Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 8 — Chapter 16

DB 8 16.1

सोमादिगतिवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच अथातः श्रूयतां चित्रं सोमादीनां गमादिकम् । तद्गत्यनुसृता नॄणां शुभाशुभनिदर्शना

somādigativarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca athātaḥ śrūyatāṃ citraṃ somādīnāṃ gamādikam | tadgatyanusṛtā nṝṇāṃ śubhāśubhanidarśanā

The description of the courses of the moon and the rest. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Now next let the wonderful (account) of the movement and so forth of the moon and the others be heard, which, following upon their motion, indicates the good and ill fortune of men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.2

यथा कुलालचक्रेण भ्रमता भ्रमतां सह । तदाश्रयाणां च गतिरन्या कीटादिनां भवेत्

yathā kulālacakreṇa bhramatā bhramatāṃ saha | tadāśrayāṇāṃ ca gatiranyā kīṭādināṃ bhavet

Just as, along with the turning potter's wheel, the motion of the ants and other (creatures) resting upon it would be different,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.3

एवं हि राशिवृन्देन कालचक्रेण तेन च । मेरुं धुरं च सरतां प्रादक्षिण्येन सर्वदा

evaṃ hi rāśivṛndena kālacakreṇa tena ca | meruṃ dhuraṃ ca saratāṃ prādakṣiṇyena sarvadā

so indeed, of the planets headed by the sun, which always move rightwards with the host of zodiacal signs and with that wheel of time, having Meru as their axle,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.4

ग्रहाणां भानुमुख्यानां गतिरन्यैव दृश्यते । नक्षत्रान्तरगामित्वाद्भान्तरे गमनं तथा

grahāṇāṃ bhānumukhyānāṃ gatiranyaiva dṛśyate | nakṣatrāntaragāmitvādbhāntare gamanaṃ tathā

the motion is seen to be quite another; and because they move among the lunar mansions, their going is thus within the stars.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.5

गतिद्वयं चाविरुद्धं सर्वत्रैष विनिर्णयः । स एव भगवानादिपुरुषो लोकभावनः

gatidvayaṃ cāviruddhaṃ sarvatraiṣa vinirṇayaḥ | sa eva bhagavānādipuruṣo lokabhāvanaḥ

And the two motions are not in conflict — this is the settled conclusion everywhere. He himself is the Lord, the primal Person, the creator of the worlds,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.6

नारायणोऽखिलाधारो लोकानां स्वस्तये भ्रमन् । कर्मशुद्धिनिमित्तं तु आत्मानं वै त्रयीमयम्

nārāyaṇo'khilādhāro lokānāṃ svastaye bhraman | karmaśuddhinimittaṃ tu ātmānaṃ vai trayīmayam

Nārāyaṇa, the support of all, revolving for the welfare of the worlds; and for the sake of the purification of (men's) actions (he made) his own self, which consists of the triple Veda,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.7

कविभिश्चैव वेदेन विजिज्ञास्योऽर्कधाभवत् । षट्सु क्रमेण ऋतुषु वसन्तादिषु च स्वयम्

kavibhiścaiva vedena vijijñāsyo'rkadhābhavat | ṣaṭsu krameṇa ṛtuṣu vasantādiṣu ca svayam

to be sought out by the seers and by the Veda; he became the sun. And in the six seasons in order, beginning with spring, himself

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.8

यथोपजोषमृतुजान् गुणान् वै विदधाति च । तमेनं पुरुषाः सर्वे त्रय्या च विद्यया सदा

yathopajoṣamṛtujān guṇān vai vidadhāti ca | tamenaṃ puruṣāḥ sarve trayyā ca vidyayā sadā

he ordains, as is agreeable, the qualities born of the seasons. Him all men (worship) always with the triple knowledge,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.9

वर्णाश्रमाचारपथा तथाम्नातैश्च कर्मभिः । उच्चावचैः श्रद्धया च योगानां च वितानकैः

varṇāśramācārapathā tathāmnātaiśca karmabhiḥ | uccāvacaiḥ śraddhayā ca yogānāṃ ca vitānakaiḥ

by the path of the observances of class and stage of life, and by the rites handed down (in the Veda), high and low, with faith, and by the expansions of the yogas,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.10

