> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 5

> **************

> Chapter Sixteen: A Description of Jambudvîpa

> *******

> TEXT 1

> râjovâca

> uktas tvayâ bhû-mandalâyâma-viseso yâvad âdityas tapati yatra

> câsau jyotisâm ganais candramâ vâ saha drsyate.

> râjâ uvâca--Mahârâja Parîksit said; uktah--already been said; tvayâ--by you; bhû-mandala--of the planetary system known as Bhû-mandala; âyâma-visesah--the specific length of the radius; yâvat--as far as; âdityah--the sun; tapati--heats; yatra--wherever; ca--also; asau--that; jyotisâm--of the luminaries; ganaih--with hordes; candramâ--the moon; vâ--either; saha--with; drsyate--is seen.

> TRANSLATION

> King Pariksit said to Sukadeva Gosvami: O brahmana, you have already informed me that the radius of Bhu-mandala extends as far as the sun spreads its light and heat and as far as the moon and all the stars can be seen.

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> TEXT 2

> tatrâpi priyavrata-ratha-carana-parikhâtaih saptabhih sapta sindhava

> upaklptâ yata etasyâh sapta-dvîpa-visesa-vikalpas tvayâ bhagavan

> khalu sûcita etad evâkhilam aham mânato laksanatas ca sarvam

> vijijnâsâmi.

> tatra api--in that Bhû-mandala; priyavrata-ratha-carana-parikhâtaih--by the ditches made by the wheels of the chariot used by Priyavrata Mahârâja while circumambulating Sumeru behind the sun; saptabhih--by the seven; sapta--seven; sindhavah--oceans; upaklptâh--created; yatah--because of which; etasyâh--of this Bhû-mandala; sapta-dvîpa--of the seven islands; visesa-vikalpah--the mode of the construction; tvayâ--by you; bhagavan--O great saint; khalu--indeed; sûcitah--described; etat--this; eva--certainly; akhilam--whole subject; aham--I; mânatah--from the point of view of measurement; laksanatah--and from symptoms; ca--also; sarvam--everything; vijijnâsâmi--wish to know.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear Lord, the rolling wheels of Maharaja Priyavrata's chariot created seven ditches, in which the seven oceans came into existence. Because of these seven oceans, Bhu-mandala is divided into seven islands. You have given a very general description of their measurement, names and characteristics. Now I wish to know of them in detail. Kindly fulfill my desire.

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> TEXT 3

> bhagavato gunamaye sthûla-rûpa âvesitam mano hy agune 'pi

> sûksmatama âtma-jyotisi pare brahmani bhagavati vâsudevâkhye

> ksamam âvesitum tad u haitad guro 'rhasy anuvarnayitum iti.

> bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna-maye--into the external features, consisting of the three modes of material nature; sthûla-rûpe--the gross form; âvesitam--entered; manah--the mind; hi--indeed; agune--transcendental; api--although; sûksmatame--in His smaller form as Paramâtmâ within the heart; âtma-jyotisi--who is full of Brahman effulgence; pare--the supreme; brahmani--spiritual entity; bhagavati--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vâsudeva-âkhye--known as Bhagavân Vâsudeva; ksamam--suitable; âvesitum--to absorb; tat--that; u ha--indeed; etat--this; guro--O my dear spiritual master; arhasi anuvarnayitum--please describe factually; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> When the mind is fixed upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His external feature made of the material modes of nature--the gross universal form--it is brought to the platform of pure goodness. In that transcendental position, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, who in His subtler form is self-effulgent and beyond the modes of nature. O my lord, please describe vividly how that form, which covers the entire universe, is perceived.

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> TEXT 4

> rsir uvâca

> na vai mahârâja bhagavato mâyâ-guna-vibhûteh kâsthâm manasâ

> vacasâ vâdhigantum alam vibudhâyusâpi purusas tasmât prâdhân-

> yenaiva bhû-golaka-visesam nâma-rûpa-mâna-laksanato

> vyâkhyâsyâmah.

