Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter Nineteen

SB5.19.21

TEXT 21

etad eva hi deva gayanti——

aho amisam kim akari sobhanam

prasanna esam svid uta svayam harih

yair janma labdham nrsu bharatajire

mukunda-sevaupayikam sprha hi nah

SYNONYMS

etat—this; eva—indeed; hi—certainly; devah—all the demigods; gayanti—chant; aho—oh; amisam—of these inhabitants of Bharatavarsa; kim—what; akari—was done; sobhanam—pious, beautiful activities; prasannah—pleased; esam—upon them; svit—or; uta—it is said; svayam—personally; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yaih—by whom; janma—birth; labdham—obtained; nrsu—in human society; bharata-ajire—in the courtyard of Bharata-varsa; mukunda—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can offer liberation; seva-aupayikam—which is the means of serving; sprha—desire; hi—indeed; nah—our.

TRANSLATION

Since the human form of life is the sublime position for spiritual realization, all the demigods in heaven speak in this way: How wonderful it is for these human beings to have been born in the land of Bharata-varsa. They must have executed pious acts of austerity in the past, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself must have been pleased with them. Otherwise, how could they engage in devotional service in so many ways? We demigods can only aspire to achieve human births in Bharata-varsa to execute devotional service, but these human beings are already engaged there.

PURPORT

These facts are further explained in Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 9.41):

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara

“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.”

There are many facilities in India, Bharata-varsa, for executing devotional service. In Bharata-varsa, all the acaryas contributed their experience, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally appeared to teach the people of Bharata-varsa how to progress in spiritual life and be fixed in devotional service to the Lord. From all points of view, Bharata-varsa is the special land where one can very easily understand the process of devotional service and adopt it to make his life successful. If one makes his life successful in devotional service and then preaches devotional service in other parts of the world, people throughout the world will actually benefit.

SB5.19.22

TEXT 22

kim duskarair nah kratubhis tapo-vratair

danadibhir va dyujayena phalguna

na yatra narayana-pada-pankaja-

smrtih pramustatisayendriyotsavat

SYNONYMS

kim—what is the value; duskaraih—very difficult to perform; nah—our; kratubhih—with performances of sacrifice; tapah—with austerities; vrataih—vows; dana-adibhih—with executing charitable activities and so on; va—or; dyujayena—with achieving the heavenly kingdom; phalguna—which is insignificant; na—no; yatra—where; narayana-pada-pankaja—of the lotus feet of Lord Narayana; smrtih—the remembrance; pramusta—lost; atisaya—excessive; indriya-utsavat—due to material sense gratification.

TRANSLATION

The demigods continue: After performing the very difficult tasks of executing Vedic ritualistic sacrifices, undergoing austerities, observing vows and giving charity, we have achieved this position as inhabitants of the heavenly planets. But what is the value of this achievement? Here we are certainly very engaged in material sense gratification, and therefore we can hardly remember the lotus feet of Lord Narayana. Indeed, because of our excessive sense gratification, we have almost forgotten His lotus feet.

PURPORT

The land of Bharata-varsa is so exalted that by taking birth there one can not only attain the heavenly planets but also go directly back home, back to Godhead. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (9.25):

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino ’pi mam

“Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me.” people in the land of Bharata-varsa generally follow the Vedic principles and consequently perform great sacrifices by which they can be elevated to the heavenly planets. However, what is the use of such great attainments? As stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.21), ksine punye martya-lokam visanti: after the results of one’s sacrifices, charity and other pious activities expire, one must return to the lower planetary systems and again feel the pangs of birth and death. However, one who becomes Krsna conscious can go back to Krsna (yanti-mad-yajino ’pi mam). Therefore the demigods even regret having been elevated to the higher planetary systems. The denizens of the heavenly planets regret that they could not take full advantage of being born in the land of Bharata-varsa. Instead, they became captivated by a higher standard of sense gratification, and therefore they forgot the lotus feet of Lord Narayana at the time of death. The conclusion is that one who has taken birth in the land of Bharata-varsa must follow the instructions given personally by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama [Bg. 15.6]. One should try to return home, back to Godhead, to the Vaikuntha planets—or to the topmost Vaikuntha planet, Goloka Vrndavana—to live eternally in full, blissful knowledge in the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB5.19.23

