Shloka 24

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

पिशङ्गेस्तुरगैर्युक्तः सो ऽष्टाभिर्वायुवेगिभिः / सवरूथः सानुकर्षो युक्तो भूमिभवैर्हयैः

Transliteration

piśaṅgesturagairyuktaḥ so 'ṣṭābhirvāyuvegibhiḥ / savarūthaḥ sānukarṣo yukto bhūmibhavairhayaiḥ

Translation

ఆయన పింగళవర్ణ అశ్వాలతో యుక్తుడు—ఎనిమిది, వాయువేగంతో దూసుకుపోయేవి. రథచట్రం మరియు జూవుతో కూడి, భూమిజ అశ్వాలచే లాగబడుతుంది.

Word by Word

• पिशङ्गैः: with tawny (ones)
• पिशङ्गैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिशङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (tawny/brown)

• तुरगैः: with horses
• तुरगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• युक्तः: yoked
• युक्तः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (yoked/connected)

• सः: he/that (chariot)
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• वायुवेगिभिः: with wind-speed (swift as wind)
• वायुवेगिभिः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वायोः वेगः यस्य)

• सवरूथः: having a covering/guard
• सवरूथः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + वरूथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष (with a protective covering/guard)

• सानुकर्षः: with a drag/traction (with a draw-bar)
• सानुकर्षः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह) + अनुकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुष

• युक्तः: yoked
• युक्तः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• भूमिभवैः: earth-born
• भूमिभवैः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (भूमेः भवाः)

• हयैः: with steeds
• हयैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, per common Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power is effective when harnessed (yoked) and structured (frame/harness); elemental origins (earth) can serve higher cosmic functions.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa and karma in ordered manifestation: energy (rajas) becomes purposeful through niyati (order).

Application: Channel strong impulses through structure—routines, vows, ethical constraints—so speed becomes progress rather than chaos.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (series on graha chariots; horse counts/colors as identifiers)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing wind-swift horses in the Garuda Purana?

It emphasizes irresistible speed and inevitability—cosmic forces (often tied to Yama’s domain in context) move the being onward without delay, reflecting the certainty of karmic consequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By portraying swift conveyance and harnessed movement, it symbolically points to the soul’s compelled progression after death—driven by unseen order (dharma/karma) rather than personal preference.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with urgency and ethical clarity: time moves quickly, and actions have consequences; maintain dharma, reduce harm, and perform duties (including ancestral rites where appropriate) without procrastination.