> 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 Twenty: Studying the Structure of the Universe

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-suka uvâca

> atah param plaksâdînâm pramâna-laksana-samsthânato

> varsa-vibhâga upavarnyate.

> srî-sukah uvâca--Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; atah param--after this; plaksa-âdînâm--of the island named Plaksa and others; pramâna-laksana-samsthânatah--from the angle of dimensions, particular characteristics and form; varsa-vibhâgah--the division of the island; upavarnyate--is described.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 2

> jambûdvîpo 'yam yâvat-pramâna-vistâras tâvatâ ksârodadhinâ

> parivestito yathâ merurjambv-âkhyena lavanodadhir api tato

> dvi-guna-visâlena plaksâkhyena pariksipto yathâ parikhâ bâhyopava-nena. pakso

> jambû-pramâno dvîpâkhyâkaro hiranmaya utthito yatrâgnir upâste

> sapta jihvas tasyâdhipatih priyavratâtmaja idhmajihvah svam dvîpam

> sapta-varsâni vibhajya sapta-varsa-nâmabhya âtmajebhya âkalayya

> svayam âtma-yogenopararâma.

> jambû-dvîpah--Jambûdvîpa, the island named Jambû; ayam--this; yâvat-pramâna-vistârah--as much as the measure of its width, namely 100.000 ; tâvatâ-- that much; ksâra-udadhinâ--by the ocean of salt water; parivestitah--surrounded; yathâ--just as; meruh--Sumeru Mountain; jambû-âkhyena--by the island named Jambû; lavana-udadhih--the ocean of salt water; api--certainly; tatah--thereafter; dvi-guna-visâlena--which is twice as wide; plaksa-âkhyena--by the island named Plaksa; pariksiptah--surrounded; yathâ--like; parikhâ--a moat; bâhya--external; upavanena--by a gardenlike forest; plaksah--a plaksa tree; jambû-pramânah--having the height of the jambû tree; dvîpa-âkhyâ-karah--causing the name of the island; hiranmayah--magnificently splendorous; utthitah--rising; yatra--where; agnih--a fire; upâste--is situated; sapta jihvah--having seven flames; tasya--of that island; adhipatih--the king or master; priyavrata-âtmajah--the son of King Priyavrata; idhma jihvah--named Idhmajihva; svam--own; dvîpam--island; sapta--seven; varsâni--tracts of land; vibhajya--dividing into; sapta-varsa-nâmabhyah--for whom the seven tracts of land were named; âtmajebhyah--to his own sons; âkalayya--offering; svayam--personally; âtma-yogena--by the devotional service of the Lord; upararâma--he retired from all material activities.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 3-4

> sivam yavasam subhadram sântam ksemam amrtam abhayam iti

> varsâni tesu girayo nadyas ca saptaivâbhijnâtâh. manikûto vajrakûta

> indraseno jyotismân suparno hiranyasthîvo meghamâla iti setu-sailâh

> arunâ nrmnângirasî sâvitrî suptabhâtâ rtambharâ satyambharâ iti

> mahâ-nadyah. yâsâm jalopasparsana-vidhûta-rajas-tamaso

> hamsa-patangordhvâyana-satyânga-samjnâs catvâro varnâh sahasrâyuso

> vibudhopama-sandarsana-prajananâh svarga-dvâram trayyâ vidyayâ

> bhagavantam trayîmayam sûryam âtmânam yajante.

> sivam--Siva; yavasam--Yavasa; subhadram--Subhadra; sântam--Sânta; ksemam--Ksema; amrtam--Amrta; abhayam--Abhaya; iti--thus; varsâni--the tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons; tesu--in them; girayah--mountains; nadyah ca--and rivers; sapta--seven; eva--indeed; abhijnâtâh--are known; mani-kûtah--Manikûta; vajra-kûtah--Vajrakûta; indra-senah--Indrasena; jyotisman--Jyotismân; suparnah--Suparna; hiranya-sthîvah--Hiranyasthîva; megha-mâlah--Meghamâla; iti--thus; setu-sailâh--the ranges of mountains marking the borders of the varsas; arunâ--Arunâ; nrmnâ--Nrmnâ; ângirasî--Ângirasî; sâvitrî--Sâvitrî; supta-bhâtâ--Suptabhâtâ; rtambharâ--Rtambharâ; satyambharâ--Satyambharâ; iti--thus; mahâ-nadyah--very large rivers; yâsâm--of which; jala-upasparsana--simply by touching the water; vidhûta--washed off; rajah-tamasah--whose modes of passion and ignorance; hamsa--Hamsa; patanga--Patanga; ûrdhvâyana--Ûrdhvâyana; satyânga--Satyânga; samjnâh--named; catvârah--four; varnâh--castes or divisions of men; sahasra-âyusah--living for one thousand years; vibudha-upama--similar to the demigods; sandarsana--in having very beautiful forms; prajananâh--and in producing children; svarga-dvâram--the gateway to the heavenly planets; trayyâ vidyayâ--by performing ritualistic ceremonies according to Vedic principles; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; trayî-mayam--established in the Vedas; sûryam âtmânam--the Supersoul, represented by the sun-god; yajante--they worship.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 5

> pratnasya visno rûpam yat

> satyasyartasya brahmanah

> amrtasya ca mrtyos ca

> sûryam âtmânam îmahîti

> pratnasya--of the oldest person; visnoh--Lord Visnu; rûpam--the form; yat--which; satyasya--of the Absolute Truth; rtasya--of dharma; brahmanah--of the Supreme Brahman; amrtasya--of the auspicious result; ca--and; mrtyoh--of death (the inauspicious result); ca--and; sûryam--the demigod Surya; âtmânam--the Supersoul or origin of all souls; îmahi--we approach for shelter; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> [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.

