Listen now to the sacred account of the waxing and waning of the Moon, and the celestial order that governs the heavens. For fifteen days, as the Moon wanes, the Sun, with a single ray, gradually diminishes its radiance. Yet, when the Moon is nourished by the ray called Suṣumnā, its luminous digits begin to increase once more. Thus, by the Sun’s power, the Moon is alternately diminished and nourished, and Soma, the Moon, waxes day by day through the bright fortnight. The very essence of the waters, which forms the substance of the Moon, is nothing but pure sap—nectar itself. Within half a month, this nectar is gathered together by the radiance of the Sun. On the full-moon night, all the gods, together with the ancestors and the sages, partake of this divine essence. As the gods and ancestors gradually consume the Soma, its portions are steadily diminished. Indeed, three and three thousand gods drink this sacred Soma, and so, as they partake, the Moon’s bright phase wanes, while the dark phase is replenished. After half a month of drinking, at the time of the new moon, the foremost among the gods depart. On the fifteenth day, when only a small portion remains, those who are left continue to drink for two more nights the remnants of the nectar. Having thus partaken of the Svadhā for the satisfaction of the month, they go on to the celestial nectar. In the dark fortnight, in the same way, the gods drink the nectarous essence. All the ancestors known as Kavyas, too, receive their share. The gentle seasons are to be known, and the months are remembered as the Barhishads. On the fifteenth day, the ancestors drink their portion, and at the new moon, that portion is replenished again. Thus, because of the Sun, the Moon continually wanes and waxes. Now, behold the chariots of the celestial beings. The chariot of the son of Soma is radiant, made of pure light and shining white. The splendid chariot of Bhārgava glows with brilliance like the Sun itself. Drawn by ten noble, strong, and swift horses—white, tawny, spotted, dark blue, yellow, and bright red—they are unattached, red, all-pervading, and born of fire. The wise Brhaspati, the divine teacher of the Angiras lineage, rides with eight celestial, swift horses born from water. Shani, too, is drawn by powerful horses born of the sky. Svarbhanu’s eight horses are black and swift as thought itself. Rahu, emerging from the Adityas, approaches the Moon at the junctions, and Ketu’s chariot is drawn by eight swift horses. Thus, the vehicles of the planets and their chariots have been described. All blaze as they revolve, moving according to their appointed order. The Moon, Sun, and planets revolve in the sky, bound to their celestial path. Just as a boat moves through water unhindered, so too do these hosts of gods move unseen through the sky, like serpents gliding. All are bound to the Pole Star, and as they revolve, they cause others to revolve as well. Thus, all the luminaries are set in motion, held by the power of the wind. Because the wind carries the luminaries, it is known by that very name. This entire arrangement is to be understood as the constellation-form—the Shishumara, with the fixed Pole Star at its heart, shining eternally in the heavens.