1
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 1:
Sri Paraasharah -
Tri asheeti mandala shatam kaashthayoh antaram dvayoh |
Aarohana avarohaabhyaam bhaanoh abdena yaa gatih || Sri Paraasharar - Between the two ends - southern and northern, there are 183 mandalaas. He goes up and down. In one year, every day, he moves one mandala at a time; up 183 and down 183. ***
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Atha bhaanu rathasya dina bhramana vrutta samkhyaam aaha tri asheeti iti |
Kaashthayoh antaram udak dakshina seemayoh madhyastha viyat pradeshah tri
asheeti shatadhaa bhinnah, aarohana avarohanaabhyaam bhaanoh abdena yaa
gatih syaat | Gamyata iti gatih | Mahaa akshe hi tat tat vrutta rekhaantaraalam
udak ayane anudinam meru abhimukho ratho yaavat kaashthaantam aarohati,
yaamyaayane tu taani eva mandala antaraalaani prati aham maanasottara
abhimukho avarohita yaavat kaashtham | Evam cha bhaanoh ekaabda saadhyaa
dvaadasha raashi bhogaatmikaa shat shashti uttara tri shata vaara bhramena
gatih syaat | Sarvottara meru patita gangaa pravaahanaam tat tat
dakshinaabdhi pravesha uktyaa meroh unnati nishchayaaat mahaa akshasya cha
bhoomeh upari lakshocchritatvaat rathasya udak aaroho dakshina avarohah cha
yuktah | Tathaa yat indra praak udak tiryak gatih aahaaraat udaktaat iti cha
yaamya dishoh adhara uttaratvam shrooyate |* The chariot of the Sun, how many days he moves, is told here. The north and south borders, the space in between the two ends, is divided into 183 equal parts, going up and down; the Sun’s chariot moves like this covering one mandala every day, 183 in Uttaraayana and 183 in Dakshinaayana. The great axle, the space between the circular track, 183 during Uttaraayana and 183 during Dakshinaayana; during Uttaraayana, it goes up facing the Meru parvata; and during the Dakshinaayana, it traces the same track, it comes down towards the Maanasottara parvata, till the border. The Sun, everyday, covers 12 raashis; in one year, it covers 366 days. The Sun covers one track in one day; covers 366 tracks in one year. Meru which is north to everything, on that Meru, the Gangaa waters are falling; all those waters enter into the oceans in the south; Meru is on the higher side, above the earth, one lakh yojanaas is the height of this; this is how it is told that it [[170]]
goes up during Uttaraayana and comes down during Dakshinaayana.
Next is told who are the adhishthaana devataas in this ratha. Seven classes are there. ***
2
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 2:
Sa ratho adhishtito devaih aadityaih rishibhih tathaa |
Gandharvaih apsarobhih cha graamanee sarpa raakshasaih ||*** On that chariot are located *devaas, aadityaas, rishis, gandharvaas, apsaraas, *yakshaas, sarpaas and raakshasaas. They are doing various activities there.