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> TEXT 6

> plaksâdisu pancasu purusânâm âyur indriyam ojah saho balam buddhir

> vikrama iti ca sarvesâm autpattikî siddhir avisesena vartate.

> plaksa-âdisu--in the islands headed by Plaksa; pancasu--five; purusânâm--of the inhabitants; âyuh--long duration of life; indriyam--soundness of the senses; ojah--bodily strength; sahah--mental strength; balam--physical strength; buddhih--intelligence; vikramah--bravery; iti--thus; ca--also; sarvesâm--of all of them; autpattikî--inborn; siddhih--perfection; avisesena--without distinction; vartate--exists.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 7

> plaksah sva-samâneneksu-rasodenâvrto yathâ tathâ dvîpo 'pi sâlmalo

> dvi-guna-visâlah samânena surodenâvrtah parivrnkte.

> plaksah--the land known as Plaksadvîpa; sva-samânena--equal in width; iksu-rasa--of sugarcane juice; udena--by an ocean; âvrtah--surrounded; yathâ--just as; tathâ--similarly; dvîpah--another island; api--also; sâlmalah--known as Sâlmala; dvi-guna-visâlah--twice as big; samânena--equal in width; surâ-udena--by an ocean of liquor; âvrtah--surrounded; parivrnkte--exists.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 8

> yatra ha vai sâlmalî plaksâyâmâ yasyâm vâva kila nilayam âhur

> bhagavatas chandah-stutah patattri-râjasya sâ dvîpa-hûtaye

> upalaksyate.

> yatra--where; ha vai--certainly; sâlmalî--a sâlmalî tree; plaksa-âyâmâ--as big as the plaksa tree (one hundred yojanas broad and eleven hundred yojanas high); yasyâm--in which; vâva kila--indeed; nilayam--rest or living place; âhuh--they say; bhagavatah--of the most powerful; chandah-stutah--who worships the Lord by Vedic prayers; patattri-râjasya--of Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu; sâ--that tree; dvîpa-hûtaye--for the name of the island; upalaksyate--is distinguished.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 9

> tad-dvîpâdhipatih priyavratâtmajo yajnabâhuh sva-sutebhyah

> saptabhyas tan-nâmâni sapta-varsâni vyabhajat surocanam

> saumanasyam ramanakam deva-varsam pâribhadram âpyâyanam

> avijnâtam iti.

> tat-dvîpa-adhipatih--the master of that island; priyavrata-âtmajah--the son of Mahârâja Priyavrata; yajna-bâhuh--named Yajnabahu; sva-sutebhyah--unto his sons; saptabhyah--seven in number; tat-nâmâni--having names according to their names; sapta-varsâni--seven tracts of land; vyabhajat--divided; surocanam--Surocana; saumanasyam--Saumanasya; ramanakam--Ramanaka; deva-varsam--Deva-varsa; pâribhadram--Pâribhadra; âpyâyanam--Âpyâyana; avijnâtam--Avijnâta; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 10

> tesu varsâdrayo nadyas ca saptaivâbhijnâtâh svarasah satasrngo

> vâmadevah kundo mukundah puspa-varsah sahasra-srutir iti. anumatih

> sinîvâlî sarasvatî kuhû rajanî nandâ râketi.

> tesu--in those tracts of land; varsa-adrayah--mountains; nadyah ca--as well as rivers; sapta eva--seven in number; abhijnâtâh--understood; svarasah--Svarasa; sata-srngah--Sata-srnga; vâma-devah--Vâmadeva; kundah--Kunda; mukundah--Mukunda; puspa-varsah--Puspa-varsa; sahasra-srutih--Sahasra-sruti; iti--thus; anumatih--Anumati; sinîvâlî--Sinîvâlî; sarasvatî--Sarasvatî; kuhû--Kuhû; rajanî--Rajanî; nandâ--Nandâ; râkâ--Râkâ; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> In those tracts of land there are seven mountains--Svarasa, Sata-srnga, 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.

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> TEXT 11

> tad-varsa-purusâh srutadhara-vîryadhara-vasundharesandhara-samjnâ

> bhagavantam vedamayam somam âtmânam vedena yajante.

> tat-varsa-purusâh--the residents of those tracts of land; srutadhara--Srutadhara; vîryadhara--Vîryadhara; vasundhara--Vasundhara; isandhara--Isandhara; samjnâh--known as; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; veda-mayam--fully conversant with the Vedic knowledge; somam âtmânam--represented by the living entity known as Soma; vedena--by following the Vedic rules and regulations; yajante--they worship.