> rsih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî continued to speak; na--not; vai--indeed; mahâ-râja--O great King; bhagavatah--of the Supreme personality of Godhead; mâyâ-guna-vibhûteh--of the transformation of the qualities of the material energy; kâsthâm--the end; manasâ--by the mind; vacasâ--by words; vâ--either; adhigantum--to understand fully; alam--capable; vibudha-âyusâ--with a duration of life like that of Brahmâ; api--even; purusah--a person; tasmât--therefore; prâdhânyena--by a general description of the chief places; eva--certainly; bhû-golaka-visesam--the particular description of Bhûloka; nâma-rûpa--names and forms; mâna--measurements; laksanatah--according to symptoms; vyâkhyâsyamah--I shall try to explain.

> TRANSLATION

> The great rsi Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, there is no limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's material energy. This material world is a transformation of the material qualities [sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna], yet no one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as that of Brahma No one in the material world is perfect, and an imperfect person could not describe this material universe accurately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as Bhu-goloka [Bhuloka], with their names, forms, measurements and various symptoms.

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> TEXT 5

> yo vâyam dvîpah kuvalaya-kamala-kosâbhyantara-koso niyuta-yojana-

> visâlah samavartulo yathâ puskara-patram.

> yah--which; vâ--either; ayam--this; dvîpah--island; kuvalaya--the Bhûloka; kamala-kosa--of the whorl of a lotus flower; abhyantara--inner; kosah--whorl; niyuta-yojana-visâlah--one million yojanas (eight million miles) wide; samavartulah--equally round, or having a length and breadth of the same measurement; yathâ--like; puskara-patram--a lotus leaf.

> TRANSLATION

> The planetary system known as Bhu-mandala resembles a lotus flower, and its seven islands resemble the whorl of that flower. The length and breadth of the island known as Jambudvipa, which is situated in the middle of the whorl, are one million yojanas [eight million miles]. Jambudvipa is round like the leaf of a lotus flower.

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> TEXT 6

> yasmin nava varsâni nava-yojana-sahasrâyâmâny astabhir maryâdâ-

> giribhih suvibhakâni bhavanti.

> yasmin--in that Jambûdvîpa; nava--nine; varsâni--divisions of land; nava-yojana-sahasra--72,000 miles in length; âyâmâni--measuring; astabhih--by eight; maryâdâ--indicating the boundaries; giribhih--by mountains; suvibhaktâni--nicely divided from one another; bhavanti--are.

> TRANSLATION

> In Jambudvipa there are nine divisions of land, each with a length of 9,000 yojanas [72,000 miles]. There are eight mountains that mark the boundaries of these divisions and separate them nicely.

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> TEXT 7

> esâm madhye ilâvrtam nâmâbhyantara-varsam yasya nâbhyâm

> avasthitah sarvatah sauvarnah kula-giri-râjo merur dvîpâyâma-

> samunnâhah karnikâ-bhûtah kuvalaya-kamalasya mûrdhani dvâ-

> trimsat sahasra-yojana-vitato mûle sodasa-sahasram tâvat ântar-

> bhûmyâm pravistah.

> esâm--all these divisions of Jambûdvîpa; madhye--among; ilâvrtam nâma--named Ilâvrta-varsa; abhyantara-varsam--the inner division; yasya--of which; nâbhyâm--in the navel; avasthitah--situated; sarvatah--entirely; sauvarnah--made of gold; kula-giri-râjah--the most famous among famous mountains; meruh--Mount Meru; dvîpa-âyâma-samunnâhah--whose height is the same measurement as the width of Jambûdvîpa; karnikâ-bhûtah--existing as the pericarp; kuvalaya--of this planetary system; kamalasya--like a lotus flower; mûrdhani--on the top; dvâ-trimsat--thirty-two; sahasra--thousand; yojana--yojanas (eight miles each); vitatah--expanded; mûle--at the base; sodasa-sahasram--sixteen thousand yojanas; tâvat--so much; ântah-bhûmyâm--within the earth; pravistah--entered.

> TRANSLATION

> Amidst these divisions, or varsas, is the varsa named Ilavrta, which is situated in the middle of the whorl of the lotus. Within Ilavrta-varsa is Sumeru Mountain, which is made of gold. Sumeru Mountain is like the pericarp of the lotuslike Bhu-mandala planetary system. The mountain's height is the same as the width of Jambudvipa--or, in other words, 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles]. Of that, 16,0O0 yojanas [128,000 miles] are within the earth, and therefore the mountain's height above the earth is 84,000 yojanas [672,000 miles]. The mountain's width is 32,000 yojanas [256,000 miles] at its summit and 16,000 yojanas at its base.

