Shloka 25

भुवनकोशविन्यासनिर्णयः (ज्योतिर्गति-वृष्टिचक्र-वर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

अहर्भवति तच्चापि चरते मन्दविक्रमः त्रयोदशार्धम् ऋक्षाणि नक्तं द्वादशभी रविः मुहूर्तैस् तावद् ऋक्षाणि दिवाष्टादशभिश्चरन्

Transliteration

aharbhavati taccāpi carate mandavikramaḥ trayodaśārdham ṛkṣāṇi naktaṃ dvādaśabhī raviḥ muhūrtais tāvad ṛkṣāṇi divāṣṭādaśabhiścaran

Translation

ഇതുതന്നെ ‘അഹഃ’ (ദിവസം) ആകുന്നു. മന്ദഗതിയോടെ സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്ന രവി രാത്രിയിൽ ദ്വാദശ മുഹൂർത്തങ്ങളിൽ പതിമൂന്നര നക്ഷത്രങ്ങൾ കടക്കുന്നു; പകലിൽ അഷ്ടാദശ മുഹൂർത്തങ്ങളിൽ അതേ നക്ഷത്രപരിമാണം സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ahar: a day

• bhavati: becomes/is

• tat ca api: that also indeed

• carate: moves/traverses

• manda-vikramaḥ: of slow/gentle stride

• trayodaśa-ardham: thirteen and a half

• ṛkṣāṇi: lunar mansions (nakṣatras)

• naktam: at night

• dvādaśabhiḥ: by twelve

• raviḥ: the Sun

• muhūrtaiḥ: by muhūrtas

• tāvat: that much/the same extent

• divā: by day

• aṣṭādaśabhiḥ: by eighteen

• caran: while moving/traversing

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Surya)

FAQs

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

It grounds Shiva-puja in precise kāla (time): muhūrta and nakṣatra measurements guide auspicious timing for vrata, abhiṣeka, and Linga-pratiṣṭhā, aligning worship with cosmic order (ṛta) upheld by Mahadeva.

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

By detailing the Sun’s regulated motion, it points to Shiva as Pati—the inner governor of kāla and niyati—through whom celestial rhythms become intelligible; the pashu’s liberation begins by aligning life with that higher order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Muhūrta-śuddhi (time-selection) and nakṣatra-awareness for vows and worship; in a Pāśupata frame, disciplined observance of time supports niyama and steadies the mind for Shiva-bhakti and yogic restraint.