Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
तत उपरिष्टात्द्वि्लक्षयोजनतो नक्षत्राणि मेरुं दक्षिणेनैव कालायन ईश्वरयोजितानि सहाभिजिताष्टाविंशति: ॥ ११ ॥
tata upariṣṭād dvi-lakṣa-yojanato nakṣatrāṇi meruṁ dakṣiṇenaiva kālāyana īśvara-yojitāni sahābhijitāṣṭā-viṁśatiḥ.
Sa itaas pa, sa taas na dalawang daang libong yojana, naroon ang mga bituin (nakshatra). Sa kalooban ng Kataas-taasang Panginoon, nakapirmi sila sa gulong ng panahon at umiikot na ang Bundok Sumeru ay nasa kanang panig, at ang galaw nila ay naiiba sa araw. May dalawampu’t walong mahahalagang bituin, pinangungunahan ni Abhijit.
The stars referred to herein are 1,600,000 miles above the sun, and thus they are 4,000,000 miles above the earth.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva explains that the nakṣatras are positioned above at a measured distance and move around Mount Meru according to the precise arrangement of the Supreme Lord, totaling twenty-eight including Abhijit.
He is outlining the Bhāgavatam’s cosmic structure in Canto 5, showing that celestial movements are orderly and ultimately governed by Īśvara, not random.
It encourages seeing time and change as regulated by a higher intelligence, fostering humility, steadiness, and devotion rather than anxiety about the uncontrollable.