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> TEXT 8

> uttarottarenelâvrtam nîlah svetah srngavân iti trayo ramyaka-

> hiranmaya-kurûnâm varsânâm maryâdâ-girayah prâg-âyatâ

> ubhayatah ksârodâvadhayo dvi-sahasra-prthava ekaikasah pûrvasmât

> pûrvasmâd uttara uttaro dasâmsâdhikâmsena dairghya eva hrasanti.

> uttara-uttarena ilâvrtam--further and further north of Ilâvrta-varsa; nîlah--Nîla; svetah--Sveta; srngavân--Srngavân; iti--thus; trayah--three mountains; ramyaka--Ramyaka; hiranmaya--Hiranmaya; kurûnâm--of the Kuru division; varsânâm--of the varsas; maryâdâ-girayah--the mountains marking the borders; prâk-âyatâh--extended on the eastern side; ubhayatah--to the east and the west; ksâroda--the ocean of salt water; avadhayah--extending to; dvi-sahasra-prthavah--which are two thousand yojanas wide; eka-ekasah--one after another; pûrvasmât--than the former; pûrvasmât--than the former; uttarah--further north; uttarah--further north; dasa-amsa-adhika-amsena--by one tenth of the former; dairghyah--in length; eva--indeed; hrasanti--become shorter.

> TRANSLATION

> Just north of Ilavrta-varsa--and going further northward, one after another--are three mountains named Nila, Sveta and Srngavan. These mark the borders of the three varsas named Ramyaka, Hiranmaya and Kuru and separate them from one another. The width of these mountains is 2,000 yojanas [16,000 miles]. Lengthwise, they extend east and west to the beaches of the ocean of salt water. Going from south to north, the length of each mountain is one tenth that of the previous mountain, but the height of them all is the same.

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> TEXT 9

> evam daksinenelâvrtam nisadho hemakûto himâlaya iti prâg-âyatâ

> yathâ nîlâdayo 'yuta-yojanotsedhâ hari-varsa-kimpurusa-bhâratânâm

> yathâ-sankhyam.

> evam--thus; daksinena--by degrees to the southern side; ilâvrtam--of Ilâvrta-varsa; nisadhah hema-kûtah himâlayah--three mountains named Nisadha, Hemakûta and Himâlaya; iti--thus; prâk-âyatâh--extended to the east; yathâ--just as; nîla-âdayah--the mountains headed by Nîla; ayuta-yojana-utsedhâh--ten thousand yojanas high; hari-varsa--the division named Hari-varsa; kimpurusa--the division named Kimpurusa; bhâratânâm--the division named Bhârata-varsa; yathâ-sankhyam--according to number.

> TRANSLATION

> Similarly, south of Ilavrta-varsa and extending from east to west are three great mountains named (from north to south) Nisadha, Hemakuta and Himalaya. Each of them is 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] high. They mark the boundaries of the three varsas named Hari-varsa, Kimpurusa-varsa and Bharata-varsa [India].

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> TEXT 10

> tathaivelâvrtam aparena pûrvena ca mâlyavad-gandhamâdanâv ânîla-

> nisadhâyatau dvi-sahasram paprathatuh ketumâla-bhadrâsvayoh

> sîmânam vidadhâte.

> tathâ eva--exactly like that; ilâvrtam aparena--on the western side of Ilâvrta-varsa; pûrvena ca--and on the eastern side; mâlyavad-gandha-mâdanau--the demarcation mountains of Mâlyavân on the west and Gandhamâdana on the east; â-nîla-nisada-âyatau--on the northern side up to the mountain known as Nîla and on the southern side up to the mountain known as Nisadha; dvi-sahasram--two thousand yojanas; paprathatuh--they extend; ketumâla-bhadrâsvayoh--of the two varsas named Ketumâla and Bhadrâsva; sîmânam--the border; vidadhâte--establish.

