Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
राजोवाच यदेतद्भगवत आदित्यस्य मेरुं ध्रुवं च प्रदक्षिणेन परिक्रामतो राशीनामभिमुखं प्रचलितं चाप्रदक्षिणं भगवतोपवर्णितममुष्य वयं कथमनुमिमीमहीति ॥ १ ॥
rājovāca yad etad bhagavata ādityasya meruṁ dhruvaṁ ca pradakṣiṇena parikrāmato rāśīnām abhimukhaṁ pracalitaṁ cāpradakṣiṇaṁ bhagavatopavarṇitam amuṣya vayaṁ katham anumimīmahīti.
El rey dijo: “Señor venerable, ya has afirmado como verdad que el poderoso dios Sol circunvala Dhruvaloka teniendo a su derecha el monte Meru y a Dhruva. Sin embargo, al mismo tiempo mira hacia los signos del zodíaco y parece mantener a Meru y a Dhruva a su izquierda. ¿Cómo podemos aceptar razonablemente que avance con Meru y Dhruvaloka a la vez a su derecha y a su izquierda?”
FAQs
In this verse, King Parīkṣit highlights the Bhagavatam’s description that the Sun circumambulates Meru and Dhruvaloka clockwise, yet appears to have a counterclockwise motion relative to the zodiacal signs—prompting a request for clarification.
Because the cosmological description seems paradoxical: the Sun is said to circle Meru and Dhruva clockwise, but its observed relation to the rāśis (zodiacal signs) appears opposite; Parīkṣit asks the sage to reconcile these viewpoints.
It encourages intellectual humility: complex truths may look contradictory from different reference points, so one should inquire carefully, seek proper explanation, and avoid hasty conclusions.