Shloka 19

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

विष्णुरश्वतरो रम्भा सूर्यवर्चाश्च सत्यजित् / विश्वामित्रस्तथा रक्षो यज्ञापेतो हि फाल्गुने

Transliteration

viṣṇuraśvataro rambhā sūryavarcāśca satyajit / viśvāmitrastathā rakṣo yajñāpeto hi phālgune

Translation

ഫാൽഗുന മാസത്തിൽ (അധിഷ്ഠാതൃ) നാമങ്ങൾ ഇവയാണ്—വിഷ്ണു, അശ്വതരൻ, രംഭ, സൂര്യവർചാ, സത്യജിത്; കൂടാതെ വിശ്വാമിത്രൻ; പിന്നെ രക്ഷോയും യജ്ഞാപേതനും.

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu (name)
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• अश्वतरः: Aśvatara (name)
• अश्वतरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• रम्भा: Rambhā (apsaras)
• रम्भा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (अप्सरानाम)

• सूर्यवर्चाः: Sūryavarcā (name)
• सूर्यवर्चाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्यवर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक: सूर्य + वर्चस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम); तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य वर्चः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सत्यजित्: Satyajit (name)
• सत्यजित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यजित् (प्रातिपदिक: सत्य + जित्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम); तत्पुरुष (सत्यं जयति)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra (name)
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक: विश्व + मित्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (ऋषिनाम); तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य मित्रम्)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक

• रक्षः: Rakṣaḥ (name)
• रक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम/जातिवाचक as name)

• यज्ञापेतः: Yajñāpeta (name)
• यज्ञापेतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + अपेत (कृदन्त; √इ/ए + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यज्ञस्य अपेतः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (particle: indeed/for)

• फाल्गुने: in (the month of) Phālguna
• फाल्गुने: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (मासवाचक)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu’s presence within the solar-month schema indicates the Supreme’s immanence in time and nature.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmitva (inner rulership): the Divine pervades and governs cosmic functions, including the Sun and the calendar.

Application: Use seasonal change as a cue for gratitude and devotion; integrate Viṣṇu-nāma with daily Sūrya-upāsanā (e.g., at sunrise).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58.20 (Viṣṇu-śakti strengthening sages who praise Sūrya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rambha
• Vishvamitra

FAQs

What is the importance of listing presiding names for Phālguna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a traditional month-wise mapping of presiding names, used to align vows, donations, and observances with the sacred calendar.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or śrāddha practice?

By grounding rites in the correct lunar month framework, it supports proper timing and invocation conventions that accompany offerings such as dāna and śrāddha-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When observing Phālguna-month vows or ritual worship, use this as a reference for traditional month identification and associated sacred invocations.