Vayu Purana

प्रतीच्यान्तु पुनर्मेरोर्मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। सुखा नाम पुरी रम्या वरुणस्याथ धीमतः ॥ ५०.

Again, to the west of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, is the delightful city called Sukhā, belonging to the wise Varuṇa.

दिश्युत्तरस्यां मेरोस्तु मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। तुल्या माहेन्द्रपुर्य्या तु सोमस्यापि विभावरी ॥ ५०.

On the northern side of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, is the city of Soma, called Vibhāvarī, equal to Indra's city.

मानसोत्तरपृष्ठे तु लोकपालाश्चतुर्द्दिशम्। स्थिता धर्म्मव्यवस्थायै लोकसंरक्षणाय च ॥ ५०.

On the northern slope of Mānas, the guardians of the worlds are stationed in the four directions, for the establishment of righteousness and the protection of the worlds.

लोकपालोपरिष्टात्तु सर्व्वतो दक्षिणायने। काष्ठागतस्य सूर्य्यस्य गतिर्या तां निबोधत ॥ ५०.

Above the guardians of the worlds, throughout the southern course, listen to the movement of the sun as it travels along its path.

दक्षिणे प्रक्रमे सूर्य्यः क्षिप्तेषुरिव सर्पति। ज्योतिषाञ्चक्रमादाय सततं परिगच्छति ॥ ५०.

In its southern journey, the sun moves swiftly like a released arrow, continually traversing the circle of the luminaries.

मध्यगश्चामरावत्यां यदा भवति भास्करः। वैवस्वते संयमने उदयस्तत्र उच्यते ॥ ५०.

When the Sun is at its midpoint in Amaravati, that is called sunrise in the realm of Vaivasvata, the place of restraint.

सुखायामर्द्धरात्रञ्च मध्यगः स्याद्रविर्यदा। सुखायामथ वारुण्यामुत्तिष्ठन् स तु दृश्यते ॥ ५०.

When the Sun is at its midpoint in Sukhā, it is midnight; when it rises in Sukhā or in Varuṇī, it becomes visible.

विभायामर्द्धरात्रं स्यान्माहेन्द्य्रामस्तमेति च। तदा दक्षिणपूर्व्वेषामपराह्नो विधीयते ॥ ५०.

When it is midnight in Vibhā, the Sun sets in Mahendra; at that time, it is afternoon for those in the southeastern regions.

दक्षिणापर देश्यानां पूर्व्वाह्नः परिकीर्त्त्यते। तेषामपररात्रञ्च ये जना उत्तरापथे ॥ ५०.

For those in the southwestern lands, it is morning; for those in the northern regions, it is midnight.

देशा उत्तरपूर्व्वा ये पूर्व्वरात्रन्तु तान् प्रति। एवमेवोत्तरेष्वर्को भवनेषु विराजते ॥ ५०.

For those in the northeastern lands, it is early night; likewise, in the northern regions, the Sun shines in their dwellings.

सुखायामथ वारुण्यां मध्याह्ने चार्य्यमा यदा। विभावर्य्यां सोमपुर्य्यामुत्तिष्ठति विभावसुः ॥ ५०.

When Aryaman is at midday in Sukhā or Varuṇī, the Sun rises in Vibhā or in Soma's city.

रात्र्यर्द्धं चामरावत्यामस्तमेति यमस्य च। सोमपुर्यां विभायान्तु मध्याह्ने स्याद्धिवाकरः ॥ ५०.

At midnight in Amaravati, the Sun sets in Yama's realm; in Soma's city, at dawn, it is midday for the Sun.

महेन्द्रस्यामरावत्यामुत्तिष्ठति यदा रविः। अर्द्धरात्रं संयमने वारुण्यामस्तमेति च ॥ ५०.

When the Sun rises in Mahendra's Amaravati, it is midnight in the realm of restraint, and it sets in Varuṇī.

स शीग्रमेति पर्य्येति भास्करोऽलातचक्रवत्। भ्रमन् वै भ्रममाणानि ऋक्षाणि गगने रविः ॥ ५०.

The Sun moves swiftly and circles like a wheel of fire, revolving among the stars in the sky.

एवं चतुर्षु द्वीपेषु दक्षिणान्तेन सर्पति। उदयास्तमनेनासावुत्तिष्ठति पुनः पुनः ॥ ५०.

Thus, in the four continents, it travels along the southern path, rising and setting again and again.

