FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.2.27-28

सप्तर्षीणां तु यौ पूर्वौ द‍ृश्येते उदितौ दिवि । तयोस्तु मध्ये नक्षत्रं द‍ृश्यते यत् समं निशि ॥ २७ ॥ तेनैव ऋषयो युक्तास्तिष्ठन्त्यब्दशतं नृणाम् । ते त्वदीये द्विजा: काल अधुना चाश्रिता मघा: ॥ २८ ॥
saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yau pūrvau
[saptarsheenaam tu yau poorvau]
dṛśyete uditau divi
[drishyete uditau divi]
tayos tu madhye nakṣatraṁ
[tayos tu madhye nakshatram]
dṛśyate yat samaṁ niśi
[drishyate yat samam nishi]
tenaiva ṛṣayo yuktās
[tenaiva rishayo yuktaas]
tiṣṭhanty abda-śataṁ nṛṇām
[tishthanty abda-shatam nrinaam]
te tvadīye dvijāḥ kāla
[te tvadeeye dvijaah kaala]
adhunā cāśritā maghāḥ
[adhunaa chaashritaa maghaah]
sapta-ṛṣīṇām — of the constellation of the seven sages (the constellation known to Westerners as Ursa Major) tu — and yau — which two stars pūrvau — first dṛśyete — are seen uditau — risen divi — in the sky tayoḥ — of the two (named Pulaha and Kratu) tu — and madhye — between nakṣatram — the lunar mansion dṛśyate — is seen yat — which samam — on the same line of celestial longitude, as their midpoint niśi — in the night sky tena — with that lunar mansion eva — indeed ṛṣayaḥ — the seven sages yuktāḥ — are connected tiṣṭhanti — they remain abda-śatam — one hundred years nṛṇām — of human beings te — these seven sages tvadīye — in your dvijāḥ — the elevated brāhmaṇas kāle — in the time adhunā — now ca — and āśritāḥ — are situated maghāḥ — in the asterism Maghā.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yau pūrvau
sapta-ṛṣīṇām
of the constellation of the seven sages (the constellation known to Westerners as Ursa Major)
tu
and
yau
which two stars
pūrvau
first
dṛśyete uditau divi
dṛśyete
are seen
uditau
risen
divi
in the sky
tayos tu madhye nakṣatraṁ
tayoḥ
of the two (named Pulaha and Kratu)
tu
and
madhye
between
nakṣatram
the lunar mansion
dṛśyate yat samaṁ niśi
dṛśyate
is seen
yat
which
samam
on the same line of celestial longitude, as their midpoint
niśi
in the night sky
tenaiva ṛṣayo yuktās
tena
with that lunar mansion
eva
indeed
ṛṣayaḥ
the seven sages
yuktāḥ
are connected
tiṣṭhanty abda-śataṁ nṛṇām
tiṣṭhanti
they remain
abda-śatam
one hundred years
nṛṇām
of human beings
te tvadīye dvijāḥ kāla
te
these seven sages
tvadīye
in your
dvijāḥ
the elevated brāhmaṇas
kāle
in the time
adhunā cāśritā maghāḥ
adhunā
now
ca
and
āśritāḥ
are situated
maghāḥ
in the asterism Maghā.
Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the seven sages, Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling asterism of the constellation for that time. The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular lunar mansion for one hundred human years. Currently, during your lifetime, they are situated in the nakṣatra called Maghā.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Of the seven stars forming the constellation of the seven sages, Pulaha and Kratu are the first to rise in the night sky. If a line running north and south were drawn through their midpoint, whichever of the lunar mansions this line passes through is said to be the ruling constellation for that time. The Seven Sages will remain connected with that particular constellation for one hundred human years. Currently, during your lifetime, they are situated in the constellation called Maghā. A precise calculation of time is given in order to define the beginning of Kali-yuga and its progress. Between the first two stars (Pulaha and Kratu) of the seven sages, shaped like a cart when seen at night, the constellations starting from Aśvini appear. Each constellation will remain for a hundred years in that position. Now, during the time of Parīkṣit, the constellation was Maghā. When Kṛṣṇa was born the constellation between those to stars was Aśleṣa. When the two stars’ positioning in Aśleṣa was finished and they entered Maghā constellation, Kali-yuga began. When the seven sages reach Purvāṣāḍha constellation Kali will be flourishing. This will be understood later in the text.
Even the Seven Sages move on a hundred-year clock through the nakṣatras. The cosmos is liturgical, not chaotic. Knowing this lets us breathe: our lifetimes are tiny notes in a vast symphony that the Lord conducts.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does my anxiety come from imagining I have to conduct the symphony?
  • What 'note' is mine to play today, well and simply?
📝 My note

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