TEXT 23

kalpayusam sthanajayat punar-bhavat

ksanayusam bharata-bhujayo varam

ksanena martyena krtam manasvinah

sannyasya samyanty abhayam padam hareh

SYNONYMS

kalpa-ayusam—of those who have a life duration of many millions of years, like Lord Brahma; sthana-jayat—than achievement of the place or planetary systems; punah-bhavat—which is liable to birth, death and old age; ksana-ayusam—of persons who have only one hundred years of life; bharata-bhu-jayah—a birth in the land of Bharata-varsa; varam—more valuable; ksanena—for such a short life; martyena—by the body; krtam—the work executed; manasvinah—those actually understanding the value of life; sannyasya—surrendering unto the lotus feet of Krsna; samyanti—they achieve; abhayam—where there is no anxiety; padam—the abode; hareh—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

A short life in the land of Bharata-varsa is preferable to a life achieved in Brahmaloka for millions and billions of years because even if one is elevated to Brahmaloka, he must return to repeated birth and death. Although life in Bharata-varsa, in a lower planetary system, is very short, one who lives there can elevate himself to full Krsna consciousness and achieve the highest perfection, even in this short life, by fully surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Lord. Thus one attains Vaikunthaloka, where there is neither anxiety nor repeated birth in a material body.

PURPORT

This is further confirmation of the statement given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara

[Cc. Adi 9.41]

One who has taken birth in the land of Bharata-varsa has a full opportunity to study the direct instructions given by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita and thus finally decide what to do in his human form of life. One should certainly give up all other propositions and surrender to Krsna. Krsna will then immediately take charge and relieve one of the results of past sinful life (aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah). Therefore one should take to Krsna consciousness, as Krsna Himself recommends. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] “Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer Me obeisances.” This is very easy, even for a child. Why not take this path? One should try to follow the instructions of Krsna exactly and thus become fully eligible to be promoted to the kingdom of God (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so’rjuna [Bg. 4.9]). One should go directly to Krsna and engage in His service. This is the best opportunity offered to the inhabitants of Bharata-varsa. One who is fit to return home, back to Godhead, is no longer liable to the results of karma, good or bad.

SB5.19.24

TEXT 24

na yatra vaikuntha-katha-sudhapaga

na sadhavo bhagavatas tadasrayah

na yatra yajnesa-makha mahotsavah

suresa-loko ’pi na vai sa sevyatam

SYNONYMS

na—not; yatra—where; vaikuntha-katha-sudha-apagah—the nectarean rivers of discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is called Vaikuntha, or one who drives away all anxiety; na—nor; sadhavah—devotees; bhagavatah—always engaged in the service of the Lord; tat-asrayah—who are sheltered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; na—nor; yatra—where; yajna-isa-makhah—the performance of devotional service to the Lord of sacrifices; maha-utsavah—which are actual festivals; suresa-lokah—a place inhabited by the denizens of heaven; api—although; na—not; vai—certainly; sah—that; sevyatam—be frequented.

TRANSLATION

An intelligent person does not take interest in a place, even in the topmost planetary system, if the pure Ganges of topics concerning the Supreme Lord’s activities does not flow there, if there are not devotees engaged in service on the banks of such a river of piety, or if there are no festivals of sankirtana-yajna to satisfy the Lord [especially since sankirtana-yajna is recommended in this age].

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the land of Bharata-varsa, specifically in Bengal, in the district of Nadia, where Navadvipa is situated. It is therefore to be concluded, as stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, that within this universe, this earth is the best planet, and on this planet the land of Bharata-varsa is the best; in the land of Bharatavarsa, Bengal is still better, in Bengal the district of Nadia is still better, and in Nadia the best place is Navadvipa because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared there to inaugurate the performance of the sacrifice of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. The sastras recommend:

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi sumedhasah

[SB 11.5.32]

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His very confidential associates such as Sri Nityananda, Sri Gadadhara and Sri Advaita and by many devotees like Srivasa. They are always engaged in chanting the name of the Lord and are always describing Lord Krsna. Therefore this is the best among all the places in the universe. The Krsna consciousness movement has established its center in Mayapur, the birthsite of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to give men the great opportunity to go there and perform a constant festival of sankirtana-yajna, as recommended herein (yajnesa-makha mahotsavah) and to distribute prasada to millions of hungry people hankering for spiritual emancipation. This is the mission of the Krsna consciousness movement. Caitanya-bhagavata confirms this as follows: “One should not desire to be elevated even to a place in the heavenly planetary systems if it has no propaganda to expand the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no trace of Vaisnavas, pure devotees of the Lord, and no festivals for spreading Krsna consciousness. It would be better to live perpetually cramped within the airtight bag of a mother’s womb, where one can at least remember the lotus feet of the Lord, than to live in a place where there is no opportunity to remember His lotus feet. I pray not to be allowed to take birth in such a condemned place.” Similarly, in Caitanya-caritamrta, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami says that since Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the inaugurator of the sankirtana movement, anyone who performs sankirtana to please the Lord is very, very glorious. Such a person has perfect intelligence, whereas others are in the ignorance of material existence. Of all the sacrifices mentioned in the Vedic literatures, the performance of sankirtana-yajna is the best. Even the performance of one hundred asvamedha sacrifices cannot compare to the sacrifice of sankirtana. According to the author of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, if one compares sankirtana-yajna to other yajnas, he is a pasandi, an infidel, and is liable to be punished by Yamaraja. There are many Mayavadis who think that the performance of sankirtana-yajna is a pious activity similar to the performance of the asvamedha-yajna and other such pious functions, but this is a nama-aparadha. Chanting of the holy name of Narayana and chanting of other names are never equal, despite what Mayavadis think.

SB5.19.25

TEXT 25

prapta nr-jatim tv iha ye ca jantavo

jnana-kriya-dravya-kalapa-sambhrtam

na vai yaterann apunar-bhavaya te

bhuyo vanauka iva yanti bandhanam

SYNONYMS

praptah—who have obtained; nr-jatim—a birth in human society; tu—certainly; iha—in this land of Bharata-varsa; ye—those who; ca—also; jantavah—the living beings; jnana—with knowledge; kriya—with activities; dravya—of ingredients; kalapa—with a collection; sambhrtam—full; na—not; vai—certainly; yateran—endeavor; apunah-bhavaya—for the position of immortality; te—such persons; bhuyah—again; vanaukah—birds; iva—like; yanti—go; bandhanam—to bondage.

TRANSLATION

Bharata-varsa offers the proper land and circumstances in which to execute devotional service, which can free one from the results of jnana and karma. If one obtains a human body in the land of Bharata-varsa, with clear sensory organs with which to execute the sankirtana-yajna, but in spite of this opportunity he does not take to devotional service, he is certainly like liberated forest animals and birds that are careless and are therefore again bound by a hunter.

PURPORT

In the land of Bharata-varsa one can very easily perform the sankirtana-yajna, which consists of sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23], or one can perform other methods of devotional service, such as smaranam vandanam arcanam dasyam sakhyam and atma-nivedanam. In Bharata-varsa one has the opportunity to visit many holy places, especially Lord Caitanya’s birthsite and Lord Krsna’s birthsite—Navadvipa and Vrndavana—where there are many pure devotees who have no desire other than to execute devotional service (anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Madhya 19.167]), and one may thus become free from the bondage of material conditions. Other paths, such as the path of jnana and the path of karma, are not very profitable. Pious activities can elevate one to the higher planetary systems, and by speculative knowledge one can merge into the Brahman existence, but that is not real profit, for one has to come down again even from the liberated condition of being merged in Brahman, and certainly one must come down from the heavenly kingdom. One should endeavor to go back home, back to Godhead (yanti mad-yajino ’pi mam). Otherwise there is no difference between human life and the lives of jungle animals and birds. Animals and birds also have freedom, but because of their lower birth, they cannot use it. Taking advantage of all the facilities offered him, a human being who has taken birth in the land of Bharata-varsa should become a fully enlightened devotee and go back home, back to Godhead. This is the subject matter of the Krsna consciousness movement. The inhabitants of places other than Bharata-varsa have facilities for material enjoyment, but they do not have the same facility to take to Krsna consciousness. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised that one who has taken birth as a human being in Bharata-varsa must first realize himself as a part and parcel of Krsna, and after taking to Krsna consciousness, he must distribute this knowledge all over the world.

SB5.19.26

TEXT 26

yaih sraddhaya barhisi bhagaso havir

niruptam istam vidhi-mantra-vastutah

ekah prthan-namabhir ahuto muda

grhnati purnah svayam asisam prabhuh

SYNONYMS

yaih—by whom (the inhabitants of Bharata-varsa); sraddhaya—faith and confidence; barhisi—in the performance of Vedic ritualistic sacrifices; bhagasah—by division; havih—oblations; niruptam—offered; istam—to the desired deity; vidhi—by the proper method; mantra—by reciting mantras; vastutah—with the proper ingredients; ekah—that one Supreme Personality of Godhead; prthak—separate; namabhih—by names; ahutah—called; muda—with great happiness; grhnati—He accepts; purnah—the Supreme Lord. who is full in Himself; svayam—personally; asisam—of all benedictions; prabhuh—the bestower.

TRANSLATION

In India [Bharata-varsa], there are many worshipers of the demigods, the various officials appointed by the Supreme Lord, such as Indra, Candra and Surya, all of whom are worshiped differently. The worshipers offer the demigods their oblations, considering the demigods part and parcel of the whole, the Supreme Lord. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts these offerings and gradually raises the worshipers to the real standard of devotional service by fulfilling their desires and aspirations. Because the Lord is complete, He offers the worshipers the benedictions they desire even if they worship only part of His transcendental body.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita (9.13) Lord Krsna says:

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam

“O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.” Mahatma, advanced devotees, worship only the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Others, however, who are also sometimes called mahatmas, worship the Lord as ekatvena prthaktvena. In other words, they accept the demigods as different parts of Krsna and worship them for various benedictions. Although the devotees of the demigods thus achieve the desired results offered by Krsna, they have been described in Bhagavad-gita as hrta jnana, not very intelligent. Krsna does not desire to be worshiped indirectly through the different parts of His body; Krsna wants direct devotional worship. Therefore a devotee who directly worships Lord Krsna through staunch devotional service, as recommended in Srimad-Bhagavatam, (tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusam param [Bhag. 2.3.10]), is very quickly elevated to the transcendental position. Nevertheless, devotees who worship the demigods, the different parts of the Lord, receive the benedictions they desire because the Lord is the original master of all benedictions. If anyone wants a particular benediction, for the Lord to award it is not at all difficult.

SB5.19.27

TEXT 27

satyam disaty arthitam arthito nrnam

naivarthado yat punar arthita yatah

svayam vidhatte bhajatam anicchatam

icchapidhanam nija-pada-pallavam

SYNONYMS

satyam—certainly; disati—He offers; arthitam—the object prayed for; arthitah—being prayed to; nrnam—by the human beings; na—not; eva—indeed; artha-dah—the bestower of benedictions; yat—which; punah—again; arthita—a demand for a benediction; yatah—from which; svayam—personally; vidhatte—He gives; bhajatam—unto those engaged in His service; anicchatam—although not desiring it; iccha-pidhanam—which covers all desirable things; nija-pada-pallavam—His own lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead fulfills the material desires of a devotee who approaches Him with such motives, but He does not bestow benedictions upon the devotee that will cause him to demand more benedictions again. However, the Lord willingly gives the devotee shelter at His own lotus feet, even though such a person does not aspire for it, and that shelter satisfies all his desires. That is the Supreme Personality’s special mercy.

PURPORT

The devotees mentioned in the previous verse approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead with material motives, but this verse explains how such devotees are saved from those desires. Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10) advises:

akamah sarva-kamo va
moksa-kama udara-dhih
tivrena bhakti-yogena
yajeta purusam param

“Whether one is freed from all material desires, is full of material desires, or desires to become one with the Supreme, he should engage in devotional service.” In this way, not only will the devotee’s desires be fulfilled, but the day will come when he will have no other desire than to serve the lotus feet of the Lord. One who engages in the service of the Lord with some motive is called a sakama-bhakta, and one who serves the Lord without any motives is called an akama-bhakta. Krsna is so merciful that He turns a sakama-bhakta into an akama-bhakta. A pure devotee, an akama-bhakta, who has no material motives, is satisfied simply to serve the lotus feet of the Lord. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (6.22). Yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah: if one engages in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, he does not want anything more. This is the highest stage of devotional service. The Lord is so kind even to a sakama-bhakta, a motivated devotee, that He satisfies his desires in such a way that one day he becomes an akama-bhakta. Dhruva Maharaja, for example, became a bhakta with the motive of getting a better kingdom than that of his father, but finally he became an akama-bhakta and said to the Lord, svamin krtartho’smi varam na yace: “My dear Lord, I am very satisfied simply to serve Your lotus feet. I do not want any material benefits.” Sometimes it is found that a small child eats dirty things, but his parents take away the dirty things and offer him a sandesa or some other sweetmeat. Devotees who aspire for material benedictions are compared to such children. The Lord is so kind that He takes away their material desires and gives them the highest benediction. Therefore, even for material motives, one should not worship anyone other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead; one must fully engage himself in the devotional service of the Lord so that all his desires will be fulfilled and at the end he can go back home, back to Godhead. This is explained in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.37–39, 41) as follows.

Anyakami—a devotee may desire something other than service to the lotus feet of the Lord; yadi kare krsnera bhajana—but if he engages in Lord Krsna’s service; na magiteha krsna tare dena sva-carana—Krsna gives him shelter at His lotus feet, even though he does not aspire for it. Krsna kahe—the Lord says; ama bhaje—“He is engaged in My service”; mage visaya-sukha—“but he wants the benefits of material sense gratification.” Amrta chadi’ visa mage:—“such a devotee is like a person who asks for poison instead of nectar.” Ei bada murkha: “That is his foolishness.” Ami-vijna: “But I am experienced.” Ei murkhe ‘visaya’ kene diba: “Why should I give such a foolish person the dirty things of material enjoyment?” Sva-carana-mrta: “It would be better for Me to give him shelter at My lotus feet.” ‘Visaya’ bhulaiba: “I shall cause him to forget all material desires.” Kama lagi’ krsna bhaje—if one engages in the service of the Lord for sense gratification; paya krsna-rase—the result is that he ultimately gets a taste for serving the lotus feet of the Lord. Kama chadi’ ‘da’ haite haya abhilase: He then gives up all material desires and wants to become an eternal servant of the Lord.

SB5.19.28

TEXT 28

yady atra nah svarga-sukhavasesitam

svistasya suktasya krtasya sobhanam

tenajanabhe smrtimaj janma nah syad

varse harir yad-bhajatam sam tanoti

SYNONYMS

yadi—if; atra—in this heavenly planet; nah—of us; svarga-sukha-avasesitam—whatever remains after the enjoyment of heavenly happiness; su-istasya—of a perfect sacrifice; su-uktasya—of diligently studying the Vedic literature; krtasya—of having performed a kind act; sobhanam—the resultant actions; tena—by such a resultant action; ajanabhe—in the land of Bharata-varsa; smrti-mat janma—a birth enabling one to remember the lotus feet of the Lord; nah—of us; syat—let there be; varse—in the land; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yat—wherein; bhajatam—of the devotees; sam tanoti—expands the auspiciousness.

TRANSLATION

We are now living in the heavenly planets, undoubtedly as a result of our having performed ritualistic ceremonies, pious activities and yajnas and having studied the Vedas. However, our lives here will one day be finished. We pray that at that time, if any merit remains from our pious activities, we may again take birth in Bharata-varsa as human beings able to remember the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord is so kind that He personally comes to the land of Bharata-varsa and expands the good fortune of its people.

PURPORT

It is certainly as a result of pious activities that one takes birth in the heavenly planets, but from those planets one must nevertheless come down again to earth, as stated in Bhagavad-gita (ksine punye martya-lokam visanti [Bg. 9.21]). Even the demigods must return to earth to work like ordinary men when the results of their pious activities expire. Nevertheless, the demigods desire to come to the land of Bharata-varsa if even a small portion of the merits of their pious activities remains. In other words, to take birth in Bharata-varsa, one must perform more pious activities than the demigods. In Bharata-varsa one is naturally Krsna conscious, and if one further cultivates his Krsna consciousness, by the grace of Krsna he certainly expands his good fortune by becoming perfect in Krsna consciousness and very easily going back home, back to Godhead. In many other places in the Vedic literature it is found that even the demigods want to come to this land of Bharata-varsa. A foolish person may desire to be promoted to the heavenly planets as a result of his pious activities, but even the demigods from the heavenly planets want to come to Bharata-varsa and achieve bodies that may be very easily used to cultivate Krsna consciousness. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu repeatedly says:

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara

[Cc. Adi 9.41]

A human being born in the land of Bharata-varsa has the special prerogative to develop Krsna consciousness. Therefore those already born in Bharata-varsa should take lessons from the sastras and guru and should fully take advantage of the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in order to be fully equipped with Krsna consciousness. By taking full advantage of Krsna consciousness, one goes back home, back to Godhead (yanti mad-yajino ’pi mam). The Krsna consciousness movement is therefore spreading this facility to human society by opening many, many centers all over the world so that people may associate with the pure devotees of the Krsna consciousness movement, understand the science of Krsna consciousness and ultimately go back home, back to Godhead.

SB5.19.29-30

TEXTS 29–30

sri-suka uvaca

jambudvipasya ca rajann upadvipan astau haika upadisanti sagaratmajair asvanvesana imam mahim parito nikhanadbhir upakalpitan; tad yatha svarnaprasthas candrasukla avartano ramanako mandaraharinah pancajanyah simhalo lanketi.

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami continued to speak; jambudvipasya—of the island known as Jambudvipa; ca—also; rajan—O King; upadvipan astau—eight subordinate islands; ha—certainly; eke—some; upadisanti—learned scholars describe; sagara-atma-jaih—by the sons of Maharaja Sagara; asva-anvesane—while trying to find their lost horse; imam—this; mahim—tract of land; paritah—all around; nikhanadbhih—digging; upakalpitan—created; tat—that; yatha—as follows; svarna-prasthah—Svarnaprastha; candra-suklah—Candrasukla; avartanah—Avartana; ramanakah—Ramanaka; mandara-harinah—Mandara-harina; pancajanyah—Pancajanya; simhalah—Simhala; lanka—Lanka; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, in the opinion of some learned scholars, eight smaller islands surround Jambudvipa. When the sons of Maharaja Sagara were searching all over the world for their lost horse, they dug up the earth, and in this way eight adjoining islands came into existence. The names of these islands are Svarnaprastha, Candrasukla, Avartana, Ramanaka, Mandara-harina, Pancajanya, Simhala and Lanka.

PURPORT

In the Kurma Purana there is this statement about the desires of the demigods:

anadhikarino devah
svarga-stha bharatodbhavam
vanchanty atma-vimoksartha-
mudrekarthe ’dhikarinah

Although the demigods are situated in exalted positions in the heavenly planets, they nevertheless desire to descend to the land of Bharata-varsa on the planet earth. This indicates that even the demigods are unfit to reside in Bharata-varsa. Therefore if persons already born in Bharatavarsa live like cats and dogs, not taking full advantage of their birth in this land, they are certainly unfortunate.

SB5.19.31

TEXT 31

evam tava bharatottama jambudvipa-varsa-vibhago yathopadesam upavarnita iti.

SYNONYMS

evam—thus; tava—unto you; bharata-uttama—O best of the descendents of Bharata; jambudvipa-varsa-vibhagah—the divisions of the island of Jambudvipa; yatha-upadesam—as much as I am instructed by the authorities; upavarnitah—explained; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Pariksit, O best of the descendants of Bharata Maharaja, I have thus described to you, as I myself have been instructed, the island of Bharata-varsa and its adjoining islands. These are the islands that constitute Jambudvipa.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “A Description of the Island of Jambudvipa.”

Next chapter (SB 5.20)