SECTION XI.Maitreya said:—I have heard as described by you, O holy preceptor, the seven groups of beings who are present in the sun's orb and are the agents in the distribution of heat and cold. You have also described the individual functions of the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākshasas, sages, Bālakhilyas Apswarās and Yakshas who, supported by the energy of Vishnu, remain as guardians in the sun's car but you have not described the function of the sun himself. If the seven beings stationed in the sun's ear are the agents in the distribution of heat, cold and rain, how can it also be true, as mentioned by you before, that rain proceeds from the sun? If the act of the collective seven be same then why the people say that the sun rises, reaches the meridian or sets?Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, hear what you have asked The sun, though at one with seven beings in his orbit, is separate from them being their head. The whole and great energy of Vishnu, which is called the three Vedas,—Rich Yajush and Sāman lightens the whole universe and destroys its iniquity. This energy exists as Vishnu for the preservation of the universe and abiding as the three Vedas within the sun. And wherever in every month the sun exists there is the Vishnu-energy composed of the three Vedas. The Richas shine in the morning, the hymns of Yajush at noon and Vrihadrathantara and other portions of the Sāman in the afternoon. This threefold manifestation of Vishnu designated under the three Vedas is the energy of Vishnu that Influences the divine positions of the sun.The energy of Vishnu docs not exist only in the rob of the sun but is also manifest in Brahmā, Vishnu and Kudra. At the time of creation it is Brahmā consisting of the Rig-veda in the work of preservation it is Vishnu composed of the Yajur-Veda;—and in the work of destruction it is Rudra formed of the Sāma-Veda, the utterance of which is therefore inauspicious.In this way the energy of Vishnu composed of the three Vedas exists in the sun encircled by the seven beings. And the glorious sun becomes radiant by that energy of Vishnu and destroys the entire darkness of the universe. The sages chant his glories, the Gandharvas sing and the nymphs dance before him; the Rākshasas follow his steps, the serpents harness his steeds and the Yakshas trim his reins and the Bālakhilyas are seated around him. The seven beings in the sun's orb rise and set every month, but Vishnu, in the shape of his energy, never rises nor sets and is at once the sevenfold sun and distinct from it. As a man, nearing a mirror kept on a stand, observe in it his own image so the energy of Vishnu is never disjoined but remains month by month in the sun which he there placed.The sovereign sun gratifying the manes, gods and men, revolves being the instrument of day and night. The moon is cherished by the Sushumna ray of the sun. And in the dark fortnight of the month the ambrosia of its substance is drunk by the celestials. And at the last day of the half month the two remaining digits are drunk by the manes; then the celestials and the progenitors are nourished by the sun. The moisture which the sun attracts from the earth he again distributes for the nourishment of animals and plants and thus the sun is the source of subsistance to every living being—gods, manes, mankind and the rest. The sun gratifies the celestials for a fortnight, the progenitors once a month, and men and other animals every day.
