Shloka 12

सूर्यरथनिर्णयः (चन्द्रस्य पक्षवृद्धिक्षयविधानम्)

Devanagari script

त्रयस्त्रिंशत्सहस्राणि देवाः सोमं पिबन्ति वै एवं दिनक्रमात्पीते विबुधैस्तु निशाकरे

Transliteration

trayastriṃśatsahasrāṇi devāḥ somaṃ pibanti vai evaṃ dinakramātpīte vibudhaistu niśākare

Translation

แท้จริงแล้วเทวะสามหมื่นสามพันองค์ดื่มโสมะ; ครั้นเป็นไปตามลำดับวัน เมื่อเหล่าเทวะผู้รู้ดื่มนิศากร (จันทร์) ทีละขั้น จันทร์ย่อมร่อยหรอลง

Word by Word

• trayastriṃśat-sahasrāṇi: thirty-three thousand

• devāḥ: the gods (Devas)

• somaṃ: Soma, the lunar nectar/oblation

• pibanti: drink, partake

• vai: indeed, certainly

• evaṃ: thus, in this manner

• dina-kramāt: in the sequence of days, day by day

• pīte: when drunk/consumed

• vibudhaiḥ: by the wise/awakened ones (gods)

• tu: and/but

• niśākare: in the Moon, the night-maker

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Soma (Chandra)
• Niśākara (Moon)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames cosmic processes (like the Moon’s waning) as a regulated sacrificial order, implying that Linga worship aligns the devotee (paśu) with Pati’s cosmic governance rather than mere worldly timing.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Though Shiva is not named directly, the verse implies an overarching regulator of ṛta: the Devas themselves function within a measured order—consistent with Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati alone is the supreme governor of all powers and cycles.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The Soma-idea points to disciplined participation in sacred cycles (kāla-niyama): observing lunar timings for vrata/puja and cultivating yogic steadiness by seeing change (waxing/waning) as ordered, not chaotic.