338 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 22
cording to its waning and waxing. Above the moon by a distance of
200,000 yojanas are some stars, and above these stars is Sukra-graha
(Venus), whose influence is always auspicious for the inhabitants of the
entire universe. Above Sukra-graha by 200,000 yojanas is Budha-graha
(Mercury), whose influence is sometimes auspicious and sometimes in-
auspicious. Next, above Budha-graha by 200,000 yojanas, is Angaraka
(Mars), which almost always has an unfavorable influence. Above
Angaraka by another 200,000 yojanas is the planet called Brhaspati-
graha (Jupiter), which is always very favorable for qualified brahmanas.
Above Brhaspati-graha is the planet Sanaigcara (Saturn), which is very
inauspicious, and above Saturn is a group of seven stars occupied by
great saintly persons who are always thinking of the welfare of the entire
universe. These seven stars circumambulate Dhruvaloka, which is the
residence of Lord Visnu within this universe.
TEXT 1
THAT
wand aera ae wa a aah ofteadt
Tatahge safed amet wnactvafiaage at aaaa-
faritratia it
rdjocadca
yad etad bhagavata adityasya merum dhruvam ca pradaksinena
parikramato rasinam abhimukham pracalitam capradaksinarm
bhagavatopavarnitam amusya vayam katham anumimimahiti.
raja uvdca—the King (Maharaja Pariksit) inquired; yat—which;
etat—this; bhagavatah—of the most powerful; ddityasya—of the sun
(Surya Narayana); merum—the mountain known as Sumeru; dhruvam
ca—as well as the planet known as Dhruvaloka; pradaksinena—by plac-
ing on the right; parikraématah—which is going around; rasinam—the
different signs of the zodiac; abhimukham—facing toward; pra-
calitam—moving; ca—and; apradaksinam—placing on the left;
bhagavata—by Your Lordship; upavarnitam—described; amusya—of
that; vayam—we (the hearer); katham—how; anumimimahi—can ac-
cept it by argument and inference; iti—thus.
