Listen, and I shall narrate the majestic movement of the Sun as described by the ancient sages. The circumference of the Sun’s path is vast beyond ordinary reckoning, spanning nine crores, one hundred thousand, forty, and five yojanas. This immense distance marks the Sun’s journey in a single day and night, especially when he turns northward from the southern direction and stands poised at the equator. As the Sun moves north of the great Ocean of Milk, the circumference at the equator is measured anew: it is three crores and twenty-one thousand hundred thousands of yojanas. When Citrabhānu, the Sun, enters the northern segment during the sacred month of Śrāvaṇa, he travels northward across the continent of Gomedha. To understand these celestial movements, the sages teach us to measure the northern segment and its circumference, as well as the southern, the northern, and the middle paths, each in their proper order. In the midst of the world lies Jaradgava; Airāvata is the highest point, and to the south is Vaiśvānara, each place holding its own truth. The Sun moves along three main paths: Nāgavīthi to the north, Ajavīthi to the south, and Āṣāḍhamūla, which marks the three beginnings of Ajavīthi. To the east of Abhijit are Svati and three stars of the northern serpent’s path. Ashvini and Krittika are found in the south, with three stars remembered as the southern serpent’s path. Rohini, Ardra, and Mrigashira are known for the serpent’s path, while Pushya, Ashlesha, and Punarvasu belong to the Airavati path. These form the three paths of the northern route, while Purva and Uttara Phalguni, and Magha, are said to be of the Taurus sign. Purva and Uttara Proshthapada, along with Revati, are known as the cow’s path; Śrāvaṇa, Dhanishta, and Varuna are called Jaradgava. These three are the paths of the middle route, and Hasta, Chitra, and Svati are known as the goat’s path. Jyeshtha, Vishakha, and Maitra are called the deer’s path, while Mula and Purva-Uttara Ashadha are known as the Vaishvanara path. These three are the remembered paths of the southern route as well. Now, the distances between these segments are given: one hundred thousand, thirty-one, and three hundred, with thirty-three more yojanas. Thus, the distances between segments and the lines marking the southern and northern solstices are declared. For calculation, hear now the distances in yojanas: each interval is joined by seven. Beyond a thousand, there are twenty-five more yojanas, as the Sun moves between the inner and outer lines of the segments. At the northern solstice, he traverses the inner circles; at the southern, he always follows the outermost circle. Moving north, the Sun completes one hundred and eighty circles, passing through each in turn. The measure of each circle is ten thousand and eight thousand yojanas, with fifty-eight more added for the diameter as it stretches across. The Sun moves gradually from the center through each circle, just as a potter’s wheel spins, and so too does the Moon. In the south, the Sun moves swiftly, traversing a greater portion of the earth in a short time. During the southern course, the Sun speeds through twelve muhurtas, covering thirteen and a half signs as he circles. At night, he moves through the constellations in moments, advancing as if at the center of a potter’s wheel, slow and steady. In the northern course, the Sun moves with slow steps, and so, over a long period, covers only a small portion of the earth. By day, he passes through the constellations in eighteen moments, covering thirteen signs; by night, he moves through them in twelve moments. Sometimes, the wheel of time turns even more slowly, just as a lump of clay at the center of the wheel moves gently. With thirty moments, day and night revolve upon the earth, as the celestial circles spin between their boundaries. When the Sun moves northward, his daytime motion is slow, but his nighttime motion is swift. In the southern course, the Sun’s daytime motion is swift, while at night, it is slow. Thus, by these differences in speed, day and night are divided in the southern path of the goat and in the northern region of Lokāloka. From the expansion of the worlds, outside the path of fire, the Sun’s radiance spreads forth from Puṣkara as far as his light can reach. Beyond lies the mighty mountain Lokāloka, rising ten thousand yojanas high—a boundary that is both luminous and non-luminous, perfectly circular, encircling the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. Within this mountain, the worlds shine in their splendor; beyond it, only darkness remains. The visible world exists through the element of light, while beyond, there is only non-light. Lokāloka are joined together, for the Sun revolves around them. Thus, the sages call the intervals of dawn and dusk ‘twilight’; dawn is considered night, and dusk is considered day, as the wise have taught.