> TRANSLATION

> In the same way, west and east of Ilavrta-varsa are two great mountains named Malyavan and Gandhamadana respectively. These two mountains, which are 2,000 yojanas [16,000 miles] high, extend as far as Nila Mountain in the north and Nisadha in the south. They indicate the borders of Ilavrta-varsa and also the varsas known as Ketumala and Bhadrasva.

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> TEXT 11

> mandaro merumandarah supârsvah kumuda ity ayuta-yojana-

> vistâronnâhâ meros catur-disam avastambha-giraya upaklptâh.

> mandarah--the mountain named Mandara; meru-mandarah--the mountain named Merumandara; supârsvah--the mountain named Supârsva; kumudah--the mountain named Kumuda; iti--thus; ayuta-yojana-vistâra-unnâhâh--which measure ten thousand yojanas high and wide; meroh--of Sumeru; catuh-disam--the four sides; avastambha-girayah--mountains that are like the belts of Sumeru; upaklptâh--situated.

> TRANSLATION

> On the four sides of the great mountain known as Sumeru are four mountains--Mandara, Merumandara, Suparsva and Kumuda--which are like its belts. The length and height of these mountains are calculated to be 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles].

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> TEXT 12

> catursv etesu cûta jambû-kadamba-nyagrodhâs catvârah

> pâdapa-pravarâh parvata-ketava ivâdhi-sahasra-yojanonnâhâs tâvad

> vitapa-vitatayah sata-yojana-parinâhâh.

> catursu--on the four; etesu--on these mountains, beginning with Mandara; cûta jambû-kadamba--of trees such as the mango, rose apple and kadamba; nyagrodhâh--and the banyan tree; catvârah--four kinds; pâdapa-pravarâh--the best of trees; parvata-ketavah--the flagstaffs on the mountains; iva--like; adhi--over; sahasra-yojana-unnâhâh--one thousand yojanas high; tâvat--so much also; vitapa-vitatayah--the length of the branches; sata-yojana--one hundred yojanas; parinâhâh--wide.

> TRANSLATION

> Standing like flagstaffs on the summits of these four mountains are a mango tree, a rose apple tree, a kadamba tree and a banyan tree. Those trees are calculated to have a width of 100 yojanas [800 miles] and a height of 1,100 yojanas [8,800 miles]. Their branches also spread to a radius of 1,100 yojanas.

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> TEXT 13-14

> hradâs catvârah payo-madhv-iksurasa-mrsta jalâ yad-upasparsina

> upadeva-ganâ yogaisvaryâni svâbhâvikâni bharatarsabha dhârayanti.

> devodyânâni ca bhavanti catvâri nandanam caitraratham vaibhrâ-

> jakam sarvatobhadram iti.

> hradâh--lakes; catvârah--four; payah--milk; madhu--honey; iksu-rasa--sugarcane juice; mrsta jalâh--filled with pure water; yat--of which; upasparsinah--those who use the liquids; upadeva-ganâh--the demigods; yoga-aisvaryâni--all the perfections of mystic yoga; svâbhâvikâni--without being tried for; bharata-rsabha--O best of the Bharata dynasty; dhârayanti--possess; deva-udyânâni--celestial gardens; ca--also; bhavanti--there are; catvâri--four; nandanam--of the Nandana garden; caitra-ratham--Caitraratha garden; vaibhrâjakam--Vaibhrâjaka garden; sarvatah-bhadram--Sarvatobhadra garden; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Bharata dynasty, between these four mountains are four huge lakes. The water of the first tastes just like milk; the water of the second, like honey; and that of the third, like sugarcane juice. The fourth lake is filled with pure water. The celestial beings such as the Siddhas, Caranas and Gandharvas, who are also known as demigods, enjoy the facilities of those four lakes. Consequently they have the natural perfections of mystic yoga, such as the power to become smaller than the smallest or greater than the greatest. There are also four celestial gardens named Nandana, Caitraratha, Vaibhrajaka and Sarvatobhadra.

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> TEXT 15

> yesv amara-parivrdhâh saha sura-lalanâ-lalâma-yûtha-pataya

> upadeva-ganair upagîyamâna-mahimânah kila viharanti.