अञ्जसा च यजन्ते ये श्रेयो विन्दन्ति ते मतम् । अथैष आत्मा लोकानां द्यावाभूम्यन्तरेण च

añjasā ca yajante ye śreyo vindanti te matam | athaiṣa ātmā lokānāṃ dyāvābhūmyantareṇa ca

and those who worship him directly obtain the good that is esteemed. Now this self of the worlds, in the space between heaven and earth,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.11

कालचक्रगतो भुङ्क्ते मासान्द्वादशराशिभिः । संवत्सरस्यावयवान्मासः पक्षद्वयं दिवा

kālacakragato bhuṅkte māsāndvādaśarāśibhiḥ | saṃvatsarasyāvayavānmāsaḥ pakṣadvayaṃ divā

moving in the wheel of time, enjoys the months by means of the twelve signs. A month is a part of the year; two fortnights are its day

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.12

नक्तं चेति स पादर्क्षद्वयमित्युपदिश्यते । यावता षष्ठमंशं स भुञ्जीत ऋतुरुच्यते

naktaṃ ceti sa pādarkṣadvayamityupadiśyate | yāvatā ṣaṣṭhamaṃśaṃ sa bhuñjīta ṛturucyate

and night; and it is taught that it (comprises) two and a quarter asterisms. That in which he would traverse a sixth part is called a season,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.13

संवत्सरस्यावयवः कविभिश्चोपवर्णितः । यावतार्धेन चाकाशवीथ्यां प्रचरते रविः

saṃvatsarasyāvayavaḥ kavibhiścopavarṇitaḥ | yāvatārdhena cākāśavīthyāṃ pracarate raviḥ

(This) too has been described by the sages as a part of the year. And by however much (time) the sun travels through half the pathway of the sky —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.14

तं प्राक्तना वर्णयन्ति अयनं मुनिपूजिताः । अथ यावन्नभोमण्डलं सह प्रतिगच्छति

taṃ prāktanā varṇayanti ayanaṃ munipūjitāḥ | atha yāvannabhomaṇḍalaṃ saha pratigacchati

— that the ancients, the sages held in honour, call an ayana (half-year). Now, by however much (time) he goes around together with the whole circle of the sky,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.15

कार्त्स्न्येन सह भुञ्जीत कालं तं वत्सरं विदुः । संवत्सरं परिवत्सरमिडावत्सरमेव च

kārtsnyena saha bhuñjīta kālaṃ taṃ vatsaraṃ viduḥ | saṃvatsaraṃ parivatsaramiḍāvatsarameva ca

(that is,) when he traverses (it) entirely together (with the sky) — that span of time they know as the vatsara (year). Saṃvatsara, parivatsara, and iḍāvatsara,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.16

अनुवत्सरमिद्वत्सरमिति पञ्चकमीरितम् । भानोर्मान्द्यशैघ्र्यसमगतिभिः कालवित्तमैः सोमादिगतिवर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः

anuvatsaramidvatsaramiti pañcakamīritam | bhānormāndyaśaighryasamagatibhiḥ kālavittamaiḥ somādigativarṇanaṃ nāma ṣoḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ

anuvatsara and idvatsara — thus a set of five is declared by those most learned in time, according to the slow, swift and even motions of the sun. (Here ends) the sixteenth chapter, named "The Description of the Motion of the Moon and the Rest."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.17

एवं भानोर्गतिः प्रोक्ता चन्द्रादीनां निबोधत । एवं चन्द्रोऽर्करश्मिभ्यो लक्षयोजनमूर्ध्वतः

evaṃ bhānorgatiḥ proktā candrādīnāṃ nibodhata | evaṃ candro'rkaraśmibhyo lakṣayojanamūrdhvataḥ

Thus the motion of the sun has been declared; now learn of the moon and the others. So the moon (is) a hundred thousand yojanas above the sun's rays,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.18

उपलभ्यमानो मित्रस्य संवत्सरभुजिं च सः । पक्षाभ्यां चौषधीनाथो भुङ्क्ते मासभुजिं च सः

upalabhyamāno mitrasya saṃvatsarabhujiṃ ca saḥ | pakṣābhyāṃ cauṣadhīnātho bhuṅkte māsabhujiṃ ca saḥ

and being seen (there), he traverses the sun's yearly course; and the lord of the healing plants covers in two fortnights the sun's monthly course,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.19

