Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens
Bila-svarga
श्रीशुक उवाच अधस्तात्सवितुर्योजनायुते स्वर्भानुर्नक्षत्रवच्चरतीत्येके योऽसावमरत्वं ग्रहत्वं चालभत भगवदनुकम्पया स्वयमसुरापसद: सैंहिकेयो ह्यतदर्हस्तस्य तात जन्म कर्माणि चोपरिष्टाद्वक्ष्याम: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca adhastāt savitur yojanāyute svarbhānur nakṣatravac caratīty eke yo ’sāv amaratvaṁ grahatvaṁ cālabhata bhagavad-anukampayā svayam asurāpasadaḥ saiṁhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tāta janma karmāṇi copariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī berkata: Wahai Raja, sebahagian penutur Purāṇa mengatakan bahawa 10,000 yojana di bawah matahari terdapat sebuah planet bernama Svarbhānu (Rāhu) yang bergerak seperti bintang. Dewa penguasa planet itu, putera Siṁhikā, ialah asura yang paling hina; dia sama sekali tidak layak menjadi dewa atau penguasa planet, namun oleh belas kasihan Bhagavān dia memperoleh keabadian dan kedudukan sebagai graha. Kelak akan aku jelaskan lagi tentang kelahiran dan perbuatannya.
FAQs
This verse states that some authorities describe Svarbhānu (Rāhu) as moving like a star below the sun at a distance of ten thousand yojanas, having attained graha-status by the Lord’s compassion.
Śukadeva highlights a contrast: Rāhu is inherently degraded and unfit, yet by bhagavad-anukampā (the Lord’s mercy) he still obtained extraordinary status—showing the supremacy of divine will over mere qualification.
Do not presume entitlement based on birth or merit; cultivate humility and devotion, recognizing that real elevation comes by the Lord’s grace, not by ego or worldly qualification.