Shloka 9

Devanagari script

भ्रमम् आरोप्य सूर्यं तु तस्य तेजोविशातनम् कृतवान् अष्टमं भागं न व्यशातयताव्ययम्

Transliteration

bhramam āropya sūryaṃ tu tasya tejoviśātanam kṛtavān aṣṭamaṃ bhāgaṃ na vyaśātayatāvyayam

Translation

Having imposed the appointed circuit upon the Sun, he regulated the Sun’s blazing radiance—diminishing it only by an eighth part, while the imperishable essence was not impaired.

Word by Word

• भ्रमम्: a lathe/turning device (bhrama)
• भ्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आरोप्य: having mounted/placed
• आरोप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+रुह्/रूप्? (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from आ+रुह्/आरोपय् (causative sense ‘to mount/place’); अव्ययभाव

• सूर्यम्: the Sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेजोविशातनम्: diminution of radiance
• तेजोविशातनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विशातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तेजसः विशातनम्)

• कृतवान्: having done / did
• कृतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्तवत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• अष्टमम्: eighth
• अष्टमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम् (भागम्)

• भागम्: portion
• भागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• व्यशातयत: diminished/reduced
• व्यशातयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+शातय् (धातु; शातय् = causative of शा/शि? in sense ‘to diminish’)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable/undiminishing
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भागम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mechanism of solar regulation—its orbit and the precise measure of radiance reduction.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Vaivasvata (7th)

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic forces are governed by precise measure (mātrā)—the Sun’s path and tejas are regulated without diminishing its imperishable core.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt ‘measured living’: regulate intensity (work, speech, desire) while protecting the inner essence of values and purpose.

Vishishtadvaita: Distinction between mutable manifestation (tejas as experienced) and imperishable essence resonates with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s real attributes and enduring substance within an ordered cosmos.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of regulating the Sun’s radiance in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents cosmic order as deliberate governance: the Sun’s path is appointed and its heat is moderated so the world can function without being consumed, while its essential nature remains imperishable.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the balance between change and the imperishable (avyaya)?

Parāśara distinguishes between manifest qualities that can be adjusted (like the Sun’s tejas being reduced by a portion) and an underlying imperishable essence that is not diminished, reflecting a layered view of reality.

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

Even when not named explicitly, the Purana’s framework treats such cosmic regulation as proceeding from the Supreme Lord’s sovereignty—Vishnu as the sustaining intelligence that orders motion, measure, and stability in creation.