Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 20
श्रीशुक उवाच अत: परं प्लक्षादीनां प्रमाणलक्षणसंस्थानतो वर्षविभाग उपवर्ण्यते ॥ १ ॥
sri-suka uvaca atah param plaksadinam pramana-laksana-samsthanato varsa-vibhaga upavarnyate.
The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami said: Hereafter I shall describe the dimensions, characteristics and forms of the six islands beginning with the island of Plaksa.
जम्बूद्वीपोऽयं यावत्प्रमाणविस्तारस्तावता क्षारोदधिना परिवेष्टितो यथा मेरुर्जम्ब्वाख्येन लवणोदधिरपि ततो द्विगुणविशालेन प्लक्षाख्येन परिक्षिप्तो यथा परिखा बाह्योपवनेन । प्लक्षो जम्बूप्रमाणो द्वीपाख्याकरो हिरण्मय उत्थितो यत्राग्निरुपास्ते सप्तजिह्वस्तस्याधिपति: प्रियव्रतात्मज इध्मजिह्व: स्वं द्वीपं सप्तवर्षाणि विभज्य सप्तवर्षनामभ्य आत्मजेभ्य आकलय्य स्वयमात्मयोगेनोपरराम ॥ २ ॥
jambudvipo ’yam yavat-pramana-vistaras tavata ksarodadhina parivestito yatha merur jambv-akhyena lavanodadhir api tato dvi-guna-visalena plaksakhyena pariksipto yatha parikha bahyopavanena; plakso jambu-pramano dvipakhyakaro hiranmaya utthito yatragnir upaste sapta-jihvas tasyadhipatih priyavratatmaja idhmajihvah svam dvipam sapta-varsani vibhajya sapta-varsa-namabhya atmajebhya akalayya svayam atma-yogenopararama.
As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambudvipa, Jambudvipa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The breadth of Jambudvipa is 100,000 yojanas (800,000 miles), and the breadth of the saltwater ocean is the same. As a moat around a fort is sometimes surrounded by gardenlike forest, the saltwater ocean surrounding Jambudvipa is itself surrounded by Plaksadvipa. The breadth of Plaksadvipa is twice that of the saltwater ocean—in other words 260,000 yojanas (1,600,000 miles). On Plaksadvipa there is a tree shining like gold and as tall as the jambu tree on Jambudvipa. At its root is a fire with seven flames. It is because this tree is a plaksa tree that the island is called Plaksadvipa. Plaksadvipa was governed by Idhmajihva, one of the sons of Maharaja Priyavrata. He endowed the seven islands with the names of his seven sons, divided the islands among the sons, and then retired from active life to engage in the devotional service of the Lord.
शिवं यवसं सुभद्रं शान्तं क्षेमममृतमभयमिति वर्षाणि तेषु गिरयो नद्यश्च सप्तैवाभिज्ञाता: ॥ ३ ॥ मणिकूटो वज्रकूट इन्द्रसेनो ज्योतिष्मान् सुपर्णो हिरण्यष्ठीवो मेघमाल इति सेतुशैला: । अरुणा नृम्णाऽऽङ्गिरसी सावित्री सुप्तभाता ऋतम्भरा सत्यम्भरा इति महानद्य: । यासां जलोपस्पर्शनविधूतरजस्तमसो हंसपतङ्गोर्ध्वायनसत्याङ्गसंज्ञाश्चत्वारो वर्णा: सहस्रायुषो विबुधोपमसन्दर्शनप्रजनना: स्वर्गद्वारं त्रय्या विद्यया भगवन्तं त्रयीमयं सूर्यमात्मानं यजन्ते ॥ ४ ॥
sivam yavasam subhadram santam ksemam amrtam abhayam iti varsani tesu girayo nadyas ca saptaivabhijnatah; manikuto vajrakuta indraseno jyotisman suparno hiranyasthivo meghamala iti setu-sailah aruna nrmnangirasi savitri suptabhata rtambhara satyambhara iti maha-nadyah; yasam jalopasparsana-vidhuta-rajas-tamaso hamsa-patangordhvayana-satyanga-samjnas catvaro varnah sahasrayuso vibudhopama-sandarsana-prajananah svarga-dvaram trayya vidyaya bhagavantam trayimayam suryam atmanam yajante.
The seven islands [varsas] are named according to the names of those seven sons — Siva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Santa, Ksema, Amrta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Manikuta, Vajrakuta, Indrasena, Jyotisman, Suparna, Hiranyasthiva and Meghamala, and the rivers are named Aruna, Nrmna, Angirasi, Savitri, Suptabhata, Rtambhara and Satyambhara. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plaksadvipa — the Hamsas, Patangas, Urdhvayanas and Satyangas — purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plaksadvipa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.
