Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 12
The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka
स्वगोभि: पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजन् कृष्णशुक्लयो: । प्रजानां सर्वासां राजान्ध: सोमो न आस्त्विति ॥ १२ ॥
sva-gobhiḥ pitṛ-devebhyo vibhajan kṛṣṇa-śuklayoḥ prajānāṁ sarvāsāṁ rājā- ndhaḥ somo na āstv iti
Dengan sinarnya sendiri, Soma membagi bulan menjadi dua paruh—kṛṣṇa dan śukla—demi pembagian persembahan pangan bagi para pitṛ dan para dewa. Dialah raja seluruh makhluk dan pengatur waktu; semoga dewa bulan Soma tetap menjadi raja dan penuntun kami. Kepadanya kami bersujud hormat.
FAQs
This verse explains that Soma, by his rays, distributes the effects of the dark and bright fortnights (kṛṣṇa-śukla pakṣa) for the benefit of the Pitṛs and the Devas, functioning as a regulator of lunar time.
Because the Moon governs rhythms of time and nourishment through his rays, influencing the lives of all beings; thus he is described as a universal ruler in that functional sense.
It reminds one that powerful forces in nature operate within divine order—encouraging humility, gratitude, and living in harmony with sacred time and dharma.