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.
麦の一粒を二つに割れば、下の部分の大きさを知ることで上の部分の大きさも推し量れるように、宇宙地理に通じた賢者は、下方の測度を知れば上方界の測度も理解できると説く。地の球と天の球の間の空はアンタリクシャ(antarikṣa、外空)と呼ばれ、地の頂と天の底に接している。
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.