प्रत्नस्य विष्णो रूपं यत्सत्यस्यर्तस्य ब्रह्मण: । अमृतस्य च मृत्योश्च सूर्यमात्मानमीमहीति ॥ ५ ॥
pratnasya visno rupam yat satyasyartasya brahmanah amrtasya ca mrtyos ca suryam atmanam imahiti
(This is the mantra by which the inhabitants of Plaksadvipa worship the Supreme Lord.) Let us take shelter of the sun-god, who is a reflection of Lord Visnu, the all-expanding Supreme Personality of Godhead, the oldest of all persons. Visnu is the only worshipable Lord. He is the Vedas, He is religion, and He is the origin of all auspicious and inauspicious results.
प्लक्षादिषु पञ्चसु पुरुषाणामायुरिन्द्रियमोज: सहो बलं बुद्धिर्विक्रम इति च सर्वेषामौत्पत्तिकी सिद्धिरविशेषेण वर्तते ॥ ६ ॥
plaksadisu pancasu purusanam ayur indriyam ojah saho balam buddhir vikrama iti ca sarvesam autpattiki siddhir avisesena vartate.
O King, longevity, sensory prowess, physical and mental strength, intelligence and bravery are naturally and equally manifested in all the inhabitants of the five islands headed by Plaksadvipa.
प्लक्ष: स्वसमानेनेक्षुरसोदेनावृतो यथा तथा द्वीपोऽपि शाल्मलो द्विगुणविशाल: समानेन सुरोदेनावृत: परिवृङ्क्ते ॥ ७ ॥
plaksah sva-samaneneksu-rasodenavrto yatha tatha dvipo ’pi salmalo dvi-guna-visalah samanena surodenavrtah parivrnkte.
Plaksadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice, equal in breadth to the island itself. Similarly, there is then another island—Salmalidvipa—twice as broad as Plaksadvipa (400,000 yojanas, or 3,200,000 miles) and surrounded by an equally broad body of water called Surasagara, the ocean that tastes like liquor.
यत्र ह वै शाल्मली प्लक्षायामा यस्यां वाव किल निलयमाहुर्भगवतश्छन्द: स्तुत: पतत्त्रिराजस्य सा द्वीपहूतये उपलक्ष्यते ॥ ८ ॥
yatra ha vai salmali plaksayama yasyam vava kila nilayam ahur bhagavatas chandah-stutah patattri-rajasya sa dvipa-hutaye upalaksyate.
On Salmalidvipa there is a salmali tree, from which the island takes its name. That tree is as broad and tall as the plaksa tree—in other words 100 yojanas (800 miles) broad and 1,100 yojanas (8,800 miles) tall. Learned scholars say that this gigantic tree is the residence of Garuda, the king of all birds and carrier of Lord Visnu. In that tree, Garuda offers Lord Visnu his Vedic prayers.
तद्द्वीपाधिपति: प्रियव्रतात्मजो यज्ञबाहु: स्वसुतेभ्य: सप्तभ्यस्तन्नामानि सप्तवर्षाणि व्यभजत्सुरोचनं सौमनस्यं रमणकं देववर्षं पारिभद्रमाप्यायनमविज्ञातमिति ॥ ९ ॥
tad-dvipadhipatih priyavratatmajo yajnabahuh sva-sutebhyah saptabhyas tan-namani sapta-varsani vyabhajat surocanam saumanasyam ramanakam deva-varsam paribhadram apyayanam avijnatam iti.
The son of Maharaja Priyavrata named Yajnabahu, the master of Salmalidvipa, divided the island into seven tracts of land, which he gave to his seven sons. The names of those divisions, which correspond to the names of the sons, are Surocana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsa, Paribhadra, Apyayana and Avijnata.
तेषु वर्षाद्रयो नद्यश्च सप्तैवाभिज्ञाता: स्वरस: शतशृङ्गो वामदेव: कुन्दो मुकुन्द: पुष्पवर्ष: सहस्रश्रुतिरिति । अनुमति: सिनीवाली सरस्वती कुहू रजनी नन्दा राकेति ॥ १० ॥
tesu varsadrayo nadyas ca saptaivabhijnatah svarasah satasrngo vamadevah kundo mukundah puspa-varsah sahasra-srutir iti; anumatih sinivali sarasvati kuhu rajani nanda raketi.
In those tracts of land there are seven mountains—Svarasa, Satasrnga, Vamadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Puspa-varsa and Sahasra-sruti. There are also seven rivers—Anumati, Sinivali, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani, Nanda and Raka. They are still existing.
तद्वर्षपुरुषा: श्रुतधरवीर्यधरवसुन्धरेषन्धरसंज्ञा भगवन्तं वेदमयं सोममात्मानं वेदेन यजन्ते ॥ ११ ॥
tad-varsa-purusah srutadhara-viryadhara-vasundharesandhara-samjna bhagavantam vedamayam somam atmanam vedena yajante.
Strictly following the cult of varnasrama-dharma, the inhabitants of those islands, who are known as Srutidharas, Viryadharas, Vasundharas and Isandharas, all worship the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead named Soma, the moon-god.
