Shloka 4

सोमचक्रः, ग्रह-रथाः, ध्रुवबन्धनं, शिशुमारसंनिवेशः, विष्णु-सर्वात्मकता

Moon, Planets, Dhruva-Tethering, Śiśumāra, and Vishnu as All

Devanagari script

क्षीणं पीतं सुरैः सोमम् आप्याययति दीप्तिमान् मैत्रेयैककलं सन्तं रश्मिनैकेन भास्करः

Transliteration

kṣīṇaṃ pītaṃ suraiḥ somam āpyāyayati dīptimān maitreyaikakalaṃ santaṃ raśminaikena bhāskaraḥ

Translation

弥勒耶啊，当苏摩被诸天饮尽而衰减时，光辉的太阳以仅一缕光线复养他；纵使月仅余一分（月之一“指”）亦然。

Word by Word

• क्षीणम्: diminished
• क्षीणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षी (धातु) → क्षीण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘सोमम्’

• पीतम्: drunk/consumed
• पीतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पा (धातु) → पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘सोमम्’

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Kartr (Agent/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्तृ-करण-भावे (agent in passive sense)

• सोमम्: Soma (the Moon)
• सोमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आप्याययति: nourishes/causes to swell
• आप्याययति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + प्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• दीप्तिमान्: the radiant one
• दीप्तिमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता—‘भास्करः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• एककलम्: of one digit/one part (one kalā)
• एककलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वकः), विशेषण—‘सोमम्’

• सन्तम्: being/remaining
• सन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘सोमम्’

• रश्मिना: by a ray
• रश्मिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘रश्मिना’

• भास्करः: the Sun
• भास्करः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mechanism of the Moon’s waxing/waning and the gods drinking Soma.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even when Soma is diminished by the devas’ drinking, the Sun replenishes him with a ray, sustaining the cyclic balance of celestial functions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Reflect on replenishment after depletion—rest, discipline, and devotion restore one’s inner ‘soma’ (clarity and vitality) through steady practice.

Vishishtadvaita: Interdependence of cosmic agents illustrates a coordinated order ultimately grounded in the Supreme’s governance (niyati under īśvara).

Characters & Entities

• Soma (Moon)
• Bhāskara (Sun)
• Devas (Surāḥ)
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Soma being “drunk by the gods” in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames the Moon’s waning as a cosmic, sacrificial economy: Soma is consumed by the devas, and his diminution is part of a regulated divine order rather than a random event.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Moon’s renewal in this verse?

Parāśara states that the Sun replenishes Soma—restoring his growth—by a single ray, even when the Moon has dwindled to only one kala (digit).

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in the verse, the teaching fits the Vishnu Purana’s view that the cosmos runs by an intelligible, sovereign order—ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the Supreme Reality who sustains the rhythms of time and heaven.