> TRANSLATION

> Strictly following the cult of varnasrama-dhamna, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 12

> sva-gobhih pitr-devebhyo

> vibhajan krsna-suklayoh

> prajânâm sarvâsâm râjâ-

> ndhah somo na âstv iti

> sva-gobhih--by expansion of his own illuminating rays; pitr-devebhyah--unto the pitâs and the demigods; vibhajan--dividing; krsna-suklayoh--into the two fortnights, dark and light; prajânâm--of the citizens; sarvâsâm--of all; râjâ--the king; andhah--food grains; somah--the moon-god; nah--toward us; âstu--let him remain favorable; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> [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.

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> TEXT 13

> evam surodâd bahis tad-dvi-gunah samânenâvrto ghrtodena

> yathâ-pûrvah kusa-dvîpo yasmin kusa-stambo deva-krtas tad-dvîpâkhyâkaro

> jvalana ivâparah sva-saspa-rocisâ diso virâjayati.

> evam--thus; surodât--from the ocean of liquor; bahih--outside; tat-dvi-gunah--twice that; samânena--equal in width; âvrtah--surrounded; ghrta-udena--an ocean of clarified butter; yathâ-pûrvah--as previously with Sâlmalîdvîpa; kusa-dvîpa--the island called Kusadvîpa; yasmin--in which; kusa-stambah--kusa grass; deva-krtah--created by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-dvîpa-âkhyâ-karah--giving the island its name; jvalanah--fire; iva--like; aparah--another; sva-saspa-rocisâ--by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass; disah--all directions; virâjayati--illuminates.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 14

> tad-dvîpa-patih praiyavrato râjan hiranyaretâ nâma svam dvîpam

> saptabhyah sva-putre bhyo yathâ-bhâgam vibhajya svayam tapa

> âtisthata vasu-vasudâna-drdharuci-nâbhigupta-stutyavrata-vivikta-

> vâmadeva-nâmabhyah.

> tat-dvîpa-patih--the master of that island; praiyavratah--the son of Mahârâja Priyavrata; râjan--O King; hiranyaretâ--Hiranyaretâ; nâma--named; svam--his own; dvîpam--island; saptabhyah--unto seven; sva-putrebhyah--his own sons; yathâ-bhâgam--according to division; vibhajya--dividing; svayam--himself; tapah âtisthata--engaged in austerities; vasu--unto Vasu; vasudâna--Vasudâna; drdharuci--Drdharuci; nâbhi-gupta--Nâbhigupta; stutya-vrata--Stutyavrata; vivikta--Vivikta; vâma-deva--Vâmadeva; nâmabhyah--named.

> TRANSLATION

> 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, Krdharuci, Stutyavrata, Nabhigupta, Vivikta and Vamadeva.

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> TEXT 15

> tesâm varsesu sîmâ-girayo nadyas câbhijnâtâh sapta saptaiva cakras

> catuhsrngah kapilas citrakûto devânîka ûrdhvaromâ dravina iti

> rasakulyâ madhukulyâ mitravindâ srutavindâ devagarbhâ ghrtacyutâ

> mantramâleti.

> tesâm--all those sons; varsesu--in the tracts of land; sîmâ-girayah--border mountains; nadyah ca--as well as rivers; abhijnâtâh--known; sapta--seven; sapta--seven; eva--certainly; cakrah--Cakra; catuh-srngah--Catuh-srnga; kapilah--Kapila; citra-kûtah--Citrakûta; devânîkah--Devânîka; ûrdhva-româ--Ûrdhvaromâ; dravinah--Dravina; iti--thus; rama-kulyâ--Ramakulyâ; madhu-kulyâ--Madhukulyâ; mitra-vindâ--Mitravindâ; sruta-vindâ--Srutavindâ; deva-garbhâ--Devagarbhâ; ghrta-cyutâ--Ghrtacyutâ; mantra-mâlâ--Mantramâlâ; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> In those seven islands there are seven boundary mountains, known as Cakra, Catuh-srnga, Kapila, Citrakuta, Devanika, Urdhvaroma and Dravina. There are also seven rivers, known as Ramakulya, Madhukulya, Mitravinda, Srutavinda, Devagarbha, Ghrtacyuta and Mantramala.

> *******

> TEXT 16

> yâsâm payobhih kusadvîpaukasah kusala-kovidâbhiyukta-kulaka-samjnâ

> bhagavantam jâtaveda-sarûpinam karma-kausalena yajante.

> yâsâm--of which; payobhih--by the water; kusa-dvîpa-okasah--the inhabitants of the island known as Kusadvîpa; kusala--Kusala; kovida--Kovida; abhiyukta--Abhiyukta; kulaka--Kulaka; samjnâh--named; bhagavantam--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jâtaveda--the demigod of fire; sa-rûpinam--manifesting the form; karma-kausalena--by expertise in ritualistic ceremonies; yajante--they worship.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 17

> parasya brahmanah sâksâj

> jâta-vedo 'si havyavât

> devânâm purusângânâm

> yajnena purusam yajeti

> parasya--of the Supreme; brahmanah--Brahman; sâksât--directly; jâta-vedah--O fire-god; asi--you are; havyavât--the carrier of Vedic offerings of grains and ghee; devânâm--of all the demigods; purusa-angânâm--who are limbs of the Supreme Person; yajnena--by performing the ritualistic sacrifices; purusam--to the Supreme person; yaja--please carry oblations; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> [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.