स्वगोभि: पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजन् कृष्णशुक्लयो: । प्रजानां सर्वासां राजान्ध: सोमो न आस्त्विति ॥ १२ ॥
sva-gobhih pitr-devebhyo vibhajan krsna-suklayoh prajanam sarvasam raja- ndhah somo na astv iti
(The inhabitants of Salmalidvipa worship the demigod of the moon in the following words.) By his own rays, the moon-god has divided the month into two fortnights, known as sukla and krsna, for the distribution of food grains to the pitas and the demigods. The demigod of the moon is he who divides time, and he is the king of all the residents of the universe. We therefore pray that he may remain our king and guide, and we offer him our respectful obeisances.
एवं सुरोदाद्बहिस्तद्द्विगुण: समानेनावृतो घृतोदेन यथापूर्व: कुशद्वीपो यस्मिन् कुशस्तम्बो देवकृतस्तद्द्वीपाख्याकरो ज्वलन इवापर: स्वशष्परोचिषा दिशो विराजयति ॥ १३ ॥
evam surodad bahis tad-dvi-gunah samanenavrto ghrtodena yatha-purvah kusa-dvipo yasmin kusa-stambo deva-krtas tad-dvipakhyakaro jvalana ivaparah sva-saspa-rocisa diso virajayati.
Outside the ocean of liquor is another island, known as Kusadvipa, which is 800,000 yojanas (6,400,000 miles) wide, twice as wide as the ocean of liquor. As Salmalidvipa is surrounded by a liquor ocean, Kusadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of liquid ghee as broad as the island itself. On Kusadvipa there are clumps of kusa grass, from which the island takes its name. This kusa grass, which was created by the demigods by the will of the Supreme Lord, appears like a second form of fire, but with very mild and pleasing flames. Its young shoots illuminate all directions.
तद्द्वीपपति: प्रैयव्रतो राजन् हिरण्यरेता नाम स्वं द्वीपं सप्तभ्य: स्वपुत्रेभ्यो यथाभागं विभज्य स्वयं तप आतिष्ठत वसुवसुदानदृढरुचिनाभिगुप्तस्तुत्यव्रतविविक्तवामदेवनामभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥
tad-dvipa-patih praiyavrato rajan hiranyareta nama svam dvipam saptabhyah sva-putrebhyo yatha-bhagam vibhajya svayam tapa atisthata vasu-vasudana-drdharuci-nabhigupta-stutyavrata-vivikta-vamadeva-namabhyah.
O King, another son of Maharaja Priyavrata, Hiranyareta, was the king of this island. He divided it into seven parts, which he delivered to his seven sons according to the rights of inheritance. The King then retired from family life to engage in austerities. The names of those sons are Vasu, Vasudana, Drdharuci, Stutyavrata, Nabhigupta, Vivikta and Vamadeva.
तेषां वर्षेषु सीमागिरयो नद्यश्चाभिज्ञाता: सप्त सप्तैव चक्रश्चतु:शृङ्ग: कपिलश्चित्रकूटो देवानीक ऊर्ध्वरोमा द्रविण इति रसकुल्या मधुकुल्या मित्रविन्दा श्रुतविन्दा देवगर्भा घृतच्युता मन्त्रमालेति ॥ १५ ॥
tesam varsesu sima-girayo nadyas cabhijnatah sapta saptaiva cakras catuhsrngah kapilas citrakuto devanika urdhvaroma dravina iti rasakulya madhukulya mitravinda srutavinda devagarbha ghrtacyuta mantramaleti.
In those seven islands there are seven boundary mountains, known as Cakra, Catuhsrnga, Kapila, Citrakuta, Devanika, Urdhvaroma and Dravina. There are also seven rivers, known as Ramakulya, Madhukulya, Mitravinda, Srutavinda, Devagarbha, Ghrtacyuta and Mantramala.
यासां पयोभि: कुशद्वीपौकस: कुशलकोविदाभियुक्तकुलकसंज्ञा भगवन्तं जातवेदसरूपिणं कर्मकौशलेन यजन्ते ॥ १६ ॥
yasam payobhih kusadvipaukasah kusala-kovidabhiyukta-kulaka-samjna bhagavantam jataveda-sarupinam karma-kausalena yajante.
The inhabitants of the island of Kusadvipa are celebrated as the Kusalas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas and Kulakas. They are like the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras respectively. By bathing in the waters of those rivers, they all become purified. They are expert in performing ritualistic ceremonies according to the orders of the Vedic scriptures. Thus they worship the Lord in His aspect as the demigod of fire.
परस्य ब्रह्मण: साक्षाज्जातवेदोऽसि हव्यवाट् । देवानां पुरुषाङ्गानां यज्ञेन पुरुषं यजेति ॥ १७ ॥
parasya brahmanah saksaj jata-vedo ’si havyavat devanam purusanganam yajnena purusam yajeti
(This is the mantra by which the inhabitants of Kusadvipa worship the fire-god.) O fire-god, you are a part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, and you carry to Him all the offerings of sacrifices. Therefore we request you to offer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead the yajnic ingredients we are offering the demigods, for the Lord is the real enjoyer.
