SB5.24Summary

This chapter describes the planet Rāhu, which is 10,000 yojanas (80,000 miles) below the sun, and it also describes Atala and the other lower planetary systems. Rāhu is situated below the sun and moon. It is between these two planets and the earth. When Rāhu conceals the sun and moon, eclipses occur, either total or partial, depending on whether Rāhu moves in a straight or curving way.

Below Rāhu by another 1,000,000 yojanas are the planets of the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Vidyādharas, and below these are planets such as Yakṣaloka and Rakṣaloka. Below these planets is the earth, and 70,000 yojanas below the earth are the lower planetary systems—Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. Demons and Rakṣasas live in these lower planetary systems with their wives and children, always engaged in sense gratification and not fearing their next births. The sunshine does not reach these planets, but they are illuminated by jewels fixed upon the hoods of snakes. Because of these shining gems there is practically no darkness. Those living in these planets do not become old or diseased, and they are not afraid of death from any cause but the time factor, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the planet Atala, the yawning of a demon has produced three kinds of women, called svairiṇī (independent), kāmiṇī (lusty) and puṁścalī (very easily subdued by men). Below Atala is the planet Vitala, wherein Lord Śiva and his wife Gaurī reside. Because of their presence, a kind of gold is produced called hāṭaka. Below Vitala is the planet Sutala, the abode of Bali Mahārāja, the most fortunate king. Bali Mahārāja was favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, because of his intense devotional service. The Lord went to the sacrificial arena of Bali Mahārāja and begged him for three paces of land, and on this plea the Lord took from him all his possessions. When Bali Mahārāja agreed to all this, the Lord was very pleased, and therefore the Lord serves as his doorkeeper. The description of Bali Mahārāja appears in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead offers a devotee material happiness, this is not His real favor. The demigods, who are very puffed up by their material opulence, pray to the Lord only for material happiness, not knowing anything better. Devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja, however, do not want material happiness. Not to speak of material happiness, they do not want even liberation from material bondage, although one can achieve this liberation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, even with improper pronunciation.

TEXT 1

śrī-śuka uvāca

adhastāt savitur yojanāyute svarbhānur nakṣatravac caratīty eke yo ’sāv amaratvaṁ grahatvaṁ cālabhata bhagavad-anukampayā svayam asurāpasadaḥ saiṁhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tāta janma karmāṇi copariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ.

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; adhastāt—below; savituḥ—the sun globe; yojana—a measurement equal to eight miles; ayute—ten thousand; svarbhānuḥ—the planet known as Rāhu; nakṣatra-vat—like one of the stars; carati—is rotating; iti—thus; eke—some who are learned in the Purāṇas; yaḥ—which; asau—that; amaratvam—a lifetime like those of the demigods; grahatvam—a position as one of the chief planets; ca—and; alabhata—obtained; bhagavat-anukampayā—by the compassion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam—personally; asura-apasadaḥ—the lowest of the asuras; saiṁhikeyaḥ—being the son of Siṁhikā; hi—indeed; a-tat-arhaḥ—not qualified for that position; tasya—his; tāta—O my dear King; janma—birth; karmāṇi—activities; ca—also; upariṣṭāt—later; vakṣyāmaḥ—I shall explain.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers of the Purāṇas, say that 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] below the sun is the planet known as Rāhu, which moves like one of the stars. The presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Siṁhikā, is the most abominable of all asuras, but although he is completely unfit to assume the position of a demigod or planetary deity, he has achieved that position by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later I shall speak further about him.

SB5.24.2

TEXT 2

yad adas taraṇer maṇḍalaṁ pratapatas tad vistarato yojanāyutam ācakṣate dvādaśa-sahasraṁ somasya trayodaśa-sahasraṁ rāhor yaḥ parvaṇi tad-vyavadhāna-kṛd vairānubandhaḥ sūryā-candramasāv abhidhāvati.

