________________
Tattvārthasūtra
The luminary deva (jyotişi deva) of the human region (manusyaloka, nộloka), move incessantly round Mount Meru, from left to right - merupradaksiņā.
‘Merupradaksiņā' means motion round Mount Meru. This phrase is intended to indicate the correct direction of the motion, which is from left to right. 'Nityagatayaḥ' is intended to convey incessant motion. 'Nrloka' - the human region - specifies that these are in constant motion within the extent of the human region (see sūtra 3-35), and not outside this limit. Now, there is no cause for the motion of the celestialcars (vimāna) of Stellar deva. These should not move. No. The argument is fallacious. The celestial-cars (vimāna) have incessant motion as these are impelled constantly by the Abhiyogya subclass of the Stellar deva, who take pleasure in motion. If it be asked why they should enjoy constant motion, the reply is that the fruition of karmas is strange. The fruition of their karmas is in form of constant motion. This is the reason why they constantly engage themselves in motion. Though the Stellar deva revolve constantly round Mount Meru, still they are at a distance of 1,121 yojana from it.
That conventional time is related to the motion of the luminary deva is mentioned in the next sūtra.
तत्कृतः कालविभागः ॥१४॥
घड़ी, घंटा, दिवस, रात इत्यादि व्यवहारकाल का जो विभाग है वह गतिशील ज्योतिषी देवों के द्वारा किया जाता है।
The divisions of time are caused by those luminary deva (jyotişī deva).
156