Shloka 45

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

आषाढास्विह पूर्वासु समुत्पन्न इति स्मृतः रेवतीष्वेव सप्तार्चिःस्थाने सौरिः शनैश्चरः

Transliteration

āṣāḍhāsviha pūrvāsu samutpanna iti smṛtaḥ revatīṣveva saptārciḥsthāne sauriḥ śanaiścaraḥ

Translation

聖なる伝承に曰く、この宇宙の配列において、緩やかに巡るシャナイシュチャラ（サウリ）はプールヴァーシャーダー宿に生じ、その定められた座はレーヴァティー、すなわち「サプタールチḥ（七つの炎）」と呼ばれる処にある。

Word by Word

• āṣāḍhāsu pūrvāsu: in (the nakṣatra) Pūrvāṣāḍhā

• iha: here (in this account/cosmic arrangement)

• samutpannaḥ: arisen/born

• iti: thus

• smṛtaḥ: is remembered/traditionally stated

• revatīṣu eva: in Revatī indeed

• saptārciḥ-sthāne: in the station called Saptārciḥ (Seven Flames)

• sauriḥ: the son of Sūrya / Sauri

• śanaiścaraḥ: Śani, the slow-moving planet-deity (Saturn)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shani (Śanaiścara)
• Surya (Sūrya)

FAQs

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

By locating Śani within a divinely ordered nakṣatra-sthāna, the verse supports the Shaiva view that grahas operate under the sovereignty of Pati (Śiva); thus, graha-related rites ultimately become acts of alignment with Śiva through Linga-centered devotion.

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

Implicitly, it presents Shiva-tattva as the supreme governor of cosmic law: even powerful karmic forces like Śani function within ordained stations, indicating the supremacy of Pati over pasha (bondage) that conditions the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse is primarily jyotiṣa-doctrinal; in Shaiva practice it points toward karma-shuddhi through Śiva-upāsanā—Linga-pūjā, japa, and disciplined conduct to endure and transcend Śani-related pasha rather than merely fearing planetary influence.