SYNONYMS

yat—which; adaḥ—that; taraṇeḥ—of the sun; maṇḍalam—globe; pratapataḥ—which is always distributing heat; tat—that; vistarataḥ—in terms of width; yojana—a distance of eight miles; ayutam—ten thousand; ācakṣate—they estimate; dvādaśa-sahasram—20,000 yojanas (160,000 miles); somasya—of the moon; trayodaśa—thirty; sahasram—one thousand; rāhoḥ—of the planet Rāhu; yaḥ—which; parvaṇi—on occasion; tat-vyavadhāna-kṛt—who created an obstruction to the sun and moon at the time of the distribution of nectar; vaira-anubandhaḥ—whose intentions are inimical; sūryā—the sun; candramasau—and the moon; abhidhāvati—runs after them on the full-moon night and the dark-moon day.

TRANSLATION

The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles]. The moon extends for 20,000 yojanas [160,000 miles], and Rāhu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Rāhu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Rāhu is inimical toward both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night.

PURPORT

TEXT 3

tan niśamyobhayatrāpi bhagavatā rakṣaṇāya prayuktaṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma bhāgavataṁ dayitam astraṁ tat tejasā durviṣahaṁ muhuḥ parivartamānam abhyavasthito muhūrtam udvijamānaś cakita-hṛdaya ārād eva nivartate tad uparāgam iti vadanti lokāḥ.

SYNONYMS

tat—that situation; niśamya—hearing; ubhayatra—around both the sun and moon; api—indeed; bhagavatā—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rakṣaṇāya—for their protection; prayuktam—engaged; sudarśanam—the wheel of Kṛṣṇa; nāma—named; bhāgavatam—the most confidential devotee; dayitam—the most favorite; astram—weapon; tat—that; tejasā—by its effulgence; durviṣaham—unbearable heat; muhuḥ—repeatedly; parivartamānam—moving around the sun and moon; abhyavasthitaḥ—situated; muhūrtam—for a muhūrta (forty-eight minutes); udvijamānaḥ—whose mind was full of anxieties; cakita—frightened; hṛdayaḥ—the core of whose heart; ārāt—to a distant place; eva—certainly; nivartate—flees; tat—that situation; uparāgam—an eclipse; iti—thus; vadanti—they say; lokāḥ—the people.

TRANSLATION

After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Rāhu’s attack, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, engages His disc, known as the Sudarśana cakra, to protect them. The Sudarśana cakra is the Lord’s most beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its effulgence, meant for killing non-Vaiṣṇavas, is unbearable to Rāhu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rāhu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse.

PURPORT

TEXT 4

tato ’dhastāt siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādharāṇāṁ sadanāni tāvan mātra eva.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ—the planet Rāhu; adhastāt—below; siddha-cāraṇa—of the planets known as Siddhaloka and Cāraṇaloka; vidyādharāṇām—and the planets of the Vidyādharas; sadanāni—the residential places; tāvat mātra—only that much distance (eighty thousand miles); eva—indeed.

TRANSLATION

Below Rāhu by 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] are the planets known as Siddhaloka, Cāraṇaloka and Vidyādhara-loka.

PURPORT

TEXT 5

tato ’dhastād yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānāṁ vihārājiram antarikṣaṁ yāvad vāyuḥ pravāti yāvan meghā upalabhyante.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt—beneath the planets occupied by the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Vidyādharas; yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānām—of Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, ghosts and so on; vihāra-ajiram—the place of sense gratification; antarikṣam—in the sky or outer space; yāvat—as far as; vāyuḥ—the wind; pravāti—blows; yāvat—as far as; meghāḥ—the clouds; upalabhyante—are seen.

TRANSLATION

Beneath Vidyādhara-loka, Cāraṇaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antarikṣa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, ghosts and so on. Antarikṣa extends as far as the wind blows and the clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air.

SB5.24.6

TEXT 6

tato ’dhastāc chata-yojanāntara iyaṁ pṛthivī yāvad dhaṁsa-bhāsa-śyena-suparṇādayaḥ patattri-pravarā utpatantīti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt—beneath that; śata-yojana—of one hundred yojanas; antare—by an interval; iyam—this; pṛthivī—planet earth; yāvat—as high as; haṁsa—swans; bhāsa—vultures; śyena—eagles; suparṇa-ādayaḥ—and other birds; patattri-pravarāḥ—the chief among birds; utpatanti—can fly; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Below the abodes of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas by a distance of 100 yojanas [800 miles] is the planet earth. Its upper limits extend as high as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly.

SB5.24.7

TEXT 7

upavarṇitaṁ bhūmer yathā-sanniveśāvasthānam avaner apy adhastāt sapta bhū-vivarā ekaikaśo yojanāyutāntareṇāyāma-vistāreṇopakḷptā atalaṁ vitalaṁ sutalaṁ talātalaṁ mahātalaṁ rasātalaṁ pātālam iti.

SYNONYMS

upavarṇitam—stated previously; bhūmeḥ—of the planet earth; yathā-sanniveśa-avasthānam—according to the arrangement of the different places; avaneḥ—the earth; api—certainly; adhastāt—beneath; sapta—seven; bhū-vivarāḥ—other planets; eka-ekaśaḥ—in succession, up to the outer limit of the universe; yojana-ayuta-antareṇa—with an interval of ten thousand yojanas (eighty thousand miles); āyāma-vistāreṇa—by width and length; upakḷptāḥ—situated; atalam—named Atala; vitalam—Vitala; sutalam—Sutala; talātalam—Talātala; mahātalam—Mahātala; rasātalam—Rasātala; pātālam—Pātāla; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. I have already explained the situation of the planetary systems of earth. The width and length of the seven lower planetary systems are calculated to be exactly the same as those of earth.

SB5.24.8

TEXT 8

eteṣu hi bila-svargeṣu svargād apy adhika-kāma-bhogaiśvaryānanda-bhūti-vibhūtibhiḥ susamṛddha-bhavanodyānākrīḍa-vihāreṣu daitya-dānava-kādraveyā nitya-pramuditānurakta-kalatrāpatya-bandhu-suhṛd-anucarā gṛha-pataya īśvarād apy apratihata-kāmā māyā-vinodā nivasanti.

SYNONYMS

eteṣu—in these; hi—certainly; bila-svargeṣu—known as the heavenly subterranean worlds; svargāt—than the heavenly planets; api—even; adhika—a greater quantity; kāma-bhoga—enjoyment of sense gratification; aiśvarya-ānanda—bliss due to opulence; bhūti—influence; vibhūtibhiḥ—by those things and wealth; su-samṛddha—improved; bhavana—houses; udyāna—gardens; ākrīḍa-vihāreṣu—in places for different types of sense gratification; daitya—the demons; dānava—ghosts; kādraveyāḥ—snakes; nitya—who are always; pramudita—overjoyed; anurakta—because of attachment; kalatra—to wife; apatya—children; bandhu—family relations; suhṛt—friends; anucarāḥ—followers; gṛha-patayaḥ—the heads of the households; īśvarāt—than those more capable, like the demigods; api—even; apratihata-kāmāḥ—whose fulfillment of lusty desires is unimpeded; māyā—illusory; vinodāḥ—who feel happiness; nivasanti—live.

TRANSLATION

In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Dānavas and Nāgas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully engaged in illusory, material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached to illusory happiness.

PURPORT

TEXT 9

yeṣu mahārāja mayena māyāvinā vinirmitāḥ puro nānā-maṇi-pravara-praveka-viracita-vicitra-bhavana-prākāra-gopura-sabhā-caitya-catvarāyatanādibhir nāgāsura-mithuna-pārāvata-śuka-sārikākīrṇa-kṛtrima-bhūmibhir vivareśvara-gṛhottamaiḥ samalaṅkṛtāś cakāsati.

