कुलालचक्रमध्ये तु यथा मन्दं प्रसर्पति
Just as, in the center of the potter’s wheel, movement occurs slowly.
तस्मा द्दीर्घेन कालेन भूमिं स्वल्पानि गच्छति
Therefore, over a long period, it traverses only a small distance on the ground.
अहो भवति तच्चापि चरते मन्दविक्रमः
Indeed, even so, it moves with sluggish progress.
मुहूर्तैस्तावदृक्षाणि नक्तं द्वादशभिश्चरन्
During the night, it passes through the stars in twelve moments.
मृत्पिण्ड इव मध्यस्थो ध्रुवो भ्रमति वै तथा
Just as a lump of clay at the center revolves, so does Dhruva.
उभयोः काष्ठयोर्मध्ये भ्रमते मण्डलानि तु
Between the two wooden posts, the circles revolve.
ध्रुवस्तथा हि विज्ञेयस्तत्रैव परीवर्त्तते
Dhruva should be understood likewise; he rotates right there.
दिवानक्तं च सूर्यस्य मन्दा शीघ्रा च वै गातिः
By day and night, the Sun’s motion is sometimes slow, sometimes swift.
तथैव च पुनर्नक्तं शीघ्रा सूर्यस्य वै गातिः
Likewise, again at night, the Sun’s movement is swift.
गतिः सूर्यस्य नक्तं च मन्दा चैव गतिस्तथा
The Sun’s movement at night is slow, and so is its motion.
तजापि संचरन्मार्गं समेन विषमेण च
Even so, traversing its path, it moves evenly and unevenly.
अगस्त्यश्चरते तेषामुपरिष्टाज्जवेन तु
Agastya moves above them with speed.
दक्षिणे नागवीथ्यास्तु लोकालोकस्य चोत्तरे
On the southern path of the serpent and on the northern side of Lokāloka.
पृष्टे यावत्प्रभा सौरी पुरस्तात्संप्रकाशते
As long as the solar radiance shines behind, it illuminates in front.
योजनानां सहस्राणि दशकं तुच्छ्रितो गिरिः
The mountain rises to ten thousand yojanas in height.
नक्षत्रचन्द्रसूर्यश्च ग्रहैस्तारागणैः सह
The stars, moon, and sun, along with the planets and constellations.
एतावानेव लोकस्तु निरालोकस्ततः परम्
This is the extent of the world; beyond that, there is no light.
लोकालोकं तु संधत्ते यस्मात्सुर्यपरिग्रहम्
Lokāloka is established because it encircles the Sun.
उषा रात्रिः स्मृता विप्रैर्व्युष्टिश्चापि त्वहः स्मृतम्
Dawn and night are known by the sages, and the period after dawn is called day.
प्रजापतिनियोगेन शापस्त्वेषां दुरात्मनाम्
By the command of Prajapati, these wicked beings are under a curse.
तिस्रः कोट्यस्तु विख्याता मन्देहा नाम राक्षसाः
There are said to be thirty million demons known as Mandehas.
तापयन्तं दुरात्मानः सूर्यमिच्छन्ति खादितुम्
These evil ones wish to devour the Sun as he burns fiercely.
ततो ब्रह्मा च देवाश्च ब्राह्ममाश्चैव सत्तमाः
Then Brahma, the gods, and the foremost Brahmanas,
ओङ्कारब्रह्मसंयुक्तं गायत्र्या चाभिमन्त्रितम्
Empowered the Gayatri with the Omkara and the essence of Brahman.
ततः पुनर्महातेजा महाबलपराक्रमः
Then again, the one of great brilliance and immense strength,
वालखिल्यैश्च मुनिभिर्धृतार्चिः समरीचिभिः
Along with the Valakhilya sages, radiant with their rays,
त्रिंशत्कलाश्चापि भवेन्मुहूर्त्तस्तैस्त्रिंशता रात्र्यहनी समेते
A muhūrta consists of thirty kalās, and with thirty such, day and night are completed.
ह्रासवृद्धी त्वहर्भागैर्दिवसानां यथाक्रमात्
The increase and decrease of days occur in due order by the portions of the day.
लेखाप्रभृत्यथादित्ये त्रिमुहूर्त्तगते तु वै
When the Sun has passed three muhūrtas from the first crescent,
तस्मात्प्रातस्तनात्कालात्र्रिमुहूर्त्तस्तु संगवः
From that morning time, the period of three muhūrtas is called saṃgava.