Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

प्रथमे कृत्तिकाभागे यदा भास्वांस् तदा शशी विशाखानां चतुर्थे ऽंशे मुने तिष्ठत्य् असंशयम्

Transliteration

prathame kṛttikābhāge yadā bhāsvāṃs tadā śaśī viśākhānāṃ caturthe 'ṃśe mune tiṣṭhaty asaṃśayam

Translation

O sage, when the radiant Sun stands in the first portion of Kṛttikā, then the Moon—without doubt—abides in the fourth portion of Viśākhā.

Word by Word

• प्रथमे: in the first
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• कृत्तिकाभागे: in the portion of Kṛttikā
• कृत्तिकाभागे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृत्तिकायाः भागः)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (Temporal connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• भास्वान्: the Sun (the shining one)
• भास्वान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (Temporal connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• शशी: the Moon
• शशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• विशाखानाम्: of (the nakṣatra) Viśākhā
• विशाखानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठीविभक्तिः (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचनम्

• चतुर्थे: in the fourth
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• अंशे: in the part/portion
• अंशे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

• तिष्ठति: stands/remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• असंशयम्: without doubt
• असंशयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial accusative; indeclinable usage)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Astronomical ordering of Sun–Moon positions (nakṣatra-bhāga) and the intelligible measure of time

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Krittika (Nakshatra)
• Vishakha (Nakshatra)

FAQs

What is the significance of linking the Sun in Kṛttikā to the Moon in Viśākhā in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents a rule-like correlation of solar and lunar positions across nakshatra portions, showing the Purana’s concern with orderly cosmic time and predictable celestial cycles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order through astronomy in this passage?

By stating the luminaries’ precise stations (aṁśas) in specific nakshatras, Parāśara frames astronomy as a manifestation of structured, law-governed reality rather than randomness.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s cosmology treats the stability of time and celestial motion as dependent on a supreme sustaining principle—Vishnu as the ground of order and continuity.