FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.18.5

श्रोणायां श्रवणद्वादश्यां मुहूर्तेऽभिजिति प्रभु: । सर्वे नक्षत्रताराद्याश्चक्रुस्तज्जन्म दक्षिणम् ॥ ५ ॥
śroṇāyāṁ śravaṇa-dvādaśyāṁ
[shronaayaam shravana-dvaadashyaam]
muhūrte ’bhijiti prabhuḥ
[muhoorte ’bhijiti prabhuh]
sarve nakṣatra-tārādyāś
[sarve nakshatra-taaraadyaash]
cakrus taj-janma dakṣiṇam
[chakrus taj-janma dakshinam]
śroṇāyām — when the moon was situated in the Śravaṇa lunar mansion śravaṇa-dvādaśyām — on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra, the day famous as the Śravaṇa-dvādaśī muhūrte — in the auspicious moment abhijiti — in the first portion of the Śravaṇa lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-nakṣatra and in the Abhijit-muhūrta (occurring at midday) prabhuḥ — the Lord sarve — all nakṣatra — stars tārā — planets ādyāḥ — beginning with the sun and followed by the other planets cakruḥ — made tat-janma — the birthday of the Lord dakṣiṇam — very munificent.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śroṇāyāṁ śravaṇa-dvādaśyāṁ
śroṇāyām
when the moon was situated in the Śravaṇa lunar mansion
śravaṇa-dvādaśyām
on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra, the day famous as the Śravaṇa-dvādaśī
muhūrte ’bhijiti prabhuḥ
muhūrte
in the auspicious moment
abhijiti
in the first portion of the Śravaṇa lunar mansion known as the Abhijit-nakṣatra and in the Abhijit-muhūrta (occurring at midday)
prabhuḥ
the Lord
sarve nakṣatra-tārādyāś
sarve
all
nakṣatra
stars
tārā
planets
ādyāḥ
beginning with the sun and followed by the other planets
cakrus taj-janma dakṣiṇam
cakruḥ
made
tat-janma
the birthday of the Lord
dakṣiṇam
very munificent.
On the day of Śravaṇa-dvādaśī [the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādra], when the moon came into the lunar mansion Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. Considering the Lord’s appearance very auspicious, all the stars and planets, from the sun to Saturn, were munificently charitable.

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, an expert astrologer, explains the word nakṣatra-tārādyāḥ. The word nakṣatra means “the stars,” the word tāra in this context refers to the planets, and ādyāḥ means “the first one specifically mentioned.” Among the planets, the first is Sūrya, the sun, not the moon. Therefore, according to the Vedic version, the modern astronomer’s proposition that the moon is nearest to the earth should not be accepted. The chronological order in which people all over the world refer to the days of the week — Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday — corresponds to the Vedic order of the planets and thus circumstantiates the Vedic version. Apart from this, when the Lord appeared the planets and stars became situated very auspiciously, according to astrological calculations, to celebrate the birth of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
On the day of Dvādaśī of Bhādra month, when the moon was in the constellation Śravaṇa, at the auspicious moment of Abhijit, the Lord appeared in this universe. All the constellations and planets were generous. This verse describes the time of his appearance. Śravaṇa-dvādaśī means the bright fortnight dvādaśī of Bhādra month. The moon was in Śravaṇa constellation. The moon was also in the first portion of Śravaṇa constellation called Abhijit. Śruti says abhijin nāma nakṣatram upariṣṭād āśāḍhāyaḥ śravanāyā adhastāt: Abhijit constellation is above Āśāḍha and below Śravaṇa constellation. Astrological works also says uttarāṣādhāśeṣārdhāt śravaṇādau liptakā-catuṣke ca abhijit tatstha khecare vijñeya rohiṇī-viddha: Abhijit consists of the last quarter of Uttarāṣāḍha constellation and the first quarter of Śravaṇa constellation. Muhūrte hear means “at a suitably auspicious time.” Or abhijite muhūrte can mean “with an auspicious ascendant which give complete victory.” The indications of victory are described. The constellations such as Aśvinī and the planets (tāra) such as Jupiter and Venus, as well as the luminaries consisting of the sun and moon (ādyāḥ) were very generous (dakṣiṇam) at his birth. This is Śrīdhara Svāmī’s commentary.
Śravaṇa-dvādaśī, moon in Śravaṇa, Abhijit moment — sun to Saturn, all planets charitable. Even astrology is moved by His arrival. Stars themselves participate in the welcome.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I separate the cosmos from sacred timing, treating astrological alignment as superstition?
  • What if the universe really is set up to celebrate certain moments — and which am I missing?
📝 My note

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