SECTION XI.Maitreya said:—I have heard as described by you, O holy preceptor, the seven groups of beings who are present in the sun's orb and are the agents in the distribution of heat and cold. You have also described the individual functions of the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākshasas, sages, Bālakhilyas Apswarās and Yakshas who, supported by the energy of Vishnu, remain as guardians in the sun's car but you have not described the function of the sun himself. If the seven beings stationed in the sun's ear are the agents in the distribution of heat, cold and rain, how can it also be true, as mentioned by you before, that rain proceeds from the sun? If the act of the collective seven be same then why the people say that the sun rises, reaches the meridian or sets?Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, hear what you have asked The sun, though at one with seven beings in his orbit, is separate from them being their head. The whole and great energy of Vishnu, which is called the three Vedas,—Rich Yajush and Sāman lightens the whole universe and destroys its iniquity. This energy exists as Vishnu for the preservation of the universe and abiding as the three Vedas within the sun. And wherever in every month the sun exists there is the Vishnu-energy composed of the three Vedas. The Richas shine in the morning, the hymns of Yajush at noon and Vrihadrathantara and other portions of the Sāman in the afternoon. This threefold manifestation of Vishnu designated under the three Vedas is the energy of Vishnu that Influences the divine positions of the sun.The energy of Vishnu docs not exist only in the rob of the sun but is also manifest in Brahmā, Vishnu and Kudra. At the time of creation it is Brahmā consisting of the Rig-veda in the work of preservation it is Vishnu composed of the Yajur-Veda;—and in the work of destruction it is Rudra formed of the Sāma-Veda, the utterance of which is therefore inauspicious.In this way the energy of Vishnu composed of the three Vedas exists in the sun encircled by the seven beings. And the glorious sun becomes radiant by that energy of Vishnu and destroys the entire darkness of the universe. The sages chant his glories, the Gandharvas sing and the nymphs dance before him; the Rākshasas follow his steps, the serpents harness his steeds and the Yakshas trim his reins and the Bālakhilyas are seated around him. The seven beings in the sun's orb rise and set every month, but Vishnu, in the shape of his energy, never rises nor sets and is at once the sevenfold sun and distinct from it. As a man, nearing a mirror kept on a stand, observe in it his own image so the energy of Vishnu is never disjoined but remains month by month in the sun which he there placed.The sovereign sun gratifying the manes, gods and men, revolves being the instrument of day and night. The moon is cherished by the Sushumna ray of the sun. And in the dark fortnight of the month the ambrosia of its substance is drunk by the celestials. And at the last day of the half month the two remaining digits are drunk by the manes; then the celestials and the progenitors are nourished by the sun. The moisture which the sun attracts from the earth he again distributes for the nourishment of animals and plants and thus the sun is the source of subsistance to every living being—gods, manes, mankind and the rest. The sun gratifies the celestials for a fortnight, the progenitors once a month, and men and other animals every day.
SECTION XI.Maitreya said:—I have heard as described by you, O holy preceptor, the seven groups of beings who are present in the sun's orb and are the agents in the distribution of heat and cold. You have also described the individual functions of the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākshasas, sages, Bālakhilyas Apswarās and Yakshas who, supported by the energy of Vishnu, remain as guardians in the sun's car but you have not described the function of the sun himself. If the seven beings stationed in the sun's ear are the agents in the distribution of heat, cold and rain, how can it also be true, as mentioned by you before, that rain proceeds from the sun? If the act of the collective seven be same then why the people say that the sun rises, reaches the meridian or sets?Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, hear what you have asked The sun, though at one with seven beings in his orbit, is separate from them being their head. The whole and great energy of Vishnu, which is called the three Vedas,—Rich Yajush and Sāman lightens the whole universe and destroys its iniquity. This energy exists as Vishnu for the preservation of the universe and abiding as the three Vedas within the sun. And wherever in every month the sun exists there is the Vishnu-energy composed of the three Vedas. The Richas shine in the morning, the hymns of Yajush at noon and Vrihadrathantara and other portions of the Sāman in the afternoon. This threefold manifestation of Vishnu designated under the three Vedas is the energy of Vishnu that Influences the divine positions of the sun.The energy of Vishnu docs not exist only in the rob of the sun but is also manifest in Brahmā, Vishnu and Kudra. At the time of creation it is Brahmā consisting of the Rig-veda in the work of preservation it is Vishnu composed of the Yajur-Veda;—and in the work of destruction it is Rudra formed of the Sāma-Veda, the utterance of which is therefore inauspicious.In this way the energy of Vishnu composed of the three Vedas exists in the sun encircled by the seven beings. And the glorious sun becomes radiant by that energy of Vishnu and destroys the entire darkness of the universe. The sages chant his glories, the Gandharvas sing and the nymphs dance before him; the Rākshasas follow his steps, the serpents harness his steeds and the Yakshas trim his reins and the Bālakhilyas are seated around him. The seven beings in the sun's orb rise and set every month, but Vishnu, in the shape of his energy, never rises nor sets and is at once the sevenfold sun and distinct from it. As a man, nearing a mirror kept on a stand, observe in it his own image so the energy of Vishnu is never disjoined but remains month by month in the sun which he there placed.The sovereign sun gratifying the manes, gods and men, revolves being the instrument of day and night. The moon is cherished by the Sushumna ray of the sun. And in the dark fortnight of the month the ambrosia of its substance is drunk by the celestials. And at the last day of the half month the two remaining digits are drunk by the manes; then the celestials and the progenitors are nourished by the sun. The moisture which the sun attracts from the earth he again distributes for the nourishment of animals and plants and thus the sun is the source of subsistance to every living being—gods, manes, mankind and the rest. The sun gratifies the celestials for a fortnight, the progenitors once a month, and men and other animals every day.