तथा घृतोदाद्बहि: क्रौञ्चद्वीपो द्विगुण: स्वमानेन क्षीरोदेन परित उपक्लृप्तो वृतो यथा कुशद्वीपो घृतोदेन यस्मिन् क्रौञ्चो नाम पर्वतराजो द्वीपनामनिर्वर्तक आस्ते ॥ १८ ॥
tatha ghrtodad bahih krauncadvipo dvi-gunah sva-manena ksirodena parita upaklpto vrto yatha kusadvipo ghrtodena yasmin kraunco nama parvata-rajo dvipa-nama-nirvartaka aste.
Outside the ocean of clarified butter is another island, known as Krauncadvipa, which has a width of 1,600,000 yojanas (12,800,000 miles), twice the width of the ocean of clarified butter. As Kusadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of clarified butter, Krauncadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of milk as broad as the island itself. On Krauncadvipa there is a great mountain known as Kraunca, from which the island takes its name.
योऽसौ गुहप्रहरणोन्मथितनितम्बकुञ्जोऽपि क्षीरोदेनासिच्यमानो भगवता वरुणेनाभिगुप्तो विभयो बभूव ॥ १९ ॥
yo ’sau guha-praharanonmathita-nitamba-kunjo ’pi ksirodena-sicyamano bhagavata varunenabhigupto vibhayo babhuva.
Although the vegetables living on the slopes of Mount Kraunca were attacked and devastated by the weapons of Karttikeya, the mountain has become fearless because it is always bathed on all sides by the ocean of milk and protected by Varunadeva.
तस्मिन्नपि प्रैयव्रतो घृतपृष्ठो नामाधिपति: स्वे द्वीपे वर्षाणि सप्त विभज्य तेषु पुत्रनामसु सप्त रिक्थादान् वर्षपान्निवेश्य स्वयं भगवान् भगवत: परमकल्याणयशस आत्मभूतस्य हरेश्चरणारविन्दमुपजगाम ॥ २० ॥
tasminn api praiyavrato ghrtaprstho namadhipatih sve dvipe varsani sapta vibhajya tesu putra-namasu sapta rikthadan varsapan nivesya svayam bhagavan bhagavatah parama-kalyana-yasasa atma-bhutasya hares caranaravindam upajagama.
The ruler of this island was another son of Maharaja Priyavrata. His name was Ghrtaprstha, and he was a very learned scholar. He also divided his own island among his seven sons. After dividing the island into seven parts, named according to the names of his sons, Ghrtaprstha Maharaja completely retired from family life and took shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord, the soul of all souls, who has all auspicious qualities. Thus he attained perfection.
आमो मधुरुहो मेघपृष्ठ: सुधामा भ्राजिष्ठो लोहितार्णो वनस्पतिरिति घृतपृष्ठसुतास्तेषां वर्षगिरय: सप्त सप्तैव नद्यश्चाभिख्याता: शुक्लो वर्धमानो भोजन उपबर्हिणो नन्दो नन्दन: सर्वतोभद्र इति अभया अमृतौघा आर्यका तीर्थवती रूपवती पवित्रवती शुक्लेति ॥ २१ ॥
amo madhuruho meghaprsthah sudhama bhrajistho lohitarno vanaspatir iti ghrtaprstha-sutas tesam varsa-girayah sapta saptaiva nadyas cabhikhyatah suklo vardhamano bhojana upabarhino nando nandanah sarvatobhadra iti abhaya amrtaugha aryaka tirthavati rupavati pavitravati sukleti.
The sons of Maharaja Ghrtaprstha were named Ama, Madhuruha, Meghaprstha, Sudhama, Bhrajistha, Lohitarna and Vanaspati. In their island there are seven mountains, which indicate the boundaries of the seven tracts of land, and there are also seven rivers. The mountains are named Sukla, Vardhamana, Bhojana, Upabarhina, Nanda, Nandana and Sarvatobhadra. The rivers are named Abhaya, Amrtaugha, Aryaka, Tirthavati, Rupavati, Pavitravati and Sukla.
यासामम्भ: पवित्रममलमुपयुञ्जाना: पुरुषऋषभद्रविणदेवकसंज्ञा वर्षपुरुषा आपोमयं देवमपां पूर्णेनाञ्जलिना यजन्ते ॥ २२ ॥
yasam ambhah pavitram amalam upayunjanah purusa-rsabha-dravina-devaka-samjna varsa-purusa apomayam devam apam purnenanjalina yajante.
The inhabitants of Krauncadvipa are divided into four castes, called the Purusas, Rsabhas, Dravinas and Devakas. Using the waters of those sanctified rivers, they worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead by offering a palmful of water at the lotus feet of Varuna, the demigod who has a form of water.
