Book 5-16 | Bhaagavatam First Step

श्रीमद्भागवत महापुराणम्

पञ्चम: स्कन्ध:

षोडश: अध्याय:

राजा-उवाच -

The King said -

उक्तस्त्वया भूमण्डलायामविशेषो यावदादित्यस्तपति यत्र चासौ ज्योतिषां गणैश्चन्द्रमा वा सह दृश्यते ॥१॥

उक्त:त्वया

Described by you

भूमण्डल-आयाम-विशेष:

the earth's extent specially

यावत्-आदित्य:-तपति

uphill (where) the Sun shines

यत्र च-असौ

till and this

ज्योतिषाम् गणै:-चन्द्रमा

heavenly bodies' hosts, moon

वा सह दृश्यते

or with is seen

You have described the extent of earth specially till where the Sun shines and till the hosts of heavenly bodies with the moon is seen.

तत्रापि प्रियव्रतरथचरणपरिखातै: सप्तभि: सप्त सिन्धव उपक्लृप्ता यत एतस्या: सप्तद्वीपविशेषविकल्पस्त्वया भगवन् खलु सूचित एतदेवखिलमहं मानतो लक्षणतश्च सर्वं विजिज्ञासामि ॥२॥

तत्र-अपि

there only

प्रियव्रत-रथ-चरण-

by Priyavrata's chariot wheels'

परिखातै: सप्तभि:

furrows seven

सप्त सिन्धव: उपक्लृप्ता:

seven oceans formed

यत: एतस्या: सप्तद्वीप-

from which of this (earth) seven Dweepas (subdivisions)

विशेष-विकल्प:-

distinct divisions

त्वया भगवन्

by you O Glorious sage!

खलु सूचित:

indeed ascribed

एतत्-एव-अखिलम्-अहम्

this alone all I

मानत: लक्षणत:-च

in extent and characteristics

सर्वम् विजिज्ञासामि

in detail want to know

Within this very extent of the earth, were formed the seven oceans by the seven furrows of the wheels of Emperor Priyavrata's chariot, which in distinct division formed the seven Dweepas, the sub-divisions of the earth, as is described by you, O Glorious sage!. I want to know this alone, in detail about the extent and the characteristics of all these.

भगवतो गुणमये स्थूलरूप आवेशितं मनो ह्यगुणेऽपि सूक्ष्मतम आत्मज्योतिषि परे ब्रह्मणि भगवति वासुदेवाख्ये क्षममावेशितुं तदु हैतद् गुरोऽर्हस्यनुवर्णयितुमिति ॥३॥

भगवत: गुणमये स्थूलरूपे

of The Lord, the gunas inclusive, material form

आवेशितम् मन: हि-अगुणे-अपि

focussed mind, indeed in the immaterial also

सूक्ष्मतमे आत्म-ज्योतिषि

very subtle, self effulgent

परे ब्रह्मणि

in the transcendent Brahman

भगवति वासुदेव-आख्ये

in The Lord Vaasudeva named

क्षमम्-आवेशितुम्

is capable of concentrating

तत्-उ ह-एतत्

that certainly this

गुरो-अर्हसि-

O Guru! are capable

अनुवर्णयितुम्-इति

to describe, thus

When the mind is focussed on the material form of the Lord, inclusive of the Gunas, indeed the mind is then also able to concentrate on the subtle form of the self-effulgent, transcendental Brahman, named as The Lord Vasudeva. That, O Guru! Indeed you are capable to describe.

ऋषि:-उवाच -

The sage (Shri Shuka) said -

न वै महाराज भगवतो मायागुणविभूते: काष्ठां मनसा वचसा वाधिगन्तुमलं विबुधायुषापि पुरुषस्तस्मात्प्राधान्येनैव भूगोलकविशेषं नामरूपमानलक्षणतो व्याख्यास्याम: ॥४॥

न वै महाराज

not ever, O great King!

भगवत: माया-गुण-विभूते:

The Lord's, Maayaa's Guna's display (in form of universe)

काष्ठाम् मनसा वचसा

the vast, by mind or by words

वा-अधिगन्तुम्-अलम्

or to ascertain, capable

विबुध-आयुषा-अपि

by god's age also

पुरुष:-तस्मात्-प्राधान्येन-एव

man, therefore, mainly alone

भूगोलक-विशेषम्

of the globe salient (features)

नाम-रूप-मान-लक्षणत:

name, position, extent, and characteristics

व्याख्यास्याम:

will describe

O Great King! No man ever can ascertain the extent of The Lord's Maayaa's Guna's display in the form of the vast universe, even if he endeavours to do so having the age of the gods. Therefore, we will describe the salient features of the globe in the form of names, position, extent and characteristics.

