Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.22.13
Sthāna· The universe in orderMercury’s Influence Varies With Its Movement
“Mercury is described to be similar to Venus, in that it moves sometimes behind the sun, sometimes in front of the sun and sometimes along with it. It is 1,600,000 miles above Venus, or 7,200,000 miles above earth. Mercury, which is the son of the moon, is almost always very auspicious for the inhabitants of the universe, but when it does not move along with the sun, it forbodes cyclones, dust, irregular rainfall, and waterless clouds. In this way it creates fearful conditions due to inadequate or excessive rainfall.”
What the purport teaches
- Mercury, the son of the moon, is described as situated 1,600,000 miles above Venus, or 7,200,000 miles above earth.
- Like Venus, Mercury moves sometimes behind the sun, sometimes in front of it and sometimes along with it. It is almost always very auspicious for the inhabitants of the universe.
- When Mercury does not move along with the sun, it foretells cyclones, dust, irregular rainfall and waterless clouds. Inadequate or excessive rainfall creates fearful conditions.
Try this today
List the two rainfall extremes mentioned in the verse and note that both create fearful conditions.
Ask yourself
How does this description deepen your appreciation for adequate rainfall?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.