आप: पुरुषवीर्या: स्थ पुनन्तीर्भूर्भुव:सुव: । ता न: पुनीतामीवघ्नी: स्पृशतामात्मना भुव इति ॥ २३ ॥
apah purusa-viryah stha punantir bhur-bhuvah-suvah ta nah punitamiva-ghnih sprsatam atmana bhuva iti
(The inhabitants of Krauncadvipa worship with this mantra.) O water of the rivers, you have obtained energy from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore you purify the three planeary systems, known as Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka and Svarloka. By your constitutional nature, you take away sins, and that is why we are touching you. Kindly continue to purify us.
एवं पुरस्तात्क्षीरोदात्परित उपवेशित: शाकद्वीपो द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनायाम: समानेन च दधिमण्डोदेन परीतो यस्मिन् शाको नाम महीरुह: स्वक्षेत्रव्यपदेशको यस्य ह महासुरभिगन्धस्तं द्वीपमनुवासयति ॥ २४ ॥
evam purastat ksirodat parita upavesitah sakadvipo dvatrimsal-laksa-yojanayamah samanena ca dadhi-mandodena parito yasmin sako nama mahiruhah sva-ksetra-vyapadesako yasya ha maha-surabhi-gandhas tam dvipam anuvasayati.
Outside the ocean of milk is another island, Sakadvipa, which has a width of 3,200,000 yojanas (25,600,000 miles). As Krauncadvipa is surrounded by its own ocean of milk, Sakadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of churned yogurt as broad as the island itself. In Sakadvipa there is a big saka tree, from which the island takes its name. This tree is very fragrant. Indeed, it lends its scent to the entire island.
तस्यापि प्रैयव्रत एवाधिपतिर्नाम्ना मेधातिथि: सोऽपि विभज्य सप्त वर्षाणि पुत्रनामानि तेषु स्वात्मजान् पुरोजवमनोजवपवमानधूम्रानीकचित्ररेफबहुरूपविश्वधारसंज्ञान्निधाप्याधिपतीन् स्वयं भगवत्यनन्त आवेशितमतिस्तपोवनं प्रविवेश ॥ २५ ॥
tasyapi praiyavrata evadhipatir namna medhatithih so ’pi vibhajya sapta varsani putra-namani tesu svatmajan purojava-manojava-pavamana-dhumranika-citrarepha-bahurupa-visvadhara-samjnan nidhapyadhipatin svayam bhagavaty ananta a-vesita-matis tapovanam pravivesa.
The master of this island, also one of the sons of Priyavrata, was known as Medhatithi. He also divided his island into seven sections, named according to the names of his own sons, whom he made the kings of that island. The names of those sons are Purojava, Manojava, Pavamana, Dhumranika, Citrarepha, Bahurupa and Visvadhara. After dividing the island and situating his sons as its rulers, Medhatithi personally retired, and to fix his mind completely upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he entered a forest suitable for meditation.
एतेषां वर्षमर्यादागिरयो नद्यश्च सप्त सप्तैव ईशान उरुशृङ्गो बलभद्र: शतकेसर: सहस्रस्रोतो देवपालो महानस इति अनघाऽऽयुर्दा उभयस्पृष्टिरपराजिता पञ्चपदी सहस्रस्रुतिर्निजधृतिरिति ॥ २६ ॥
etesam varsa-maryada-girayo nadyas ca sapta saptaiva isana urusrngo balabhadrah satakesarah sahasrasroto devapalo mahanasa iti anaghayurda ubhayasprstir aparajita pancapadi sahasrasrutir nijadhrtir iti.
For these lands also, there are seven boundary mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are Isana, Urusrnga, Balabhadra, Satakesara, Sahasrasrota, Devapala and Mahanasa. The rivers are Anagha, Ayurda, Ubhayasprsti, Aparajita, Pancapadi, Sahasra-sruti and Nijadhrti.
तद्वर्षपुरुषा ऋतव्रतसत्यव्रतदानव्रतानुव्रतनामानो भगवन्तं वाय्वात्मकं प्राणायामविधूतरजस्तमस: परमसमाधिना यजन्ते ॥ २७ ॥
tad-varsa-purusa rtavrata-satyavrata-danavratanuvrata-namano bhagavantam vayv-atmakam pranayama-vidhuta-rajas-tamasah parama-samadhina yajante.
The inhabitants of those islands are also divided into four castes—Rtavrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata—which exactly resemble brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra. They practice pranayama and mystic yoga, and in trance they worship the Supreme Lord in the form of Vayu.
अन्त:प्रविश्य भूतानि यो बिभर्त्यात्मकेतुभि: । अन्तर्यामीश्वर: साक्षात्पातु नो यद्वशे स्फुटम् ॥ २८ ॥
antah-pravisya bhutani yo bibharty atma-ketubhih antaryamisvarah saksat patu no yad-vase sphutam
(The inhabitants of Sakadvipa worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Vayu in the following words.) O Supreme Person, situated as the Supersoul within the body, You direct the various actions of the different airs, such as prana, and thus You maintain all living entities. O Lord, O Supersoul of everyone, O controller of the cosmic manifestation under whom everything exists, may You protect us from all dangers.
