SB 5.23.2 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.23.2

स हि सर्वेषां ज्योतिर्गणानां ग्रहनक्षत्रादीनामनिमिषेणाव्यक्तरंहसा भगवता कालेन भ्राम्यमाणानां स्थाणुरिवावष्टम्भ ईश्वरेण विहित: शश्वदवभासते ॥ २ ॥

sa hi sarveṣāṁ jyotir-gaṇānāṁ graha-nakṣatrādīnām animiṣeṇāvyakta-raṁhasā bhagavatā kālena bhrāmyamāṇānāṁ sthāṇur ivāvaṣṭambha īśvareṇa vihitaḥ śaśvad avabhāsate.

[sa hi sarveshaam jyotir-ganaanaam graha-nakshatraadeenaam animishenaavyakta-ramhasaa bhagavataa kaalena bhraamyamaanaanaam sthaanur ivaavashtambha eeshvarena vihitah shashvad avabhaasate.]

Word-for-word

saḥ — that planet of Dhruva Mahārāja hi — indeed sarveṣām — of all jyotiḥ-gaṇānām — the luminaries graha-nakṣatra-ādīnām — such as the planets and stars animiṣeṇa — who does not rest avyakta — inconceivable raṁhasā — whose force bhagavatā — the most powerful kālena — by the time factor bhrāmyamāṇānām — being caused to revolve sthāṇuḥ iva — like a post avaṣṭambhaḥ — the pivot īśvareṇa — by the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead vihitaḥ — established śaśvat — constantly avabhāsate — shines.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

saḥ

that planet of Dhruva Mahārāja

indeed

sarveṣām

of all

jyotiḥ-gaṇānām

the luminaries

graha-nakṣatra-ādīnām

such as the planets and stars

animiṣeṇa

who does not rest

avyakta

inconceivable

raṁhasā

whose force

bhagavatā

the most powerful

kālena

by the time factor

bhrāmyamāṇānām

being caused to revolve

sthāṇuḥ iva

like a post

avaṣṭambhaḥ

the pivot

īśvareṇa

by the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

vihitaḥ

established

śaśvat

constantly

avabhāsate

shines.

Established by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the polestar, which is the planet of Mahārāja Dhruva, constantly shines as the central pivot for all the stars and planets. The unsleeping, invisible, most powerful time factor causes these luminaries to revolve around the polestar without cessation.

Purport

It is distinctly stated herein that all the luminaries, the planets and stars, revolve by the influence of the supreme time factor. The time factor is another feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone is under the influence of the time factor, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind and loves His devotee Mahārāja Dhruva so much that He has placed all the luminaries under the control of Dhruva’s planet and has arranged for the time factor to work under him or with his cooperation. Everything is actually done according to the will and direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but to make His devotee Dhruva the most important individual within the universe, the Lord has placed the activities of the time factor under his control.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

This star, established by the Lord, which is the pivot of all the luminaries, planets and constellations, which are made to rotate constantly around it by the inconceivable force of the Lord’s time energy, shines constantly. Sthānuḥ means a pillar. It here indicates also “stationary” since it remains without being moved by the wheel of time, the rotation of the zodiac. Rather, it is the pivot for the rotating zodiac. All others are dependent upon the rotation of the zodiac, but Dhruvaloka controls the zodiac rotation. “How did it get this ability?” It has been allotted this power by the Lord, who can cause to do, not do or do differently, in order to show the excellence of his devotee.

Personal Guidance

The Lord placed all luminaries under Dhruva's planet, arranging even time to serve the cooperation of His devotee. The Lord is so generous with His devotees that He lets even cosmic order honor them. Devotion attracts honor we never sought.

Reflection Questions

Where in my life has unexpected honor flowed to me that I should attribute to the Lord rather than to my own effort?
How does it change my sense of self to know the Lord can arrange large things to honor small devotion?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io