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> TEXT 18

> tathâ ghrtodâd bahih krauncadvîpo dvi-gunah sva-mânena ksîrodena

> parita upaklpto vrto yathâ kusadvîpo ghrtodena yasmin kraunco

> nâma parvata-râjo dvîpa-nâma-nirvartaka âste.

> tathâ--so also; ghrta-udât--from the ocean of clarified butter; bahih--outside; kraunca-dvîpah--another island, known as Krauncadvîpa; dvi-gunah--twice as big; sa-mânena--as the same measurement; ksîra-udena--by an ocean of milk; paritah--all around; upaklptah--surrounded; vrtah--surrounded; yathâ--like; kusa-dvîpah--the island known as Kusadvîpa; ghrta-udena--by an ocean of clarified butter; yasmin--in which; krauncah nâma--named Kraunca; parvata-râjah--a king of mountains; dvîpa-nâma--the name of the island; nirvartakah--bringing about; âste--exists.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 19

> yo 'sau guha-praharanonmathita-nitamba-kunjo 'pi

> ksirodena-sicyamano bhagavata varunenabhigupto vibhayo babhuva.

> yah--which; asau--that (mountain); guha-praharana--by the weapons of Karttikeya, the son of Lord Siva; unmathita--shaken; nitamba-kunjah--whose trees and vegetables along the slopes; api--although; ksira-udena--by the ocean of milk; asicyamanah--being always bathed; bhagavata--by the greatly powerful; varunena--the demigod known as Varuna; abhiguptah--protected; vibhayah babhuva--has become fearless.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

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> TEXT 20

> tasminn api praiyavrato ghrtaprstho nâmâdhipatih sve dvîpe varsâni

> sapta vibhajya tesu putra-nâmasu sapta rikthâdân varsapân nivesya

> svayam bhagavân bhagavatah parama-kalyâna-yasasa âtma-bhûtasya

> hares caranâravindam upajagâma.

> tasmin--in that island; api--also; praiyavratah--the son of Mahârâja Priyavrata; ghrta-prsthah--Ghrtaprstha; nâma--named; adhipatih--the king of that island; sve--his own; dvîpe--in the island; varsâni--tracts of land; sapta--seven; vibhajya--dividing; tesu--in each of them; putra-nâmasu--possessing the names of his sons; sapta--seven; rikthâ-dân--sons; varsa-pân--the masters of the varsas; nivesya--appointing; svayam--himself; bhagavân--very powerful; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parama-kalyâna-yasasah--whose glories are so auspicious; âtma-bhûtasya--the soul of all souls; hareh carana-aravindam--the lotus feet of the Lord; upajagâma--took shelter at.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 21

> âmo madhuruho meghaprsthah sudhâmâ bhrâjistho lohitârno vanaspatir

> iti ghrtaprstha-sutâs tesâm varsa-girayah sapta saptaiva nadyas

> câbhikhyâtâh suklo vardhamâno bhojana upabarhino nando nandanah

> sarvatobhadra iti abhayâ amrtaughâ âryakâ tîrthavatî rûpavatî

> pavitravatî sukleti.

> âmah--Âma; madhu-ruhah--Madhuruha; megha-prsthah--Meghaprstha; sudhâmâ--Sudhâmâ; bhrâjisthah--Bhrâjistha; lohitârnah--Lohitârna; vanaspatih--Vanaspati; iti--thus; ghrtaprstha-sutâh--the sons of Ghrtaprstha; tesâm--of those sons; varsa-girayah--boundary hills of the tracts of land; sapta--seven; sapta--seven; eva--also; nadyah--rivers; ca--and; abhikhyâtâh--celebrated; suklah vardhamânah--Sukla and Vardhamâna; bhojanah--Bhojana; upabarhinah--Upabarhina; nandah--Nanda; nandanah--Nandana; sarvatah-bhadrah--Sarvatobhadra; iti--thus; abhayâ--Abhayâ; amrtaughâ--Amrtaughâ; âryakâ--Âryakâ; tîrthavatî--Tîrthavatî; rûpavatî--Rûpavatî; pavitravatî--Pavitravatî; suklâ--Suklâ; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 22

> yâsâm ambhah pavitram amalam upayunjânâh purusa-rsabha-

> dravina-devaka-samjnâ varsa-purusâ âpomayam devam apâm

> pûrnenânjalinâ yajante.

> yâsâm--of all the rivers; ambhah--the water; pavitram--very sanctified; amalam--very clean; upayunjânâh--using; purusa--Purusa; rsabha--Rsabha; dravina--Dravina; devaka--Devaka; samjnâh--endowed with the names; varsa-purusâh--the inhabitants of those varsas; âpah-mayam--Varuna, the lord of water; devam--as the worshipable deity; apâm--of water; pûrnena--with full; anjalinâ--folded palms; yajante--do worship.

> TRANSLATION

> The inhabitants of Krauncadvipa are divided into four castes, called the Purusas, Rabhas, 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.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> âpah purusa-vîryâh stha

> punantîr bhûr-bhuvah-suvah

> tâ nah punîtâmîva-ghnîh

> sprsatâm âtmanâ bhuva iti

> âpah--O water; purusa-vîryâh--endowed with the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stha--you are; punantîh--sanctifying; bhûh--of the planetary system known as Bhûh; bhuvah--of the Bhuvah planetary system; suvah--of the Svah planetary system; tâh--that water; nah--of us; punîta--purify; amîva-ghnîh--who destroys sin; sprsatâm--of those touching; âtmanâ--by your constitutional position; bhuvah--the bodies; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> [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 planetary 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.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> evam purastât ksîrodât parita upavesitah sâkadvîpo dvâtrimsal-

> laksa-yojanâyâmah samânena ca dadhi-mandodena parîto yasmin

> sâko nâma mahîruhah sva-ksetra-vyapadesako yasya ha mahâ-

> surabhi-gandhas tam dvîpam anuvâsayati.

> evam--thus; parastât--beyond; ksîra-udât--from the ocean of milk; paritah--all around; upavesitah--situated; sâka-dvîpah--another island, known as Sâkadvîpa; dvâ-trimsat--thirty-two; laksa--100,000; yojana--yojanas; âyâmah--whose measure; samânena--of equal length; ca--and; dadhi-manda-udena--by an ocean containing water resembling churned yogurt; parîtah--surrounded; yasmin--in which land; sâkah--sâka; nâma--named; mahîruhah--a fig tree; sva-ksetra-vyapadesakah--giving the island its name; yasya--of which; ha--indeed; mahâ-surabhi--a greatly fragrant; gandhah--aroma; tam dvîpam--that island; anuvâsayati--makes fragrant.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 25

> tasyâpi praiyavrata evâdhipatir nâmnâ medhâtithih so 'pi vibhajya

> sapta varsâni putra-nâmâni tesu svâtmajân purojava-manojava-

> pavamâna-dhûmrânîka-citrarepha-bahurûpa-visvadhâra-samjnân

> nidhâpyâdhipatîn svayam bhagavaty ananta â-vesita-matis

> tapovanam pravivesa.

> tasya api--of that island also; praiyavratah--a son of Mahârâja Priyavrata; eva--certainly; adhipatih--the ruler; nâmnâ--by the name; medhâ-tithih--Medhâtithi; sah api--he also; vibhajya--dividing; sapta varsâni--seven divisions of the island; putra-nâmâni--possessing the names of his sons; tesu--in them; sva-âtmajân--his own sons; purojava--Purojava; manojava--Manojava; pavamâna--Pavamâna; dhûmrânîka--Dhûmrânîka; citra-repha--Citrarepha; bahu-rûpa--Bahurûpa; visvadhâra--Visvadhâra; samjnân--having as names; nidhâpya--establishing as; adhipatîn--the rulers; svayam--himself; bhagavati--in the Supreme personality of Godhead; anante--in the unlimited; âvesita-matih--whose mind was fully absorbed; tapah-vanam--in the forest where meditation is performed; pravivesa--he entered.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 26

> etesâm varsa-maryâdâ-girayo nadyas ca sapta saptaiva îsâna urusrngo

> bala bhadrah satakesarah sahasrasroto devapâlo mahânasa iti

> anaghâyurdâ ubhayasprstir aparâjitâ pancapadî sahasrasrutir nija-

> dhrtir iti.

> etesâm--of all these divisions; varsa-maryâdâ--acting as the boundary limits; girayah--the big hills; nadyah ca--and the rivers also; sapta--seven; sapta--seven; eva--indeed; îsânah--Îsâna; urusrngah--Urusrnga; bala-bhadrah--Balabhadra; sata-kesarah--Satakesara; sahasra-srotah--Sahasra-srota; deva-pâlah--Devapâla; mahânasah--Mahânasa; iti--thus; anaghâ--Anaghâ; âyurdâ--Âyurdâ; ubhayasprstih--Ubhayasprsti; aparâjitâ--Aparâjitâ; pancapadî--Pancapadî; sahasra-srutih--Sahasra-sruti; nija-dhrtih--Nijadhrti; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> For these lands also, there are seven boundary mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are Isana, Urusrnga, Balabhadra, Satakesara, Sahasra-srota, Devapala and Mahanasa. The rivers are Anagha, Ayurda, Ubhayasprsti, Aparajita, Pancapadi, Sahasra-sruti and Nijadhrti.

> *******

> TEXT 27

> tad-varsa-purusâ rtavrata-satyavrata-dânavratânuvrata-nâmâno

> bhagavantam vâyv-âtmakam prânâyâma-vidhûta-rajas-tamasah

> parama-samâdhinâ yajante.