सपादमाभ्यां दिवसभुक्तिं पक्षभुजिं चरेत् । एवं शीघ्रगतिः सोमो भुङ्क्ते नूनं भचक्रकम्

sapādamābhyāṃ divasabhuktiṃ pakṣabhujiṃ caret | evaṃ śīghragatiḥ somo bhuṅkte nūnaṃ bhacakrakam

and in two and a quarter (ghaṭikās?) he would traverse the sun's day-course, and (in one day) its fortnightly course. Thus the moon, of swift motion, indeed traverses the circle of the asterisms.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.20

पूर्यमाणकलाभिश्चामराणां प्रीतिमावहन् । क्षीयमाणकलाभिश्च पितॄणां चित्तरञ्जकः

pūryamāṇakalābhiścāmarāṇāṃ prītimāvahan | kṣīyamāṇakalābhiśca pitṝṇāṃ cittarañjakaḥ

With his waxing digits he brings delight to the gods, and with his waning digits he gladdens the minds of the ancestors.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.21

अहोरात्राणि तन्वानः पूर्वापरसुघस्रकैः । सर्वजीवनिकायस्य प्राणो जीवः स एव हि

ahorātrāṇi tanvānaḥ pūrvāparasughasrakaiḥ | sarvajīvanikāyasya prāṇo jīvaḥ sa eva hi

Stretching out days and nights with the (successive) earlier and later daytimes, he indeed is the breath and the life of the whole host of living beings.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.22

भुङ्क्ते चैकैकनक्षत्रं मुहूर्तत्रिंशता विभुः । स एव षोडशकलः पुरुषोऽनादिसत्तमः

bhuṅkte caikaikanakṣatraṃ muhūrtatriṃśatā vibhuḥ | sa eva ṣoḍaśakalaḥ puruṣo'nādisattamaḥ

And the mighty one traverses each single lunar mansion in thirty muhūrtas. He himself is the Person of sixteen digits, beginningless, the best of beings,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.23

मनोमयोऽप्यन्नमयोऽमृतधामा सुधाकरः । देवपितृमनुष्यादिसरीसृपसवीरुधाम्

manomayo'pyannamayo'mṛtadhāmā sudhākaraḥ | devapitṛmanuṣyādisarīsṛpasavīrudhām

made of mind and also made of food, the abode of ambrosia, the maker of nectar. Of gods, ancestors, men and the rest, of creeping things and plants —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.24

प्राणाप्यायनशीलत्वात्स सर्वमय उच्यते । ततो भचक्रं भ्रमति योजनानां त्रिलक्षतः

prāṇāpyāyanaśīlatvātsa sarvamaya ucyate | tato bhacakraṃ bhramati yojanānāṃ trilakṣataḥ

because it is his nature to nourish their vital breath, he is called the All. Above that the circle of the asterisms revolves, at three hundred thousand yojanas,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.25

मेरुप्रदक्षिणेनैव योजितं चेश्वरेण तु । अष्टाविंशतिसंख्यानि गणितानि सहाभिजित्

merupradakṣiṇenaiva yojitaṃ ceśvareṇa tu | aṣṭāviṃśatisaṃkhyāni gaṇitāni sahābhijit

and it has been fitted (there) by the Lord with (its motion) keeping Meru to the right; twenty-eight in number they are reckoned, including Abhijit.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.26

ततः शुक्रो द्विलक्षेण योजनानामथोपरि । पुरः पश्चात्सहैवासावर्कस्य परिवर्तते

tataḥ śukro dvilakṣeṇa yojanānāmathopari | puraḥ paścātsahaivāsāvarkasya parivartate

Then, two hundred thousand yojanas above that, is Venus; he moves around now in front of, now behind, now together with the sun,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.27

शीघ्रमन्दसमानाभिर्गतिभिर्विचरन्विभुः । लोकानामनुकूलोऽयं प्रायः प्रोक्तः शुभावहः

śīghramandasamānābhirgatibhirvicaranvibhuḥ | lokānāmanukūlo'yaṃ prāyaḥ proktaḥ śubhāvahaḥ

the mighty one ranging with swift, slow and even motions. He is said to be generally favourable to the worlds, a bringer of good fortune,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.28

वृष्टिविष्टम्भशमनो भार्गवः सर्वदा मुने । शुक्राद् बुधः समाख्यातो योजनानां द्विलक्षतः

vṛṣṭiviṣṭambhaśamano bhārgavaḥ sarvadā mune | śukrād budhaḥ samākhyāto yojanānāṃ dvilakṣataḥ

and the son of Bhṛgu always removes obstruction of the rains, O sage. Two hundred thousand yojanas from Venus, Mercury is declared (to be),