> yesu--in which; amara-parivrdhâh--the best of the demigods; saha--with; sura-lalanâ--of the wives of all the demigods and semidemigods; lalâma--of those women who are like ornaments; yûtha-patayah--the husbands; upadeva-ganaih--by the semi-demigods (the Gandharvas); upagîyamâna--being chanted; manimânah--whose glories; kila--indeed; viharanti--they enjoy sports.

> TRANSLATION

> The best of the demigods, along with their wives, who are like ornaments of heavenly beauty, meet together and enjoy within those gardens, while their glories are sung by lesser demigods known as Gandharvas.

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> TEXT 16

> mandarotsanga ekâdasa-sata-yojanottunga-devacûta-siraso

> giri-sikhara-sthûlâni phalâny amrta-kalpâni patanti.

> mandara-utsange--on the lower slopes of Mandara Mountain; ekâdasa-sata-yojana-uttunga--1,100 yojanas high; devacûta-sirasah--from the top of a mango tree named Devacûta; giri-sikhara-sthûlâni--which are as fat as mountain peaks; phalâni--fruit; amrta-kalpâni--as sweet as nectar; patanti--fall down.

> TRANSLATION

> On the lower slopes of Mandara Mountain is a mango tree named Devacuta. It is 1,100 yojanas high. Mangoes as big as mountain peaks and as sweet as nectar fall from the top of this tree for the enjoyment of the denizens of heaven.

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> TEXT 17

> tesâm visîryamânânâm ati-madhura-surabhi-sugandhi-bahulâruna-

> rasodenârunodâ nâma nadî mandara-giri-sikharân nipatantî pur-

> venelâvrtam upaplâvayati.

> tesâm--of all the mangoes; visîryamânânam--being broken because of falling from the top; ati-madhura--very sweet; surabhi--fragrant; sugandhi--scented with other aromas; bahula--large quantities; aruna-rasa-udena--by reddish juice; arunodâ--Arunodâ; nâma--named; nadî--the river; mandara-giri-sikharât--from the top of Mandara Mountain; nipatantî--falling down; pûrvena--on the eastern side; ilâvrtam--through Ilâvrta-varsa; upaplâvayati--flows.

> TRANSLATION

> When all those solid fruits fall from such a height, they break, and the sweet, fragrant juice within them flows out and becomes increasingly more fragrant as it mixes with other scents. That juice cascades from the mountain in waterfalls and becomes a river called Arunoda, which flows pleasantly through the eastern side of Ilavrta.

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> TEXT 18

> yad-upajosanâd bhavânyâ anucarînâm punya jana-vadhûnâm

> avayava-sparsa-sugandha-vâto dasa-yojanam samantâd anuvâsayati.

> yat--of which; upajosanât--because of using the fragrant water; bhavânyâh--of Bhavânî, the wife of Lord Siva; anucarînâm--of attendant maidservants; punya jana-vadhûnâm--who are wives of the most pious Yaksas; avayava--of the bodily limbs; sparsa--from contact; sugandha-vâtah--the wind, which becomes fragrant; dasa-yojanam--up to ten yojanas (about eighty miles); samantât--all around; anuvâsayati--makes fragrant.

> TRANSLATION

> The pious wives of the Yaksas act as personal maidservants to assist Bhavani, the wife of Lord Siva. Because they drink the water of the River Arunoda, their bodies become fragrant, and as the air carries away that fragrance, it perfumes the entire atmosphere for eighty miles around.

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> TEXT 19

> evam jambû-phalânâm atyucca-nipâta-visîrnânâm anasthi-prâyânâm

> ibha-kâya-nibhânâm rasena jambû nâma nadî meru-mandara-sikharâd

> ayuta-yojanâd avani-tale nipatantî daksinenâtmânam yâvad ilâvr-

> tamupasyandayati.

> evam--similarly; jambû-phalânâm--of the fruits called jambû (the rose apple); ati-ucca-nipâta--because of falling from a great height; visîrnânâm--which are broken to pieces; anasthi-prâyânâm--having very small seeds; ibha-kâya-nibhânâm--and which are as large as the bodies of elephants; rasena--by the juice; jambû nâma nadî--a river named Jambû-nadî; meru-mandara-sikharât--from the top of Merumandara Mountain; ayuta-yojanât--ten thousand yojanas high; avanitale--on the ground; nipatantî--falling; daksinena--on the southern side; âtmânam--itself; yâvat--the whole; ilâvrtam--Ilâvrta-varsa; upasyandayati--flows through.

