Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

उभयोः काष्ठयोर् मध्ये भ्रमतो मण्डलानि च दिवा नक्तं च सूर्यस्य मन्दा शीघ्रा च वै गतिः

Transliteration

ubhayoḥ kāṣṭhayor madhye bhramato maṇḍalāni ca divā naktaṃ ca sūryasya mandā śīghrā ca vai gatiḥ

Translation

Between the two termini of his course, the Sun’s spheres revolve; from this arise day and night. In that very motion, by the ordained order of his circuit, his progress is spoken of as sometimes slow and sometimes swift.

Word by Word

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual), सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; उभय-शब्दः

• काष्ठयोः: of the two solstices (lit. two 'kāṣṭhas')
• काष्ठयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); अधिकरण

• भ्रमतो: of the two revolving (ones)
• भ्रमतो: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present participle/शतृ), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-द्विवचन/एकवचन-सम्भाव्य; अत्र षष्ठी-द्विवचन (Genitive dual) रूपेण—“भ्रमतोः” (of the two moving/turning)

• मण्डलानि: circles/orbits
• मण्डलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दिवा: by day
• दिवा: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• नक्तम्: by night
• नक्तम्: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun
• सूर्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्दा: slow
• मन्दा: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘गतिः’ इति विशेषणम्

• शीघ्रा: fast
• शीघ्रा: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘गतिः’ इति विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• गतिः: movement/speed
• गतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Sacred geography and the celestial mechanics that regulate day/night and time in Jambudvipa

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Day and night arise from the Sun’s ordained revolution between terminal points, whose varying speed is governed by a higher cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate time as regulated order (niyati) rather than randomness, cultivating steadiness and reverence for dharmic rhythm.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic regulation is not impersonal: the ordered circuit implies a sovereign, intelligent governance compatible with the Lord as immanent ruler of the world-process.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sun’s slow and swift motion in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse links varying solar motion (manda/śīghra) to the structured, law-like order of the cosmos, explaining observable changes in the Sun’s course as part of a regulated celestial cycle.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the arising of day and night here?

Parāśara attributes day and night to the Sun’s revolving circuit between two limits of direction (kāṣṭhā), with the Sun’s circular movement producing the alternation of light and darkness.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic cosmology is presented as an expression of a supreme governing reality—where the Sun’s regulated motion reflects the sovereignty and sustaining order upheld by the Supreme.