यो वायं द्वीप: कुवलयकमलकोशाभ्यन्तरकोशो नियुतयोजनविशाल: समवर्तुलो यथा पुष्करपत्रम् ॥५॥

य: वा-अयम् द्वीप:

that or this Dweepa

कुवलय कमल-कोश-

of the globe, the lotus sheath

अभ्यन्तर-कोश:

inner most sheath

नियुत-योजन-विशाल:

one lakh Yojanas large

समवर्तुल: यथा पुष्कर-पत्रम्

round, like the lotus corolla

Or, that this dweep, of ours, of the globe's, like the sheaths of the lotus is the inner most sheath. It is one lakh Yojanas large and is round like the corolla of the lotus.

यस्मिन्नव वर्षाणि नवयोजनसहस्रायामान्यष्टभिर्मर्यादागिरिभि: सुविभक्तानि भवन्ति ॥६॥

यस्मिन्-नव वर्षाणि

in which nine Varshas (sub-division of the Dweepa)

नव-योजन-सहस्र-आयामनि-

of nine thousand Yojanas in extent

अष्ट्भि:-मर्यादा-गिरिभि:

by eight ranges of mountains

सुविभक्तानि भवन्ति

well divided are

In which there are nine Varshas, sub-divisions, each of which is nine thousand Yojanas in extent. They are well divided by the ranges of eight mountains.

एषां मध्ये इलावृतं नामाभ्यन्तरवर्षं यस्य नाभ्यामवस्थित: सर्वत: सौवर्ण: कुलगिरिराजो मेरुर्द्वीपायामसमुन्नाह: कर्णिकाभूत: कुवलयकमलस्य मूर्धनि द्वात्रिंशत् सहस्रयोजनविततो मूले षोडशसहस्रं तावतान्तरभूम्यां प्रविष्ट: ॥७॥

एषाम् मध्ये इलावृतम् नाम-

of these in the middle, Ilavrita named

अभ्यन्तर-वर्षम् यस्य नाभ्याम्-

the inner Varsha, in whose centre

अवस्थित: सर्वत: सौवर्ण:

situated is entirely, of gold

कुल-गिरि-राज: मेरु:-

the range of mountains, the principal Sumeru

द्वीप-आयाम समुन्नाह:

of the Dweepa's extent, one lakh Yojanas

कर्णिका-भूत: कुवलय-कमलस्य

pericarp like of the globe lotus

मूर्धनि द्वा-त्रिंशत्

at the head thirty two

सहस्र-योजन-वितत:

thousand Yojanas in diameter

मूले षोडश-सहस्रम् तावत-

at the base, sixteen thousand, those many

अन्तर-भूम्याम् प्रविष्ट:

inside the earth lying

In the middle of all these, the inner Varsha, named Ilavrita is situated. In its centre is situated an entire range of mountains fully consisting of gold, the principal one being the Sumeru. The extent of this mountain is equal to the Dweepa, that is, one lakh Yojanas. The pericarp of the globe lotus, the head of the mountain is thirty two thousand Yojanas, the base is sixteen thousand Yojanas, and another sixteen thousand Yojanas of the mountain is lying inside the earth.

उत्तरोत्तरेणेलावृतं नील: श्वेत: शृङ्गवानिति त्रयो रम्यकहिरण्यमयकुरूणां वर्षाणां मर्यादागिरय: प्रागायता उभयत: क्षारोदावधयो द्विसहस्रपृथव एकैकश: पूर्वस्मात्पूर्वस्मादुत्तर उत्तरो दशांशिकांशेन दैर्घ्य एव ह्रसन्ति ॥८॥

उत्तर-उत्तरेण-इलावृतम्

towards the northern side of Ilavrita

नील: श्वेत: शृङ्गवान्-

Neela, Shweta, Shringavaan

इति त्रय:

like this three

रम्यक-हिरण्यमय कुरूणाम्

of the Ramyaka, Hiranyamaya, and Kuru

वर्षाणाम् मर्यादा-गिरय:

