Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 35

Kriyā-yoga, the Virāṭ-Puruṣa Mapping, and the Sun-God’s Monthly Expansions

Devanagari script

मित्रोऽत्रि: पौरुषेयोऽथ तक्षको मेनका हहा: । रथस्वन इति ह्येते शुक्रमासं नयन्त्यमी ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

mitro ’triḥ pauruṣeyo ’tha takṣako menakā hahāḥ rathasvana iti hy ete śukra-māsaṁ nayanty amī

Translation

మిత్రుడు సూర్యదేవుడుగా, అత్రి ఋషిగా, పౌరుషేయుడు రాక్షసుడుగా, తక్షకుడు నాగుడుగా, మేనకా అప్సరసగా, హాహా గంధర్వుడుగా, రథస్వనుడు యక్షుడుగా—ఇవరు శుక్ర మాసాన్ని పాలిస్తారు।

Synonyms

• मित्रः: Mitra
• मित्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पौरुषेयः: Pauruṣeya
• पौरुषेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुषेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: then/and)

• तक्षकः: Takṣaka
• तक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मेनका: Menakā
• मेनका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हहाः: Hahā
• हहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रथस्वनः: Rathasvana
• रथस्वनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus/namely
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शुक्र-मासम्: the month Śukra
• शुक्र-मासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नयन्ति: lead/conduct
• नयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• अमी: those (aforementioned)
• अमी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to एते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

Characters & Entities

• Mitra
• Atri
• Pauruṣeya
• Takṣaka
• Menakā
• Hahā
• Rathasvana

FAQs

Who are the presiding beings of the month Śukra in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Bhagavatam 12.11.35 names Mitra, Atri, Pauruṣeya, Takṣaka, Menakā, Hahā, and Rathasvana as the attendants who preside with the Sun during the month Śukra.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī list names like Mitra and Menakā while describing time and months?

In Canto 12, Chapter 11, Śukadeva explains that time is administered through divine agents; the monthly course of the Sun is accompanied by specific devas, sages, Gandharvas, Apsarās, and Nāgas, showing that cosmic order is personally governed.

What is the practical application of this verse for modern life?

It encourages seeing time as sacred and purposeful—governed by dharma and divine order—prompting disciplined living, gratitude, and devotional remembrance as days and months pass.