Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty
SB5.20.13
TEXT 13
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.
SYNONYMS
evam—thus; surodat—from the ocean of liquor; bahih—outside; tat-dvi-gunah—twice that; samanena—equal in width; avrtah—surrounded; ghrta-udena—an ocean of clarified butter; yatha-purvah—as previously with Salmalidvipa; kusa-dvipa—the island called Kusadvipa; yasmin—in which; kusa-stambah—kusa grass; deva-krtah—created by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-dvipa-akhya-karah—giving the island its name; jvalanah—fire; iva—like; aparah—another; sva-saspa-rocisa—by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass; disah—all directions; virajayati—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.
PURPORT
From the descriptions in this verse, we can make an educated guess about the nature of the flames on the moon. Like the sun, the moon must also be full of flames because without flames there cannot be illumination. The flames on the moon, however, unlike those on the sun, must be mild and pleasing. This is our conviction. The modern theory that the moon is full of dust is not accepted in the verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam. In regard to this verse, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, susaspani sukomala-sikhas tesam rocisa: the kusa grass illuminates all directions, but its flames are very mild and pleasing. This gives some idea of the flames existing on the moon. SB5.20.14 TEXT 14 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. SYNONYMS tat-dvipa-patih—the master of that island; praiyavratah—the son of Maharaja Priyavrata; rajan—O King; hiranyareta—Hiranyareta; nama—named; svam—his own; dvipam—island; saptabhyah—unto seven; sva-putrebhyah—his own sons; yatha-bhagam—according to division; vibhajya—dividing; svayam—himself; tapah atisthata—engaged in austerities; vasu—unto Vasu; vasudana—Vasudana; drdharuci—Drdharuci; nabhi-gupta—Nabhigupta; stutya-vrata—Stutyavrata; vivikta—Vivikta; vama-deva—Vamadeva; namabhyah—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, Drdharuci, Stutyavrata, Nabhigupta, Vivikta and Vamadeva. SB5.20.15 TEXT 15 tesam varsesu sima-girayo nadyas cabhijnatah sapta saptaiva cakras catuhsrngah kapilas citrakuto devanika urdhvaroma dravina iti rasakulya madhukulya mitravinda srutavinda devagarbha ghrtacyuta mantramaleti. SYNONYMS tesam—all those sons; varsesu—in the tracts of land; sima-girayah—border mountains; nadyah ca—as well as rivers; abhijnatah—known; sapta—seven; sapta—seven; eva—certainly; cakrah—Cakra; catuh-srngah—Catuh-srnga; kapilah—Kapila; citra-kutah—Citrakuta; devanikah—Devanika; urdhva-roma—Urdhvaroma; dravinah—Dravina; iti—thus; rasa-kulya—Ramakulya; madhu-kulya—Madhukulya; mitra-vinda—Mitravinda; sruta-vinda—Srutavinda; deva-garbha—Devagarbha; ghrta-cyuta—Ghrtacyuta; mantra-mala—Mantramala; iti—thus. TRANSLATION 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. SB5.20.16 TEXT 16 yasam payobhih kusadvipaukasah kusala-kovidabhiyukta-kulaka-samjna bhagavantam jataveda-sarupinam karma-kausalena yajante. SYNONYMS yasam—of which; payobhih—by the water; kusa-dvipa-okasah—the inhabitants of the island known as Kusadvipa; kusala—Kusala; kovida—Kovida; abhiyukta—Abhiyukta; kulaka—Kulaka; samjnah—named; bhagavantam—unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jataveda—the demigod of fire; sa-rupinam—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. SB5.20.17 TEXT 17 parasya brahmanah saksaj jata-vedo ’si havyavat devanam purusanganam yajnena purusam yajeti SYNONYMS parasya—of the Supreme; brahmanah—Brahman; saksat—directly; jata-vedah—O fire-god; asi—you are; havyavat—the carrier of Vedic offerings of grains and ghee; devanam—of all the demigods; purusa-anganam—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. PURPORT The demigods are servants who assist