Vayu Purana

इत्येष सन्निवेशो वः पृथिव्यां ज्यौतिषस्य च। द्वीपानामुद्नधीनां च पर्वतानां तथैव च ।। ५३.

Thus is the arrangement for you of the earth and the luminaries, as well as the continents, oceans, and likewise the mountains.

वर्षाणां च नदीनाञ्च येषु तेषु वसन्ति वै। एते चैव ग्रहाः पूर्वं नक्षत्रेषु समुत्थिताः ।। ५३.

In those regions where people dwell—lands, rivers, and so on—these planets first arose among the constellations.

विवस्वानदितेः पुत्रः सूर्यो वै चाक्षुषेऽन्तरे। विशाखासु समुत्पन्नो ग्रहाणां प्रथमो ग्रहः ।। ५३.

The sun, son of Aditi, in the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, was born in Viśākhā and was the first among the planets.

त्विषिमान् धर्म्मपुत्रस्तु सोमो विश्वावसुस्तथा। शीतरश्मिः समुत्पन्नः कृत्तिकासु निशाकरः ।। ५३.

The radiant Soma, son of Dharma, known as Viśvāvasu, the cool-rayed night-maker, was born in Kṛttikā.

षोडशार्चिर्भृगोः पुत्रः शुक्रः सूर्यादनन्तरम्। ताराग्रहाणां प्रवरस्तिष्यक्षेत्रे समुत्थितः ।। ५३.

Sixteen-rayed Śukra, son of Bhṛgu, arose after the sun; foremost among the star-planets, he was born in Tiṣya.

ग्रहश्चाङ्गिरसः पुत्रो द्वादशार्च्चिर्बृहस्पतिः। फाल्गुनीषु समुत्पन्नः सर्वासु च जगद्गुरुः ।। ५३.

The planet Bṛhaspati, son of Aṅgiras, with twelve rays, was born in Phālgunī and is the preceptor of all the worlds.

नवार्चिर्लोहिताङ्गस्तु प्रजापतिसुतो ग्रहः । आषाढास्विह पूर्वासु समुत्पन्न इति श्रुतिः ।। ५३.

The nine-rayed, red-bodied planet, son of Prajāpati, was born in Pūrvāṣāḍhā, as is declared in the tradition.

रेवतीष्वेव सप्तार्चि स्तथा सौरशनैश्चरः। रोहिणीषु समुत्पन्नौ ग्रहौ चन्द्रार्कमर्द्दनौ ।। ५३.

In Revati, the seven-rayed Saturn, and in Rohiṇī, the two planets that afflict the moon and sun, were born.

एते ताराग्रहाश्चैव बोद्धव्या भार्गवादय। जन्मनक्षत्रपीडासु यान्ति वैगुण्यतां यतः। स्पृशन्ते तेन दोषेण ततस्ता ग्रहभक्तिषु ।। ५३.

These star-planets, beginning with Bhārgava, are to be understood; when the birth-star is afflicted, they become inauspicious, and by that fault, they affect the planetary influences.

सर्वग्रहाणामेतेषामादिरादित्य उच्यते। ताराग्रहाणां शुक्रस्तु केतूनाञ्चैव धूमवान् ।। ५३.

Among all the planets, the Sun is said to be the foremost; among the star-planets, Venus, and among the comets, the smoky one (Ketu).

ध्रुवः कालो ग्रहाणां तु विभक्तानां चतुर्दिशम् । नक्षत्राणां श्रविष्ठा स्यादयनानां तथोत्तरम् ।। ५३.

Dhruva is considered the time-marker for the planets distributed in the four directions; among the nakshatras, Shravishtha is the foremost, and among the ayanas, the northern is so regarded.

वर्षाणाञ्चापि पञ्चानामाद्यः संवत्सरः स्मृतः। ऋतूनां शिशिरञ्चापि मासानां माघ एव च ।। ५३.

Among the five years, the first is known as the Samvatsara; among the seasons, Shishira, and among the months, Magha is the foremost.

पक्षाणां शुक्लपक्षस्तु तिथीनां प्रतिपत्तथा। अहोरात्रविभागानामहश्चापि प्रकीर्तितम् ।। ५३.

Among the lunar fortnights, the bright fortnight is foremost; among the lunar days, the first day (Pratipat); and among the divisions of day and night, the day is declared foremost.

मुहूर्त्तानां तथैवादिर्मुहूर्त्तो रुद्रदैवतः। अक्ष्णोश्चापि निमेषादिः कालः कालविदो मतः ।। ५३.

Among the muhurtas, the first is the Rudra-muhurta; among the divisions of the eye, the nimeṣa is considered the beginning of time by those who know time.

श्रवणान्तं श्रविष्ठादियुगं स्यात् पञ्चवार्षिकम्। भानोर्गतिविशेषेण चक्रवत् परिवर्त्तते ।। ५३.

