FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.24.2

यददस्तरणेर्मण्डलं प्रतपतस्तद्विस्तरतो योजनायुतमाचक्षते द्वादशसहस्रं सोमस्य त्रयोदशसहस्रं राहोर्य: पर्वणि तद्‌व्य‍वधानकृद्वैरानुबन्ध: सूर्याचन्द्रमसावभिधावति ॥ २ ॥
yad adas taraṇer maṇḍalaṁ pratapatas tad vistarato yojanāyutam ācakṣate dvādaśa-sahasraṁ somasya trayodaśa-sahasraṁ rāhor yaḥ parvaṇi tad-vyavadhāna-kṛd vairānubandhaḥ sūryā-candramasāv abhidhāvati.
[yad adas taraner mandalam pratapatas tad vistarato yojanaayutam aachakshate dvaadasha-sahasram somasya trayodasha-sahasram raahor yah parvani tad-vyavadhaana-krid vairaanubandhah sooryaa-chandramasaav abhidhaavati.]
Word-for-word
yat — which adaḥ — that taraṇeḥ — of the sun maṇḍalam — globe pratapataḥ — which is always distributing heat tat — that vistarataḥ — in terms of width yojana — a distance of eight miles ayutam — ten thousand ācakṣate — they estimate dvādaśa-sahasram — 20,000 yojanas (160,000 miles) somasya — of the moon trayodaśa — thirty sahasram — one thousand rāhoḥ — of the planet Rāhu yaḥ — which parvaṇi — on occasion tat-vyavadhāna-kṛt — who created an obstruction to the sun and moon at the time of the distribution of nectar vaira-anubandhaḥ — whose intentions are inimical sūryā — the sun candramasau — and the moon abhidhāvati — runs after them on the full-moon night and the dark-moon day.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yad adas taraṇer maṇḍalaṁ pratapatas tad vistarato yojanāyutam ācakṣate dvādaśa-sahasraṁ somasya trayodaśa-sahasraṁ rāhor yaḥ parvaṇi tad-vyavadhāna-kṛd vairānubandhaḥ sūryā-candramasāv abhidhāvati.
yat
which
adaḥ
that
taraṇeḥ
of the sun
maṇḍalam
globe
pratapataḥ
which is always distributing heat
tat
that
vistarataḥ
in terms of width
yojana
a distance of eight miles
ayutam
ten thousand
ācakṣate
they estimate
dvādaśa-sahasram
20,000 yojanas (160,000 miles)
somasya
of the moon
trayodaśa
thirty
sahasram
one thousand
rāhoḥ
of the planet Rāhu
yaḥ
which
parvaṇi
on occasion
tat-vyavadhāna-kṛt
who created an obstruction to the sun and moon at the time of the distribution of nectar
vaira-anubandhaḥ
whose intentions are inimical
sūryā
the sun
candramasau
and the moon
abhidhāvati
runs after them on the full-moon night and the dark-moon day.
The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles]. The moon extends for 20,000 yojanas [160,000 miles], and Rāhu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Rāhu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Rāhu is inimical toward both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night.
Purport

As stated herein, the sun extends for 10,000 yojanas, and the moon extends for twice that, or 20,000 yojanas. The word dvādaśa should be understood to mean twice as much as ten, or twenty. In the opinion of Vijayadhvaja, the extent of Rāhu should be twice that of the moon, or 40,000 yojanas. However to reconcile this apparent contradiction to the text of the Bhāgavatam, Vijayadhvaja cites the following quotation concerning Rāhu; rāhu-soma-ravīṇāṁ tu maṇḍalā dvi-guṇoktitām. This means that Rāhu is twice as large as the moon, which is twice as large as the sun. This is the conclusion of the commentator Vijayadhvaja.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
They say that the sun globe measures 10,000 yojanas in diameter and the moon measure 20,000 yojanas in diameter, whereas Rāhu is 30,000 yojanas in diameter. Obstructing the sun and moon previously, he has become their enemy, and attacks them on the full and dark moon days. Parvaṇi means the full moon and dark moon. On these days it creates an obstacle to the full moon and dark moon for those looking from the earth. It created an obstacle previously by coming between the sun and moon to drink nectar. He created enmity with them when they understood what he was doing.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Rāhu tried to create division between the sun and moon and now lives forever trying to cover their light. Those who sow division are the ones who live in the dark. Watch out for the appetite to divide; it ends up shadowing the divider.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I been the agent of division — between people, between teachings, between ideas?
  • What part of my own life feels eclipsed because I cultivated separation rather than harmony?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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