एवमेव दधिमण्डोदात्परत: पुष्करद्वीपस्ततो द्विगुणायाम: समन्तत उपकल्पित: समानेन स्वादूदकेन समुद्रेण बहिरावृतो यस्मिन् बृहत्पुष्करं ज्वलनशिखामलकनकपत्रायुतायुतं भगवत: कमलासनस्याध्यासनं परिकल्पितम् ॥ २९ ॥
evam eva dadhi-mandodat paratah puskaradvipas tato dvi-gunayamah samantata upakalpitah samanena svadudakena samudrena bahir avrto yasmin brhat-puskaram jvalana-sikhamala-kanaka-patrayutayutam bhagavatah kamalasanasyadhyasanam parikalpitam.
Outside the ocean of yogurt is another island, known as Puskaradvipa, which is 6,400,000 yojanas (51,200,000 miles) wide, twice as wide as the ocean of yogurt. It is surrounded by an ocean of very tasteful water as broad as the island itself. On Puskaradvipa there is a great lotus flower with 100,000,000 pure golden petals, as effulgent as the flames of fire. That lotus flower is considered the sitting place of Lord Brahma, who is the most powerful living being and who is therefore sometimes called bhagavan.
तद्द्वीपमध्ये मानसोत्तरनामैक एवार्वाचीनपराचीनवर्षयोर्मर्यादाचलोऽयुतयोजनोच्छ्रायायामो यत्र तु चतसृषु दिक्षु चत्वारि पुराणि लोकपालानामिन्द्रादीनां यदुपरिष्टात्सूर्यरथस्य मेरुं परिभ्रमत: संवत्सरात्मकं चक्रं देवानामहोरात्राभ्यां परिभ्रमति ॥ ३० ॥
tad-dvipa-madhye manasottara-namaika evarvacina-paracina-varsayor maryadacalo ’yuta-yojanocchrayayamo yatra tu catasrsu diksu catvari purani loka-palanam indradinam yad-uparistat surya-rathasya merum paribhramatah samvatsaratmakam cakram devanam aho-ratrabhyam paribhramati.
In the middle of that island is a great mountain named Manasottara, which forms the boundary between the inner side and the outer side of the island. Its breadth and height are 10,000 yojanas (80,000 miles). On that mountain, in the four directions, are the residential quarters of demigods such as Indra. In the chariot of the sun-god, the sun travels on the top of the mountain in an orbit called the Samvatsara, encircling Mount Meru. The sun’s path on the northern side is called Uttarayana, and its path on the southern side is called Daksinayana. One side represents a day for the demigods, and the other represents their night.
तद्द्वीपस्याप्यधिपति: प्रैयव्रतो वीतिहोत्रो नामैतस्यात्मजौ रमणकधातकिनामानौ वर्षपती नियुज्य स स्वयं पूर्वजवद्भगवत्कर्मशील एवास्ते ॥ ३१ ॥
tad-dvipasyapy adhipatih praiyavrato vitihotro namaitasyatmajau ramanaka-dhataki-namanau varsa-pati niyujya sa svayam purvajavad-bhagavat-karma-sila evaste.
The ruler of this island, the son of Maharaja Priyavrata named Vitihotra, had two sons named Ramanaka and Dhataki. He granted the two sides of the island to these two sons and then personally engaged himself in activities for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead like his elder brother Medhatithi.
तद्वर्षपुरुषा भगवन्तं ब्रह्मरूपिणं सकर्मकेण कर्मणाऽऽराधयन्तीदं चोदाहरन्ति ॥ ३२ ॥
tad-varsa-purusa bhagavantam brahma-rupinam sakarmakena karmanaradhayantidam codaharanti.
For the fulfillment of material desires, the inhabitants of this tract of land worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by Lord Brahma. They offer prayers to the Lord as follows.
यत्तत्कर्ममयं लिङ्गं ब्रह्मलिङ्गं जनोऽर्चयेत् । एकान्तमद्वयं शान्तं तस्मै भगवते नम इति ॥ ३३ ॥
yat tat karmamayam lingam brahma-lingam jano ’rcayet ekantam advayam santam tasmai bhagavate nama iti
Lord Brahma is known as karma-maya, the form of ritualistic ceremonies, because by performing ritualistic ceremonies one may attain his position and because the Vedic ritualistic hymns become manifest from him. He is devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead without deviation, and therefore in one sense he is not different from the Lord. Nevertheless, he should be worshiped not as the monists worship him, but in duality. One should always remain a servitor of the Supreme Lord, the supreme worshipable Deity. We therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Lord Brahma, the form of manifest Vedic knowledge.
