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.
Nagtanong ang hari: “Mahal na ginoo, pinagtibay mo na ang diyos-araw ay umiikot sa Dhruvaloka na nasa kanan niya ang Bundok Meru at si Dhruva. Ngunit kasabay nito, nakaharap siya sa mga tanda ng zodiak at wari’y nasa kaliwa niya ang Meru at Dhruva. Paano namin makatuwirang tatanggapin na sabay na nasa kanan at kaliwa ang mga iyon?”
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.