SB 5.22.8 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

एवं चन्द्रमा अर्कगभस्तिभ्य उपरिष्टाल्लक्षयोजनत उपलभ्यमानोऽर्कस्य संवत्सरभुक्तिं पक्षाभ्यां मासभुक्तिं सपादर्क्षाभ्यां दिनेनैव पक्षभुक्तिमग्रचारी द्रुततरगमनो भुङ्क्ते ॥ ८ ॥

Verse text

evaṁ candramā arka-gabhastibhya upariṣṭāl lakṣa-yojanata upalabhyamāno ’rkasya saṁvatsara-bhuktiṁ pakṣābhyāṁ māsa-bhuktiṁ sapādarkṣābhyāṁ dinenaiva pakṣa-bhuktim agracārī drutatara-gamano bhuṅkte.

Synonyms

evam — thus ; candramā — the moon ; arka — gabhastibhyaḥ — from the rays of the sunshine ; upariṣṭāt — above ; lakṣa — yojanataḥ — by a measurement of 100,000 yojanas ; upalabhyamānaḥ — being situated ; arkasya — of the sun globe ; saṁvatsara — bhuktim — the passage of one year of enjoyment ; pakṣābhyām — by two fortnights ; māsa — bhuktim — the passage of one month ; sapāda — ṛkṣābhyām — by two and a quarter days ; dinena — by a day ; eva — only ; pakṣa — bhuktim — the passage of a fortnight ; agracārī — moving impetuously ; druta — tara — gamanaḥ — passing more speedily ; bhuṅkte — passes through .

Translation

Above the rays of the sunshine by a distance of 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] is the moon, which travels at a speed faster than that of the sun. In two lunar fortnights the moon travels through the equivalent of a saṁvatsara of the sun, in two and a quarter days it passes through a month of the sun, and in one day it passes through a fortnight of the sun.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The moon, situated 100,000 yojanas above the rays of the sun, moving with quicker speed, covers the sun’s year in two fortnights, its month in two and half days and its fortnight in one day. The location and effects of the moon and other planets are now described. “The sun’s rays” refers to the sun globe. The moon is 100,000 yojanas above the sun, or 200,000 yojanas above the earth. In two and a half days (sapādarkṣābhyām) the moon covers what the sun covers in a month. When the moon travels quicker, in one day the moon covers what the sun covers in a fortnight. At other times in a day and half plus 3 hours, it covers the same distance.

Purport

When we take into account that the moon is 100,000 yojanas, or 800,000 miles, above the rays of the sunshine, it is very surprising that the modern excursions to the moon could be possible. Since the moon is so distant, how space vehicles could go there is a doubtful mystery. Modern scientific calculations are subject to one change after another, and therefore they are uncertain. We have to accept the calculations of the Vedic literature. These Vedic calculations are steady; the astronomical calculations made long ago and recorded in the Vedic literature are correct even now. Whether the Vedic calculations or modern ones are better may remain a mystery for others, but as far as we are concerned, we accept the Vedic calculations to be correct.