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.29

शीघ्रमन्दसमानाभिर्गतिभिः शुक्रवत्सदा । यदार्काद्व्यतिरिच्येत सौम्यः प्रायेण तत्र तु

śīghramandasamānābhirgatibhiḥ śukravatsadā | yadārkādvyatiricyeta saumyaḥ prāyeṇa tatra tu

(moving) always, like Venus, with swift, slow and even motions. But when the son of the moon (Mercury) goes apart from the sun, then generally he is

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.30

अतिवाताभ्रपातानां वृष्ट्यादिभयसूचकः । उपरिष्ठात्ततो भौमो योजनानां द्विलक्षतः

ativātābhrapātānāṃ vṛṣṭyādibhayasūcakaḥ | upariṣṭhāttato bhaumo yojanānāṃ dvilakṣataḥ

an indicator of the danger of excessive wind, falling of clouds, rain and the like. Above that, two hundred thousand yojanas, is Mars,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.31

पक्षैस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः सोऽयं भुङ्क्ते राशीनथैकशः । द्वादशापि च देवर्षे यदि वक्रो न जायते

pakṣaistribhistribhiḥ so'yaṃ bhuṅkte rāśīnathaikaśaḥ | dvādaśāpi ca devarṣe yadi vakro na jāyate

and he traverses the signs one by one, each in three fortnights, all twelve of them, O divine sage — if he does not become retrograde.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.32

प्रायेणाशुभकृत्सोऽयं ग्रहौघानां च सूचकः । नतो द्विलक्षमानेन योजनानां च गीष्पतिः

prāyeṇāśubhakṛtso'yaṃ grahaughānāṃ ca sūcakaḥ | nato dvilakṣamānena yojanānāṃ ca gīṣpatiḥ

He is generally a doer of ill and an indicator of masses (of trouble?) — and at a measure of two hundred thousand yojanas (above him) is the lord of speech (Jupiter).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.33

एकैकस्मिन्नथो राशौ भुङ्गे संवत्सरं चरन् । यदि वक्रो भवेन्नैवानुकूलो ब्रह्मवादिनाम्

ekaikasminnatho rāśau bhuṅge saṃvatsaraṃ caran | yadi vakro bhavennaivānukūlo brahmavādinām

Then, moving through one sign after another, it traverses (each) for a year; if it should become retrograde, it is by no means favorable to those who expound the Veda.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 16.34

ततः शनैश्चरो घोरो लक्षद्वयपरो मितः । योजनैः सूर्यपुत्रोऽयं त्रिंशन्मासैः परिभ्रमन्

tataḥ śanaiścaro ghoro lakṣadvayaparo mitaḥ | yojanaiḥ sūryaputro'yaṃ triṃśanmāsaiḥ paribhraman

Next, the slow-mover, the terrible one, measured as beyond two lakhs of yojanas — this son of the Sun, revolving in thirty months,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.35

एकैकराशौ पर्येति सर्वान् राशीन्महाग्रहः । सर्वेषामशुभो मन्दः प्रोक्तः कालविदां वरैः

ekaikarāśau paryeti sarvān rāśīnmahāgrahaḥ | sarveṣāmaśubho mandaḥ proktaḥ kālavidāṃ varaiḥ

— this great planet passes through all the signs, one sign (at a time). The slow one (Saturn) is declared inauspicious for all by the best of those who know time.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.36

तत उत्तरतः प्रोक्तमेकादशसुलक्षकैः । योजनैः परिसंख्यातं सप्तर्षीणां च मण्डलम्

tata uttarataḥ proktamekādaśasulakṣakaiḥ | yojanaiḥ parisaṃkhyātaṃ saptarṣīṇāṃ ca maṇḍalam

Above that, reckoned at a full eleven lakhs of yojanas, the circle of the seven sages is declared (to lie).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 16.37

लोकानां शं भावयन्तो मुनयः सप्त ते मुने । यत्तद्विष्णुपदं स्थानं दक्षिणं प्रक्रमन्ति ते

lokānāṃ śaṃ bhāvayanto munayaḥ sapta te mune | yattadviṣṇupadaṃ sthānaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ prakramanti te

Those seven sages, bringing about the welfare of the worlds, O sage, circle that place which is Viṣṇu's station, keeping it on their right.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition