Shloka 32

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

स्वर्भानुं नुदते यस्मात् तस्मात्स्वर्भानुरुच्यते चन्द्रस्य षोडशो भागो भार्गवस्य विधीयते

Transliteration

svarbhānuṃ nudate yasmāt tasmātsvarbhānurucyate candrasya ṣoḍaśo bhāgo bhārgavasya vidhīyate

Translation

چونکہ وہ سَوربھانو کو دباتا/روکتا ہے، اسی لیے اسے ‘سَوربھانو’ کہا جاتا ہے؛ اور چاند کا سولہواں حصہ بھارگو (شُکر) کے لیے مقرر کیا گیا ہے۔

Word by Word

• स्वर्भानुम्: Svarbhānu (the eclipse-demon, Rahu in mythic context)

• नुदते: strikes, drives away, restrains

• यस्मात्: because

• तस्मात्: therefore

• स्वर्भानुः: ‘Svarbhānu’ (as an epithet/name)

• उच्यते: is called

• चन्द्रस्य: of the Moon

• षोडशः: sixteenth

• भागः: portion, share

• भार्गवस्य: of Bhārgava (Śukra/Venus)

• विधीयते: is allotted, is assigned/ordained

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s graha/kalā allotments to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Bhargava (Shukra)
• Svarbhanu (Rahu)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links cosmic governance (grahas and lunar kalās) to dharmic order; in Linga-pūjā, devotees honor Śiva as Pati, the inner regulator who harmonizes such forces, making worship a means to steady life’s fluctuations.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: by presenting the restraint of disruptive forces (Svarbhānu) and the precise allotment of powers (Moon’s sixteenth share), it reflects Śiva-tattva as the supreme governor (Pati) who upholds ṛta—ordering energies without being bound by them.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: restraining eclipse-like disturbances in the mind and senses; ritually, it supports graha-śānti and soma/Chandra-related observances performed with Śiva as the presiding refuge.