Shloka 25

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

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

Devanagari script

ग्रहर्क्षताराधिष्ण्यानि ध्रुवे बद्धान्य् अशेषतः भ्रमन्त्य् उचितचारेण मैत्रेयानिलरश्मिभिः

Transliteration

graharkṣatārādhiṣṇyāni dhruve baddhāny aśeṣataḥ bhramanty ucitacāreṇa maitreyānilaraśmibhiḥ

Translation

All the planets, constellations, stars, and the celestial abodes are bound fast to Dhruva; and, O Maitreya, driven by the rays of the cosmic Wind, they revolve in their proper courses.

Word by Word

• ग्रहर्क्षताराधिष्ण्यानि: the planets, constellations, stars, and their abodes
• ग्रहर्क्षताराधिष्ण्यानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह-ऋक्ष-तारा-अधिष्ण्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Nominative, Plural; ‘planets, constellations, stars, and (their) stations’

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

• बद्धानि: are bound
• बद्धानि: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — Neuter, Nominative, Plural; ‘bound’

• अशेषतः: entirely, without remainder
• अशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः (अव्यय; अशेष + तस्)
• Form: परिमाण/समग्रता-अव्यय (adverb)

• भ्रमन्ति: they revolve
• भ्रमन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Present indicative, 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• उचितचारेण: with proper motion/course
• उचितचारेण: Karana (Manner/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उचित-चार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; ‘with proper course/motion’

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Comprehensive binding of grahas, nakṣatras, tārās, and adhiṣṭhānas to Dhruva and their regular revolution

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: systematic

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All astral entities revolve in their appointed paths because they are universally tethered to Dhruva and propelled by vāyu-rays.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align actions to ‘ucita-cāra’ (appropriate conduct) so life’s motion stays harmonious within a larger order.

Vishishtadvaita: Orderly plurality suggests a single coordinating ground; the many function as an interrelated whole rather than isolated absolutes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Grahas (planets)
• Ṛkṣas (constellations)
• Tārās (stars)
• Anila (cosmic wind)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Dhruva as the fixed cosmic pivot to which the moving heavens are ‘bound,’ symbolizing stable sovereignty and order within the universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the motion of the planets and stars here?

Parāśara describes all luminaries as revolving in correct paths (ucitacāra) because they are bound to Dhruva and propelled by the ‘rays’ or streams of Anila, the cosmic wind principle.

What is Lord Vishnu’s theological importance in this cosmological context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s cosmology frames such lawful motion as part of the Supreme Reality’s governance—Vishnu as the ultimate ground of order that sustains and regulates the cosmos.