पूर्व्वाह्ने चापराह्ने तु द्वौ द्वौ देवालयौ तु सः। तपत्येकन्तु मध्याह्ने तैरेव तु सरश्मिभिः ॥ ५०.

In the morning and afternoon, the Sun shines upon two temples each; at midday, it heats them with its rays.

उदितो वर्द्धमानाभिरामध्याह्नं तपन् रविः। अतः परं ह्रसन्तीभिर्गोभिरस्तं स गच्छति ॥ ५०.

Rising, the Sun increases its heat until midday; after that, its rays diminish and it goes to set.

उदयास्तमयाभ्यां हिस्मृते पूर्वापरे दिशो। यावत्पुरस्तात्तपति तावत् पृष्ठे तु पार्श्वयोः ॥ ५०.

By sunrise and sunset, the eastern and western directions are known; as long as it shines in front, it is behind and to the sides.

यत्रोद्यन् दृश्यते सूर्यस्तेषां स उदयः स्मृतः। यत्र प्रणाशमायाति तेषामस्तः स उच्यते ॥ ५०.

Wherever the Sun is seen rising, that is called sunrise for them; wherever it disappears, that is called sunset.

सर्वेषामुत्तरे मेरुर्लोकालोकस्तु दक्षिणे। विदूरभावादर्कस्य भूमेर्लेखावृतस्य च। ह्रियन्ते रश्मयो यस्मात्तेन रात्रौ न दृश्यते ॥ ५०.

For all, Meru is to the north and Lokāloka to the south; because of the distance and the shadow of the earth's rim, the rays are taken away and thus the Sun is not seen at night.

ग्रहनक्षत्रताराणां दर्शनं भास्करस्य च। उच्छ्रायस्य प्रमाणेन ज्ञेयमस्तमनोदयम् ॥ ५०.

The visibility of planets, stars, and the Sun is to be understood by the measure of its elevation, for sunrise and sunset.

शुक्लच्छायोग्निरापश्च कृष्णच्छाया च मेदिनी। विदूरभावादर्कस्य उद्यातस्य विरश्मिता। रक्ताबावो विरश्मित्वाद्रक्तत्वाच्चाप्यनुष्णता ॥ ५०.

The white shade is fire and water; the black shade is earth; because of distance and the Sun's rising, its rays are faint; the reddish hue is due to faintness and redness, and also to its lack of heat.

लेखयावस्थितः सूर्यो यत्र यत्र तु दृश्यते। ऊर्द्ध्वं गतः सहस्रन्तु योजनानां स दृश्यते ॥ ५०.

Wherever the Sun is seen positioned at the rim, it appears a thousand yojanas above.

प्रभा हि सौरी पादेन अस्तङ्गच्छति भास्करे। अग्निमाविशते रात्रौ तस्माद्दूरात् प्रकाशते ॥ ५०.

Indeed, the radiance of Saturn sets with the sun by its foot; at night it enters fire, and thus it shines from afar.

उदितस्तु पुनः सूर्यः अस्तमाग्नेयमाविशत्। संयुक्तो वह्निना सूर्यस्ततः स तपते दिवा ॥ ५०.

But when the sun rises again, it enters the region of fire at sunset; united with fire, the sun then burns during the day.

प्राकाश्यञ्च तथौष्ण्यञ्च सूर्याग्नेयी च तेजसी। परस्परानुप्रवेशादाप्यायेते दिवानिशम् ॥ ५०.

The luminosity and heat, both solar and fiery, are nourished day and night through their mutual interpenetration.

उत्तरे चैव भूम्यर्द्धे तथा तस्मिंश्च दक्षिणे। उत्तिष्ठति तथा सूर्ये रात्रिराविशते त्वपः । तस्मात्ताम्रा भवन्त्यापो दिवारात्रिप्रवेशनात् ॥ ५०.

On both the northern and southern halves of the earth, as the sun rises, night enters the waters; therefore, the waters become coppery due to the entry of day and night.

अस्तं याति पुनः सूर्ये दिनं वै प्रविशत्यपः। तस्माच्छुक्ला भवन्त्यापो नक्तमह्नः प्रवेशनात् ॥ ५०.

When the sun sets again, the day enters the waters; thus, the waters become clear because of the entry of night and day.

एतेन क्रमयोगेन भूम्यर्द्धे दक्षिणोत्तरे। उदयास्तमनेऽर्कस्य अहोरात्रं विशत्यपः ॥ ५०.

By this sequential process, on the northern and southern halves of the earth, day and night enter the waters as the sun rises and sets.