Shloka 41

सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्

Devanagari script

उभयोः काष्ठयोर् मध्ये भ्रमतो मण्डलानि च दिवा नक्तं च सूर्यस्य मन्दा शीघ्रा च वै गतिः

Transliteration

ubhayoḥ kāṣṭhayor madhye bhramato maṇḍalāni ca divā naktaṃ ca sūryasya mandā śīghrā ca vai gatiḥ

Translation

आपल्या मार्गाच्या दोन्ही टोकांमध्ये सूर्याची मंडले परिभ्रमण करतात; त्यातूनच दिवस व रात्र उत्पन्न होतात. त्या गतीतच नियत विधीनुसार कधी मंद, कधी शीघ्र अशी त्याची चाल सांगितली जाते.

Word by Word

उभयोःof both

काष्ठयोःof the two solstices (lit. two 'kāṣṭhas')

मध्येin the middle

भ्रमतोof the two revolving (ones)

मण्डलानिcircles/orbits

चand

दिवाby day

नक्तम्by night

चand

सूर्यस्यof the Sun

मन्दाslow

शीघ्राfast

चand

वैindeed

गतिःmovement/speed

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

Surya (the Sun)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sun’s slow and swift motion in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse links varying solar motion (manda/śīghra) to the structured, law-like order of the cosmos, explaining observable changes in the Sun’s course as part of a regulated celestial cycle.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the arising of day and night here?

Parāśara attributes day and night to the Sun’s revolving circuit between two limits of direction (kāṣṭhā), with the Sun’s circular movement producing the alternation of light and darkness.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this cosmological context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic cosmology is presented as an expression of a supreme governing reality—where the Sun’s regulated motion reflects the sovereignty and sustaining order upheld by the Supreme.