ऋषिरुवाच तत: परस्ताल्लोकालोकनामाचलो लोकालोकयोरन्तराले परित उपक्षिप्त: ॥ ३४ ॥
tatah parastal lokaloka-namacalo lokalokayor antarale parita upaksiptah.
Thereafter, beyond the ocean of sweet water and fully surrounding it, is a mountain named Lokaloka, which divides the countries that are full of sunlight from those not lit by the sun.
यावन्मानसोत्तरमेर्वोरन्तरं तावती भूमि: काञ्चन्यन्याऽऽदर्शतलोपमा यस्यां प्रहित: पदार्थो न कथञ्चित्पुन: प्रत्युपलभ्यते तस्मात्सर्वसत्त्वपरिहृतासीत् ॥ ३५ ॥
yavan manasottara-mervor antaram tavati bhumih kancany anyadarsa-talopama yasyam prahitah padartho na kathancit punah pratyupalabhyate tasmat sarva-sattva-parihrtasit.
Beyond the ocean of sweet water is a tract of land as broad as the area between the middle of Mount Sumeru and the boundary of Manasottara Mountain. In that tract of land there are many living beings. Beyond it, extending to Lokaloka Mountain, is another land, which is made of gold. Because of its golden surface, it reflects light like the surface of a mirror, and any physical article that falls on that land can never be perceived again. All living entities, therefore, have abandoned that golden land.
लोकालोक इति समाख्या यदनेनाचलेन लोकालोकस्यान्तर्वर्तिनावस्थाप्यते ॥ ३६ ॥
lokaloka iti samakhya yad anenacalena lokalokasyantarvar-tinavasthapyate.
Between the lands inhabited by living entities and those that are uninhabited stands the great mountain which separates the two and which is therefore celebrated as Lokaloka.
स लोकत्रयान्ते परित ईश्वरेण विहितो यस्मात्सूर्यादीनां ध्रुवापवर्गाणां ज्योतिर्गणानां गभस्तयोऽर्वाचीनांस्त्रींल्लोकानावितन्वाना न कदाचित्पराचीना भवितुमुत्सहन्ते तावदुन्नहनायाम: ॥ ३७ ॥
sa loka-trayante parita isvarena vihito yasmat suryadinam dhruvapavarganam jyotir-gananam gabhastayo ’rvacinams tril lokan avitanvana na kadacit paracina bhavitum utsahante tavad un-nahanayamah.
By the supreme will of Krsna, the mountain known as Lokaloka has been installed as the outer border of the three worlds—Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka and Svarloka—to control the rays of the sun throughout the universe. All the luminaries, from the sun up to Dhruvaloka, distribute their rays throughout the three worlds, but only within the boundary formed by this mountain. Because it is extremely high, extending even higher than Dhruvaloka, it blocks the rays of the luminaries, which therefore can never extend beyond it.
एतावाँल्लोकविन्यासो मानलक्षणसंस्थाभिर्विचिन्तित: कविभि: स तु पञ्चाशत्कोटिगणितस्य भूगोलस्य तुरीयभागोऽयं लोकालोकाचल: ॥ ३८ ॥
etaval loka-vinyaso mana-laksana-samsthabhir vicintitah kavibhih sa tu pancasat-koti-ganitasya bhu-golasya turiya-bhago ’yam lokalokacalah.
Learned scholars who are free from mistakes, illusions and propensities to cheat have thus described the planeary systems and their particular symptoms, measurements and locations. With great deliberation, they have established the truth that the distance between Sumeru and the mountain known as Lokaloka is one fourth of the diameter of the universe—or, in other words, 125,000,000 yojanas (1 billion miles).
तदुपरिष्टाच्चतसृष्वाशास्वात्मयोनिनाखिलजगद्गुरुणाधिनिवेशिता ये द्विरदपतय ऋषभ: पुष्करचूडो वामनोऽपराजित इति सकललोकस्थितिहेतव: ॥ ३९ ॥
tad-uparistac catasrsv asasvatma-yoninakhila-jagad-gurunadhinivesita ye dvirada-pataya rsabhah puskaracudo vamano ’parajita iti sakala-loka-sthiti-hetavah.
On the top of Lokaloka Mountain are the four gaja-patis, the best of elephants, which were established in the four directions by Lord Brahma, the supreme spiritual master of the entire universe. The names of those elephants are Rsabha, Puskaracuda, Vamana and Aparajita. They are responsible for maintaining the planeary systems of the universe.
