Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.11.15
य: सृज्यशक्तिमुरुधोच्छ्वसयन् स्वशक्त्या
पुंसोऽभ्रमाय दिवि धावति भूतभेद: ।
कालाख्यया गुणमयं क्रतुभिर्वितन्वं-
स्तस्मै बलिं हरत वत्सरपञ्चकाय ॥ १५ ॥
yaḥ sṛjya-śaktim urudhocchvasayan sva-śaktyā
[yah srijya-shaktim urudhochchvasayan sva-shaktyaa]
puṁso ’bhramāya divi dhāvati bhūta-bhedaḥ
[pumso ’bhramaaya divi dhaavati bhoota-bhedah]
kālākhyayā guṇamayaṁ kratubhir vitanvaṁs
[kaalaakhyayaa gunamayam kratubhir vitanvams]
tasmai baliṁ harata vatsara-pañcakāya
[tasmai balim harata vatsara-panchakaaya]
Word-for-word
yaḥ
—
one who
sṛjya
—
of creation
śaktim
—
the seeds
urudhā
—
in various ways
ucchvasayan
—
invigorating
sva-śaktyā
—
by his own energy
puṁsaḥ
—
of the living entity
abhramāya
—
to dissipate darkness
divi
—
during the daytime
dhāvati
—
moves
bhūta-bhedaḥ
—
distinct from all other material form
kāla-ākhyayā
—
by the name eternal time
guṇa-mayam
—
the material results
kratubhiḥ
—
by offerings
vitanvan
—
enlarging
tasmai
—
unto him
balim
—
ingredients of offerings
harata
—
one should offer
vatsara-pañcakāya
—
offerings every five years.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yaḥ sṛjya-śaktim urudhocchvasayan sva-śaktyā
yaḥ
one who
sṛjya
of creation
śaktim
the seeds
urudhā
in various ways
ucchvasayan
invigorating
sva-śaktyā
by his own energy
puṁso ’bhramāya divi dhāvati bhūta-bhedaḥ
puṁsaḥ
of the living entity
abhramāya
to dissipate darkness
divi
during the daytime
dhāvati
moves
kālākhyayā guṇamayaṁ kratubhir vitanvaṁs
bhūta-bhedaḥ
distinct from all other material form
tasmai baliṁ harata vatsara-pañcakāya
kāla-ākhyayā
by the name eternal time
guṇa-mayam
the material results
kratubhiḥ
by offerings
vitanvan
enlarging
tasmai
unto him
balim
ingredients of offerings
harata
one should offer
vatsara-pañcakāya
offerings every five years.
O Vidura, the sun enlivens all living entities with his unlimited heat and light. He diminishes the duration of life of all living entities in order to release them from their illusion of material attachment, and he enlarges the path of elevation to the heavenly kingdom. He thus moves in the firmament with great velocity, and therefore everyone should offer him respects once every five years with all ingredients of worship.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The sun, made out of particular material elements, moves in the sky, displaying with force the ability of plants to germinate through his energy of time, and producing material results by means of ritual actions according to proper calculation of time, in order to dispel illusion of men. O performers of dharma! You should make offerings to the sun for promoting the five types of year.
One may ask the purpose of having five different types of year. The religious acts accomplished by the various calculations of year are described in this verse. The sun, a particular form of the elements (bhūta-bhedaḥ) in the form of a ball of fire, moves in the sky (divi), revealing (uchvasayan) strongly in the form of time (svaśaktyā) the ability of plants to germinate. Why does it move in the sky? He increases the results, such as attainment of Svarga (guṇamayam) of those with material desires in order to destroy confusion for men, by actions performed with knowledge of the correct time for those actions, according to the saṁvatsara and other types of year. O followers of dharma! You should offer articles of worship such as arghya (balim) to the sun in order to set in motion the five types of year.
Personal Guidance
The sun enlivens all beings, gradually diminishes lifespan to release us from material attachment, and lights the path upward. Even the shortening of our days is mercy. The sun deserves periodic worship as a moving servant of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- Can I see the shortening of my life as a kindness drawing me toward higher things?
- How might regular reverence for the sun deepen my sense of cosmic order?
My note
Source: vedabase.io