FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.9.26

शिरस्त्वमरतां नीतमजो ग्रहमचीक्लृपत् । यस्तु पर्वणि चन्द्रार्कावभिधावति वैरधी: ॥ २६ ॥
śiras tv amaratāṁ nītam
[shiras tv amarataam neetam]
ajo graham acīkḷpat
[ajo graham acheeklripat]
yas tu parvaṇi candrārkāv
[yas tu parvani chandraarkaav]
abhidhāvati vaira-dhīḥ
[abhidhaavati vaira-dheeh]
Word-for-word
śiraḥ — the head tu — of course amaratām — immortality nītam — having obtained ajaḥ — Lord Brahmā graham — as one of the planets acīkḷpat — recognized yaḥ — the same Rāhu tu — indeed parvaṇi — during the periods of the full moon and dark moon candra-arkau — both the moon and the sun abhidhāvati — chases vaira-dhīḥ — because of animosity.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śiras tv amaratāṁ nītam
śiraḥ
the head
ajo graham acīkḷpat
yas tu parvaṇi candrārkāv
tu
of course
amaratām
immortality
nītam
having obtained
ajaḥ
Lord Brahmā
graham
as one of the planets
acīkḷpat
recognized
yaḥ
the same Rāhu
tu
indeed
parvaṇi
during the periods of the full moon and dark moon
candra-arkau
both the moon and the sun
abhidhāvati vaira-dhīḥ
abhidhāvati
chases
vaira-dhīḥ
because of animosity.
Rāhu’s head, however, having been touched by the nectar, became immortal. Thus Lord Brahmā accepted Rāhu’s head as one of the planets. Since Rāhu is an eternal enemy of the moon and the sun, he always tries to attack them on the nights of the full moon and the dark moon.
Purport

Since Rāhu had become immortal, Lord Brahmā accepted him as one of the grahas, or planets, like the moon and the sun. Rāhu, however, being an eternal enemy of the moon and sun, attacks them periodically during the nights of the full moon and the dark moon.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Brahmā made Rāhu's head, which had become immortal by the nectar, into a planet. With animosity, he still pursues the moon and sun. The head became free of death by drinking the nectar. The effect of the nectar is shown: Brahmā made the head into a planet like the sun and moon.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Rāhu's immortal head became a planet, eternally hunting the sun and moon at eclipses. Some adversaries become permanent fixtures of our cosmos — appearing periodically. Eclipses remind us that hostility, once given immortality, has its rhythms.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'Rāhu' in my life returns periodically to test me — and have I learned to expect it?
  • How do I stay steady through predictable spiritual eclipses without panicking each time?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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