Shloka 69

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

सर्पा वहन्ति वै सूर्यं यातुधाना अनुयान्ति वै वालखिल्या नयन्त्यस्तं परिवार्योदयाद्रविम्

Transliteration

sarpā vahanti vai sūryaṃ yātudhānā anuyānti vai vālakhilyā nayantyastaṃ parivāryodayādravim

Translation

蛇たちはまことに太陽の車を担い、ヤートゥダーナらはその行列に随従する。さらにヴァーラキリヤの牟尼たちは、日の出より太陽を取り囲み、日没に至るまで導く—かくして宇宙の行進は定められた運行を保つ。

Word by Word

• सर्पाः (sarpāḥ): serpents, nāga-beings

• वहन्ति (vahanti): carry, bear (the chariot)

• वै (vai): indeed, surely

• सूर्यं (sūryaṃ): the Sun

• यातुधानाः (yātudhānāḥ): yātudhānas (a class of fierce beings/attendants)

• अनुयान्ति (anuyānti): follow, accompany

• वालखिल्याः (vālakhilyāḥ): the Vālakhilya sages

• नयन्ति (nayanti): lead, conduct

• अस्तं (astaṃ): to setting, to the west

• परिवार्य (parivārya): having surrounded, encircling

• उदयात् (udayāt): from the rising

• रविम् (ravim): the Sun (Ravi).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Ravi
• Vālakhilya

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic functions (like the Sun’s daily course) as regulated by an ordained procession, supporting the Shaiva view that all powers operate as functionaries under Pati (Shiva); Linga worship aligns the devotee with this divine order.

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

Though Shiva is not named, the verse implies a governed cosmos: multiple beings serve a single cosmic movement. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such coordinated governance points to Pati—Shiva—as the ultimate regulator behind all delegated powers.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse most directly supports daily solar-oriented disciplines—sandhyā and regularity (niyama). In a Pāśupata/Shaiva frame, disciplined worship timed to sunrise/sunset becomes a practice of attunement to ṛta under Shiva’s sovereignty.