Shloka 24

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

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

Devanagari script

एते मया ग्रहाणां वै तवाख्याता रथा नव सर्वे ध्रुवे महाभाग प्रबद्धा वायुरश्मिभिः

Transliteration

ete mayā grahāṇāṃ vai tavākhyātā rathā nava sarve dhruve mahābhāga prabaddhā vāyuraśmibhiḥ

Translation

Thus have I explained to you the nine chariots of the planets. All of them, O noble one, are fastened to Dhruva, bound by rays of wind.

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; pronoun

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (Instrument/Agent-in-passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — 1st person pronoun, Instrumental, Singular

• ग्रहाणाम्: of the planets
• ग्रहाणाम्: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/उपपादक-अव्यय (particle)

• तव: to you/for you
• तव: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 2nd person pronoun, Genitive, Singular

• आख्याताः: have been described
• आख्याताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√ख्या (धातु) → आख्यात (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘told/declared’

• रथाः: chariots
• रथाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; numeral

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ध्रुवे: in/at Dhruva (the Pole Star)
• ध्रुवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भाग (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रबद्धाः: are fastened
• प्रबद्धाः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√बन्ध् (धातु) → प्रबद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘bound/fastened’

• वायुरश्मिभिः: by rays/cords of wind
• वायुरश्मिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the grahas’ chariots are arranged and what governs their motion (tethering to Dhruva by wind-rays)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The heavens move in patterned revolutions because all graha-rathas are bound to Dhruva by subtle ‘wind-rays’, combining motion with stability.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate an inner ‘dhruva’ (steadfast practice) so life’s movements remain ordered and purposeful.

Vishishtadvaita: Multiplicity (many grahas) remains coordinated through a unifying sustaining principle, reflecting unity-in-difference.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Grahas (nine planetary powers)
• Vāyu (wind as cosmic force)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva in the Vishnu Purana’s cosmology?

In this verse Dhruva functions as the stable cosmic pivot: planetary chariots are described as bound to Dhruva, symbolizing an ordered universe anchored around an unwavering axis.

How does Sage Parāśara explain planetary motion here?

Parāśara presents the nine planetary ‘chariots’ as being tethered by “vāyu-raśmi” (wind-like rays/cords), conveying that motion occurs through an unseen binding force within a structured cosmic system.

What theological takeaway about Lord Vishnu fits this context of cosmic order?

Though Vishnu is not named in this single verse, the described harmony—planets moving yet bound to an axis—reflects the Purāṇic vision of a universe governed by a supreme, sustaining sovereignty (Vishnu as the ultimate ground of order).