FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.4

यदा मेषतुलयोर्वर्तते तदाहोरात्राणि समानानि भवन्ति यदा वृषभादिषु पञ्चसु च राशिषु चरति तदाहान्येव वर्धन्ते ह्रसति च मासि मास्येकैका घटिका रात्रिषु ॥ ४ ॥
yadā meṣa-tulayor vartate tadāho-rātrāṇi samānāni bhavanti yadā vṛṣabhādiṣu pañcasu ca rāśiṣu carati tadāhāny eva vardhante hrasati ca māsi māsy ekaikā ghaṭikā rātriṣu.
[yadaa mesha-tulayor vartate tadaaho-raatraani samaanaani bhavanti yadaa vrishabhaadishu panchasu cha raashishu charati tadaahaany eva vardhante hrasati cha maasi maasy ekaikaa ghatikaa raatrishu.]
Word-for-word
yadā — when meṣa-tulayoḥ — in Meṣa (Aries) and Tulā (Libra) vartate — the sun exists tadā — at that time ahaḥ-rātrāṇi — the days and nights samānāni — equal in duration bhavanti — are yadā — when vṛṣabha-ādiṣu — headed by Vṛṣabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini) pañcasu — in the five ca — also rāśiṣu — signs carati — moves tadā — at that time ahāni — the days eva — certainly vardhante — increase hrasati — is diminished ca — and māsi māsi — in every month eka-ekā — one ghaṭikā — half hour rātriṣu — in the nights.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadā meṣa-tulayor vartate tadāho-rātrāṇi samānāni bhavanti yadā vṛṣabhādiṣu pañcasu ca rāśiṣu carati tadāhāny eva vardhante hrasati ca māsi māsy ekaikā ghaṭikā rātriṣu.
yadā
when
meṣa-tulayoḥ
in Meṣa (Aries) and Tulā (Libra)
vartate
the sun exists
tadā
at that time
ahaḥ-rātrāṇi
the days and nights
samānāni
equal in duration
bhavanti
are
yadā
when
vṛṣabha-ādiṣu
headed by Vṛṣabha (Taurus) and Mithuna (Gemini)
pañcasu
in the five
ca
also
rāśiṣu
signs
carati
moves
tadā
at that time
ahāni
the days
eva
certainly
vardhante
increase
hrasati
is diminished
ca
and
māsi māsi
in every month
eka-ekā
one
ghaṭikā
half hour
rātriṣu
in the nights.
When the sun passes through Meṣa [Aries] and Tulā [Libra], the durations of day and night are equal. When it passes through the five signs headed by Vṛṣabha [Taurus], the duration of the days increases [until Cancer], and then it gradually decreases by half an hour each month, until day and night again become equal [in Libra].
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When the sun is Aries and Libra, the days and nights are equal. When the sun moves in Taurus and the five following signs, the days increase in length and then decrease every month by a ghaṭikā. This verse further explains. Because there is no extreme difference in the day and night during this time, it is called equal. Complete equality will only take place on one day and night of the month. When the sun is in Taurus and Gemini the days increase in duration, and when the sun is in Cancer and the following months, the days become shorter, whereas the nights become longer. When the nights increase in duration, the days become shorter. But actually, starting from Capricorn the days become longer and starting from Cancer, the days become shorter. This will later be clearly explained. The statement that the days increase by ghaṭikā each month is a general statement, since the increase and decrease is different each month.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
When the sun crosses Aries and Libra, days and nights are equal — there are moments of natural balance in any cycle. Don't despair during stretches of imbalance; equinoxes come. Trust the cycle, and use balanced periods to consolidate.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'equinox' moment in my life have I failed to use well because I was busy waiting for it to pass?
  • When balance comes, do I rest or do I consolidate? Which would actually serve me?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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