SB 5.21.18 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.18

तथान्ये च ऋषयो गन्धर्वाप्सरसो नागा ग्रामण्यो यातुधाना देवा इत्येकैकशो गणा: सप्त चतुर्दश मासि मासि भगवन्तं सूर्यमात्मानं नानानामानं पृथङ्‌नानानामान: पृथक्‌कर्मभिर्द्वन्द्वश उपासते ॥ १८ ॥

tathānye ca ṛṣayo gandharvāpsaraso nāgā grāmaṇyo yātudhānā devā ity ekaikaśo gaṇāḥ sapta caturdaśa māsi māsi bhagavantaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ nānā-nāmānaṁ pṛthaṅ-nānā-nāmānaḥ pṛthak-karmabhir dvandvaśa upāsate.

[tathaanye cha rishayo gandharvaapsaraso naagaa graamanyo yaatudhaanaa devaa ity ekaikasho ganaah sapta chaturdasha maasi maasi bhagavantam sooryam aatmaanam naanaa-naamaanam prithan-naanaa-naamaanah prithak-karmabhir dvandvasha upaasate.]

Word-for-word

tathā — similarly anye — others ca — also ṛṣayaḥ — saintly persons gandharva-apsarasaḥ — Gandharvas and Apsarās nāgāḥ — Nāga snakes grāmaṇyaḥ — Yakṣas yātudhānāḥ — Rākṣasas devāḥ — demigods iti — thus eka-ekaśaḥ — one by one gaṇāḥ — groups sapta — seven caturdaśa — fourteen in number māsi māsi — in every month bhagavantam — unto the most powerful demigod sūryam — the sun-god ātmānam — the life of the universe nānā — various nāmānam — who possesses names pṛthak — separate nānā-nāmānaḥ — having various names pṛthak — separate karmabhiḥ — by ritualistic ceremonies dvandvaśaḥ — in groups of two upāsate — worship.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

tathā

similarly

anye

others

also

ṛṣayaḥ

saintly persons

gandharva-apsarasaḥ

Gandharvas and Apsarās

nāgāḥ

Nāga snakes

grāmaṇyaḥ

Yakṣas

yātudhānāḥ

Rākṣasas

devāḥ

demigods

iti

thus

eka-ekaśaḥ

one by one

gaṇāḥ

groups

sapta

seven

caturdaśa

fourteen in number

māsi māsi

in every month

bhagavantam

unto the most powerful demigod

sūryam

the sun-god

ātmānam

the life of the universe

nānā

various

nāmānam

who possesses names

pṛthak

separate

nānā-nāmānaḥ

having various names

pṛthak

separate

karmabhiḥ

by ritualistic ceremonies

dvandvaśaḥ

in groups of two

upāsate

worship.

Similarly, fourteen other saints, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and demigods, who are divided into groups of two, assume different names every month and continuously perform different ritualistic ceremonies to worship the Supreme Lord as the most powerful demigod Sūryadeva, who holds many names.

Purport

In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa it is said:

stuvanti munayaḥ sūryaṁ gandharvair gīyate puraḥ nṛtyanto ’psaraso yānti sūryasyānu niśācarāḥ

vahanti pannagā yakṣaiḥ kriyate ’bhiṣusaṅgrahaḥ vālikhilyās tathaivainaṁ parivārya samāsate

so ’yaṁ sapta-gaṇaḥ sūrya- maṇḍale muni-sattama himoṣṇa vāri-vṛṣṭīṇāṁ hetutve samayaṁ gataḥ

Worshiping the most powerful demigod Sūrya, the Gandharvas sing in front of him, the Apsarās dance before the chariot, the Niśācaras follow the chariot, the Pannagas decorate the chariot, the Yakṣas guard the chariot, and the saints called the Vālikhilyas surround the sun-god and offer prayers. The seven groups of fourteen associates arrange the proper times for regular snow, heat and rain throughout the universe.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Similarly, other sages, Gandharvas, Apsarās, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and devatās, in fourteen groups in some months and pairing up to make seven groups in other months, assume different names every month and continuously perform different ritualistic ceremonies to worship the Supreme Lord as Sūrya, who has many names. In one month, fourteen groups form pairs to make seven groups. In other months the groups act singly as fourteen groups and perform worship.

Personal Guidance

Different groups of beings serve the sun-god in rotation through the months, each performing their own ritual. Service is distributed and seasonal. Your turn to serve is part of a much larger rota; show up for your shift.

Reflection Questions

What is my 'shift' in the cosmic rotation right now — what service is mine to perform?
Where am I sitting out of my season instead of joining in?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io