Varshas boundary (like) mountains

प्राक्-आयता: उभयत:

from east (to west) extending on both

क्षारोद-अवधय:

salty water uptil

द्वि-सहस्र-पृथव:

each of two thousand Yojana wide

एक-एकश: पूर्वस्मात्-पूर्वस्मात्

each one from the former

उत्तर: उत्तर: दशांशिक-अंशेन

more and more, by a tenth portion

दैर्घ्ये एव ह्रसन्ति

in length alone is shorter

Towards the northern side of Ilavrita, of the Ramyaka, Hiranyamaya, and Kuru, Varshas, like their boundries, are three mountains Neela, Shweta, Shringavaan. From east (to west) extending on both sides, uptil the salty water oceans. Each one is of two thousand Yojana width, each one from the former is more and more shorter in length only by a tenth portion.

एवं दक्षिणेनेलावृतं निषधो हेमकूटो हिमालय इति प्रागायता यथा नीलादयोऽयुतयोजनोत्सेधा हरिवर्षकिम्पुरुषभारतानां यथासंख्यम् ॥९॥

एवम् दक्षिणेन-इलावृतं

like this towards the south of Ilavrita

निषध: हेमकूट:

(are) Nishadha, Hemakoota,

हिमालय: इति

Himalaya these

प्राक्-आयता: यथा

from east extending as

नील-आदय:-

like Neela and other

अयुत-योजन-उत्सेधा:

ten thousand Yojanas high

हरिवर्ष-किम्पुरुष-भारतानाम्

Harivarsha, Kimpurusha, and of Bhaarata

यथा-संख्यम्

respectively (marking the boundaries)

Like this, towards the south of Ilavrita are Nishadha, Hemakoota, Himalaya these mountains extend from east to west and like the Neela and other mountains, each of them is ten thousand Yojanas in height. They respectively mark the boundaries of Harivarsha, Kimpurusha, and Bhaarata.

तथैवेलावृतमपरेण पूर्वेण च माल्यवद्गन्धमादनावानीलनिषधायतौ द्विसहस्रं पप्रथतु: केतुमालभद्राश्वयो: सीमानं विदधाते ॥१०॥

तथा-एव-इलावृतम्-

and also, on Ilavrita

अपरेण पूर्वेण च

west to east and

माल्यवत्-गन्धमादनौ-

Maalyavat, Gandhamaadana

आनील-निषध-आयतौ

uptill Neela Nishadha extended

द्वि-सहस्रम् पप्रथतु:

two thousand Yojanas wide

केतुमाल-भद्राश्वयो:

of Ketumaala and Bhadraashva

सीमानम्-विदधाते

boundries mark

On the west to east of Ilavrita, uptil the Neela and Nishadha mountains are the Maalyavat and Gandhamaadana mountains, each two thousand Yojanas high. They mark the boundaries of Ketumaala and Bhadraashva, respectively.

मन्दरो मेरुमन्दर: सुपार्श्व: कुमुद इत्ययुतयोजनविस्तारोन्नाहा मेरोश्चतुर्दिशमवष्टम्भगिरय उपक्लृप्ता: ॥११॥

मन्दर: मेरु-मन्दर:

Mandaara, Merumandara

सुपार्श्व: कुमुद:

Supaarshva Kumuda

इति-अयुत-योजन-

these ten thousand Yojana

विस्तार-उन्नाहा

extended and rising

मेरो:-चतुर्दिशम्

of Meru's four sides

अवष्टम्भ-गिरय:

buttresses like mountains

उपक्लृप्ता:

stand

On the four side of the mountain Meru, stand the mountains, named Mandaara, Merumandara, Supaarshva, and Kumuda, each extending to ten thousand Yojanas, and also so much in height.

चतुर्ष्वेतेषु चूतजम्बूकदम्बन्यग्रोधाश्चत्वार: पादपप्रवरा: पर्वतकेतव इवाधिसहस्रयोजनोन्नाहास्तावद् विटपविततय: शतयोजनपरिणाहा: ॥१२॥

चतुषु:-एतेषु

on the four these

चूत-जम्बू-कदम्ब-न्यग्रोधा:-

mango, Jamboo (rose-apple), Kadamba and Banyan

चत्वार: पादप-प्रवरा:

four trees large

पर्वत-केतव: इव-

mountain flags like

अधिसहस्र-योजन-उन्नाहा:

eleven thousand Yojanas high

तावद् विटप-विततय:

that much in the spread out

शत-योजन-परिणाहा:

hundred yojana in diameter

On the top of these four mountains are four large trees, namely mango, Jambu, Kadamba and Banayan. Each of them are of eleven thousand yojana in height and are spread out in that much width and their diameter is one hundred Yojanas.

