Shloka 22

सोमवर्णनम्

Graha–Ratha–Aśva Varṇana, Dhruva-Nibaddha Gati, Maṇḍala-Pramāṇa, Graha-Arcana

Devanagari script

सप्ताश्वस्यैव सूर्यस्य नीचोच्चत्वमनुक्रमात् उत्तरायणमार्गस्थो यदा पर्वसु चन्द्रमाः

Transliteration

saptāśvasyaiva sūryasya nīcoccatvamanukramāt uttarāyaṇamārgastho yadā parvasu candramāḥ

Translation

സപ്താശ്വനായ സൂര്യന്റെ നീച-ഉച്ച ഗതി ക്രമാനുസൃതമായി നടക്കുന്നു. പർവ്വസന്ധികളെന്ന പുണ്യസമയങ്ങളിൽ ചന്ദ്രൻ ഉത്തരായണപഥത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുമ്പോൾ, ആ കാലം അത്യന്തം പുണ്യകരവും വിശേഷ ശുഭകരവും എന്നു കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• सप्ताश्वस्य: of the seven-horsed (Sun)

• एव: indeed

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun

• नीचोच्चत्वम्: lowness and height (declination

• अनुक्रमात्: in regular order/sequence

• उत्तरायणमार्गस्थः: situated on the path of uttarāyaṇa (northern course)

• यदा: when

• पर्वसु: at the parvas (sacred junction days such as new/full moon and transitions)

• चन्द्रमाः: the Moon

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Chandra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies parva-days and the uttarāyaṇa course as especially auspicious windows for intensified Shiva-linga pūjā, vrata, japa, and dāna—times when devotion is said to yield amplified merit and inner purification.

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

By pointing to ordered celestial rhythms, it implies Shiva-tattva as Pati—the transcendent Lord who upholds ṛta (cosmic order). The devotee (paśu) aligns practice with this order to loosen pāśa (bondage) through disciplined observance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Parva-kāla observance: performing Shiva-linga abhiṣeka, mantra-japa, fasting/vow (vrata), and meditative Pāśupata-oriented sādhana during uttarāyaṇa and lunar junctions for steadiness of mind and reduction of pāśa.