All the planets, O best of sages, arise and move among the very same constellations in the heavens. The sun, resplendent and radiant, is the son of Vivasvan and Aditi. Among the planets, the first to be born was the brilliant one, child of Dharma, who appeared in the constellation Vishakha. Soma, the god of the moon, is known as a Vasu, and he, the cool-rayed maker of night, was born in Krittika. After the sun comes Shukra, the sixteen-rayed son of Bhrigu. In the field of Tishya, the foremost of the star-planets arose: Brihaspati, the son of Angiras, bearing twelve rays. In Purva Phalguni, the planet who is the teacher of the world, the son of Prajapati, with nine rays and a red form, was born. It is remembered that another planet was born in Purvashadha, while in Revati, in the realm of seven rays, Sauri—Shanaishcara—was established. Budha, son of the moon and known as Saumya, arose in Dhanishtha, a planet with five rays. The dark one, Shikhi, son of Death and destroyer of beings, was also born. In Ashlesha, the great all-consuming planet appeared, and likewise, the daughters of Daksha manifested themselves in their own named stars. Rahu, made of the very essence of darkness and by nature a black disc, was born in Bharani. He is the planet that afflicts both the moon and the sun. These stars and planets—beginning with Bhargava and others—should be understood, for when the birth constellations are afflicted by them, they become inauspicious. Yet, by devotion to the planet that afflicts, one is freed from such fault. Of all these planets, the sun is said to be the foremost. Among stars and planets, Venus shines as the chief; among comets, Dhumavan is preeminent; and Dhruva is indeed the foremost among those planets fixed in the four directions. Among the constellations, Sravishtha is the chief; among the solstices, the northern is foremost; and among the five-year cycles, the first is called the year. Of the seasons, Shishira stands foremost; among months, Magha is supreme; of lunar fortnights, the bright half is best; and among lunar days, Pratipat is likewise foremost. Of the divisions of day and night, day is declared to be the beginning; among the muhurtas, the first is dedicated to Rudra. Among moments, the nimeṣa is the start. 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 maker of day revolves like a wheel; 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 ultimate initiator, O god. Thus, this arrangement of the luminaries and the determination of their significance was established by Mahadeva, for the sake of the world’s order. At the beginning of the kalpa, all this was set in motion by the Blessed One with great foresight; he is the support, the presiding lord, and the very essence of all the luminaries. This wondrous transformation of the one principal form cannot be fully described by anyone, so great is its mystery. The coming and going of the luminaries is to be known through the physical eye, tradition, inference, direct perception, and reasoning. Having examined with keen intellect, one should have faith, O wise one, for the eye, scripture, water, writing, and calculation—these five—are the means to determine the measure of the luminaries. Now, you have asked how, by the grace of Vishnu, Dhruva, best among the wise, became the steadfast pillar among the planets. Listen, and I shall tell you. Once, I too was questioned on this matter by the sage Markandeya, versed in many scriptures, who was eager to hear. Uttānapāda, sovereign of all, radiant and resplendent, foremost among warriors, ruled the earth. He had two wives: Sunīti and Suruci. From the elder, Sunīti, was born a son of great renown—Dhruva, wise and brilliant, a lamp of his lineage. Even at the tender age of seven, Dhruva once sat upon his father’s lap. But Suruci, the favored wife, cast Dhruva aside and affectionately placed her own son on the king’s lap, honoring him for his appearance. Denied his father’s affection, the intelligent Dhruva, his heart wounded and sorrowful, went to his mother and wept again and again. Seeing her son’s grief, Sunīti, herself overwhelmed by sorrow, spoke to him. She said, “You were born to me, who am of little fortune, and you, my son, are likewise unfortunate. Why do you grieve so, why do you weep again and again? If you let your heart be consumed by anguish, you will only increase my sorrow. O Dhruva, by your own strength, you must attain your rightful place.” Thus addressed by his mother, Dhruva set out for the forest. There, he encountered the sage Viśvāmitra and, bowing respectfully, stood before him with folded hands. Reverent, he spoke: “O revered one, please tell me—by what means may I attain the highest place among all? “When I sat upon my father’s lap, Suruci, my mother, cast me aside, and my father said nothing. Because of this, O Brahman, I am afraid and have come to my mother. Sunīti, my mother, told me not to indulge in excessive grief. She said, ‘By your own actions, O child, you should attain the highest place.’ Hearing her words, I know my place shall be established. “I have come to this forest, O Brahman, and today I see you, O lord. By your grace, may I attain a wonderful and supreme place.” Thus, the story of the luminaries and the tale of Dhruva’s quest for his rightful place unfolds, full of wisdom, devotion, and the mysteries of the heavens.