ह्रदाश्चत्वार: पयोमध्विक्षुरसमृष्टजला यदुपस्पर्शिन उपदेवगणा योगैश्वर्याणिस्वाभाविकानि भरतर्षभ धारयन्ति ॥१३॥

ह्रदा:-चत्वार:

lakes four

पय:-मधु-इक्षु-रस-मृष्टजला:

of milk, honey, sugar-cane juice, fresh water

यत्-उपस्पर्शिन:

which those who drink these

उपदेव-गणा:

the demigods, (Yakshas and Kinners)

योग-ऐश्वर्याणि

yogic (mystic) powers

स्वाभाविकानि

by nature

भरतर्षभ

O foremost of the Bharatas, (Pareekshit)

धारयन्ति

are endowed with

O Pareekshit! There are four lakes on these four mountains. They contain milk, honey, sugar-cane juice and fresh water. The demigods, the Yakshas and the Kinners, who drink these are naturally endowed of Yogic mystic powers.

देवोद्यानानि च भवन्ति चत्वारि नन्दनं चैत्ररथं वैभ्राजकं सर्वतोभद्रमिति ॥१४॥

देव-उद्यानानि च भवन्ति

celestial gardens and are

चत्वारि नन्दनम् चैत्ररथम्

four, Nandana, Chaitraratha,

वैभ्राजकम् सर्वतोभद्रम्-इति

Vaibhraajaka, Sarvatobhadra, thus

There are four celestial gardens also, named as Nandana, Chaitraratha, Vaibhraajaka, and Sarvatobhadra.

येष्वमरपरिवृढा: सह सुरललनाललामयूथपतय उपदेवगणैरुपगीयमानमहिमान: किल विहरन्ति ॥१५॥

येषु-अमर-परिवृढा:

in which gods foremost

सह सुर-ललना-ललाम

with the gods' charming celestial beauties

यूथ-पतय: उपदेव-गणै:-

the group's leaders, by the hosts of demigods

उपगीयमान-महिमान:

singing the glories

किल विहरन्ति

indeed sport

In which, indeed, the gods with the charming celestial beauties, as their groups' leaders, sport. Their glories being sung by the hosts of demigods.

मन्दरोत्सङ्ग एकादशशतयोजनोत्तुङ्गदेवचूतशिरसो गिरिशिखरस्थूलानि फलान्यमृतकल्पानि पतन्ति ॥१६॥

मन्दर-उत्सङ्ग

On Mandara's lap

एकादश-शत-योजन-

eleven hundred Yojanas

उत्तुङ्ग-देवचूत-शिरस:

high, celestial mango tree's head

गिरि-शिखर-स्थूलानि

mountain top like big

फलानि-अमृत-कल्पानि पतन्ति

fruits, nectar like, fall

On the bosom of the Mount Mandaara, on the height of eleven hundred Yojanas, from the top of the celestial mango tree, fruits fall, which are as big as mountain tops, and are nectar like.

तेषां विशीर्यमाणनामतिमधुरसुरभिसुगन्धिबहुलारुणरसोदे-नारुणोदा नाम नदी मन्दरगिरिशिखरान्निपतन्ती पूर्वेणेलावृतमुपप्लावयति ॥१७॥

तेषाम् विशीर्यमाणनाम्-

these (fruits) bursting

अति-मधुर-सुरभि-

very sweet, fragrant

सुगन्धि-बहुल-अरुण

perfume highly, red

रसोदेन-अरुणोदा-नाम नदी

juice flowing, Arunodaa named river

मन्दर-गिरि-शिखरात्-

Mandaara mountain's from the summit

निपतन्ती पूर्वेण-इलावृतम्-

flowing, the eastern Ilavrita

उपप्लावयति

irrigates

When these fruits burst, copious, very sweet, highly perfumed and fragrant red juice flows into the Arunodaa river, from the summit of the Mandaara mountain, which irrigates the eastern part of Ilavrita.

