The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot
एतेन हि दिवो मण्डलमानं तद्विद उपदिशन्ति यथा द्विदलयोर्निष्पावादीनां ते अन्तरेणान्तरिक्षं तदुभयसन्धितम् ॥ २ ॥
etena hi divo maṇḍala-mānaṁ tad-vida upadiśanti yathā dvi-dalayor niṣpāvādīnāṁ te antareṇāntarikṣaṁ tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.
Seperti sebutir gandum yang dibelah dua: dengan mengetahui ukuran bagian bawah, ukuran bagian atas dapat diperkirakan. Demikian para ahli kosmografi mengajarkan bahwa dengan mengetahui ukuran bagian bawah alam semesta, ukuran bagian atas pun dapat dipahami. Ruang langit di antara lingkup bumi dan lingkup surga disebut antarikṣa (ruang angkasa), bersambung pada puncak lingkup bumi dan dasar lingkup surga.
This verse explains antarikṣa as the intervening region between two domains, compared to the space between the two halves of a split seed—connected to both sides.
He uses a simple, visual analogy to help the listener grasp how learned teachers describe the measure and divisions of the celestial sphere and the ‘in-between’ region.
It encourages careful learning through clear analogies—approaching complex spiritual or philosophical topics with humility, structure, and intelligible examples.