Shloka 17

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

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

Devanagari script

सवरूथः सानुकर्षो युक्तो भूसंभवैर् हयैः सोपासङ्गपताकस् तु शुक्रस्यापि रथो महान्

Transliteration

savarūthaḥ sānukarṣo yukto bhūsaṃbhavair hayaiḥ sopāsaṅgapatākas tu śukrasyāpi ratho mahān

Translation

Fully harnessed, with pole and draw-gear set, and yoked to earth-born steeds, Śukra’s mighty chariot—adorned with its fittings and banner—moves onward along the divinely ordained course upheld by the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• सवरूथः: having a chariot-cover/armour
• सवरूथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-वरूथ (प्रातिपदिक; वरूथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘वरूथयुक्तः’

• सानुकर्षः: having traces/drag-gear
• सानुकर्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अनुकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक; अनुकर्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अनुकर्षयुक्तः’ (with a drag/trace)

• युक्तः: yoked, harnessed
• युक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ = yoked/connected

• भूसंभवैः: earth-born
• भूसंभवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू-सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक; भू + सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘भूमेः सम्भवाः’

• हयैः: by horses
• हयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सोपासङ्गपताकः: with side-attachments and a banner
• सोपासङ्गपताकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उपासङ्ग- पताका (प्रातिपदिक; उपासङ्ग + पताका)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘उपासङ्गेन पताकया च युक्तः’ (with side-attachments and a banner)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)—विरोध/विशेषार्थे

• शुक्रस्य: of Śukra (Venus)
• शुक्रस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात—समुच्चय/अपि-भावे

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

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Planetary motions and their divine ordering in the heavenly sphere

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the precise motions of the planets proceed in an ordained course upheld by the Supreme Lord as inner ruler and governor of order (ṛta).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cosmic regularity as a support for steadiness in sādhana and trust in dharma’s governance.

Vishishtadvaita: Nārāyaṇa is transcendent yet immanently regulates cosmic functions (antaryāmin), with the world as His ordered body.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Śukra (Venus)
• Grahas (planetary deities)

FAQs

What is the significance of Śukra’s chariot in the Vishnu Purana?

It portrays Venus as moving in a structured, divinely regulated system—an image of cosmic governance where even planetary forces operate under higher order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order through such descriptions?

By detailing precise features—yoking, banner, and the nature of the horses—Parāśara presents the cosmos as an organized hierarchy, implying a sustaining supreme principle behind its regularity.

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

The verse supports the Purana’s view that the universe’s orderly functioning is not accidental: the Supreme Lord is the ground of law, stability, and coordinated motion in creation.