SYNONYMS

yeṣu—in those lower planetary systems; mahā-rāja—O my dear King; mayena—by the demon named Maya; māyā-vinā—possessing advanced knowledge in the construction of material comforts; vinirmitāḥ—constructed; puraḥ—cities; nānā-maṇi-pravara—of valuable gems; praveka—with excellent; viracita—constructed; vicitra—wonderful; bhavana—houses; prākāra—walls; gopura—gates; sabhā—legislative meeting rooms; caitya—temples; catvara—schools; āyatana-ādibhiḥ—with hotels or recreation halls and so on; nāga—of living entities with snakelike bodies; asura—of demons, or godless persons; mithuna—by couples; pārāvata—pigeons; śuka—parrots; sārikā—mynas; ākīrṇa—crowded; kṛtrima—artificial; bhūmibhiḥ—possessing areas; vivara-īśvara—of the leaders of the planets; gṛha-uttamaiḥ—with first-class houses; samalaṅkṛtāḥ—decorated; cakāsati—shine magnificently.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, in the imitation heavens known as bila-svarga there is a great demon named Maya Dānava, who is an expert artist and architect. He has constructed many brilliantly decorated cities. There are many wonderful houses, walls, gates, assembly houses, temples, yards and temple compounds, as well as many hotels serving as residential quarters for foreigners. The houses for the leaders of these planets are constructed with the most valuable jewels, and they are always crowded with living entities known as Nāgas and Asuras, as well as many pigeons, parrots and similar birds. All in all, these imitation heavenly cities are most beautifully situated and attractively decorated.

SB5.24.10

TEXT 10

udyānāni cātitarāṁ mana-indriyānandibhiḥ kusuma-phala-stabaka-subhaga-kisalayāvanata-rucira-viṭapa-viṭapināṁ latāṅgāliṅgitānāṁ śrībhiḥ samithuna-vividha-vihaṅgama-jalāśayānām amala-jala-pūrṇānāṁ jhaṣakulollaṅghana-kṣubhita-nīra-nīraja-kumuda-kuva-laya-kahlāra-nīlotpala-lohita-śatapatrādi-vaneṣu kṛta-niketanānām eka-vihārākula-madhura-vividha-svanādibhir indriyotsavair amara-loka-śriyam atiśayitāni.

SYNONYMS

udyānāni—the gardens and parks; ca—also; atitarām—greatly; manaḥ—to the mind; indriya—and to the senses; ānandibhiḥ—which cause pleasure; kusuma—by flowers; phala—of fruits; stabaka—bunches; subhaga—very beautiful; kisalaya—new twigs; avanata—bent low; rucira—attractive; viṭapa—possessing branches; viṭapinām—of trees; latā-aṅga-āliṅgitānām—which are embraced by the limbs of creepers; śrībhiḥ—by the beauty; sa-mithuna—in pairs; vividha—varieties; vihaṅgama—frequented by birds; jala-āśayānām—of reservoirs of water; amala-jala-pūrṇānām—full of clear and transparent water; jhaṣa-kula-ullaṅghana—by the jumping of different fish; kṣubhita—agitated; nīra—in the water; nīraja—of lotus flowers; kumuda—lilies; kuvalaya—flowers named kuvalaya; kahlāra—kahlāra flowers; nīla-utpala—blue lotus flowers; lohita—red; śata-patra-ādi—lotus flowers with a hundred petals and so on; vaneṣu—in forests; kṛta-niketanānām—of birds that have made their nests; eka-vihāra-ākula—full of uninterrupted enjoyment; madhura—very sweet; vividha—varieties; svana-ādibhiḥ—by vibrations; indriya-utsavaiḥ—invoking sense enjoyment; amara-loka-śriyam—the beauty of the residential places of the demigods; atiśayitāni—surpassing.

