Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 2
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
स होवाच यथा कुलालचक्रेण भ्रमता सह भ्रमतां तदाश्रयाणां पिपीलिकादीनां गतिरन्यैव प्रदेशान्तरेष्वप्युपलभ्यमानत्वादेवं नक्षत्रराशिभिरुपलक्षितेन कालचक्रेण ध्रुवं मेरुं च प्रदक्षिणेन परिधावता सह परिधावमानानां तदाश्रयाणां सूर्यादीनां ग्रहाणां गतिरन्यैव नक्षत्रान्तरे राश्यन्तरे चोपलभ्यमानत्वात् ॥ २ ॥
sa hovāca yathā kulāla-cakreṇa bhramatā saha bhramatāṁ tad-āśrayāṇāṁ pipīlikādīnāṁ gatir anyaiva pradeśāntareṣv apy upalabhyamānatvād evaṁ nakṣatra-rāśibhir upalakṣitena kāla-cakreṇa dhruvaṁ meruṁ ca pradakṣiṇena paridhāvatā saha paridhāvamānānāṁ tad-āśrayāṇāṁ sūryādīnāṁ grahāṇāṁ gatir anyaiva nakṣatrāntare rāśy-antare copalabhyamānatvāt.
Malinaw na sumagot si Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī: Kapag umiikot ang gulong ng magpapalayok at ang maliliit na langgam na nasa ibabaw nito ay umiikot din kasama nito, makikitang iba ang galaw nila sa gulong sapagkat minsan ay nakikita sila sa isang bahagi at minsan sa iba. Gayundin, ang mga konstelasyon at mga tanda ng zodiak—na gaya ng gulong ng panahon—ay umiikot na nasa kanan ang Sumeru at Dhruvaloka, at kasama nilang umiikot ang araw at iba pang mga planeta. Subalit ang araw at mga planeta ay nakikitang nasa iba’t ibang tanda at konstelasyon sa iba’t ibang panahon; ipinahihiwatig nito na iba ang galaw nila kaysa sa galaw ng zodiak at ng gulong ng panahon mismo.
FAQs
This verse describes kāla-cakra as a cosmic “wheel” marked by nakṣatras and rāśis, revolving around Dhruva and Meru, by which the planets’ motions are perceived as they pass through different constellations and zodiac signs.
He uses it to illustrate relative perception: a small being resting on a rotating system appears to move differently depending on viewpoint—similarly, planetary motion is perceived in relation to the larger rotating framework of time and celestial markers.
It encourages humility about perception: what we “see” can depend on the larger framework we stand on—so one should seek the Bhagavatam’s higher, time-transcending perspective and anchor the mind in devotion rather than shifting appearances.