Shloka 18

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

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

Devanagari script

अष्टाश्वः काञ्चनः श्रीमान् भौमस्यापि रथो महान् पद्मरागारुणैर् अश्वैः संयुक्तो वह्निसंभवैः

Transliteration

aṣṭāśvaḥ kāñcanaḥ śrīmān bhaumasyāpi ratho mahān padmarāgāruṇair aśvaiḥ saṃyukto vahnisaṃbhavaiḥ

Translation

Bhoma (Mars) too possessed a mighty, splendid golden chariot called ‘Aṣṭāśva’, yoked to fire-born horses, crimson like padmarāga, blazing in hue as they drew his great car.

Word by Word

• अष्टाश्वः: having eight horses
• अष्टाश्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट- अश्व (प्रातिपदिक; अष्टन् + अश्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अष्टौ अश्वाः यस्य’

• काञ्चनः: golden
• काञ्चनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रीमान्: splendid, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भौमस्य: of Bhauma (Mars)
• भौमस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• 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

• पद्मरागारुणैः: reddish like ruby (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागारुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मराग-अरुण (प्रातिपदिक; पद्मराग + अरुण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘पद्मरागवत् अरुणाः’

• अश्वैः: with horses
• अश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• संयुक्तः: joined, yoked
• संयुक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘संयुक्त’ = joined/yoked

• वह्निसंभवैः: fire-born
• वह्निसंभवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि-सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक; वह्नि + सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘वह्नेः सम्भवाः’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of planetary chariots, horses, and distinguishing marks

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: descriptive and authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Bhoma

FAQs

What is the significance of Bhoma’s chariot ‘Aṣṭāśva’ in the Vishnu Purana?

It functions as a dynastic marker of royal splendor and legitimacy—an emblematic description that elevates Bhoma’s status within the genealogical narrative.

How does Sage Parāśara explain kingship in this genealogical context?

Through concise lineage narration enriched with symbolic details (like golden chariots and extraordinary horses), Parāśara frames sovereignty as part of an ordered cosmic and historical continuum.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s dynastic accounts are presented as unfolding within Vishnu’s overarching governance of dharma and cosmic order, where legitimate rule reflects that higher sovereignty.