the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one worships the demigods, the demigods, as servants of the Supreme, carry the sacrificial offerings to the Lord, like tax collectors collecting revenue from the citizens and bringing it to the government’s treasury. The demigods cannot accept the sacrificial offerings; they simply carry the offerings to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah: ** since the guru is a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he carries to the Lord whatever is offered to him. Similarly, all the demigods, as faithful servants of the Supreme Lord, hand over to the Supreme Lord whatever is offered to them in sacrificial performances. There is no fault in worshiping the demigods with this understanding, but to think that the demigods are independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and equal to Him is called hrta-jnana, a loss of intelligence (kamais tais tair hrta jnanah [Bg. 7.20]). One who thinks that the demigods themselves are the actual benefactors is mistaken. SB5.20.18 TEXT 18 tatha ghrtodad bahih krauncadvipo dvi-gunah sva-manena ksirodena parita upaklpto vrto yatha kusadvipo ghrtodena yasmin kraunco nama parvata-rajo dvipa-nama-nirvartaka aste. SYNONYMS tatha—so also; ghrta-udat—from the ocean of clarified butter; bahih—outside; kraunca-dvipah—another island, known as Krauncadvipa; dvi-gunah—twice as big; sva-manena—as the same measurement; ksira-udena—by an ocean of milk; paritah—all around; upaklptah—surrounded; vrtah—surrounded; yatha—like; kusa-dvipah—the island known as Kusadvipa; ghrta-udena—by an ocean of clarified butter; yasmin—in which; krauncah nama—named Kraunca; parvata-rajah—a king of mountains; dvipa-nama—the name of the island; nirvartakah—bringing about; aste—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. SB5.20.19 TEXT 19 yo ’sau guha-praharanonmathita-nitamba-kunjo ’pi ksirodena-sicyamano bhagavata varunenabhigupto vibhayo babhuva. SYNONYMS 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. SB5.20.20 TEXT 20 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. SYNONYMS tasmin—in that island; api—also; praiyavratah—the son of Maharaja Priyavrata; ghrta-prsthah—Ghrtaprstha; nama—named; adhipatih—the king of that island; sve—his own; dvipe—in the island; varsani—tracts of land; sapta—seven; vibhajya—dividing; tesu—in each of them; putra-namasu—possessing the names of his sons; sapta—seven; riktha-dan—sons; varsa-pan—the masters of the varsas; nivesya—appointing; svayam—himself; bhagavan—very powerful; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parama-kalyana-yasasah—whose glories are so auspicious; atma-bhutasya—the soul of all souls; hareh carana-aravindam—the lotus feet of the Lord; upajagama—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. SB5.20.21 TEXT 21 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. SYNONYMS amah—Ama; madhu-ruhah—Madhuruha; megha-prsthah—Meghaprstha; sudhama—Sudhama; bhrajisthah—Bhrajistha; lohitarnah—Lohitarna; vanaspatih—Vanaspati; iti—thus; ghrtaprstha-sutah—the sons of Ghrtaprstha; tesam—of those sons; varsa-girayah—boundary hills of the tracts of land; sapta—seven; sapta—seven; eva—also; nadyah—rivers; ca—and; abhikhyatah—celebrated; suklah vardhamanah—Sukla and Vardhamana; bhojanah—Bhojana; upabarhinah—Upabarhina; nandah—Nanda; nandanah—Nandana; sarvatah-bhadrah—Sarvatobhadra; iti—thus; abhaya—Abhaya; amrtaugha—Amrtaugha; aryaka—Aryaka; tirthavati—Tirthavati; rupavati—Rupavati; pavitravati—Pavitravati; sukla—Sukla; 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. SB5.20.22 TEXT 22 yasam ambhah pavitram amalam upayunjanah purusa-rsabha-dravina-devaka-samjna varsa-purusa apomayam devam apam purnenanjalina yajante. SYNONYMS yasam—of all the rivers; ambhah—the water; pavitram—very sanctified; amalam—very clean; upayunjanah—using; purusa—Purusa; rsabha—Rsabha; dravina—Dravina; devaka—Devaka; samjnah—endowed with the names; varsa-purusah—the inhabitants of those varsas; apah-mayam—Varuna, the lord of water; devam—as the worshipable deity; apam—of water; purnena—with full; anjalina—folded palms; yajante—do worship. TRANSLATION 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. PURPORT Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, apomayah asmayam: with joined palms the inhabitants of the various sections of Krauncadvipa offer the sanctified waters of the rivers to a deity made of stone or iron. SB5.20.23 TEXT 23 apah purusa-viryah stha punantir bhur-bhuvah-suvah ta nah punitamiva-ghnih sprsatam atmana bhuva iti SYNONYMS apah—O water; purusa-viryah—endowed with the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stha—you are; punantih—sanctifying; bhuh—of the planetary system known as Bhuh; bhuvah—of the Bhuvah planetary system; suvah—of the Svah planetary system; tah—that water; nah—of us; punita—purify; amiva-ghnih—who destroys sin; sprsatam—of those touching; atmana—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. PURPORT Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (7.4): bhumir apo ’nalo vayuh “Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all together these eight comprise My separated material energies.” The energy of the Lord acts throughout the creation, just as heat and light, the energies of the sun, act within the universe and make everything work. The specific rivers mentioned in the sastras are also energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and people who regularly bathe in them are purified. It can actually be seen that many people are cured of diseases simply by bathing in the Ganges. Similarly, the inhabitants of Krauncadvipa purify themselves by bathing in the rivers there. SB5.20.24 TEXT 24 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. SYNONYMS evam—thus; purastat—beyond; ksira-udat—from the ocean of milk; paritah—all around; upavesitah—situated; saka-dvipah—another island, known as Sakadvipa; dva-trimsat—thirty-two; laksa—100,000; yojana—yojanas; ayamah—whose measure; samanena—of equal length; ca—and; dadhi-manda-udena—by an ocean containing water resembling churned yogurt; paritah—surrounded; yasmin—in which land; sakah—saka; nama—named; mahiruhah—a fig tree; sva-ksetra-vyapadesakah—giving the island its name; yasya—of which; ha—indeed; maha-surabhi—a greatly fragrant; gandhah—aroma; tam dvipam—that island; anuvasayati—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. SB5.20.25 TEXT 25 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. SYNONYMS tasya api—of that island also; praiyavratah—a son of Maharaja Priyavrata; eva—certainly; adhipatih—the ruler; namna—by the name; medha-tithih—Medhatithi; sah api—he also; vibhajya—dividing; sapta varsani—seven divisions of the island; putra-namani—possessing the names of his sons; tesu—in them; sva-atmajan—his own sons; purojava—Purojava; manojava—Manojava; pavamana—Pavamana; dhumranika—Dhumranika; citra-repha—Citrarepha; bahu-rupa—Bahurupa; visvadhara—Visvadhara; samjnan—having as names; nidhapya—establishing as; adhipatin—the rulers; svayam—himself; bhagavati—in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anante—in the unlimited; avesita-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. SB5.20.26 TEXT 26 etesam varsa-maryada-girayo nadyas ca sapta saptaiva isana urusrngo balabhadrah satakesarah sahasrasroto devapalo mahanasa iti anaghayurda ubhayasprstir aparajita pancapadi sahasrasrutir nijadhrtir iti. SYNONYMS etesam—of all these divisions; varsa-maryada—acting as the boundary limits; girayah—the big hills; nadyah ca—and the rivers also; sapta—seven; sapta—seven; eva—indeed; isanah—Isana; urusrngah—Urusrnga; bala-bhadrah—Balabhadra; sata-kesarah—Satakesara; sahasra-srotah—Sahasrasrota; deva-palah—Devapala; mahanasah—Mahanasa; iti—thus; anagha—Anagha; ayurda—Ayurda; ubhayasprstih—Ubhayasprsti; aparajita—Aparajita; pancapadi—Pancapadi; 