Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

कर्कटावस्थिते भानौ दक्षिणायनम् उच्यते उत्तरायणम् अप्य् उक्तं मकरस्थे दिवाकरे

Transliteration

karkaṭāvasthite bhānau dakṣiṇāyanam ucyate uttarāyaṇam apy uktaṃ makarasthe divākare

Translation

When the Sun abides in Cancer, that course is called Dakṣiṇāyana; and when the maker of day stands in Capricorn, that is declared to be Uttarāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• कर्कटावस्थिते: when (the sun) is situated in Cancer
• कर्कटावस्थिते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्कट + अवस्थित (स्था-धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘अवस्थित’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; भानौ विशेषण

• भानौ: in the sun (when the sun is...)
• भानौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• दक्षिणायनम्: southern course (dakṣiṇāyana)
• दक्षिणायनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• उत्तरायणम्: northern course (uttarāyaṇa)
• उत्तरायणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक-निपात (particle: also)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया/वाक्यांश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘(इति) उक्तम्’ = ‘it is said’

• मकरस्थे: when (the sun) is in Capricorn
• मकरस्थे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मकर + स्थ (स्था-धातु; क्त/निष्ठा-भाव)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; ‘स्थ’ (स्थितिवाचक) कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिवाकरे विशेषण

• दिवाकरे: in the sun (day-maker)
• दिवाकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Definition of Dakṣiṇāyana and Uttarāyaṇa via solar position in Cancer and Capricorn

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The two half-year courses are determined by the Sun’s stay in Karkaṭa (Dakṣiṇāyana) and Makara (Uttarāyaṇa).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Mark transitions (solstices) as checkpoints for vows, study, and renewal of discipline, mirroring nature’s turning.

Vishishtadvaita: The dependable solar order suggests a cosmos governed by intelligible law, consonant with a sustaining divine will.

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)
• Karkaṭa (Cancer)
• Makara (Capricorn)
• Dakṣiṇāyana
• Uttarāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the significance of Uttarāyaṇa and Dakṣiṇāyana in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse defines the two sacred half-years by the Sun’s placement: Dakṣiṇāyana when the Sun is in Cancer, and Uttarāyaṇa when it is in Capricorn—linking ritual time to cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the division of the year?

He explains it through the Sun’s rāśi-based position: the Sun’s shift to Cancer marks the southern course, while its position in Capricorn marks the northern course, establishing a cosmological calendar.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic framework treats such regular solar order as part of the divinely sustained cosmos—time and its divisions function as an expression of the Supreme’s governance of the universe.