Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

विशाखानां यदा सूर्यश् चरत्य् अंशं तृतीयकम् तदा चन्द्रं विजानीयात् कृत्तिकाशिरसि स्थितम्

Transliteration

viśākhānāṃ yadā sūryaś caraty aṃśaṃ tṛtīyakam tadā candraṃ vijānīyāt kṛttikāśirasi sthitam

Translation

When the Sun advances to the third division within Viśākhā, one should understand that the Moon is stationed at the head of Kṛttikā.

Word by Word

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

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

• सूर्यः: the Sun
• सूर्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• चरति: moves/traverses
• चरति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• अंशम्: a portion/degree
• अंशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• तृतीयकम्: the third
• तृतीयकम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (अंशम्)

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

• चन्द्रम्: the Moon
• चन्द्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• विजानीयात्: one should know/recognize
• विजानीयात्: Kriya (Injunctive/विधेयक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• कृत्तिकाशिरसि: on/in the head of Kṛttikā
• कृत्तिकाशिरसि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृत्तिकायाः शिरः)

• स्थितम्: situated/placed
• स्थितम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम् (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्; चन्द्रम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rule-like correlation of solar position in Viśākhā with lunar position in Kṛttikā (pramāṇa for calendrical knowledge)

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla is knowable through the ordained, repeatable correlations of Sun and Moon within the nakṣatra order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate regularity and attentiveness to cycles (daily, monthly) as a support for disciplined sādhana and timely duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic regularity functions as the Lord’s niyati (governance): the world’s order is a real, meaningful expression of His will.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Viśākhā (Nakṣatra)
• Kṛttikā (Nakṣatra)

FAQs

What is the significance of correlating the Sun in Viśākhā with the Moon in Kṛttikā in the Vishnu Purana?

It functions as a calendrical/astronomical indicator: a rule-of-thumb for identifying the Moon’s nakṣatra position based on the Sun’s progress, reflecting the Purana’s emphasis on measurable cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order (kāla) through such astronomical details?

By presenting repeatable correspondences among the luminaries, Parāśara frames time as structured and intelligible—an ordered system rather than randomness—supporting the text’s broader teaching of a governed universe.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context of Sun–Moon movements?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s cosmology treats the regular motion of the luminaries as evidence of a higher sustaining principle—Vishnu as the supreme regulator who upholds cosmic law and continuity.