Shloka 22

Measurements of the Sun’s Chariot, the Wheel of Time, and the Retinues of the Solar Months; Chariots of Soma and the Grahas

Devanagari script

बालखिल्यास्तथैवैनं परिवार्य समासते / रथस्त्रिचक्रः सोमस्य कुन्दाभास्तस्य वाजिनः

Transliteration

bālakhilyāstathaivainaṃ parivārya samāsate / rathastricakraḥ somasya kundābhāstasya vājinaḥ

Translation

اسی طرح بالکھلیہ رشی اُنہیں گھیر کر خدمت میں بیٹھتے ہیں۔ سوم کا رتھ تین پہیوں والا ہے اور اس کے گھوڑے کُند کے پھولوں کی مانند سفید ہیں۔

Word by Word

• बालखिल्याः: Bālakhilya sages
• बालखिल्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (Upapada/उपपद-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Modifier (Nipata/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• एनम्: him/this one
• एनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• परिवार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परि + वृ (धातु) → परिवार्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having surrounded)

• समासते: sit/are seated
• समासते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• त्रिचक्रः: three-wheeled
• त्रिचक्रः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि चक्राणि यस्य)

• सोमस्य: of Soma (Moon)
• सोमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• कुन्दाभाः: having jasmine-like whiteness
• कुन्दाभाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (कुन्दस्य इव आभा येषाम्)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वाजिनः: horses
• वाजिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic luminaries are upheld by tapas-filled sages; purity and disciplined presence sustain divine order.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of adhidaiva (deity-level) and adhyātma/adhiyajña (austerity/ritual power) within Īśvara’s cosmos.

Application: Honor disciplined learning and austerity (tapas) as supportive forces for clarity of mind; observe lunar cycles for reflective practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial orbit/mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.58 (Soma and planetary chariots description continues)

Characters & Entities

• Bālakhilyas
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

What is the importance of Soma’s chariot description in the Garuda Purana?

It situates Soma within the Purana’s cosmic order, using symbolic details (three wheels, white horses) to convey his celestial nature and radiance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by mapping divine realms and their beings, the text builds the cosmological backdrop used elsewhere in the Garuda Purana to explain post-death journeys through higher and lower worlds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate clarity and purity (symbolized by Soma’s white steeds) and to respect sacred learning and disciplined practice (represented by the attendant sages).