In the beginning, the daughters of Dakṣa came to be known as the stars and constellations that adorn the night sky, each shining with their own gentle light. Among the celestial beings, there was also Svarbhānu, the son of Siṃhikā, an Asura whose presence brings distress and affliction to living beings. Within this vast expanse, the Moon, the stars, the planets, and the Sun each hold their own places, marked by self-regard and unique qualities. Their stations have been described as before, with the deities themselves residing in these celestial abodes. The Sun, known as Vivasvat and the thousand-rayed one, dwells in a fiery realm. In contrast, the abode of the Moon is watery and white, cool and serene. Budha, the radiant planet, resides in a realm that is watery, dark, and delightful, while Śukra’s abode is also watery and white, shining resplendently with sixteen rays. Bhauma, or Mars, claims a red abode, illuminated by nine rays. Bṛhaspati, the great teacher, inhabits a yellow realm, vast and blazing with sixteen flames. Śanaiścara, or Saturn, dwells in a black abode with eight rays, and Svarbhānu’s domain is one of darkness, the very dwelling of the afflicter of beings. All the stars are to be understood as Ṛṣis, each with a single ray. These stars are the abodes of those renowned for virtue, and they shine white, each according to its own nature. Created at the dawn of the kalpa, the stars are composed of condensed water. When united with the rays of the Sun, they become luminous, casting their gentle light across the heavens. The Sun, known as Savitṛ, is supported at a distance of nine thousand yojanas, and its circumference measures three times that, according to the span of its disc. The Moon’s extent is twice that of the Sun, while Svarbhānu is equal in size to both and moves below them. Svarbhānu, having lifted the shadow of the earth, created a circular form, establishing his great station as the third realm, composed entirely of darkness. Emerging from the Sun, Svarbhānu moves in equal measure during the phases of the Moon, journeying from the Moon to the Sun and, again, during the lunar phases, returning from the Sun to the Moon. Because Svarbhānu is pushed in this way, he is called by that very name. The sixteenth part of the Moon is assigned to Bhargava (Śukra). From these supports and circles, measured from the tip of a yojana, Bṛhaspati is known as lacking a quarter from Bhargava’s measure. Both Vakra (Mars) and Sauri (Saturn) are remembered as lacking a quarter from Bṛhaspati, and Budha is lacking a quarter from those two. The stars and constellations, radiant in form, are equal to Budha in extent and in their circles. One who understands the true nature of things should know that most stars are joined with the Moon, and the forms of stars and constellations are mutually deficient in size. Some circles of stars measure four hundred, three hundred, or two hundred yojanas—these are the smallest of all. Among them, there is no measure less than half a yojana. Above these stars, three planets move at a great distance: Sauri (Saturn), Angiras (Jupiter), and Vakra (Mars), all known for their slow movement, their motions already recounted in proper order. All these planets arise among the very same constellations. Among them, the Sun, O best of sages, is the son of Vivasvan and Aditi. Born in the constellation Viśākhā, the radiant Sun is the first among the planets, the illustrious son of Dharma. Soma, the Moon-god, is counted among the Vasus, and the cool-rayed maker of night was born in Kṛttikā. After the Sun comes Śukra, the sixteen-rayed son of Bhṛgu. The foremost of the star-planets appeared in the field of Tiṣya, where Bṛhaspati, the son of Angiras and possessor of twelve rays, was born. In the Purva Phalguni, the world’s teacher, the planet with nine rays and a red body, the son of Prajapati, arose. In Purvashadha, another planet was born, and in Revati, in the place of seven rays, Sauri (Śanaiścara, Saturn) was established. Saumya, known as Budha, was born in Dhanishtha, shining with five rays. The dark one, Shikhi, son of Death and destroyer of beings, was also born, as was the great all-consuming planet in Ashlesha. Likewise, the daughters of Daksha appeared in their own named stars. Rahu, composed of darkness itself, is by nature a black disc. He was born in Bharani and is the planet that afflicts both the Moon and the Sun. These stars and planets, beginning with Bhargava and the others, are to be understood, for during the afflictions of birth constellations, they become inauspicious. Yet, by devotion to the planet that brings affliction, one may be freed from that fault. Among all these, the Sun is said to be the first. Among the stars and planets, Venus (Śukra) is foremost; among comets, Dhumavan; and among the planets stationed in the four directions, Dhruva is supreme. Among the constellations, Sravishtha is the foremost; among the solstices, the northern is preeminent; among the five years, the first is called the year. Among seasons, Shishira is foremost; among months, Magha is praised; among lunar fortnights, the bright one is best; and among lunar days, Pratipat is likewise foremost. Of the divisions of day and night, day is declared the beginning. Among the muhurtas, the first is dedicated to Rudra. Among moments, the nimeṣa is the beginning. O best knower of time, the yuga from the end of Shravaṇa to the beginning of Dhanishtha is said to be five years. By the special movement of the Sun, the day-maker revolves like a wheel, and thus he is remembered as the lord who creates time. He is the initiator and withdrawer of the four kinds of beings, yet even for him, the blessed Rudra is the direct initiator, O god. Thus, this arrangement of the luminaries and the determination of their meanings was established by Mahadeva for the sake of worldly order and dealings. At the beginning of the kalpa, this cosmic order was set in motion by the Blessed One with foresight. He is the support, the presiding lord, and the very essence of all the luminaries.