Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 6
Dhruva-loka as the Cosmic Pivot and the Śiśumāra-cakra
Viṣṇu’s Astral Form
पुनर्वसुपुष्यौ दक्षिणवामयो: श्रोण्योरार्द्राश्लेषे च दक्षिणवामयो: पश्चिमयो: पादयोरभिजिदुत्तराषाढे दक्षिणवामयोर्नासिकयोर्यथासङ्ख्यं श्रवणपूर्वाषाढे दक्षिणवामयोर्लोचनयोर्धनिष्ठा मूलं च दक्षिणवामयो: कर्णयोर्मघादीन्यष्ट नक्षत्राणि दक्षिणायनानि वामपार्श्ववङ्क्रिषु युञ्जीत तथैव मृगशीर्षादीन्युदगयनानि दक्षिणपार्श्ववङ्क्रिषु प्रातिलोम्येन प्रयुञ्जीत शतभिषाज्येष्ठे स्कन्धयोर्दक्षिणवामयोर्न्यसेत् ॥ ६ ॥
punarvasu-puṣyau dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ śroṇyor ārdrāśleṣe ca dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ paścimayoḥ pādayor abhijid-uttarāṣāḍhe dakṣiṇa-vāmayor nāsikayor yathā-saṅkhyaṁ śravaṇa-pūrvāṣāḍhe dakṣiṇa-vāmayor locanayor dhaniṣṭhā mūlaṁ ca dakṣiṇa-vāmayoḥ karṇayor maghādīny aṣṭa nakṣatrāṇi dakṣiṇāyanāni vāma-pārśva-vaṅkriṣu yuñjīta tathaiva mṛga-śīrṣādīny udagayanāni dakṣiṇa-pārśva-vaṅkriṣu prātilomyena prayuñjīta śatabhiṣā-jyeṣṭhe skandhayor dakṣiṇa-vāmayor nyaset.
Sa Śiśumāra-cakra, sa kanan at kaliwang panig ng baywang ay naroon ang mga bituing Punarvasu at Puṣyā. Sa kanang at kaliwang paa ay Ārdrā at Aśleṣā; sa kanang at kaliwang butas ng ilong ay Abhijit at Uttarāṣāḍhā; sa kanang at kaliwang mata ay Śravaṇā at Pūrvāṣāḍhā; at sa kanang at kaliwang tainga ay Dhaniṣṭhā at Mūlā. Ang walong bituin mula Maghā hanggang Anurādhā (timog na paglalakbay) ay nasa mga tadyang sa kaliwa, at ang walong mula Mṛgaśīrṣā hanggang Pūrvabhādra (hilagang paglalakbay) ay nasa mga tadyang sa kanan sa baligtad na ayos. Sa mga balikat ay Śatabhiṣā at Jyeṣṭhā.
FAQs
This verse maps specific nakṣatras onto different parts of a cosmic form, explaining their ordered placement and how groups relate to the sun’s southern (dakṣiṇāyana) and northern (udagayana) courses.
In Canto 5, Śukadeva explains the structure and order of the universe as part of Bhagavata cosmology, giving Parīkṣit a sacred, contemplative framework for understanding creation in relation to the Supreme.
It can be used as a meditation aid—seeing time and celestial order as sacred—encouraging humility, steadiness, and remembrance of the Divine behind the cosmos rather than mere fascination with astrology.