Maitreya said:—I have heard as described by you, O holy preceptor, the seven groups of beings who are present in the sun's orb and are the agents in the distribution of heat and cold. You have also described the individual functions of the Gandharvas, serpents, Rākshasas, sages, Bālakhilyas Apswarās and Yakshas who, supported by the energy of Vishnu, remain as guardians in the sun's car but you have not described the function of the sun himself. If the seven beings stationed in the sun's ear are the agents in the distribution of heat, cold and rain, how can it also be true, as mentioned by you before, that rain proceeds from the sun? If the act of the collective seven be same then why the people say that the sun rises, reaches the meridian or sets?
Parāçara said:—O Maitreya, hear what you have asked The sun, though at one with seven beings in his orbit, is separate from them being their head. The whole and great energy of Vishnu, which is called the three Vedas,—Rich Yajush and Sāman lightens the whole universe and destroys its iniquity. This energy exists as Vishnu for the preservation of the universe and abiding as the three Vedas within the sun. And wherever in every month the sun exists there is the Vishnu-energy composed of the three Vedas. The Richas shine in the morning, the hymns of Yajush at noon and Vrihadrathantara and other portions of the Sāman in the afternoon. This threefold manifestation of Vishnu designated under the three Vedas is the energy of Vishnu that Influences the divine positions of the sun.
The energy of Vishnu docs not exist only in the rob of the sun but is also manifest in Brahmā, Vishnu and Kudra. At the time of creation it is Brahmā consisting of the Rig-veda in the work of preservation it is Vishnu composed of the Yajur-Veda;—and in the work of destruction it is Rudra formed of the Sāma-Veda, the utterance of which is therefore inauspicious.
In this way the energy of Vishnu composed of the three Vedas exists in the sun encircled by the seven beings. And the glorious sun becomes radiant by that energy of Vishnu and destroys the entire darkness of the universe. The sages chant his glories, the Gandharvas sing and the nymphs dance before him; the Rākshasas follow his steps, the serpents harness his steeds and the Yakshas trim his reins and the Bālakhilyas are seated around him. The seven beings in the sun's orb rise and set every month, but Vishnu, in the shape of his energy, never rises nor sets and is at once the sevenfold sun and distinct from it. As a man, nearing a mirror kept on a stand, observe in it his own image so the energy of Vishnu is never disjoined but remains month by month in the sun which he there placed.
The sovereign sun gratifying the manes, gods and men, revolves being the instrument of day and night. The moon is cherished by the Sushumna ray of the sun. And in the dark fortnight of the month the ambrosia of its substance is drunk by the celestials. And at the last day of the half month the two remaining digits are drunk by the manes; then the celestials and the progenitors are nourished by the sun. The moisture which the sun attracts from the earth he again distributes for the nourishment of animals and plants and thus the sun is the source of subsistance to every living being—gods, manes, mankind and the rest. The sun gratifies the celestials for a fortnight, the progenitors once a month, and men and other animals every day.