Shloka 35

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

तारानक्षत्ररूपाणि वपुष्मन्तीह यानि वै बुधेन तानि तुल्यानि विस्तारान्मण्डलाच्च वै

Transliteration

tārānakṣatrarūpāṇi vapuṣmantīha yāni vai budhena tāni tulyāni vistārānmaṇḍalācca vai

Translation

Toutes les formes incarnées que l’on connaît ici comme étoiles et constellations—on dit qu’elles sont comparables à Budha (Mercure) tant par leur étendue que par leurs sphères circulaires. Ainsi, même les lumières du ciel se meuvent selon des mesures prescrites, révélant le Seigneur (Pati) comme le mesureur et le gouverneur de l’ordre cosmique.

Word by Word

• तारा (tārā): star

• नक्षत्र (nakṣatra): constellation/lunar mansion

• रूपाणि (rūpāṇi): forms

• वपुष्मन्ति (vapuṣmanti): possessing bodies/embodied

• इह (iha): here (in this cosmos)

• यानि (yāni): which/whatever

• वै (vai): indeed

• बुधेन (budhena): with/like Budha (Mercury)

• तानि (tāni): those

• तुल्यानि (tulyāni): equal/comparable

• विस्तारात् (vistārāt): in extent/size

• मण्डलात् (maṇḍalāt): in orb/circular sphere

• च (ca): and

• वै (vai): indeed.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By stating that even stars and constellations have measured orbs and extents, the verse supports a Shaiva view that all cosmic order is upheld by Pati (Shiva). Linga worship aligns the pashu (soul) to that governing principle beyond changing celestial forms.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is implied as the transcendent regulator: celestial bodies may be compared in size and sphere, but their intelligible order points to an overseeing consciousness—Pati—who measures, sustains, and ultimately liberates the pashu from pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is contemplative discipline (dhyāna) central to Pashupata orientation—seeing regulated cosmic motion as a support for inward steadiness and devotion to Mahadeva beyond graha-influence.