Shloka 28

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

तिष्ठंस्तिष्ठति वर्षं वै राशौराशौ बृहस्पतिः / आकाशसम्भवैरश्वैः शवलैः स्यन्दनं युतम्

Transliteration

tiṣṭhaṃstiṣṭhati varṣaṃ vai rāśaurāśau bṛhaspatiḥ / ākāśasambhavairaśvaiḥ śavalaiḥ syandanaṃ yutam

Translation

ബൃഹസ്പതി ഓരോ രാശിയിലും ഒരു വർഷം വീതം നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ സ്യന്ദനം ആകാശസംബവമെന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്ന ശവല (പുള്ളിപ്പുള്ളി) അശ്വങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തമാണ്।

Word by Word

• तिष्ठन्: standing
• तिष्ठन्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → तिष्ठत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन (while standing)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वर्षम्: for a year
• वर्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालावधि-निर्देशः

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• राशौ: in a zodiac sign
• राशौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अराशौ: in another sign (non-own sign)
• अराशौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अराशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)
• बृहस्पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाशसम्भवैः: born of the sky
• आकाशसम्भवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आकाशात् सम्भवाः)

• अश्वैः: with horses
• अश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शवलैः: mottled, variegated
• शवलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्यन्दनम्: chariot
• स्यन्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्यन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• युतम्: joined, furnished (with)
• युतम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः; विशेषणम् (स्यन्दनम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic time is structured; auspiciousness and guidance (guru-tattva) unfold in ordered cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a manifestation of Īśvara’s śakti; order (ṛta) supports dharma in the world.

Application: Plan learning, counsel, and ethical commitments with patience; honor long cycles—study steadily rather than seeking instant results.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial path / ecliptic stations

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (graha-gati and ratha descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati
• Rashi (zodiac signs)

FAQs

What is the importance of Brihaspati’s one-year stay in each rashi in the Garuda Purana?

It presents a Purāṇic time-measure for Jupiter’s motion, linking cosmic order and calendrical/astrological reckoning to dharmic life.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing regulated planetary movement, it frames the cosmos as law-governed (ṛta), within which karma and life-events unfold.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that time moves in cycles; plan duties and self-discipline steadily rather than impulsively, aligning actions with long-term dharma.