> TRANSLATION

> Similarly, the fruits of the jambu tree, which are full of pulp and have very small seeds, fall from a great height and break to pieces. Those fruits are the size of elephants, and the juice gliding from them becomes a river named Jambu-nadi. This river falls a distance of 10,000 yojanas, from the summit of Merumandara to the southern side of Ilavrta, and floods the entire land of Ilavrta with juice.

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> TEXT 20-21

> tâvad ubhayor api rodhasor yâ mrttikâ tad-rasenânuvidhyamânâ

> vâyv-arka-samyoga-vipâkena sadâmara-lokâbharanam jâmbû-nadam

> nâma suvarnam bhavati. yad u ha vâva vibudhâdayah saha yuvatibhir

> mukuta-kataka-kati-sûtrâdy-âbharana-rûpena khalu dhârayanti.

> tâvat--entirely; ubhayoh api--of both; rodhasoh--of the banks; yâ--which; mrttikâ--the mud; tat-rasena--with the juice of the jambû fruits that flows in the river; anuvidhyamânâ--being saturated; vâyu-arka-samyoga-vipâkena--because of a chemical reaction with the air and sunshine; sadâ--always; amara-loka-âbharanam--which is used for the ornaments of the demigods, the denizens of the heavenly planets; jâmbû-nadam nâma--named Jâmbû-nada; suvarnam--gold; bhavati--becomes; yat--which; u ha vâva--indeed; vibudha-âdayah--the great demigods; saha--with; yuvatibhih--their everlastingly youthful wives; mukuta--crowns; kataka--bangles; kati-sûtra--belts; âdi--and so on; âbharana--of all kinds of ornaments; rûpena--in the form; khalu--indeed; dhârayanti--they possess.

> TRANSLATION

> The mud on both banks of the River Jambu-nadi, being moistened by the flowing juice and then dried by the air and the sunshine, produces huge quantities of gold called Jambu-nada. The denizens of heaven use this gold for various kinds of ornaments. Therefore all the inhabitants of the heavenly planets and their youthful wives are fully decorated with golden helmets, bangles and belts, and thus they enjoy life.

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> TEXT 22

> yas tu mahâ-kadambah supârsva-nirûdho yâs tasya kotarebhyo

> vinihsrtâh pancâyâma-parinâhâh panca madhu-dhârâh

> supârsvasikharât patantyo 'parenâtmânam ilâvrtam anumodayanti.

> yah--which; tu--but; mahâ-kadambah--the tree named Mahâkadamba; supârsva-nirûdhah--which stands on the side of the mountain known as Supârsva; yâh--which; tasya--of that; kotarebhyah--from the hollows; vinihsrtâh--flowing; panca--five; âyâma--vyâma, a unit of measurement of about eight feet; parinâhâh--whose measurement; panca--five; madhu-dhârâh--flows of honey; supârsva-sikharât--from the top of Supârsva Mountain; patantyah--flowing down; aparena--on the western side of Sumeru Mountain; âtmânam--the whole of; ilâvrtam--Ilâvrta-varsa; anumodayanti--make fragrant.

> TRANSLATION

> On the side of Suparsva Mountain stands a big tree called Mahakadamba, which is very celebrated. From the hollows of this tree flow five rivers of honey, each about five vyamas wide. This flowing honey falls incessantly from the top of Suparsva Mountain and flows all around Ilavrta-varsa, beginning from the western side. Thus the whole land is saturated with the pleasing fragrance.

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> TEXT 23

> yâ hy upayunjânânâm mukha-nirvâsito vâyuh samantâc chata-yojanam

> anuvâsayati.

> yâh--which (those flows of honey); hi--indeed; upayunjânânâm--of those who drink; mukha-nirvâsitah vâyuh--the air emanating from the mouths; samantât--all around; sata-yojanam--up to one hundred yojanas (eight hundred miles); anuvâsayati--makes sweetly flavored.

