अथ केतुरथस्याश्वा अष्टौ वै वातरंहसः
Now, Ketu's chariot has eight swift horses.
एते वाहा ग्रहाणां च ह्युपाख्याता रथैः सह
Thus, the vehicles of the planets have been described along with their chariots.
तपन्ते ब्राम्यमाणास्तु यथायोगं भ्रमन्ति वै
They blaze as they revolve, moving according to their order.
परिभ्रमन्ति तद्ब्रद्धांश्चन्द्रसुर्यग्रहा दिवि
The Moon, Sun, and planets revolve in the sky, bound to that path.
यथा नह्युदके नौस्तु सलिलेन सहो ह्यते
Just as a boat in water is not hindered by the water,
सर्प्पमाणा न दृश्यन्ते व्योम्नि देवगणास्तु ते
So, moving like serpents, those hosts of gods are not seen in the sky.
सर्वा ध्रुवे निबद्धाश्च भ्रमन्त्यो भ्रामयन्ति ताः
All are bound to the Pole Star, and as they revolve, they cause others to revolve.
तथा भ्रमन्ति ज्योतींषि वातबद्धानि सर्वशः
Thus, all the luminaries revolve, bound by the wind.
यतो ज्योतींषि वहते प्रवहस्तेन स स्मृतः
Because the wind carries the luminaries, it is known by that name.
सैष तारामयो ज्ञेयः शिशुमारो ध्रुवो दिवि
This is to be understood as the constellation-form, the Shishumara, the fixed Pole Star in the sky.
यावत्यश्चैव तारास्ताः शिशुमाराश्रिता दिवि
All the stars that are situated in the sky upon the constellation of Śiśumāra,
साकारः शिशुमारश्च विज्ञेयः प्रविभागशः
Śiśumāra, with its form, should be understood in its various divisions.
यज्ञः परस्तु विज्ञेयो धर्मो मर्द्धानमाश्रितः
Yajña is to be known as the highest, and Dharma is established upon its head.
वरुणश्चार्यमा चैव पश्चिमे तस्य सक्थिनी
Varuṇa and Aryaman are located at its western thighs.
पुच्छे ऽग्निश्च महेन्द्रश्च मारीचः कश्यपो ध्रुवः
At the tail are Agni, Mahendra, Marīca, Kaśyapa, and Dhruva.
नक्षत्रचन्द्रमूर्याश्च ग्रहास्तारागणैः सह
The lunar mansions, the Moon, and the planets, together with the hosts of stars,
ध्रुवेणाधिष्ठिताश्चैव ध्रुवमेव प्रदक्षिणम्
Are established by Dhruva, and they all revolve around Dhruva.
अग्नीन्द्रकश्यपानां तु चरमो ऽसौ ध्रुवः स्मृतः
Among Agni, Indra, and Kaśyapa, Dhruva is regarded as the last.
मेरुमालोकयत्येष पर्यन्ते हि प्रदक्षिणम्
He observes Meru, always moving in a circle at its boundary.
पप्रच्छुरुत्तरं भूयस्तदा ते रोमहर्षणम्
Then they asked further questions of Romaharṣaṇa.
कथं देवगृहाणि स्युः कथं ज्योतींषिवर्णय
How do the abodes of the gods exist? How are the luminaries described?
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां तदा सूतः समाहितः
Having heard their words, the Sūta, attentive, replied.
अस्मिन्नर्थे माहाप्राज्ञैर्यदुक्तं ज्ञानबुद्धिभिः
Concerning this matter, what has been spoken by the great sages, endowed with knowledge and wisdom,
यथा देवगृहाणीह सूर्यचन्द्रग्रहाः स्मृताः
As the abodes of the gods here are remembered as the Sun, Moon, and planets,
दिव्यस्य भौतिकस्याग्नेरब्योनेः पार्थि वस्य तु
Of the divine, material, fire, atmospheric, and earthly,
अव्याकृतमिदं त्वासीन्नैशेन तमसावृतम्
This was unmanifest, covered by the darkness of night.
स्वयंभूर्भगवांस्तत्र लोकतन्त्रार्थसाधकः
There, the self-born Lord, accomplishing the purpose of the world order,
सो ऽग्निं दृष्ट्वाथ लोकादौ पृथिवीजलसंश्रितम्
He, seeing fire at the beginning of the world, situated in earth and water,
पवनो यस्तु लोके ऽस्मिन्पार्थिवः सो ऽग्निरुच्यते
The wind that exists in this world, O King, is said to be fire.
वैद्युतो ऽब्जस्तु विज्ञेयस्तेषां वक्ष्ये ऽथ लक्षमम्
The electric and aquatic (forms) should be understood; now I shall describe their characteristics.