TRANSLATION

The parks and gardens in the artificial heavens surpass in beauty those of the upper heavenly planets. The trees in those gardens, embraced by creepers, bend with a heavy burden of twigs with fruits and flowers, and therefore they appear extraordinarily beautiful. That beauty could attract anyone and make his mind fully blossom in the pleasure of sense gratification. There are many lakes and reservoirs with clear, transparent water, agitated by jumping fish and decorated with many flowers such as lilies, kuvalayas, kahlāras and blue and red lotuses. Pairs of cakravākas and many other water birds nest in the lakes and always enjoy in a happy mood, making sweet, pleasing vibrations that are very satisfying and conducive to enjoyment of the senses.

SB5.24.11

TEXT 11

yatra ha vāva na bhayam aho-rātrādibhiḥ kāla-vibhāgair upalakṣyate.

SYNONYMS

yatra—where; ha vāva—certainly; na—not; bhayam—fearfulness; ahaḥ-rātra-ādibhiḥ—because of days and nights; kāla-vibhāgaiḥ—the divisions of time; upalakṣyate—is experienced.

TRANSLATION

Since there is no sunshine in those subterranean planets, time is not divided into days and nights, and consequently fear produced by time does not exist.

SB5.24.12

TEXT 12

yatra hi mahāhi-pravara-śiro-maṇayaḥ sarvaṁ tamaḥ prabādhante.

SYNONYMS

yatra—where; hi—indeed; mahā-ahi—of great serpents; pravara—of the best; śiraḥ-maṇayaḥ—the gems on the hoods; sarvam—all; tamaḥ—darkness; prabādhante—drive away.

TRANSLATION

Many great serpents reside there with gems on their hoods, and the effulgence of these gems dissipates the darkness in all directions.

SB5.24.13

TEXT 13

na vā eteṣu vasatāṁ divyauṣadhi-rasa-rasāyanānna-pāna-snānādibhir ādhayo vyādhayo valī-palita-jarādayaś ca deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glānir iti vayo ’vasthāś ca bhavanti.

SYNONYMS

na—not; vā—either; eteṣu—in these planets; vasatām—of those residing; divya—wonderful; auṣadhi—of herbs; rasa—the juices; rasāyana—and elixirs; anna—by eating; pāna—drinking; snāna-ādibhiḥ—by bathing in and so on; ādhayaḥ—mental troubles; vyādhayaḥ—diseases; valī—wrinkles; palita—grey hair; jarā—old age; ādayaḥ—and so on; ca—and; deha-vaivarṇya—the fading of bodily luster; daurgandhya—bad odor; sveda—perspiration; klama—fatigue; glāniḥ—lack of energy; iti—thus; vayaḥ avasthāḥ—miserable conditions due to increasing age; ca—and; bhavanti—are.

TRANSLATION

Since the residents of these planets drink and bathe in juices and elixirs made from wonderful herbs, they are freed from all anxieties and physical diseases. They have no experience of grey hair, wrinkles or invalidity, their bodily lusters do not fade, their perspiration does not cause a bad smell, and they are not troubled by fatigue or by lack of energy or enthusiasm due to old age.

SB5.24.14

TEXT 14

na hi teṣāṁ kalyāṇānāṁ prabhavati kutaścana mṛtyur vinā bhagavat-tejasaś cakrāpadeśāt.

SYNONYMS

na hi—not; teṣām—of them; kalyāṇānām—who are by nature auspicious; prabhavati—able to influence; kutaścana—from anywhere; mṛtyuḥ—death; vinā—except; bhagavat-tejasaḥ—of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; cakra-apadeśāt—from that weapon named the Sudarśana cakra.

TRANSLATION

They live very auspiciously and do not fear death from anything but death’s established time, which is the effulgence of the Sudarśana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

TEXT 15

yasmin praviṣṭe ’sura-vadhūnāṁ prāyaḥ puṁsavanāni bhayād eva sravanti patanti ca.

SYNONYMS

yasmin—where; praviṣṭe—when entered; asura-vadhūnām—of the wives of those demons; prāyaḥ—almost always; puṁsavanāni—fetuses; bhayāt—because of fear; eva—certainly; sravanti—slip out; patanti—fall down; ca—and.

TRANSLATION

When the Sudarśana disc enters those provinces, the pregnant wives of the demons all have miscarriages due to fear of its effulgence.