The period beginning with Shravishtha and ending with Shravana is a five-year cycle; by the special motion of the Sun, it revolves like a wheel.

दिवाकरः स्मृतस्तस्मात्कालस्तं विद्धि चेश्वरम्। चतुर्वनिधानां भूतानां प्रवर्त्तकनिवर्त्तकः ।। ५३.

Therefore, the Sun is remembered as time; know him as the lord who initiates and concludes the activity of all fourfold beings.

इत्येष ज्योतिषामेव सन्निवेशोऽर्थनिश्चयात्। लोकसंव्यवहारार्थमीश्वरेण विनिर्मितः ।। ५३.

Thus, this arrangement of the luminaries is established for the determination of meaning, created by the Lord for the conduct of the world.

उत्पन्नः श्रवणेनासौ संक्षिप्तश्च ध्रुवे तथा। सर्वतोऽन्तेषु विस्तीर्णो वृक्षाकार इति स्थितिः ।। ५३.

It arises from Shravana, is contracted at Dhruva, and is expanded in all directions at the ends; its form is like a tree—such is its state.

बुद्धिपूर्वम्भगवता कल्पादौ संप्रकीर्तितः। साश्रयः सोऽभिमानी च सर्वस्य ज्योतिरात्मकः। विश्वरूपः प्रधानस्य परिणामोऽयमद्भुतः ।। ५३.

At the beginning of the kalpa, the Blessed One declared it with intelligence; it has a basis, is endowed with self-consciousness, is the essence of all luminaries, and is the marvelous transformation of Pradhana, the universal form.

नैव शक्यं प्रसंख्यातुं याथातथ्येन केनचित्। गतागतं मनुष्येषु ज्योतिषां मांसचक्षुषा ।। ५३.

It cannot be accurately enumerated by anyone—the coming and going of the luminaries among humans cannot be perceived by the fleshly eye.

आगमादनुमानाच्च प्रत्यक्षादुपपत्तितः। परीक्ष्य निपुणं भक्त्या श्रद्धातव्यं विपश्चिता ।। ५३.

Through scripture, inference, direct perception, and reasoning, one should examine carefully and accept with devotion—so say the wise.

चक्षुः शास्त्रं जलं लेख्यं गणितं बुद्धिसत्तमाः। पञ्चैते हेतवो ज्ञेया ज्योतिर्गणविचिन्तने ।। ५३.

Sight, scripture, water, writing, and calculation—these five causes are to be known by those of excellent intellect in the contemplation of the group of luminaries.

कस्मिन् देशे महापुण्यमेतदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। वृत्तं ब्रह्मपुरोगाणां कस्मिन् काले महाद्युते। एतदाख्याहि नः सम्यग् यथा वृत्तं तपोधन ।। ५४.

In which land did this most virtuous and excellent narrative occur, involving Brahma and the foremost ones? At what time of great splendor? Tell us fully, O ascetic, just as it happened.

यथा श्रुतं मया पूर्वं वायुना जगदायुना। कथ्यमानं द्विजश्रेष्ठाः सत्रे वर्षसहस्रके ।। ५४.

As I heard before from Vayu, the life-breath of the world, being narrated to the best of twice-born ones during a thousand-year sacrifice.

नीलता येन कण्ठस्य देवदेवस्य शूलिनः। तदहं कीर्त्तयिष्यामि श्रृणुध्वं शंसितव्रताः ।। ५४.

That which caused the blue hue of the throat of the god of gods, the wielder of the trident—I shall recount it; listen, you who are devoted to vows.

उत्तरे शैलराजस्य सरांसि सरितो ह्रदाः। पुण्योद्यानेषु तीर्थेषु देवतायतनेषु च। गिरिश्रृङ्गेषु तुङ्गेषु गह्वरोपवनेषु च ।। ५४.

To the north of the king of mountains are lakes, rivers, and ponds; in sacred gardens, holy places, temples of deities, on lofty mountain peaks, and in deep forests and groves.

देवभक्ता महात्मानो मुनयः शंसितव्रताः। स्तुवन्ति च महादेवं यत्र यथाविधि ।। ५४.

There, the great-souled sages, devoted to the gods and steadfast in vows, praise the great god according to proper rites.

ऋग्यजुःसामवेदैश्च नृत्यगीतार्च्चनादिभिः। ओङ्कारेण नमस्कारैरर्च्चयन्ति सदा शिवम् ।। ५४.

With the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, with dance, song, worship, and the like, with the syllable Om and with salutations, they always worship Shiva.

प्रवृत्ते ज्योतिषां चक्रे मध्यव्याप्ते दिवाकरे। देवता नियतात्मानः सर्वे तिष्ठन्ति तां कथाम् । अथ नियमप्रवृत्ताश्च प्राणशेषव्यवस्थिताः ।। ५४.

When the cycle of the luminaries began and the sun was in the middle, all the deities, self-controlled, remained attentive to that account, and those engaged in discipline, sustained by only breath, were present.