> tat-varsa-purusâh--the inhabitants of those tracts of land; rtavrata--Rtavrata; satya-vrata--Satyavrata; dâna-vrata--Dânavrata; anuvrata--Anuvrata; nâmânah--having the four names; bhagavantam--the Supreme personality of Godhead; vâyu-âtmakam--represented by the demigod Vâyu; prânâyâma--by the practice of regulating the airs within the body; vidhûta--cleansed away; rajah-tamasah--whose passion and ignorance; parama--sublime; samâdhinâ--by trance; yajante--they worship.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 28

> antah-pravisya bhûtâni

> yo bibharty âtma-ketubhih

> antaryâmîvarah sâksât

> pâtu no yad-vase sphutam

> antah-pravisya--entering within; bhûtânî--all living entities; yah--who; bibharti--maintains; âtma-ketubhih--by the functions of the inner airs (prâna, apâna, etc.); antaryâmî--the Supersoul within; îsvarah--the Supreme person; sâksât--directly; pâtu--please maintain; nah--us; yat-vase--under whose control; sphutam--the cosmic manifestation.

> TRANSLATION

> [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.

> *******

> TEXT 29

> evam eva dadhi-mandodât paratah puskaradvîpas tato

> dvi-gunâyâmah samantata upakalpitah samânena svâdûdakena samudrena

> bahir âvrto yasmin brhat-puskaramjvalana-sikhâmala-kanaka-

> patrâyutâyutam bhagavatah kamalâsanasyâdhyâsanam parikalpitam.

> evam eva--thus; dadhi-manda-udât--the ocean of yogurt; paratah--beyond; puskara-dvîpah--another island, named Puskaradvîpa; tatah--than that (Sâkadvîpa); dvi-guna-âyâmah--whose measurement is twice as great; samantatah--on all sides; upakalpitah--surrounded; samânena--equal in width; svâdu-udakena--possessing sweet water; samudrena--by an ocean; bahih--outside; âvrtah--surrounded; yasmin--in which; brhat--very big; puskaram--lotus flower; jvalana-sikhâ--like the flames of a blazing fire; amala--pure; kanaka--gold; patra--leaves; ayuta-ayutam--possessing 100,000,000; bhagavatah--greatly powerful; kamala âsanasya--of Lord Brahma, whose sitting place is on the lotus flower; adhyâsanam--sitting place; parikalpitam--considered.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> tad-dvîpa-madhye mânasottara-nâmaika evârvâcîna-parâcîna-varsayor

> maryâdâcalo 'yuta-yojanocchrâyâyâmo yatra tu catasrsu diksu catvâri

> purâni loka-pâlânâm indrâdînâm yad-uparistât sûrya-rathasya merum

> paribhramatah samvatsarâtmakam cakram devânâm aho-râtrâbhyâm

> paribhramati.

> tat-dvîpa-madhye--within that island; mânasottara--Mânasottara; nâma--named; ekah--one; eva--indeed; arvâcîna--on this side; parâcîna--and beyond, or outside; varsayoh--of tracts of land; maryâdâ--indicating the boundary; acalah--a great mountain; ayuta--ten thousand; yojana--eight miles; ucchrâya-âyâmah--whose height and width; yatra--where; tu--but; catasrsu--in the four; diksu--directions; catvâri--four; purâni--cities; loka-pâlânâm--of the directors of planetary systems; indra-âdînâm--headed by Indra; yat--of which; uparistât--on the top; sûrya-rathasya--of the chariot of the sun-god; merum--Meru Mountain; paribhramatah--while circumambulating; samvatsara-âtmakam--consisting of one samvatsara; cakram--wheel or orbit; devânâm--of the demigods; ahah-râtrâbhyâm--by the day and night; paribhramati--moves around.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> tad-dvîpasyâpy adhipatih praiyavrato vîtihotro nâmaitasyâtmajau

> ramanaka-dhâtaki-nâmânau varsa-patî niyujya sa svayam pûrvajavad-

> bhagavat-karma-sîla evâste.

> tat-dvîpasya--of that island; api--also; adhipatih--the ruler; praiyavratah--a son of Mahârâja Priyavrata; vîtihotrah nâma--named Vîtihotra; etasya--of him; âtma jau--unto the two sons; ramanaka--Ramanaka; dhâtaki--and Dhâtaki; nâmânau--having the names; varsa-patî--the rulers of the two tracts of land; niyujya--appointing; sah svayam--himself; pûrvaja-vat--like his other brothers; bhagavat-karma-sîlah--being absorbed in activities to satisfy the Supreme personality of Godhead; eva--indeed; âste--remains.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 32

> tad-varsa-purusâ bhagavantam brahma-rûpinam sakarmakena

> karmanârâdhayantîdam codâharanti.

> tat-varsa-purusâh--the inhabitants of that island; bhagavantam--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; brahma-rûpinam--exhibited as Lord Brahmâ being seated on the lotus; sa-karmakena--for fulfillment of material desires; karmanâ--by performing ritualistic activities according to the Vedas; ârâdhayanti--worship; idam--this; ca--and; udâharanti--they chant.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 33

> yat tat karmamayam lingam

> brahma-lingam jano 'rcayet

> ekântam advayam sântam

> tasmai bhagavate nama iti

> yat--which; tat--that; karma-mayam--obtainable by the Vedic ritualistic system; lingam--the form; brahma-lingam--which makes known the Supreme Brahman; janah--a person; arcayet--must worship; ekântam--who has full faith in the one Supreme; advayam--nondifferent; sântam--peaceful; tasmai--unto him; bhagavate--the most powerful; namah--our respects; iti--thus.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 34

> tatah parastâl lokâloka-nâmâcalo lokâlokayor antarâle parita

> upaksiptah.

> tatah--from that ocean of sweet drinking water; parastât--beyond; lokâloka-nâma--named Lokâloka; acalah--a mountain; loka-alokayoh antarâle--between the countries full of sunlight and those without sunlight; paritah--all around; upaksiptah--exists.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 35

> yâvan mânasottara-mervor antaram tâvatî bhûmih kâncany anyâdar-

> sa-talopamâ yasyâm prahitah padârtho na kathancit punah

> pratyupalabhyate tasmât sarva-sattva-parihrtâsît.

> yâvat--as much as; mânasottara-mervoh antaram--the land between Mânasottara and Meru (beginning from the middle of Mount Sumeru); tâvatî--that much; bhûmih--land; kâncanî--made of gold; anyâ--another; âdarsa-tala-upamâ--whose surface is just like the surface of a mirror; yasyâm--on which; prahitah--dropped; padârthah--a thing; na--not; kathancit--in any way; punah--again; pratyupalabhyate--is found; tasmât--therefore; sarva-sattva--by all living entities; parihrtâ--abandoned; âsît--was.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 36

> lokâloka iti samâkhyâ yad anenâcalena

> lokâlokasyântarvar-tinâvasthâpyate.

> loka--with light (or with inhabitants); alokah--without light (or without inhabitants); iti--in this way; samâkhyâ--designation; yat--which; anena--by this; acalena--mountain; loka--of the land inhabited by living entities; alokasya--and of the land not inhabited by living entities; antarvartinâ--which is in the middle; avasthâpyate--is established.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 37

> sa loka-trayante parita isvarena vihito yasmat suryadinam

> dhruvapavarganamjyotir-gananam gabhastayo 'rvacinams tril lokan

> avitanvana na kadacit paracina bhavitum utsahante tavad

> unnahanayamah.

> sah--that mountain; loka-traya-ante--at the end of the three lokas (Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka and Svarloka); paritah--all around; isvarena--by the Supreme personality of Godhead, Krsna; vihitah--created; yasmat--from which; surya-adinam--of the sun planet; dhruva-apavarganam--up to Dhruvaloka and other, inferior luminaries; jyotih-gananam--of all the luminaries; gabhastayah--the rays; arvacinan--on this side; trin--the three; lokan--planetary systems; avitanvanah--spreading throughout; na--not; kadacit--at any time; paracinah--beyond the jurisdiction of that mountain; bhavitum--to be; utsahante--are able; tavat--that much; unnahana-ayamah--the measure of the height of the mountain.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 38

> etaval loka-vinyaso mana-laksana-samsthabhir vicintitah kavibhih sa

> tu pancasat-koti-ganitasya bhu-golasya turiya-bhago 'yam

> lokalokacalah.

> etavan--this much; loka-vinyasah--the placing of the different planets; mana--with measurements; laksana--symptoms; samsthabhih--as well as with their different situations; vicintitah--established by scientific calculations; kavibhih--by learned scholars; sah--that; tu--but; pancasat-koti--500,000,000 yojanas; ganitasya--which is measured at; bhu-golasya--of the planetary system known as Bhugolaka; turiya-bhagah--one fourth; ayam--this; lokaloka-acalah--the mountain known as Lokaloka.

> TRANSLATION

> Learned scholars who are free from mistakes, illusions and propensities to cheat have thus described the planetary 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].

> *******

> TEXT 39

> tad-uparistac catasrsv asasvatma-yoninakhila jagad-gurunadhinivesita

> ye dvirada-pataya rsabhah puskaracudo vamano 'parajita iti

> sakalaloka-sthiti-hetavah.

> tat-uparistat--on the top of Lokaloka Mountain; catasrsu asasu--in the four directions; atma-yonina--by Lord Brahma; akhila jagat-guruna--the spiritual master of the whole universe; adhinivesitah--established; ye--all those; dvirada-patayah--the best of elephants; rsabhah--Rsabha; puskara-cudah--Puskaracuda; vamanah--Vamana; aparajitah--Aparajita; iti--thus; sakala-loka-sthiti-hetavah--the causes of the maintenance of the different planets within the universe.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 planetary systems of the universe.

> *******

> TEXT 40

> tesam sva-vibhutinam loka-palanam ca vividha-viryopabrmhanaya

> bhagavan parama-maha-puruso maha-vibhuti-patir antaryamy atmano

> visuddha-sattvam dharma

> jnana-vairagyaisvaryady-asta-maha-siddhyupalaksanam visvaksenadibhih sva-parsada-pravaraih parivarito

> nijavarayudhopasobhitair nija-bhuja-dandaih sandharayamanas tasmin

> giri-vare samantat sakala-loka-svastaya aste.