> TRANSLATION

> The air carrying the scent from the mouths of those who drink that honey perfumes the land for a hundred yojanas around.

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> TEXT 24

> evam kumuda-nirûdho yah satavalso nâma vatas tasya skandhebhyo

> nîcînâh payo-dadhi-madhu-ghrta-gudânnâdy-ambara-

> sayyâsanâbharanâdayah sarva eva kâma-dughâ nadâh kumudâgrât

> patantas tam uttarenelâvrtam upayojayanti.

> evam--thus; kumuda-nirûdhah--having grown on Kumuda Mountain; yah--that; sata-valsah nâma--the tree named Satavalsa (because of having hundreds of trunks); vatah--a banyan tree; tasya--of it; skandhebhyah--from the thick branches; nîcînâh--flowing down; payah--milk; dadhi--yogurt; madhu--honey; ghrta--clarified butter; guda--molasses; anna--food grains; âdi--and so on; ambara--clothing; sayyâ--bedding; âsana--sitting places; âbharana-âdayah--carrying ornaments and so on; sarve--everything; eva--certainly; kâma-dughâh--fulfilling all desires; nadâh--big rivers; kumuda-agrât--from the top of Kumuda Mountain; patantah--flowing; tam--to that; uttarena--on the northern side; ilâvrtam--the land known as Ilâvrta-varsa; upayojayanti--give happiness.

> TRANSLATION

> Similarly, on Kumuda Mountain there is a great banyan tree, which is called Satavalsa because it has a hundred main branches. From those branches come many roots, from which many rivers are flowing. These rivers flow down from the top of the mountain to the northern side of Ilavrta-varsa for the benefit of those who live there. Because of these flowing rivers, all the people have ample supplies of milk, yogurt, honey, clarified butter [ghee], molasses, food grains, clothes, bedding, sitting places and ornaments. All the objects they desire are sufficiently supplied for their prosperity, and therefore they are very happy.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> yân upajusânânâm na kadâcid api prajânâm valî-palita-klama-sveda-

> daurgandhya jarâmaya-mrtyu-sîtosna-vaivarnyopasargâdayas

> tâpa-visesâ bhavanti yâvaj jîvam sukham niratisayam eva.

> yân--which (all the products produced because of the flowing rivers mentioned above); upajusânânâm--of persons who are fully utilizing; na--not; kadâcit--at any time; api--certainly; prajânâm--of the citizens; valî--wrinkles; palita--grey hair; klama--fatigue; sveda--perspiration; daurgandhya--bad odors because of unclean perspiration; jarâ--old age; âmaya--disease; mrtyu--untimely death; sîta--severe cold; usna--scorching heat; vaivarnya--fading of the luster of the body; upasarga--troubles; âdayah--and so on; tâpa--of sufferings; visesâh--varieties; bhavanti--are; yâvat--as long as; jîvam--life; sukham--happiness; niratisayam--unlimited; eva--only.

> TRANSLATION

> The residents of the material world who enjoy the products of these flowing rivers have no wrinkles on their bodies and no grey hair. They never feel fatigue, and perspiration does not give their bodies a bad odor. They are not afflicted by old age, disease or untimely death, they do not suffer from chilly cold or scorching heat, nor do their bodies lose their luster. They all live very happily, without anxieties, until death.

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> TEXT 26

> kuranga-kurara-kusumbha-vaikanka-trikûta-sisira-patanga

> rucaka-nisadha-sinîvâsa-kapila-sankha-vaidûrya-jârudhi-hamsarsabha-nâga-

> kâlanjara-nâradâdayo vimsati-girayo meroh karnikâyâ iva

> kesara-bhûtâ mûla-dese parita upaklptâh.