During each month, the maasaadhishthaana devataas are there. ***
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Sa ratha ityaadi | Graamanyo yakshaah |***
3
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 3:
Dhaataa ratusthalaa cha eva pulastyo vaasukih tathaa |
Rathabhrut graamaneeh hetih tumburuh cha eva saptamah ||
4
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 4:
Ete vasanti vai chaitre madhumaase sadaiva hi |
Maitreya syandane bhaanoh sapta maasa adhikaarinah || **This starts with Chaitra maasa, also called Madhu maasa. In this month, Dhaataa is Aadityaa, Ratusthalaa is the Apsaraa, Pulastya is the Rishi, Vaasuki is the Sarpa, Rathabhrut is the Yaksha, Heti is the Raakshasa gana, and Tumburu is the Gandharva. ***
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Dhaataa iti | Rathabhrut graamaneeh rathabhrut naama yakshah | Hetih
raakshasah | Rathakrut iti cha paathah |
5
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 5:
Aryamaa pulahah cha eva rathoujaah punjikasthalaa |
Prahetih kacchaveerah cha naaradah cha rathe raveh || ***In the second maasa, Maadhava maasa, which is also called *Vaishaakha maasa, *Rathouja is the Yaksha, Praheti is the Raakshasa, Kacchaveera is the *Sarpa, *Naarada is the Gandharva. Aryamaa is the Aaditya, Pulaha is the *Rishi. *Punjikasthalaa is the Apsaras. ***
6
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 6:
Maadhave nivasanti ete shuchi sanjnye nibodha me ||*** They all live in the Maadhava maasa.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Aryamaa iti | Rathoujaah yakshah, prahetih raakshasah, kacchaveerah sarpah,
naarado gandharvah | Kacchaneerah cha iti paathah | [[171]]
7
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 7:
Mitro atrih takshako rakshah pourusheyo atha menakaa |
Haahaa rathasvanashchaiva maitreya ete vasanti vai || In Shuchi, which is Jyeshtha maasa, Mitra is the Aaditya, Atri is the Rishi, Takshaka is the Sarpa, Menaka is the Apsaras, Pourusheya is the Raakshasa gana, Haahaa is the Gandharva, Rathasvana is the Yaksha. ***
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Mitra iti | Rathasvano yakshah |
8
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 8:
Varuno vasishtho naagah cha sahajanyaa huhoo (ratha) thah |
Rathachitrah tathaa shukre vasanti aashaadha sanjnyake || ***In the next month, Shukra, which is Aashaadha, Varuna is the Aaditya, Vasishta is the Rishi, Huhoo is the Gandharva, Sahajanyaa is the Apsaras, Rathachitra is the Yaksha, Naaga is the Sarpa, Ratha is the raakshasa gana.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Varuna iti | Varuno vasishto naagah cha iti paathah, * Greeshmarthou takshako
naama eva cha iti lainga ukteh | Ratho raakshasah, rathachitro yakshah |
9
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 9:
Indro vishvaavasuh srotaa elaaputrah tathaa aangiraah |
Pramlochaa cha nabhasyete saptih cha arke vasanti vai || ***In the Nabhasya, Shraavana maasa, Indra is the Aaditya, Angiraa is the *Rishi, *Vishvaavasu is the Gandharva, Pramlochaa is the Apsaras, Srotaa is the *Yaksha, *Elaaputra is the Sarpa, Sapti/Sarpaa is the Raakshasa.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Indra iti | Srotaah yakshah | Sarpaah - sakaaraanto ayam shabdah raakshasa
naama | Vishvaavasuh srotah sarpaah cha arka iti cha paathah | ***
10
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 10:
Vivasvaan ugrasenah cha bhruguh aapooranah tathaa |
Anumlochaa shankhapaalo vyaaghro bhaadrapade tathaa || ***In the Bhaadrapada maasa, Nabhasti maasa, Vivasvaan is the Aaditya, Bhrugu is the Rishi, Ugrasena is the Gandharva, Aapoorana is the Yaksha, Anumlochaa is the Apsaraa, Shankhapaala is the Sarpa, Vyaaghra is the Raakshasa.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Vivasvaan iti | Ugraseno gandharvah, aapoorano yakshah, vyaaghro raakshasah
| ***
11