तेषां स्वविभूतीनां लोकपालानां च विविधवीर्योपबृंहणाय भगवान् परममहापुरुषो महाविभूतिपतिरन्तर्याम्यात्मनो विशुद्धसत्त्वं धर्मज्ञानवैराग्यैश्वर्याद्यष्टमहासिद्ध्युपलक्षणं विष्वक्सेनादिभि: स्वपार्षदप्रवरै: परिवारितो निजवरायुधोपशोभितैर्निजभुजदण्डै: सन्धारय-माणस्तस्मिन् गिरिवरे समन्तात्सकललोकस्वस्तय आस्ते ॥ ४० ॥
tesam sva-vibhutinam loka-palanam ca vividha-viryopabrmhanaya bhagavan parama-maha-puruso maha-vibhuti-patir antaryamy atmano visuddha-sattvam dharma-jnana-vairagyaisvaryady-asta-maha-siddhy-upalaksanam visvaksenadibhih sva-parsada-pravaraih parivarito nija-varayudhopasobhitair nija-bhuja-dandaih sandharayamanas tasmin giri-vare samantat sakala-loka-svastaya aste.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of all transcendental opulences and the master of the spiritual sky. He is the Supreme Person, Bhagavan, the Supersoul of everyone. The demigods, led by Indra, the King of heaven, are entrusted with seeing to the affairs of the material world. To benefit all living beings in all the varied planes and to increase the power of those elephants and of the demigods, the Lord manifests Himself on top of that mountain in a spiritual body, uncontaminated by the modes of material nature. Surrounded by His personal expansions and assistants like Visvaksena, He exhibits all His perfect opulences, such as religion and knowledge, and His mystic powers such as anima, laghima and mahima. He is beautifully situated, and He is decorated by the different weapons in His four hands.
आकल्पमेवं वेषं गत एष भगवानात्मयोगमायया विरचितविविधलोकयात्रागोपीयायेत्यर्थ: ॥ ४१ ॥
akalpam evam vesam gata esa bhagavan atma-yogamayaya viracita-vividha-loka-yatra-gopiyayety arthah.
The various forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, such as Narayana and Visnu, are beautifully decorated with different weapons. The Lord exhibits those forms to maintain all the varied planes created by His personal potency, yogamaya.
योऽन्तर्विस्तार एतेन ह्यलोकपरिमाणं च व्याख्यातं यद्बहिर्लोकालोकाचलात् । तत: परस्ताद्योगेश्वरगतिं विशुद्धामुदाहरन्ति ॥ ४२ ॥
yo ’ntar-vistara etena hy aloka-parimanam ca vyakhyatam yad bahir lokalokacalat; tatah parastad yogesvara-gatim visuddham udaharanti.
My dear King, outside Lokaloka Mountain is the tract of land known as Aloka-varsa, which extends for the same breadth as the area within the mountain—in other words, 125,000,000 yojanas (one billion miles). Beyond Aloka-varsa is the destination of those who aspire for liberation from the material world. It is beyond the jurisdiction of the material modes of nature, and therefore it is completely pure. Lord Krsna took Arjuna through this place to bring back the sons of the brahmana.
अण्डमध्यगत: सूर्यो द्यावाभूम्योर्यदन्तरम् । सूर्याण्डगोलयोर्मध्ये कोट्य: स्यु: पञ्चविंशति: ॥ ४३ ॥
anda-madhya-gatah suryo dyav-abhumyor yad antaram suryanda-golayor madhye kotyah syuh panca-vimsatih
The sun is situated (vertically) in the middle of the universe, in the area between Bhurloka and Bhuvarloka, which is called antariksa, outer space. The distance between the sun and the circumference of the universe is twenty-five koti yojanas (two billion miles).
मृतेऽण्ड एष एतस्मिन् यदभूत्ततो मार्तण्ड इति व्यपदेश: । हिरण्यगर्भ इति यद्धिरण्याण्डसमुद्भव: ॥ ४४ ॥
mrte ’nda esa etasmin yad abhut tato martanda iti vyapadesah; hiranyagarbha iti yad dhiranyanda-samudbhavah.
The sun-god is also known as Vairaja, the total material body for all living entities. Because he entered this dull egg of the universe at the time of creation, he is also called Martanda. He is also known as Hiranyagarbha because he received his material body from Hiranyagarbha (Lord Brahma).
सूर्येण हि विभज्यन्ते दिश: खं द्यौर्मही भिदा । स्वर्गापवर्गौ नरका रसौकांसि च सर्वश: ॥ ४५ ॥
suryena hi vibhajyante disah kham dyaur mahi bhida svargapavargau naraka rasaukamsi ca sarvasah
O King, the sun-god and the sun plane divide all the directions of the universe. It is only because of the presence of the sun that we can understand what the sky, the higher planes, this world and the lower planes are. It is also only because of the sun that we can understand which places are for material enjoyment, which are for liberation, which are hellish and subterranean.
देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्याणां सरीसृपसवीरुधाम् । सर्वजीवनिकायानां सूर्य आत्मा दृगीश्वर: ॥ ४६ ॥
deva-tiryan-manusyanam sarisrpa-savirudham sarva-jiva-nikayanam surya atma drg-isvarah
All living entities, including demigods, human beings, animals, birds, insects, reptiles, creepers and trees, depend upon the heat and light given by the sun-god from the sun plane. Furthermore, it is because of the sun’s presence that all living entities can see, and therefore he is called drg-isvara, the Personality of Godhead presiding over sight.
