Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
राजोवाच यदेतद्भगवत आदित्यस्य मेरुं ध्रुवं च प्रदक्षिणेन परिक्रामतो राशीनामभिमुखं प्रचलितं चाप्रदक्षिणं भगवतोपवर्णितममुष्य वयं कथमनुमिमीमहीति ॥ १ ॥
rājovāca yad etad bhagavata ādityasya meruṁ dhruvaṁ ca pradakṣiṇena parikrāmato rāśīnām abhimukhaṁ pracalitaṁ cāpradakṣiṇaṁ bhagavatopavarṇitam amuṣya vayaṁ katham anumimīmahīti.
ରାଜା କହିଲେ—ହେ ଭଗବନ୍, ଆପଣ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିଛନ୍ତି ଯେ ଆଦିତ୍ୟ ଧ୍ରୁବଲୋକକୁ ପ୍ରଦକ୍ଷିଣ କରିବାବେଳେ ମେରୁ ଓ ଧ୍ରୁବକୁ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ରଖି ଚାଲନ୍ତି। କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ରାଶିମାନଙ୍କ ଦିଗକୁ ମୁହଁ କରି ମେରୁ ଓ ଧ୍ରୁବକୁ ବାମ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ରଖିଥିବା ପରି ଦିଶନ୍ତି। ଏହାକୁ ଏକାସାଥି ଦକ୍ଷିଣ-ବାମ ଭାବେ କିପରି ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବୁ?
FAQs
In this verse, King Parīkṣit highlights the Bhagavatam’s description that the Sun circumambulates Meru and Dhruvaloka clockwise, yet appears to have a counterclockwise motion relative to the zodiacal signs—prompting a request for clarification.
Because the cosmological description seems paradoxical: the Sun is said to circle Meru and Dhruva clockwise, but its observed relation to the rāśis (zodiacal signs) appears opposite; Parīkṣit asks the sage to reconcile these viewpoints.
It encourages intellectual humility: complex truths may look contradictory from different reference points, so one should inquire carefully, seek proper explanation, and avoid hasty conclusions.