnessed to eight tawny horses, swift as the very gale.

Word by Word

• वाय्वग्निद्रव्यसंभूतः: arisen from the substance of wind and fire
• वाय्वग्निद्रव्यसंभूतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु + अग्नि + द्रव्य + संभूत (कृदन्त; √भू + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘from substances of wind and fire’; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• चन्द्रसुतस्य: of the Moon’s son (Budha/Mercury)
• चन्द्रसुतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पिशङ्गैः: tawny/reddish-brown
• पिशङ्गैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

• तुरगैः: by horses
• तुरगैः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• युक्तः: yoked/connected
• युक्तः: Kriya-visheshana (Predicate adjective/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• सः: he/that (chariot)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (masc/neut), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); संख्यावाचक विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• वायुवेगिभिः: swift as the wind
• वायुवेगिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु + वेगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Astral governance imagery: the moon’s son and his wind-and-fire chariot with eight swift horses

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the swift motion of celestial bodies is governed by ordained law, symbolized by the chariot fashioned of wind and fire and drawn by eight horses.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate steadiness and discipline by contemplating cosmic regularity; let daily practice mirror celestial order.

Vishishtadvaita: The cosmos operates as a purposeful system under the Supreme’s ordinance, consistent with a personal, governing Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (the Moon)
• Chandrasuta (son of the Moon)

FAQs

What is the significance of the chariot being made from wind and fire in the Vishnu Purana?

It poetically conveys irresistible momentum and radiant force—royal power portrayed as elemental, swift, and formidable within the Purāṇic vision of ordered rule.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage details in this section?

He presents the Chandra-vaṃśa through vivid identifiers—such as vehicles, attributes, and prowess—so the genealogy is remembered not only by names but by defining characteristics.

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

Even when describing dynastic grandeur, the Purāṇa frames power and order as ultimately upheld by Viṣṇu, the supreme regulator of cosmic and royal law (dharma).