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, Sahasrasrota, Devapala and Mahanasa. The rivers are Anagha, Ayurda, Ubhayasprsti, Aparajita, Pancapadi, Sahasra-sruti and Nijadhrti. SB5.20.27 TEXT 27 tad-varsa-purusa rtavrata-satyavrata-danavratanuvrata-namano bhagavantam vayv-atmakam pranayama-vidhuta-rajas-tamasah parama-samadhina yajante. SYNONYMS tat-varsa-purusah—the inhabitants of those tracts of land; rta-vrata—Rtavrata; satya-vrata—Satyavrata; dana-vrata—Danavrata; anuvrata—Anuvrata; namanah—having the four names; bhagavantam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vayu-atmakam—represented by the demigod Vayu; pranayama—by the practice of regulating the airs within the body; vidhuta—cleansed away; rajah-tamasah—whose passion and ignorance; parama—sublime; samadhina—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. SB5.20.28 TEXT 28 antah-pravisya bhutani yo bibharty atma-ketubhih antaryamisvarah saksat patu no yad-vase sphutam SYNONYMS antah-pravisya—entering within; bhutani—all living entities; yah—who; bibharti—maintains; atma-ketubhih—by the functions of the inner airs (prana, apana, etc.); antaryami—the Supersoul within; isvarah—the Supreme person; saksat—directly; patu—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. PURPORT Through the mystic yoga practice called pranayama, the yogi controls the airs within the body to maintain the body in a healthy condition. In this way, the yogi comes to the point of trance and tries to see the Supersoul within the core of his heart. Pranayama is the means to attain samadhi, trance, in order to fully absorb oneself in seeing the Supreme Lord as antaryami, the Supersoul within the core of the heart. SB5.20.29 TEXT 29 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. SYNONYMS evam eva—thus; dadhi-manda-udat—the ocean of yogurt; paratah—beyond; puskara-dvipah—another island, named Puskaradvipa; tatah—than that (Sakadvipa); dvi-guna-ayamah—whose measurement is twice as great; samantatah—on all sides; upakalpitah—surrounded; samanena—equal in width; svadu-udakena—possessing sweet water; samudrena—by an ocean; bahih—outside; avrtah—surrounded; yasmin—in which; brhat—very big; puskaram—lotus flower; jvalana-sikha—like the flames of a blazing fire; amala—pure; kanaka—gold; patra—leaves; ayuta-ayutam—possessing 100,000,000; bhagavatah—greatly powerful; kamala asanasya—of Lord Brahma, whose sitting place is on the lotus flower; adhyasanam—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. SB5.20.30 TEXT 30 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. SYNONYMS tat-dvipa-madhye—within that island; manasottara—Manasottara; nama—named; ekah—one; eva—indeed; arvacina—on this side; paracina—and beyond, or outside; varsayoh—of tracts of land; maryada—indicating the boundary; acalah—a great mountain; ayuta—ten thousand; yojana—eight miles; ucchraya-ayamah—whose height and width; yatra—where; tu—but; catasrsu—in the four; diksu—directions; catvari—four; purani—cities; loka-palanam—of the directors of planetary systems; indra-adinam—headed by Indra; yat—of which; uparistat—on the top; surya-rathasya—of the chariot of the sun-god; merum—Meru Mountain; paribhramatah—while circumambulating; samvatsara-atmakam—consisting of one samvatsara; cakram—wheel or orbit; devanam—of the demigods; ahah-ratrabhyam—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. PURPORT The movement of the sun is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (5.52): yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakrah. The sun orbits around Mount Sumeru, for six months on the northern side and for six months on the southern. This adds up to the duration of a day and night of the demigods in the upper planetary systems.
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha