The pole of that chariot extends to the top of Meru. The other end of the pole is on the Manâsottara. (It is either to be thought that the wheel is placed more than 50,000 Yojanas over the Manâsottara in the regions of air or the wheel is to be considered as high as that distance, otherwise the Manâsottara being 10,000 Yojanas high and Meru being 84 Yojanas high, 16 thousand being under ground, there will be a difference of planes in the Sun’s revolution. _Śridhara_.) There is another movement of the Sun round Dhruva. The radius of that revolution is one fourth the distance between Meru and Manâsottara. (_i.e._ 1/4 X 15,750,000 = 3,937,500). The movement round Dhruva is caused by the action of air. The seat within the chariot is 36 laksha of Yojanas wide. The yoke is also of the same measure. The seven horses are the seven Vedic metres (Gâyatri, Ushnik, Anustup, Vrihatî, Pankti, Tristup and Jagati). They are driven by Aruna. The thumb sized Bâlikhilya Rishis stand in front of the chariot and chant hymns in honor of Âditya. THE PLANETS AND STARS. *SKANDHA V. CHAP. 22-23.* The moon is one laksha of Yojanas over the Sun. The growing Moon makes the day of the Devas and the waning Moon is the life of all Jivas, in fact he is Jiva. He is Manomaya, Annamaya and Amritamaya. From him therefore proceed the life and advancement of Devas, Pitris, Men, Animals and Plants. Two laksha of Yojanas over the Moon are the 27 Zodiacal constellations and also the star Abhijit ( a mysterious star between Uttarâshâdhâ and Sravanâ) attached to the wheel of time. Two laksha of Yojanas over them is Sukra or Venus. His movements are like those of the Sun. He is ever favourable to men. His progression is generally accompanied by showers of rain. He also subdues those planets that counteract the rains. Two laksha of Yojanas over Sukra is Budha or Mercury. He is much like Sukra in his movements and is generally favourable to men. But when he transgresses the Sun, there is fear of high winds, rainless clouds and drought. Two laksha of Yojanas over Budha is Mangala or Mars. He moves round the Zodiac in three fortnights. He is generally unfavourable to men, causing miseries, unless he proceeds by retrogression. Two laksha of Yojanas over Mars is Brihaspati or Jupiter. He moves in each sign of the Zodiac for one Parivatsara (year of Jupiter), if there is no retrogression. He is generally unfavorable to the Brâhmanas. Two laksha of Yojanas over Jupiter is Sanaischara or Saturn. He loiters in each sign of the Zodiac for thirty months. He completes his round in thirty Anuvatsaras. He is generally unfavourable to all and causes unrest. Eleven laksha of Yojanas over Saturn are the Rishis. Their influence is for the good of all people. They revolve round the Supreme abode of Vishnu. Thirteen laksha of Yojanas beyond the Rishis is Dhruva, which is the Supreme abode of Vishnu.