SB5.24.16

TEXT 16

athātale maya-putro ’suro balo nivasati yena ha vā iha sṛṣṭāḥ ṣaṇ-ṇavatir māyāḥ kāścanādyāpi māyāvino dhārayanti yasya ca jṛmbhamāṇasya mukhatas trayaḥ strī-gaṇā udapadyanta svairiṇyaḥ kāminyaḥ puṁścalya iti yā vai bilāyanaṁ praviṣṭaṁ puruṣaṁ rasena hāṭakākhyena sādhayitvā sva-vilāsāvalokanānurāga-smita-saṁlāpopagūhanādibhiḥ svairaṁ kila ramayanti yasminn upayukte puruṣa īśvaro ’haṁ siddho ’ham ity ayuta-mahā-gaja-balam ātmānam abhimanyamānaḥ katthate madāndha iva.

SYNONYMS

atha—now; atale—on the planet named Atala; maya-putraḥ asuraḥ—the demon son of Maya; balaḥ—Bala; nivasati—resides; yena—by whom; ha vā—indeed; iha—in this; sṛṣṭāḥ—propagated; ṣaṭ-ṇavatiḥ—ninety-six; māyāḥ—varieties of illusion; kāścana—some; adya api—even today; māyā-vinaḥ—those who know the art of magical feats (like manufacturing gold); dhārayanti—utilize; yasya—of whom; ca—also; jṛmbhamāṇasya—while yawning; mukhataḥ—from the mouth; trayaḥ—three; strī-gaṇāḥ—varieties of women; udapadyanta—were generated; svairiṇyaḥ—svairiṇī (one who only marries in her same class); kāminyaḥ—kāmiṇī (one who, being lusty, marries men from any group); puṁścalyaḥ—puṁścalī (one who wants to go from one husband to another); iti—thus; yāḥ—who; vai—certainly; bila-ayanam—the subterranean planets; praviṣṭam—entering; puruṣam—a male; rasena—by a juice; hāṭaka-ākhyena—made from an intoxicating herb known as hāṭaka; sādhayitvā—making sexually fit; sva-vilāsa—for their personal sense gratification; avalokana—by glances; anurāga—lustful; smita—by smiling; saṁlāpa—by talking; upagūhana-ādibhiḥ—and by embracing; svairam—according to their own desire; kila—indeed; ramayanti—enjoy sex pleasure; yasmin—which; upayukte—when used; puruṣaḥ—a man; īśvaraḥ aham—I am the most powerful person; siddhaḥ aham—I am the greatest and most elevated person; iti—thus; ayuta—ten thousand; mahā-gaja—of big elephants; balam—the strength; ātmānam—himself; abhimanyamānaḥ—being full of pride; katthate—they say; mada-andhaḥ—blinded by false prestige; iva—like.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, now I shall describe to you the lower planetary systems, one by one, beginning from Atala. In Atala there is a demon, the son of Maya Dānava named Bala, who created ninety-six kinds of mystic power. Some so-called yogīs and svāmīs take advantage of this mystic power to cheat people even today. Simply by yawning, the demon Bala created three kinds of women, known as svairiṇī, kāmiṇī and puṁścalī. The svairiṇīs like to marry men from their own group, the kāmiṇīs marry men from any group, and the puṁścalīs change husbands one after another. If a man enters the planet of Atala, these women immediately capture him and induce him to drink an intoxicating beverage made with a drug known as hāṭaka [cannabis indica]. This intoxicant endows the man with great sexual prowess, of which the women take advantage for enjoyment. A woman will enchant him with attractive glances, intimate words, smiles of love and then embraces. In this way she induces him to enjoy sex with her to her full satisfaction. Because of his increased sexual power, the man thinks himself stronger than ten thousand elephants and considers himself most perfect. Indeed, illusioned and intoxicated by false pride, he thinks himself God, ignoring impending death.

SB5.24.17

TEXT 17

tato ’dhastād vitale haro bhagavān hāṭakeśvaraḥ sva-pārṣada-bhūta-gaṇāvṛtaḥ prajāpati-sargopabṛṁhaṇāya bhavo bhavānyā saha mithunī-bhūta āste yataḥ pravṛttā sarit-pravarā hāṭakī nāma bhavayor vīryeṇa yatra citrabhānur mātariśvanā samidhyamāna ojasā pibati tan niṣṭhyūtaṁ hāṭakākhyaṁ suvarṇaṁ bhūṣaṇenāsurendrāvarodheṣu puruṣāḥ saha puruṣībhir dhārayanti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ—the planet Atala; adhastāt—beneath; vitale—on the planet; haraḥ—Lord Śiva; bhagavān—the most powerful personality; hāṭakeśvaraḥ—the master of gold; sva-pārṣada—by his own associates; bhūta-gaṇa—who are ghostly living beings; āvṛtaḥ—surrounded; prajāpati-sarga—of the creation of Lord Brahmā; upabṛṁhaṇāya—to increase the population; bhavaḥ—Lord Śiva; bhavānyā saha—with his wife, Bhavānī; mithunī-bhūtaḥ—being united in sex; āste—remains; yataḥ—from that planet (Vitala); pravṛttā—being emanated; sarit-pravarā—the great river; hāṭakī—Hāṭakī; nāma—named; bhavayoḥ vīryeṇa—due to the semina and ovum of Lord Śiva and Bhavānī; yatra—where; citra-bhānuḥ—the fire-god; mātariśvanā—by the wind; samidhyamānaḥ—being brightly inflamed; ojasā—with great strength; pibati—drinks; tat—that; niṣṭhyūtam—spit out with a hissing sound; hāṭaka-ākhyam—named Hāṭaka; suvarṇam—gold; bhūṣaṇena—by different types of ornaments; asura-indra—of the great asuras; avarodheṣu—in the homes; puruṣāḥ—the males; saha—with; puruṣībhiḥ—their wives and women; dhārayanti—wear.

TRANSLATION

The next planet below Atala is Vitala, wherein Lord Śiva, who is known as the master of gold mines, lives with his personal associates, the ghosts and similar living entities. Lord Śiva, as the progenitor, engages in sex with Bhavānī, the progenitress, to produce living entities, and from the mixture of their vital fluid the river named Hāṭakī is generated. When fire, being made to blaze by the wind, drinks of this river and then sizzles and spits it out, it produces gold called Hāṭaka. The demons who live on that planet with their wives decorate themselves with various ornaments made from that gold, and thus they live there very happily.

PURPORT

It appears that when Bhava and Bhavānī, Lord Śiva and his wife, unite sexually, the emulsification of their secretions creates a chemical which when heated by fire can produce gold. It is said that the alchemists of the medieval age tried to prepare gold from base metal, and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī also states that when bell metal is treated with mercury, it can produce gold. Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī mentions this in regard to the initiation of low-class men to turn them into brāhmaṇas. Sanātana Gosvāmī said:

yathā kāñcanatāṁ yāti
kāṁsyaṁ rasa-vidhānataḥ
tathā dīkṣā-vidhānena
dvijatvaṁ jāyate nṛṇām

“As one can transform kaṁsa, or bell metal, into gold by treating it with mercury, one can also turn a lowborn man into a brāhmaṇa by initiating him properly into Vaiṣṇava activities.” The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is trying to turn mlecchas and yavanas into real brāhmaṇas by properly initiating them and stopping them from engaging in meat-eating, intoxication, illicit sex and gambling. One who stops these four principles of sinful activity and chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra can certainly become a pure brāhmaṇa through the process of bona fide initiation, as suggested by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Apart from this, if one takes a hint from this verse and learns how to mix mercury with bell metal by properly heating and melting them, one can get gold very cheaply. The alchemists of the medieval age tried to manufacture gold, but they were unsuccessful, perhaps because they did not follow the right instructions.

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