41 - The Seven Worlds: The Planetary System: The Solar Chariot

The chapter deals with ancient Indian astronomy which according to modern advances in that science is outdated-especially the distances and positions and dimensions of planets mentioned appear to be rather imaginary. The credit of creating the world is given to the Sun and god Mahadeva is identified with him (v. 27). 

Suta said: 

1. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, henceforth, I shall briefly relate the magnitude of this set of three worlds. It is impossible to describe it in detail. 

2. The following are the worlds originating from the Cosmic Egg viz. Bhūrloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka. 

3. O leading Brāhmaṇas, the extent of space illuminated by the rays of the Sun and the moon is called Bhürloka in the Purāņas. 

4. Bhuvarloka is of the same extent in area and circumference as the Bhūrloka and is above it upto the sphere of the Sun. 

5-7. The spherical space extending up from the Sun's orb upto Dhruva (the Polar star) in the firmament is called Svargaloka (heaven) where are the circumferential fellies of Vāyu. The fellies of Väyu are seven viz. Avaha, Pravaha, Anuvaha, Samvaha, Vivaha, Parāvaha and Parivaha. The sphere of the Sun is stationed at a distance of a hundred thousand Yojanas (one Yojana = 12 km) from the Earth. 

8. The sphere of the moon is stationed at a distance of a hundred thousand Yojanas from the sphere of the Sun. The entire stellar sphere shines at a distance of a hundred thousand Yojanas above the moon. 

9. O Brāhmaṇas, Budha (the Mercury) is at a distance of two hundred thousand Yojanas from the stellar sphere. Ušhanas (the Venus) is stationed at the same distance from the Mercury. 

10. Angāraka (the Mars) is stationed at the same distance from Shukra (the Venus). The preceptor of Devas, Bruhaspati (i.e, the Jupiter) is stationed at a distance of two hundred thousand Yojanas from Bhauma (i.e. the Mars). 

11. Sauri (i.e. the Saturn) is stationed at a distance of two hundred thousand Yojanas from the Jupiter. The sphere of the seven sages (i.e. the Great Bear) shines at a distance of a hundred thousand Yojanas from the sphere of the planets. 

12. Above the sphere of the seven sages, at a distance of a hundred Yojanas is stationed Dhruva (the Pole star) * Dhruva is verily the pivot or the axis of the stellar system, Lord Vişhnu, Nārāyana, Dharma himself is abiding there. 

*v.l. accepted here: medhibhūtah samastasya, jyotishchakrasya vai Dhruvah. 

13. The diameter of the Sun's sphere is known as nine thousand Yojanas. The circumference is three times that. 

14. The extent of the moon is known as twice the extent of the Sun. Svarbhānu (i.e. the evil planet Rähu) assumes a size equal to them and approaches them. 

15. He is created with a spherical shape after extracting the shadow of the earth. The extensive third abode of Råhu is full of darkness. 

16. Shukra (the Venus) is one-sixteenth of the dimension of the moon in extent. Bruhaspati (the Jupiter) should be known as one-fourth less than the dimension of the Venus. 

17. Both Bhauma (the Mars) and Saura (the Saturn) are known as being a one-fourth less than Bruhaspati (the Jupiter). In extent and circumference, Budha (the Mercury) is: one-fourth less than the above two. 

18. The forms of the stars and the constellations taken together in a body are equal to Budha in extent as well as in circumference. 

19. The stars and constellations are smaller or larger in mutual comparison by five hundred, four hundred, three hundred or two hundred Yojanas (in extent). 

20. The stellar spheres are lesser in extent (nikrushtåni). * Their dimensions are only half a Yojana (Yojanänyardha-matrāni*). None (no heavenly body) is smaller than they. 

* These words are emended according to the Sanskrit. Text of the critical edition as this verse in Venk. edt. is not clear (and coherent) in meaning. 

21. The three planets stationed above traverse the greatest distance. The planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars should be known as moving slowly. 