> kuranga--Kuranga; kurara--Kurara; kusumbha-vaikanka-trikûta-sisira-patanga-rucaka-nisadha-sinîvâsa kapila-sankha-vaidûrya-jârudhi-hamsa-rsabha-nâga-kâlanjara-nârada--the names of mountains; âdayah--and so on; vimsati-girayah--twenty mountains; meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; karnikâyâh--of the whorl of the lotus; iva--like; kesara-bhûtâh--as filaments; mûla-dese--at the base; paritah--all around; upaklptâh--arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> There are other mountains beautifully arranged around the foot of Mount Meru like the filaments around the whorl of a lotus flower. Their names are Kuranga, Kurara, Kusumbha, Vaikanka, Trikuta, Sisira, Patanga, Rucaka, Nisadha, Sinivasa, Kapila, Sankha, Vaidurya, Jarudhi, Hamsa, Rsabha, Naga, Kalanjara and Narada.

> *******

> TEXT 27

> jathara-devakûtau merum pûrvenâstâdasa-yojana-sahasram

> udagâyatau dvi-sahasram prthu-tungau bhavatah. evam aparena

> pavana-pâriyâtrau daksinena kailâsa-karavîrau prâg-âyatâv evam

> uttaratas trisrnga-makarâv astabhir etaih parisrto gnir iva paritas

> cakâsti kâncana-girih.

> jathara-devakûtau--two mountains named Jathara and Devakûta; merum--Sumeru Mountain; pûrvena--on the eastern side; astâdasa-yojana-sahasram--eighteen thousand yojanas; udagâyatau--stretching from north to south; dvi-sahasram--two thousand yojanas; prthu-tungau--in width and height; bhavatah--there are; evam--similarly; aparena--on the western side; pavana-pâriyâtrau--two mountains named Pavana and Pâriyâtra; daksinena--on the southern side; kailâsa-karavîrau--two mountains named Kailâsa and Karavîra; prâk-âyatau--expanding east and west; evam--similarly; uttaratah--on the northern side; trisrnga-makarau--two mountains named Trisrnga and Makara; astabhih etaih--by these eight mountains; parisrtah--surrounded; agnih iva--like fire; paritah--all over; cakâsti--brilliantly shines; kâncana-girih--the golden mountain named Sumeru, or Meru.

> TRANSLATION

> On the eastern side of Sumeru Mountain are two mountains named Jathara and Devakuta, which extend to the north and south for 18,000 yojanas [144,000 miles]. Similarly, on the western side of Sumeru are two mountains named Pavana and Pariyatra, which also extend north and south for the same distance. On the southern side of Sumeru are two mountains named Kailasa and Karavira, which extend east and west for 18,000 yojanas, and on the northern side of Sumeru, extending for the same distance east and west, are two mountains named Trisrnga and Makara. The width and height of all these mountains is 2,000 yojanas [16,000 miles]. Sumeru, a mountain of solid gold shining as brilliantly as fire, is surrounded by these eight mountains.

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> TEXT 28

> meror mûrdhani bhagavata âtma-yoner madhyata upaklptâm purîm

> ayuta-yojana-sâhasrîm sama-caturasrâm sâtakaumbhîm vadanti.

> meroh--of Sumeru Mountain; mûrdhani--on the head; bhagavatah--of the most powerful being; âtma-yoneh--of Lord Brahmâ; madhyatah--in the middle; upaklptâm--situated; purîm--the great township; ayuta-yojana--ten thousand yojanas; sâhasrîm--one thousand; sama-caturasrâm--of the same length on all sides; sâta-kaumbhîm--made entirely of gold; vadanti--the great learned sages say.

> TRANSLATION

> In the middle of the summit of Meru is the township of Lord Brahma. Each of its four sides is calculated to extend for ten million yojanas [eighty million miles]. It is made entirely of gold, and therefore learned scholars and sages call it Satakaumbhi.

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> TEXT 29

> tâm anuparito loka-pâlânâm astânâm yathâ-disam yathâ-rûpam

> turîya-mânena puro 'stâv upaklptâh.

> tâm--that great township named Brahmapurî; anuparitah--surrounding; loka-pâlânam--of the governors of the planets; astânâm--eight; yathâ-disam--according to the directions; yathâ-rûpam--in exact conformity with the township of Brahmapurî; turîya-mânena--by measurement only one fourth; purah--townships; astau--eight; upaklptâh--situated.

> TRANSLATION

> Surrounding Brahmapuri in all directions are the residences of the eight principal governors of the planetary systems, beginning with King Indra. These abodes are similar to Brahmapuri but are one fourth the size.

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