Shloka 11

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

वरुणो वसिष्ठो रम्भा सहजन्या कुहूर्बुधः / रथचित्रस्तथा शुक्रो वसन्त्याषाढसंज्ञिते /

Transliteration

varuṇo vasiṣṭho rambhā sahajanyā kuhūrbudhaḥ / rathacitrastathā śukro vasantyāṣāḍhasaṃjñite /

Translation

వరుణుడు, వసిష్ఠుడు, రంభ, సహజన్యా, కుహూ, బుధుడు; అలాగే రథచిత్రుడు మరియు శుక్రుడు—ఇవి వసంతం మరియు ఆషాఢ మాసాలకు సంబంధించిన పవిత్ర నామాలు.

Word by Word

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रम्भा: Rambhā
• रम्भा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहजन्या: Sahajanyā
• सहजन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहजन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुहूः: Kuhū
• कुहूः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बुधः: Budha
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रथचित्रः: Rathacitra
• रथचित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रथस्य चित्रः)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपपादक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also/likewise)

• शुक्रः: Śukra
• शुक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वसन्ति: dwell; reside
• वसन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आषाढसंज्ञिते: in the one called Āṣāḍha
• आषाढसंज्ञिते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आषाढ (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञित (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा/ज्ञप्)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भाव्य (स्थाने/मासे); ‘आषाढ’-संज्ञित (आषाढ-नाम्नि)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāla as a divine administration: months/seasons are upheld by specific deities/ṛṣis/apsarases/grahas.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as niyantṛ (cosmic regulator) manifesting as kāla-niyati; harmony through alignment with ṛta.

Application: Use month/season awareness to schedule worship, fasting, charity, and life-cycle rites in accord with dhārmic time.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (context: māsa-devatā/āditya-parivāra listings)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Vasistha
• Rambha
• Kuhu
• Budha
• Shukra

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves traditional associations of specific divine and mythic names with sacred time-cycles (such as seasonal or monthly designations), supporting ritual timing and cosmological understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it contributes background cosmology by mapping divine names to time divisions, which elsewhere frames rites and observances connected to dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to align spiritual practice with disciplined time—regular observance, seasonal vows, and mindful scheduling of rites—treating time as sacred and value-bearing.