> tesam--of all of them; sva-vibhutinam--who are his personal expansions and assistants; loka-palanam--who are entrusted with looking after the universal affairs; ca--and; vividha--varieties; virya-upabrmhanaya--for expanding the powers; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parama-maha-purusah--the foremost master of all kinds of opulence, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maha-vibhuti-patih--the master of all inconceivable potencies; antaryami--the Supersoul; atmanah--of Himself; visuddha-sattvam--having an existence without contamination by the material modes of nature; dharma-jnana-vairagya--of religion, pure knowledge and renunciation; aisvarya-adi--of all kinds of opulence; asta--eight; maha-siddhi--and of great mystic perfections; upalaksanam--having the characteristics; visvaksena-adibhih--by His expansion known as Visvaksena and others; sva-parsada-pravaraih--the best of personal assistants; parivaritah--surrounded; nija--His own; vara-ayudha--by different types of weapons; upasobhitaih--being decorated; nija--own; bhuja-dandaih--with stout arms; sandharayamanah--manifesting this form; tasmin--on that; giri-vare--great mountain; samantat--all around; sakala-loka-svastaye--for the benefit of all the planetary systems; aste--exists.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 planets 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.

> *******

> TEXT 41

> akalpam evam vesam gata esa bhagavan atma-yogamayaya

> viracita-vividha-loka-yatra-gopiyayety arthah.

> a-kalpam--for the duration of the time of creation; evam--thus; vesam--appearance; gatah--has accepted; esah--this; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atma-yoga-mayaya--by His own spiritual potency; viracita--perfected; vividha-loka-yatra--the livelihood of the various planetary systems; gopiyaya--just to maintain; iti--thus; arthah--the purpose.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 planets created by His personal potency, yogamaya.

> *******

> TEXT 42

> yo 'ntar-vistara etena hy aloka-parimanam ca vyakhyatam yad bahir

> lokalokacalat. tatah parastad yogesvara-gatim visuddham udaharanti.

> yah--that which; antah-vistarah--the distance inside Lokaloka Mountain; etena--by this; hi--indeed; aloka-parimanam--the width of the tract of land known as Aloka-varsa; ca--and; vyakhyatam--described; yat--which; bahih--outside; lokaloka-acalat--beyond Lokaloka Mountain; tatah--that; parastat--beyond; yogesvara-gatim--the path of Yogesvara (Krsna) in penetrating the coverings of the universe; visuddham--without material contamination; udaharanti--they say.

> TRANSLATION

> 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.

> *******

> TEXT 43

> anda-madhya-gatah suryo

> dyav-abhumyor yad antaram

> suryanda-golayor madhye

> kotyah syuh panca-vimsatih

> anda-madhya-gatah--situated in the center of the universe; suryah--the sun globe; dyav-abhumyoh--the two planetary systems Bhurloka and Bhuvarloka; yat--which; antaram--in between; surya--of the sun; anda-golayoh--and the globe of the universe; madhye--in the middle; kotyah--groups of ten million; syuh--are; panca-vim; satih--twenty-five.

> TRANSLATION

> 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].

> *******

> TEXT 44

> mrte 'nda esa etasmin yad abhut tato martanda iti vyapadesah.

> hiranyagarbha iti yad dhiranyanda-samudbhavah.

> mrte--dead; ande--in the globe; esah--this; etasmin--in this; yat--which; abhut--entered personally at the time of creation; tatah--from that; martanda--Martanda; iti--thus; vyapadesah--the designation; hiranya-garbhah--known as Hiranyagarbha; iti--thus; yat--because; hiranya-anda-samudbhavah--his material body was created from Hiranyagarbha.

> TRANSLATION

> 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].

> *******

> TEXT 45

> suryena hi vibhajyante

> disah kham dyaur mahi bhida

> svargapavargau naraka

> rasaukamsi ca sarvasah

> suryena--by the sun-god within the sun planet; hi--indeed; vibhajyante--are divided; disah--the directions; kham--the sky; dyauh--the heavenly planets; mahi--the earthly planets; bhida--other divisions; svarga--the heavenly planets; apavargau--and the places for liberation; narakah--the hellish planets; rasaukamsi--such as Atala; ca--also; sarvasah--all.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, the sun-god and the sun planet 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 planets, this world and the lower planets 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.

> *******

> TEXT 46

> deva-tiryan-manusyanam

> sarisrpa-savirudham

> sarva jiva-nikayanam

> surya atma drg-isvarah

> deva--of the demigods; tiryak--the lower animals; manusyanam--and the human beings; sarisrpa--the insects and the serpents; savirudham--and the plants and trees; sarva jiva-nikayanam--of all groups of living entities; suryah--the sun-god; atma--the life and soul; drk--of the eyes; isvarah--the personality of Godhead.

> TRANSLATION

> 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 planet. 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.

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