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 11:
Pooshaa cha suruchih vaato goutamo atha dhananjayah | [[172]]
***Susheno anyo ghrutaachee cha vasanti aashvayuje ravou || ***In the Aashvayuja maasa, Ishaa maasa, Pooshaa is the Aaditya, Gautama is the *Rishi, *Vasuruchi is the Gandharva, Ghrutaachee is the Apsaras, Sushena is the Y *aksha, *Dhananjaya is the Sarpa, Vaata is the Raakshasa.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Pooshaa iti | Vasuruchih gandharvah, vaato raakshasah, dhananjayah sarpah,
susheno yakshah | ***
12
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 12:
Vishvaavasuh bharadvaajah parjanyairaavatou tathaa |
Vishvaachee senajit chaapah kaartike cha vasanti vai || ***In the Kaartika maasa, Oorja maasa, Parjanya is the Aaditya, Bharadvaaja is the Rishi, Vishvaavasu is the Gandharva, Airaavata is the Sarpa, Vishvaachee is the Apsaras, Senajit is the Yaksha, Aapa is the Raakshasa.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Vishvaavasuh iti | Vishvaavasuh gandharvah, airaavatah sarpah, senajit
yakshah, aapah raakshasah |
13
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 13:
Amsha kaashyapa taarkshyaah tu mahaapadmah tathaa oorvashee |
Chitrasenah tathaa vidyut maargasheershe adhikaarinah || ***The maasaadhikaaris in the Maargashira maasa, Saha maasa, Amsha is the *Aaditya, Kaashyapa is the Rishi, Chitrasena is the Gandharva, Oorvashi is the Apsaras, Taarkshya is the Yaksha, Mahaapadma is the Sarpa, and Vidyut is the Raakshasa. ***
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Amsha iti | Taarkshyo yakshah, mahaapadmah sarpah, vidyut raakshasah |
14
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 14:
Kratuh bhago tathaa oornaayuh sphoorjah kaarkotakah tathaa |
Arishtanemih cha eva anyaa poorvachittih varaa apsaraah ||
15
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 15:
Poushamaase vasanti ete sapta bhaaskara mandale |
Loka prakaashanaarthaaya vipra varya adhikaarinah || ***O Maitreya, Shreshta Braahmana, these are all the adhikaaris, for the *Pousha Maasa, *Pushya Maasa, Sahasya, in the orb of the Sun, these are the seven hosts of people who are there; they all help in movement of the Sun, and in giving light to the world. Kratu is the Rishi, Bhaga is the Aaditya, Oornaayu is the *Gandharva, *Arishtanemi is the Yaksha, Poorvachitti is the Apsaras, Karkotaka is the *Sarpa, *Sphoorja is the Raakshasa gana.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Kratuh iti | Oornaayuh gandharvah | Sooryah kaarkotah iti paathah | Sooryo [[173]]
***raakshasah, arishtanemih yakshah | ***There is another paatha, where Soorya is told for Sphoorja. ***
16
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 16:
Tvashtaa atha jamadagnih cha kambalo atha tilottamaa |
Brahmopetaa atha rutajit dhrutaraashtrah cha saptamah ||
17
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 17:
Maaghamaase vasanti ete sapta maitreya bhaaskare |
Shrooyataam cha apare soorye phaalgune nivasanti ye ||*** In Maagha Maasa, Tapo Maasa, the seven adhikaaris who stay in the Sun’s orb are: Tvashtaa is the Aaditya, Jamadagni is the Rishi, Dhrutaraashtra is the Gandharva, Tilottamaa is the Apsaras, Rutajit is the Yaksha, Kambala is the Sarpa, Brahmopetaa is the Raakshasa. In the *Phaalguna Maasa, Tapasyaa Maasa, **… *
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Tvashtaa iti | Kambalah sarpah, brahmopetaa raakshasah | Brahmaapetaa iti
cha paathah | Rutajit yakshah, dhrutaraashtro gandharvah | ***
18
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 18:
Vishnuh ashvataro rambhaa sooryavarchaah cha satyajit |
Vishvaamitrah tathaa raksho yajnyopeto mahaamune || ***The Aaditya is called Vishnu, Vishvaamitra is the Rishi, Sooryavarcha is the Gandharva, Satyajit is the Yaksha, Yajnyopeta is the Raakshasa, Ashvatara is the Sarpa, Rambhaa is the Apsaras.
