Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.13
यस्यैकं चक्रं द्वादशारं षण्नेमि त्रिणाभि संवत्सरात्मकं समामनन्ति तस्याक्षो मेरोर्मूर्धनि कृतो मानसोत्तरे कृतेतरभागो यत्र प्रोतं रविरथचक्रं तैलयन्त्रचक्रवद् भ्रमन्मानसोत्तरगिरौ परिभ्रमति ॥ १३ ॥
yasyaikaṁ cakraṁ dvādaśāraṁ ṣaṇ-nemi tri-ṇābhi saṁvatsarātmakaṁ samāmananti tasyākṣo meror mūrdhani kṛto mānasottare kṛtetara-bhāgo yatra protaṁ ravi-ratha-cakraṁ taila-yantra-cakravad bhraman mānasottara-girau paribhramati.
[yasyaikam chakram dvaadashaaram shan-nemi tri-naabhi samvatsaraatmakam samaamananti tasyaaksho meror moordhani krito maanasottare kritetara-bhaago yatra protam ravi-ratha-chakram taila-yantra-chakravad bhraman maanasottara-girau paribhramati.]
Word-for-word
yasya
—
of which
ekam
—
one
cakram
—
wheel
dvādaśa
—
twelve
aram
—
spokes
ṣaṭ
—
six
nemi
—
the segments of the rim
tri-ṇābhi
—
the three pieces of the hub
saṁvatsara-ātmakam
—
whose nature is a saṁvatsara
samāmananti
—
they fully describe
tasya
—
the chariot of the sun-god
akṣaḥ
—
the axle
meroḥ
—
of Sumeru Mountain
mūrdhani
—
on the top
kṛtaḥ
—
fixed
mānasottare
—
on the mountain known as Mānasottara
kṛta
—
fixed
itara-bhāgaḥ
—
the other end
yatra
—
where
protam
—
fixed on
ravi-ratha-cakram
—
the wheel of the chariot of the sun-god
taila-yantra-cakra-vat
—
like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine
bhramat
—
moving
mānasottara-girau
—
on Mānasottara Mountain
paribhramati
—
turns.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yasyaikaṁ cakraṁ dvādaśāraṁ ṣaṇ-nemi tri-ṇābhi saṁvatsarātmakaṁ samāmananti tasyākṣo meror mūrdhani kṛto mānasottare kṛtetara-bhāgo yatra protaṁ ravi-ratha-cakraṁ taila-yantra-cakravad bhraman mānasottara-girau paribhramati.
yasya
of which
ekam
one
cakram
wheel
dvādaśa
twelve
aram
spokes
ṣaṭ
six
nemi
the segments of the rim
tri-ṇābhi
the three pieces of the hub
saṁvatsara-ātmakam
whose nature is a saṁvatsara
samāmananti
they fully describe
tasya
the chariot of the sun-god
akṣaḥ
the axle
meroḥ
of Sumeru Mountain
mūrdhani
on the top
kṛtaḥ
fixed
mānasottare
on the mountain known as Mānasottara
kṛta
fixed
itara-bhāgaḥ
the other end
yatra
where
protam
fixed on
ravi-ratha-cakram
the wheel of the chariot of the sun-god
taila-yantra-cakra-vat
like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine
bhramat
moving
mānasottara-girau
on Mānasottara Mountain
paribhramati
turns.
The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as Saṁvatsara. The twelve months are calculated to be its twelve spokes, the six seasons are the sections of its rim, and the three cātur-māsya periods are its three-sectioned hub. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Mānasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The chariot of the sun-god has only one wheel, which is known as the year. The wheel has twelve spokes, six rims, and three hubs. One side of the axle carrying the wheel rests upon the summit of Mount Sumeru, and the other rests upon Mānasottara Mountain. Affixed to the outer end of the axle, the wheel continuously rotates on Mānasottara Mountain like the wheel of an oil-pressing machine.
The spokes of the wheel of the chariot (yasya) are the twelve months. The six rims are the six seasons. The three hubs are the three sets of four months. It is fixed on the lower portion of Meru. It is compared to the wheel of an oil pressing machine. Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that it rotates on Mānasottara at a height of 50,000 yojanas on a surface made flat by the wind. Because Mānasottara is only 10,000 yojanas high, the total height at which the wheel rotates is 60,000 yojanas. The distance (from Meru) is a little less than 15,700,000 yojanas. [Note: Possibly this is because of the width of the wheel, which must be 100,000 yojanas wide. If it travels in the center of the road which is 200,000 yojanas wide, 50,000 yojanas of the wide would protrude over the center of the road.]
Personal Guidance
The sun's chariot has one wheel with twelve spokes (months), six rim sections (seasons), and three hub portions (cātur-māsya periods). Time itself is structured for worship and remembrance. Your calendar is a ritual instrument waiting to be used.
Reflection Questions
- Which seasons or months of the year have spiritual meaning for me that I currently ignore?
- How could marking time more deliberately turn my year into a chariot of worship?
My note
Source: vedabase.io