TEXT 3
yan-madhya-gato bhagavams tapatam patis tapana atapena tri-lokim pratapaty avabhasayaty atma-bhasa sa esa udagayana-daksinayana-vaisuvata-samjnabhir mandya-saighrya-samanabhir gatibhir arohanavarohana-samana-sthanesu yatha-savanam abhipadyamano makaradisu rasisv aho-ratrani dirgha-hrasva-samanani vidhatte.
SYNONYMS
yatof which (the intermediate space); madhya-gatahbeing situated in the middle; bhagavanthe most powerful; tapatam patihthe master of those that heat the whole universe; tapanahthe sun; atapenaby heat; tri-lokimthe three worlds; pratapatiheats; avabhasayatilights; atma-bhasaby its own illuminating rays; sahthat; esahthe sun globe; udagayanaof passing to the northern side of the equator; daksina-ayanaof passing to the southern side of the equator; vaisuvataor of passing through the equator; samjnabhihby different names; mandyacharacterized by slowness; saighryaswiftness; samanabhihand by equality; gatibhihby movement; arohanaof rising; avarohanaof going down; samanaor of staying in the middle; sthanesuin positions; yatha-savanamaccording to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; abhipadyamanahmoving; makara-adisuheaded by the sign Makara (Capricorn); rasisuin different signs; ahah-ratranithe days and nights; dirghalong; hrasvashort; samananiequal; vidhattemakes.
TRANSLATION
In the midst of that region of outer space [antariksa] is the most opulent sun, the king of all the planets that emanate heat, such as the moon. By the influence of its radiation, the sun heats the universe and maintains its proper order. It also gives light to help all living entities see. While passing toward the north, toward the south or through the equator, in accordance with the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is said to move slowly, swiftly or moderately. According to its movements in rising above, going beneath or passing through the equatorand correspondingly coming in touch with various signs of the zodiac, headed by Makara [Capricorn]days and nights are short, long or equal to one another.
PURPORT
Lord Brahma prays in his Brahma-samhita (5.52):
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light. Although the sun is described as bhagavan, the most powerful, and although it is actually the most powerful planet within the universe, it nevertheless has to carry out the order of Govinda, Krsna. The sun-god cannot deviate even an inch from the orbit designated to him. Therefore in every sphere of life, the supreme order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is carried out. The entire material nature carries out His orders. However, we foolishly see the activities of material nature without understanding the supreme order and Supreme Person behind them. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih: [Bg. 9.10] material nature carries out the orders of the Lord, and thus everything is maintained in an orderly way.

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