In the Dvaadasha Aadityaas, Vishnu is the twelfth Aaditya.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Vishnuh iti | Ashvatarah sarpah, sooryavarchaah gandharvah, satyajit yakshah,
shraavana kaartikeyoh dvou vishvaavasu gandharvou | ***
19
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 19:
Maaseshu eteshu maitreya vasanti ete tu saptakaah |
Savituh mandale brahman vishnu shakti upabrumhitaah || ***In each month, these are the seven adhikaaris who live in the Sun’s orb, on the chariot of the Sun. How do they get their strength? Their strength is increased because of the powers given by Vishnu, Vishnu shakti.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Maaseshu iti | Ete cha sapta ganaah kourme vibhajya uktaah * Dhaataa aryamaa
cha mitrah cha varunah cha indra eva cha || Vivasvaan atha pooshaa cha
parjanyah cha amshuh eva cha || Bhagah tvashtaa cha vishnuh cha aadityaa
dvaadasha smrutaah | Pulastyah pulahah cha atrih vasishtho atha angiraah
bhruguh || Goutamah cha bharadvaajah kaashyapah kratuh eva cha | [[174]]
***Jamadagnih koushikah cha munayo brahmavaadinah || Rathakut cha rathoujaah
cha graamanee cha rathasvanah | Chitrasrotaa pooranah cha sushenah senajit
tathaa | Taarkshyascha arishtanemih cha rutajit satyajit tathaa || Ete
yakshaah | * Atha hetih prahetih cha pourusheyo vadhah tathaa | Sarpo
vyaaghrah tathaa aapah cha vaato vidyut divaakarah || Brahmopetah cha
viprendraa yajnyopetah ha raakshasaah || Vaasukih kacchaveerah cha
takshakah sarpapungavah | Elaaputrah shankhapaalah tathaa airaavata
sanjnitah || Dhananjayo mahaapadmah tathaa kaarkotako dvijaah | Kambalo
ashvatarah cha eva vahanti enam yathaa kramam | Tumburuh naarado haahaa
hoohoo vishvaavasuh tathaa || Ugraseno vasurichih vishvaavasuh athaaparah |
Chitrasenah tathaa oornaayuh dhrutaraashtro dvijottamaah || Sooryavarchaa
dvaadasha ete gandharvaa gaayataam varaah | Krutasthalaa apsarovaryaa
tathaa anyaa punjikasthalaa || Menakaa sahajanyaa cha pramlochaa cha
dvijottamaah | Anumlochaa ghrutaachee cha vishvaachee cha oorvashee tathaa
|| Anyaa cha poorvachittih syaat anyaa cha eva tilottamaa | Rambhaa cha iti | ***In the Koorma Puraana also, the seven categories of beings who are there on the Sun’s orb, are told, in a different way. All the Aadityaas are told together. *Dhaataa, **Aryamaa, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvaan, Pooshaa, Parjanya, Amshu, Bhaga, **Tvashtaa, Vishnu *- are the twelve Aadityaas, in the months of *Chaitra, Vaishaakha, **Jyeshtha, Aashaadha, Shraavana, Bhaadrapada, Aashvina, Kaartika, Maargashira, *Pushya, Maagha, Phalguna. The Rishis are *Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Vasistha, Angira, *Bhrugu, Goutama, Bharadvaaja, Kaashyapa, Kratu, Jamadagni, Vishvaamitra. The order is clearly told here. The Yakshaas are *Rathakut, Rathouja, Rathasvana, Chitra, *Srotaa, Poorana, Sushena, Senajit, Taarkshya, Arishtanemi, Rutajit, Satyajit. The Raakshasa Gana are *Heti, Praheti, Pourusheya, Vadha *(told as Ratha), *Sarpa *(or Sapti), *Vyaaghra, Aapa, Vata, Vidyut, **Divaakara *(or Sphoorja), Brahmopeta, Yajnyopeta. The Sarpaas are *Vaasuki, **Kacchaneera, Takshaka, Sarpapungava *(or Naaga), *Elaaputra, Shankhapaala, *Airaavata, Dhananjaya, Mahaapadma, Kaarkotaka, Kambala, Ashvatara. The twelve Gandharvaas who are singing in praise of the Sun are *Tumburu, Naarada, **Haahaa, Hoohoo, Vishvaavasu, Ugrasena, Vasuruchi, Vishvaavasu, Chitrasena, *Oornaayu, Dhrutaraashtra, Soorya. The Apsarases are *Kratusthalaa, Punjikasthalaa, **Menakaa, Sahajanyaa, Pramlochaa, Anumlochaa, Ghrutaachee, Vishvaachee, *Oorvashi, Poorvachitti, Tilottamaa, Rambhaa. These are summarized in the table below:
