Shloka 2

शिशुमार-रूपं, ध्रुवबन्धनम्, वृष्टिचक्र-पालनम्, नारायणाधारत्वम्

Devanagari script

एष भ्रमन् भ्रामयति चन्द्रादित्यादिकान् ग्रहान् भ्रमन्तम् अनु तं यान्ति नक्षत्राणि च चक्रवत्

Transliteration

eṣa bhraman bhrāmayati candrādityādikān grahān bhramantam anu taṃ yānti nakṣatrāṇi ca cakravat

Translation

Circling in his own station, he sets the Moon, the Sun, and the other planets in motion; and the constellations follow him like a turning wheel.

Word by Word

• एषः: this (Dhruva)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• भ्रमन्: moving; revolving
• भ्रमन्: Modifier of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + भ्रमन् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; एषः-विशेषण

• भ्रामयति: causes to revolve
• भ्रामयति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) (णिच्) → भ्रामय (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• चन्द्रादित्यादिकान्: such as the Moon and the Sun
• चन्द्रादित्यादिकान्: Modifier of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: समासः द्वन्द्व-आधारित ‘चन्द्र-आदित्य’ + आदि + क; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; ग्रहान्-विशेषण

• ग्रहान्: planets; luminaries
• ग्रहान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• भ्रमन्तम्: revolving
• भ्रमन्तम्: Modifier of Object (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + भ्रमन्त् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तम्-विशेषण

• अनु: after; following
• अनु: Adverbial/Prepositional (अनुगमन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषण; अनुगमनार्थ (after, following)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• यान्ति: go; move
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• नक्षत्राणि: stars; constellations
• नक्षत्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थ (conjunction)

• चक्रवत्: like a wheel
• चक्रवत्: Adverbial modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानार्थ (similative adverb: like a wheel)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mechanism of celestial motion: Dhruva/Śiśumāra as the pivot causing Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations to revolve.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A fixed cosmic pivot (Dhruva/Śiśumāra) is described as the regulating center around which luminaries and constellations revolve in ordered cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use cyclical time (day, month, season) as a prompt for disciplined practice—regular japa, vrata, and ethical consistency mirroring cosmic regularity.

Vishishtadvaita: Hints at niyati under the Lord’s governance: celestial bodies move in lawful dependence, supporting the view of a purposive, divinely ordered cosmos.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Chandra
• Aditya (Surya)
• Grahāḥ (planets)
• Nakṣatrāṇi (constellations)

FAQs

What is the significance of Dhruva in the Vishnu Purana’s description of the cosmos?

Dhruva is presented as the steady polar pivot around which the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations are described as revolving, symbolizing stability and cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the movement of the planets and stars here?

He states that as Dhruva “revolves,” he causes the luminaries like the Sun and Moon to revolve, and the constellations follow in a wheel-like circuit—an image of ordered, regulated motion.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats such cosmic regularity as upheld by Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—order in the heavens mirrors the Supreme’s governance of all realms.