Driven by the mighty wheel of wind, the heavenly bodies move through the firmament like the rim of a firebrand spun in the darkness. Among them, Pravaha is so named, for he carries the lights across the sky. The lunar mansions, the radiant sun, and the host of planets and stars all turn their faces toward and away, forming a great wheel established in the heavens. At the heart of their movement stands the steadfast Pole Star, Dhruva, around which all these luminous bodies revolve in a clockwise dance, ever eager to behold their lord, the fixed and shining Dhruva. The sun itself, resplendent in the sky, is said to have a diameter of nine thousand yojanas, and its circumference is three times that measure. The moon, in its gentle glow, is twice as large as the sun, and Svarbhanu, who moves below them, is equal to both in size. Svarbhanu holds a special place, for he takes up the earth’s shadow, which is circular in shape, and this third great region, made of darkness, is his domain. Of the moon’s orb, a sixteenth part is assigned to Venus, measured by their respective diameters, circles, and distances. Jupiter is less by a quarter than Venus, and likewise, Mars and Saturn are each less by a quarter, their measures not equal. Mercury, too, is lesser by a quarter in both diameter and circle compared to Mars and Saturn. All the shining forms in the heavens—the stars and constellations—are equal to Mercury in size and circle. The wise know that the stars associated with the moon are generally of this kind. Yet among the stars and constellations, their forms decrease in size by increments of five hundred, four hundred, three hundred, and two hundred yojanas. Above them, the lesser circles of stars measure two yojanas each, and nothing smaller is found in all the heavens. Above these lesser stars move three distant planets—Saturn, Mars, and the retrograde planet—known for their slow journeys. Below them, four great planets move with swift grace: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Venus. The number of stars is as countless as the crores of constellations, their positions fixed upon the path of the constellations, all according to the rule set from the Pole Star. The Sun, drawn by seven celestial horses, rises and sets in due order. When the Moon travels the northern path at its junctions, it appears swiftly, though its rays are not distinct; when it follows the southern path, it moves lower in the sky. The Sun, encircled by the earth, is seen during the full and new moons, and at the proper time, it quickly sets as well. Thus, when the Moon is on the northern path at new moon, it is visible; on the southern path, by rule, it is not seen. At the conjunction of the movements of the luminaries, darkness covers the Sun, and at the equinoxes, sunrise and sunset occur at the same time. During the Sun’s northern courses, sunrise and sunset are intermediate, and at full and new moons, their rising and setting follow the wheel of light. When the radiant Sun moves along the southern path, it passes beneath all the planets. The Moon, having made a wide circle, moves above the Sun; above the Moon is the entire circle of constellations. Above the constellations is Mercury; above Mercury is Venus; above Venus is Mars; and above Mars is Jupiter. Beyond these slow-moving planets lies the region of the Seven Sages, and above them, the fixed and glorious position of Dhruva, the Pole Star. Above all these, at a distance of two thousand and one hundred yojanas, is the supreme realm of Vishnu. Knowing this highest abode frees one from all sin. Above the planets, stars, and constellations, in their proper order, are the planets, and the Moon and Sun, both radiant with divine brilliance. They always move with the constellations, day and night, in an unending sequence, occupying low, high, and straight positions in the heavens. When these celestial bodies come together or move apart, people witness their conjunctions and separations; and all six seasons are said to come together in fivefold ways. These heavenly bodies are mutually established and unite with one another; the wise understand their conjunctions as occurring without confusion or disorder. Thus, O twice-born, the movement of the planets, led by the Sun, has been briefly described as it is seen and as it is known. In the lordship over the planets, the Blessed One was anointed by Brahma, the lotus-born, and the thousand-rayed Sun by Rudra, just as Guha was anointed. Therefore, the virtuous should worship the planets and make offerings into the sacred fire as prescribed, seeking fulfillment of their desires, especially during affliction by the Sun or planets. Then, the question arose: How did Brahma, the lord of creatures, anoint all beings, including gods and demons? O all-pervading one, tell us this now. In the lordship over the planets, the Blessed One anointed the Sun. Brahma, the lord of creatures, anointed Soma, the Moon, as lord over the stars and plants. Varuna was made lord of the waters, Kubera chief of the Yakshas, Vishnu among the Adityas, and Pavaka among the Vasus. Daksha was made lord of the progenitors, Shakra of the Maruts, and Prahlada, foremost of the Daityas, was made lord of the Daityas and Danavas. Dharma was made lord of the ancestors, Nirriti of the flesh-eaters, Rudra of the animals, and Nandi, the leader of the hosts, of the spirits. Virabhadra was made lord of the heroes, the terrifying one of the Piśācas, and Chamunda, honored by all the gods, of the Mothers. The blue-red Ishvara was made lord of the Rudras and gods, and Vinayaka, the elephant-faced god born of the sky, was made lord of obstacles. Thus, by Brahma’s anointing, the great lords of the cosmos were established, each presiding over their respective domains, upholding the order and harmony of the universe.