Shloka 104

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

यस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठितो भास्वान् मेढीभूतः स्वयं ध्रुवः ध्रुवे च सर्वज्योतींषि ज्योतिष्व् अम्भोमुचो द्विज

Transliteration

yasmin pratiṣṭhito bhāsvān meḍhībhūtaḥ svayaṃ dhruvaḥ dhruve ca sarvajyotīṃṣi jyotiṣv ambhomuco dvija

Translation

Upon Him the radiant Sun is established, and Dhruva himself stands as the fixed pivot. Upon Dhruva, O twice-born, rest all the lights of heaven; and among those heavenly bodies move the cloud-bearers.

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• प्रतिष्ठितः: established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भास्वान्: the shining one (Sun)
• भास्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मेढीभूतः: having become a pivot (as axle-post)
• मेढीभूतः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेढी + भू (धातु) → भूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मेढी-भूतः = become a pivot/post)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—स्वार्थ/निजार्थ (adverb: 'by oneself')

• ध्रुवः: Dhruva (Pole Star)
• ध्रुवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्रुवे: in/at Dhruva
• ध्रुवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वज्योतींषि: all the luminaries
• सर्वज्योतींषि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सर्वाणि ज्योतींषि)

• ज्योतिषु: among the lights
• ज्योतिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• अम्भोमुचः: clouds (water-releasers)
• अम्भोमुचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् + मुच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अम्भः मुञ्चन्ति इति)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The celestial order is anchored on Dhruva as the fixed pivot, with the Sun and other luminaries established in relation to that cosmic axis.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate cosmic order to cultivate inner steadiness (dhruvatā): align daily life with regular disciplines and dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic order is upheld by the Supreme’s governance: the stable pivot imagery supports a personal Lord who sustains a real, structured universe.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Surya (the Sun)
• Ambhomucas (cloud-bearers/rain-givers)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva as a cosmic pivot in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Dhruva as the fixed axis (meḍhī/pivot) upon which the Sun and the other luminaries are said to be established, expressing an ordered cosmos centered on a stable principle.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the arrangement of the Sun and other celestial lights?

Parāśara describes a hierarchical support: the Sun is established in relation to Dhruva, and all luminaries are connected to Dhruva, indicating a structured, interdependent celestial system.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames cosmic stability and governance as ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality (Vishnu), with Dhruva functioning as a divinely upheld point of order within creation.