FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.22.9

अथ चापूर्यमाणाभिश्च कलाभिरमराणां क्षीयमाणाभिश्च कलाभि: पितृणामहोरात्राणि पूर्वपक्षापरपक्षाभ्यां वितन्वान: सर्वजीवनिवहप्राणो जीवश्चैकमेकं नक्षत्रं त्रिंशता मुहूर्तैर्भुङ्क्ते ॥ ९ ॥
atha cāpūryamāṇābhiś ca kalābhir amarāṇāṁ kṣīyamāṇābhiś ca kalābhiḥ pitṝṇām aho-rātrāṇi pūrva-pakṣāpara-pakṣābhyāṁ vitanvānaḥ sarva-jīva-nivaha-prāṇo jīvaś caikam ekaṁ nakṣatraṁ triṁśatā muhūrtair bhuṅkte.
[atha chaapooryamaanaabhish cha kalaabhir amaraanaam ksheeyamaanaabhish cha kalaabhih pitreenaam aho-raatraani poorva-pakshaapara-pakshaabhyaam vitanvaanah sarva-jeeva-nivaha-praano jeevash chaikam ekam nakshatram trimshataa muhoortair bhunkte.]
Word-for-word
atha — thus ca — also āpūryamāṇābhiḥ — gradually increasing ca — and kalābhiḥ — by the parts of the moon amarāṇām — of the demigods kṣīyamāṇābhiḥ — by gradually decreasing ca — and kalābhiḥ — by parts of the moon pitṝṇām — of those on the planet known as Pitṛloka ahaḥ-rātrāṇi — the days and nights pūrva-pakṣa-apara-pakṣābhyām — by the period of waxing and waning vitanvānaḥ — distributing sarva-jīva-nivaha — of the total living entities prāṇaḥ — the life jīvaḥ — the chief living being ca — also ekam ekam — one after another nakṣatram — a constellation of stars triṁśatā — by thirty muhūrtaiḥ — muhūrtas bhuṅkte — passes through.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
atha cāpūryamāṇābhiś ca kalābhir amarāṇāṁ kṣīyamāṇābhiś ca kalābhiḥ pitṝṇām aho-rātrāṇi pūrva-pakṣāpara-pakṣābhyāṁ vitanvānaḥ sarva-jīva-nivaha-prāṇo jīvaś caikam ekaṁ nakṣatraṁ triṁśatā muhūrtair bhuṅkte.
atha
thus
ca
also
āpūryamāṇābhiḥ
gradually increasing
ca
and
kalābhiḥ
by the parts of the moon
amarāṇām
of the demigods
kṣīyamāṇābhiḥ
by gradually decreasing
ca
and
kalābhiḥ
by parts of the moon
pitṝṇām
of those on the planet known as Pitṛloka
ahaḥ-rātrāṇi
the days and nights
pūrva-pakṣa-apara-pakṣābhyām
by the period of waxing and waning
vitanvānaḥ
distributing
sarva-jīva-nivaha
of the total living entities
prāṇaḥ
the life
jīvaḥ
the chief living being
ca
also
ekam ekam
one after another
nakṣatram
a constellation of stars
triṁśatā
by thirty
muhūrtaiḥ
muhūrtas
bhuṅkte
passes through.
When the moon is waxing, the illuminating portions of it increase daily, thus creating day for the demigods and night for the pitās. When the moon is waning, however, it causes night for the demigods and day for the pitās. In this way the moon passes through each constellation of stars in thirty muhūrtas [an entire day]. The moon is the source of nectarean coolness that influences the growth of food grains, and therefore the moon-god is considered the life of all living entities. He is consequently called Jīva, the chief living being within the universe.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The moon with its waxing and waning phases, creates day for the devatās during the waxing phases, and creates day for the Pitṛs during the waning phases. The moon called life itself, supporting the life of all beings, passes through one constellation in thirty muhūrtas (one day). The waxing and waning phases are day and night for the devatās, and night and day for the Pitṛs. This means the waxing phase is suitable for worship of devatās and the waning phase is suitable for worship of Pitṛs. The moon is the life of all beings because it produces food in the form of plants. Śruti says annaṁ hi prāṇināṁ prāṇāḥ: food is the life of all beings. [Note: Annaṁ prāṇāḥ is found in Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 3.2.3.4.9.] The moon is called jīvaḥ because it is made of immortal nectar necessary for living.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The moon is the source of nectarean coolness, nourishes food grains, and is called Jīva — the chief living being. What looks like a passive light in the sky is actually feeding everything below. Be alert to invisible nourishment in your life.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'moonlike' presences in my life are quietly nourishing me without my noticing?
  • What in my growth is actually due to gentle, indirect light rather than my own striving?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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