मास मास आदित्य: ऋषि: गन्धर्व: अप्सरा यक्ष: सर्व: राक्षसगण मधु चैत्र धाता र्ुलस्तत्य तुम्बुरु क्रतुस्तथला रथभृत् र्ासुदि हेषत माधर् र्ैशाख अयवमा र्ुलह नारि र्ुषििस्तथला रथौजा िच्छर्ीर प्रहेषत शुक्र ज्येष्ठ षमत्र अषत्र हाहा मेनिा रथस्तर्न तक्षि र्ौरुिेय शुषच आिाढ र्रुण र्षसष्ठ हूहू सहजन्या रथषचत्र नाग रथ नभ श्रार्ण इन्र अषगगरा षर्श्वार्सु प्रम्लोचा स्रोता: एलार्ुत्र सर्र्व, सर्ाव: [[175]]
नभस्तय भारर्ि षर्र्स्तर्ान् भृगु उग्रसेन अनुम्लोचा आर्ूरण शंखर्ाल व्याघ्र इि आषश्वन र्ूिा गौतम र्सुरुषच घृताची सुिेण धनिय र्ात ऊजव िार्तवि र्जवन्य भरद्वाज षर्श्वार्सु षर्श्वाची सेनषजत् ऐरार्त आर्: सह मागवषशर अंश िाश्यर् षचत्रसेन ऊर्वषश तार्क्षयव महार्द्म षर्द्युत् सहस्तय र्ुष्य भग क्रतु ऊणावयु र्ूर्वषचषि अररष्टनेषम ििोटि स्तफूजव तर्ो माघ त्र्ष्टा जमिषि धृतराष्ट्र षतलोिमा ऋतषजत् िम्बल ब्रह्मोर्ेतो तर्स्तय फाल्गुण षर्ष्णु षर्श्वाषमत्र सूयवर्चाव रम्भा सत्यषजत् अश्वतर यज्ञोर्ेत
20
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 20:
Stuvanti munayah sooryam gandharvaih geeyate purah |
Nrutyanti apsaraso yaanti sooryasya anu nishaacharaah || Rishis who are there in the twelve months - Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Vasishha, Angira, etc., they do stotra to the Sun. All the Gandharvaas sing. Apsarases all dance. Raakshasa gana follow the Sun, go behind the Sun.
21
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 21:
Vahanti pannagaah yakshaih kriyate abheeshu sangrahah || ***Sarpaas carry the chariot. Yakshaas control the bridle, the headgear of the horse.
22
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 22:
Vaalakhilyaah tatha eva enam parivaarya samaasate || ***Vaalakhilya Rishis are surrounding, and go along with him.
23
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 10, Shloka 23:
So ayam saptaganah soorya mandale munisattama |
Hima ushna vaari vrushteenaam hetuh sva samayam gatah || ***O Maitreyar, all these categories in the orb of the Sun, they are the cause of the snow, warmth during summer, rains, at the right time.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
So ayam iti | Hima ushna vaari shabdaih vrushti shabdah pratyekam
sambadhyate | Esha gano hemanta aadi sva kaale himaadeh sva bhaktaanaam
paapa kshayaadeh cha hetuh bhavati “Ete tapanti varshanti bhaanti paanti
sravanti cha | Bhootaanaam ashubham kinchit vyapohanti iha keeritaah” iti
lainga vaayu ukteh | ****Hima vrushti, ushna vrushti, vaari vrushti *- like this, the vrushti word has to be taken for all. Rains help in people getting rid of their sins, those who are really devoted to them. All these categories - there are devotees who are worshipping them. To those devotees, these rains cause them to get rid of their sins. When these seven groups are worshipped, they cause them to get rid of all their sins, as it is told in the Lainga and Vaayu Puraana.
This completes Chapter 10. Next, Maitreyar asks further questions to Paraasharar, [[176]]
about more details.
***|| Iti Sri Vishnu Puraane Dviteeye Amshe Dashamo Adhyaayah ||
|| Iti Sri Vishnu Puraana Vyaakhyaane Vishnu Chitteeye Dviteeye Amshe
Dashamo Adhyaayah || ***
We just concluded Amsha 2, Chapter 10, where Paraasharar told details about the seven groups of *aadityaas, rishis, apsaras, gandharvaas, yakshaas, sarpaas, *raakshsaas. For each month, there are different beings there, located on the Sun’s chariot.
*** [[177]]
|| Atha Ekaadasho Adhyaayah ||
Vishnu Shakti in the Sun***
Now, Chapter 11. Here, the various acts of the Sun are going to be told here by Sri Paraasharar.* ***