SB 5.21.3 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.3

यन्मध्यगतो भगवांस्तपतपतिस्तपन आतपेन त्रिलोकीं प्रतपत्यवभासयत्यात्मभासा स एष उदगयनदक्षिणायनवैषुवतसंज्ञाभिर्मान्द्यशैघ्य्रसमानाभिर्गतिभिरारोहणावरोहणसमानस्थानेषु यथासवनमभिपद्यमानो मकरादिषु राशिष्वहोरात्राणि दीर्घह्रस्वसमानानि विधत्ते ॥ ३ ॥

yan-madhya-gato bhagavāṁs tapatāṁ patis tapana ātapena tri-lokīṁ pratapaty avabhāsayaty ātma-bhāsā sa eṣa udagayana-dakṣiṇāyana-vaiṣuvata-saṁjñābhir māndya-śaighrya-samānābhir gatibhir ārohaṇāvarohaṇa-samāna-sthāneṣu yathā-savanam abhipadyamāno makarādiṣu rāśiṣv aho-rātrāṇi dīrgha-hrasva-samānāni vidhatte.

[yan-madhya-gato bhagavaams tapataam patis tapana aatapena tri-lokeem pratapaty avabhaasayaty aatma-bhaasaa sa esha udagayana-dakshinaayana-vaishuvata-samjnaabhir maandya-shaighrya-samaanaabhir gatibhir aarohanaavarohana-samaana-sthaaneshu yathaa-savanam abhipadyamaano makaraadishu raashishv aho-raatraani deergha-hrasva-samaanaani vidhatte.]

Word-for-word

yat — of which (the intermediate space) madhya-gataḥ — being situated in the middle bhagavān — the most powerful tapatām patiḥ — the master of those that heat the whole universe tapanaḥ — the sun ātapena — by heat tri-lokīm — the three worlds pratapati — heats avabhāsayati — lights ātma-bhāsā — by its own illuminating rays saḥ — that eṣaḥ — the sun globe udagayana — of passing to the northern side of the equator dakṣiṇa-ayana — of passing to the southern side of the equator vaiṣuvata — or of passing through the equator saṁjñābhiḥ — by different names māndya — characterized by slowness śaighrya — swiftness samānābhiḥ — and by equality gatibhiḥ — by movement ārohaṇa — of rising avarohaṇa — of going down samāna — or of staying in the middle sthāneṣu — in positions yathā-savanam — according to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead abhipadyamānaḥ — moving makara-ādiṣu — headed by the sign Makara (Capricorn) rāśiṣu — in different signs ahaḥ-rātrāṇi — the days and nights dīrgha — long hrasva — short samānāni — equal vidhatte — makes.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

yat

of which (the intermediate space)

madhya-gataḥ

being situated in the middle

bhagavān

the most powerful

tapatām patiḥ

the master of those that heat the whole universe

tapanaḥ

the sun

ātapena

by heat

tri-lokīm

the three worlds

pratapati

heats

avabhāsayati

lights

ātma-bhāsā

by its own illuminating rays

saḥ

that

eṣaḥ

the sun globe

udagayana

of passing to the northern side of the equator

dakṣiṇa-ayana

of passing to the southern side of the equator

vaiṣuvata

or of passing through the equator

saṁjñābhiḥ

by different names

māndya

characterized by slowness

śaighrya

swiftness

samānābhiḥ

and by equality

gatibhiḥ

by movement

ārohaṇa

of rising

avarohaṇa

of going down

samāna

or of staying in the middle

sthāneṣu

in positions

yathā-savanam

according to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

abhipadyamānaḥ

moving

makara-ādiṣu

headed by the sign Makara (Capricorn)

rāśiṣu

in different signs

ahaḥ-rātrāṇi

the days and nights

dīrgha

long

hrasva

short

samānāni

equal

vidhatte

makes.

In the midst of that region of outer space [antarikṣa] is the most opulent sun, the king of all the planets that emanate heat, such as the moon. By the influence of its radiation, the sun heats the universe and maintains its proper order. It also gives light to help all living entities see. While passing toward the north, toward the south or through the equator, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is said to move slowly, swiftly or moderately. According to its movements in rising above, going beneath or passing through the equator — and correspondingly coming in touch with various signs of the zodiac, headed by Makara [Capricorn] — days and nights are short, long or equal to one another.

Purport

Lord Brahmā prays in his Brahma-saṁhitā (5.52) :

yac cakṣur eṣa savitā sakala-grahāṇāṁ rājā samasta-sura-mūrtir aśeṣa-tejāḥ yasyājñayā bhramati saṁbhṛta-kāla-cakro govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

“I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light.” Although the sun is described as bhagavān, the most powerful, and although it is actually the most powerful planet within the universe, it nevertheless has to carry out the order of Govinda, Kṛṣṇa. The sun-god cannot deviate even an inch from the orbit designated to him. Therefore in every sphere of life, the supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is carried out. The entire material nature carries out His orders. However, we foolishly see the activities of material nature without understanding the supreme order and Supreme Person behind them. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ: material nature carries out the orders of the Lord, and thus everything is maintained in an orderly way.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Situated in the middle of the antarīkṣa, the sun, master of heat, heats up and lights up the three worlds by its light. The sun moves slowing during uttarāyaṇa, ascending, moving through six zodiac signs starting from Capricorn, making the days long and the nights short. It moves quickly during dakṣiṇāyana, descending, moving through six zodiac signs starting with Cancer, making the days short and the nights long. It move at medium speed during the equinoxes, neither between ascending and descending, moving through Aries and Libra, making the days and nights equal. The sun is situated in the middle of the antarīkṣa. During uttarāyaṇa (udagayana), by slow speed while ascending in the sky and passing time, the sun moves through six zodiac signs starting from Capricorn, making the days gradually longer and the nights shorter. During dakṣiṇāyana, moving with quick speed and descending, the sun moves through six zodiac signs starting from Cancer, making the days shorter and the nights longer. By moving at medium speed during the equinox periods, with days and nights equal, the sun moves through Aries and Libra.

Related lectures

RGS SB 05-21-03 Hindi - 2013-06-22 ISKCON Juhu
His Holiness Radha Govinda Swami· 2013-06-22· English
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His Holiness Radha Govinda Swami· 2013-06-22· English

Personal Guidance

The sun moves slowly, quickly, or moderately by the order of the Supreme Lord — even the king of planets follows instruction. If even the sun is on assignment, our own work is too. The dignified posture in life is willing obedience to a larger plan.

Reflection Questions

Where am I resisting the speed at which my life is required to move right now?
What changes if I see today's pace as an assignment rather than a personal failure or accident?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io