FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.16.20

अयं भुवो मण्डलमोदयाद्रे-र्गोप्तैकवीरो नरदेवनाथ: आस्थाय जैत्रं रथमात्तचाप:पर्यस्यते दक्षिणतो यथार्क: ॥ २० ॥
ayaṁ bhuvo maṇḍalam odayādrer
[ayam bhuvo mandalam odayaadrer]
goptaika-vīro naradeva-nāthaḥ
[goptaika-veero naradeva-naathah]
āsthāya jaitraṁ ratham ātta-cāpaḥ
[aasthaaya jaitram ratham aatta-chaapah]
paryasyate dakṣiṇato yathārkaḥ
[paryasyate dakshinato yathaarkah]
ayam — this King bhuvaḥ — of the world maṇḍalam — the globe ā-udaya-adreḥ — from the mountain where the first appearance of the sun is visible goptā — will protect eka — uniquely vīraḥ — powerful, heroic nara-deva — of all kings, gods in human society nāthaḥ — the master āsthāya — being situated on jaitram — victorious ratham — his chariot ātta-cāpaḥ — holding the bow paryasyate — he will circumambulate dakṣiṇataḥ — from the southern side yathā — like arkaḥ — the sun.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ayaṁ bhuvo maṇḍalam odayādrer
ayam
this King
bhuvaḥ
of the world
maṇḍalam
the globe
ā-udaya-adreḥ
from the mountain where the first appearance of the sun is visible
goptaika-vīro naradeva-nāthaḥ
goptā
will protect
eka
uniquely
vīraḥ
powerful, heroic
nara-deva
of all kings, gods in human society
nāthaḥ
the master
āsthāya jaitraṁ ratham ātta-cāpaḥ
āsthāya
being situated on
jaitram
victorious
ratham
his chariot
ātta-cāpaḥ
holding the bow
paryasyate
he will circumambulate
paryasyate dakṣiṇato yathārkaḥ
dakṣiṇataḥ
from the southern side
yathā
like
arkaḥ
the sun.
This King, being uniquely powerful and heroic, will have no competitor. He will travel around the globe on his victorious chariot, holding his invincible bow in his hand and appearing exactly like the sun, which rotates in its own orbit from the south.

In this verse the word yathārkaḥ indicates that the sun is not fixed but is rotating in its orbit, which is set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā and also in other parts of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is stated that the sun rotates in its own orbit at the rate of sixteen thousand miles per second. Similarly, Brahma-saṁhitā states, yasyājñayā bhramati sambhṛta-kāla-cakraḥ: the sun rotates in its own orbit according to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The conclusion is that the sun is not fixed in one place. As far as Pṛthu Mahārāja is concerned, it is indicated that his ruling power would extend all over the world. The Himālaya Mountains, from which the sunrise is first seen, are called udayācala or udayādri. It is herein indicated that Pṛthu Mahārāja’s reign over the world would cover even the Himālaya Mountains and extend to the borders of all oceans and seas. In other words, his reign would cover the entire planet.

Another significant word in this verse is naradeva. As described in previous verses, the qualified king — be he King Pṛthu or any other king who rules over the state as an ideal king — should be understood to be God in human form. According to Vedic culture, the king is honored as the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he represents Nārāyaṇa, who also gives protection to the citizens. He is therefore nātha, or the proprietor. Even Sanātana Gosvāmī gave respect to the Nawab Hussain Shah as naradeva, although the Nawab was Muhammadan. A king or governmental head must therefore be so competent to rule over the state that the citizens will worship him as God in human form. That is the perfectional stage for the head of any government or state.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The most heroic protector, the King of kings, situated on his victory chariot, with bow in hand, will circumambulate the whole earth clockwise from the Sunrise Mountain, like the sun. He will travel clockwise, extending up to Sunrise Mountain.
Uniquely powerful, without competitor, traveling the globe like the sun in its orbit. Some are not in competition; they orbit on a unique path that doesn't intersect rivals.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I treating someone as a competitor who is actually on a non-overlapping orbit?
  • What is my own orbit, and have I let go of competitor-thinking enough to see it?
📝 My note

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