Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5
Kāla-cakra and the Motions of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Grahas
Bhāgavata Jyotiṣa Framework
अथ स एष आत्मा लोकानां द्यावापृथिव्योरन्तरेण नभोवलयस्य कालचक्रगतो द्वादश मासान् भुङ्क्ते राशिसंज्ञान् संवत्सरावयवान्मास: पक्षद्वयं दिवा नक्तं चेति सपादर्क्षद्वयमुपदिशन्ति यावता षष्ठमंशं भुञ्जीत स वै ऋतुरित्युपदिश्यते संवत्सरावयव: ॥ ५ ॥
atha sa eṣa ātmā lokānāṁ dyāv-āpṛthivyor antareṇa nabho-valayasya kālacakra-gato dvādaśa māsān bhuṅkte rāśi-saṁjñān saṁvatsarāvayavān māsaḥ pakṣa-dvayaṁ divā naktaṁ ceti sapādarkṣa-dvayam upadiśanti yāvatā ṣaṣṭham aṁśaṁ bhuñjīta sa vai ṛtur ity upadiśyate saṁvatsarāvayavaḥ.
太阳神——即那罗延/毗湿奴、诸世界之灵——安住于天与地之间的外空，循时间之轮运行，经历十二个月。与十二宫（黄道十二宿）相接触时，便随之受十二名号。此十二月之总和称为“萨姆瓦特萨拉”（一年）。按月相计算，白分与黑分两半月合为一月；对祖灵界（Pitṛloka）而言，此即一昼一夜。按星宿计算，一月等于二又四分之一宿。太阳行二月，则满一年之六分之一，称为“季”（ṛtu）；故诸季为一年之肢分。
FAQs
This verse explains that within the celestial sphere the luminary/time-marker moves through divisions of time—months, fortnights, day and night—showing how the cosmos is structured by the wheel of time.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is instructing Mahārāja Parīkṣit about cosmic time divisions—months named by rāśis, months made of pakṣas and days/nights, and seasons as one-sixth of the year.
It encourages seeing time as sacred and ordered—using daily, fortnightly, and seasonal cycles for disciplined sādhana, gratitude, and remembrance of the Lord who governs time.