22. Four great planets are beneath them: The Sun, the moon, the Mercury and the Venus have fast movements. 

23. When the Sun moves in Dakşhiņāyana (southern transit) it traverses far below the previous planets. 

24. Enlarging its sphere the moon traverses above it. The entire stellar sphere moves above the moon. 

25. Budha (the Mercury) is above the star, the Venus is above the Mercury, Vakra (the Mars) is above the Venus and the Jupiter is above the Mars.

26. The Saturn is above that the Jupiter) and further above is the sphere of the seven Sages (Great Bear). Dhruva (Pole star) is stationed above the seven sages. 

27. O excellent Brahmaņas, the chariot of the Sun is nine thousand Yojanas long. The length of the shafts is twice that. 

28. Its axle is one crore and a half and seven million (niyuta) Yojanas and the wheel is fixed there. 

29. The entire Kālachakra (wheel of time) is fixed there in the form of the year having three times seven (v.l. three) Nābhis (i.e. naives), five spokes and six rims. 

30.** O excellent Brahmanas, the second axle of the chariot is fortyfive thousand and five hundred Yojanas in length.

**The verse is defective as the 2nd half of the Venk. edit. Panchashayani Sārdhani yojanäni dvijottamāh cannot be consistently construed with the first half. Hence the v.l. in the foot-note panchanyäni tu särdhāni syandanasya dvijottamāh. is accepted for translation. 

31. The length of both the axles is half that of both the yokes. The short axle with the short pole of the chariot has the Polar star as its support. 

32. The second axle to which the wheel of the chariot is fixed is on the Mānasa mountain. His seven horses are the seven metres. Understand their names. 

33. The horses of the Sun are the metres viz. Gayatri (It has 6 syllables in a quarter); Bruhati (9 syllables in a quarter or foot); Uşhnik (7 syllables in a foot): Jagati (12 syllables in a foot), Pankti (10 syllables in a foot); Anuşhtup (8 syllables in a foot) and Trişhtup (11 syllables in a foot). 

34-35. The great city of Mahendra is to the east and it is above Mānasa. Yama's city is to the south; that of Varuna is to the West; that of Soma is to the north (of mount Manasa). Understand their names: They are respectively Amarāvati, Samyamanī, Sukha and Vibhāvari. 

36. Taking with him the constellations of the Zodiac, Pitamaha (i.e. the Sun-god), the lord of gods, moves rapidly to the Southern direction like a discharged shaft. 

37. O leading Brāhmaṇas! In the seven continents, the Sun at mid-day and at middle of the night always stands face to face (i.e. faces opposite directions). 

38. The rising and the setting of the Sun are always opposed to each other comparatively) in different directions as well as in the intermediate quarters, O prominent Brāhmaṇas. 

39. While this Lord (the Sun-god) moves like the rotating wheel of a potter, he makes the night* as he leaves the earth, O Brāhmaṇas. 

*(v.l.) He makes day as well as night. 

40. The three worlds are illuminated by the rays of the Sun; that has been declared as Trailokya (a triple world) by good persons, to the people, O Brāhmaṇas. 

41. There is no doubt in this that the three worlds have their original source in the Aditya (the Sun god). The entire universe including Devas, Asuras and human beings originates from it. 

42. The lustrous Sun conquered the worlds of Rudra, Indra, Upendra (Vişhņu), Chandra (the moon), of the leading Bråhmaņas and the heaven dwellers. *He conquered the worlds. 

*v.l. dyutir dyutimalam krisnar yatteja ctc. the entire lustre or criergy of the luminaries is his (the Sun's). 

43. This Sun is the Ātman of all; is the lord of the worlds; he is the great Deva and Prajāpati; he is the root of this world; he is the greatest deity. 

44. There are other twelve Adityas (sons of Aditi); they are Devas who are authorised and who fulfil their duties. They are the parts of Vişhnu; they are the different forms of Vişhnu. 

45. All including Gandharvas, Yakşhas, serpents, Kinnaras and others make obeisance to the thousand armed deity; the leading sages worship the ancient deity the embodiment of the Chandas (vedic metre) and the eternal Brahman, by means of different Yajñas.