यदुपजोषणाद्भवान्या अनुचरीणां पुण्यजनवधूनामवयवस्पर्शसुगन्धवातो दशयोजनं समन्तादनुवासयति ॥१८॥

यत्-उपजोषणात्-

which by drinking

भवान्या: अनुचरीणाम्

by Bhavani's (Goddess Parvati's) retinue

पुण्यजन-वधूनाम्-

the Yaksha peoples' wives

अवयव-स्पर्श-सुगन्ध-वात:

by body touching perfumed breeze

दश-योजनम् समन्तात्-

ten Yojana all round

अनुवासयति

permeates with fragrance

By drinking that, the bodies of the wives of the Yaksha people, who form the retinue of Goddess Paarvati, get surcharged with perfume, and by touching their bodies, the breeze, in and around ten Yojanas, gets permeated with that fragrance.

एवं जम्बूफलानामत्युच्चनिपातविशीर्णानामनस्थिप्राया-णामिभकायनिभानां रसेन जम्बू नाम नदी मेरुमन्दरशिखरादयुतयोजनादवनितले निपतन्ती दक्षिणेनात्मानं यावदिलावृतमुपस्यन्दयति ॥१९॥

एवम् जम्बू-फलानाम्-

similarly, of the Jamboo fruits

अति-उच्च-निपात-

from very high falling

विशीर्णानाम्-अनस्थि-प्रायाणाम्-

bursting, seedless almost

इभ-काय-निभानाम्

elephant body like

रसेन जम्बू-नाम नदी

juice's Jamboo named river

मेरु-मन्दर-शिखरात्-

Meru Mandaara from the summit

अयुत-योजनात्-अवनितले

from ten thousand Yojana, on the earth's surface

निपतन्ती दक्षिणेन-आत्मानम्

falling, southwards to itself

यावद्-इलावृतम्-उपस्यन्दयति

till Ilavrita, irrigates

Similarly, the Jamboo fruits, which are as big as an elephant's body and are almost seedless, fall from a great height of ten thousand Yojanas, from the summit of the Meru Mandaara mountain, and bursting open, their juice forms the river named Jamboo. This river, towards the south of itself, waters the surface of the earth uptil Ilavrita.

तावदुभयोरपि रोधसोर्या मृत्तिका तद्रसेनानुविध्यमाना वाय्वर्कसंयोगविपाकेन सदामरलोकाभरणं जाम्बूनदं नाम सुवर्णं भवति ॥२०॥

तावत्-उभयो:-अपि

then, both also of

रोधसो:-या मृत्तिका

the banks, the sand

तत्-रसेन-अनुविध्यमाना

by that juice saturated

वायु-अर्क-संयोग-विपाकेन

wind and sun's joint chemistry

सदा-अमर-लोक-

always of the immortal people

आभरणम् जाम्बू-नदम्

adornment, Jamboonada

नाम सुवर्णम् भवति

named gold becomes

Then, the sand on both the banks of that river, is saturated by that Jamboo juice, and by the interaction chemistry of the sun and the wind, becomes the gold named Jamboonada, which adorns the immortal people.

यदु ह वाव विबुधादय: सह युवतिभिर्मुकुटकटककटिसूत्राद्याभरणरूपेण खलु धारयन्ति ॥२१॥

यद्-उ ह वाव

which, it is said, definitely

विबुध-आदय:

the gods and others

सह युवतिभि:-

with the young women

मुकुट-कटक-कटिसूत्र-

diadem, bangles, waist band

आदि-आभरण-रूपेण

and other ornaments form

खलु धारयन्ति

indeed wear

Which, it is said, that the gods and other heavenly beings, along with their wives, wear in the forms of diadem, bangles, waist bands girdles and other ornaments.

यस्तु महाकदम्ब: सुपार्श्वनिरूढो यास्तस्य कोटरेभ्यो विनि:सृता: पञ्चायामपरिणाहा: पञ्च मधुधारा: सुपार्श्वशिखरात्पतन्त्योऽपरेणात्मानमिलावृतमनुमोद-यन्ति ॥२२॥

य:-तु महा-कदम्ब:

that indeed, the great Kadamba

सुपार्श्व-निरूढ:

on the Supaarshva mountain standing firmly

या:-तस्य कोटरेभ्य:

those from its hollows

विनि:सृता:

streaming

पञ्च-आयाम-परिणाहा:

five measuring fathoms in diameter

पञ्च मधु-धारा:

five honey torrents

सुपार्श्व-शिखरात्-पतन्त्य:-

from Supaarshva summit fall

अपरेण-आत्मानम्-

west of them

इलावृतम्-अनुमोदयन्ति

Ilavrita delighting

That great Kadamba, which is standing firmly on mount Supaarshva, has five torrents of honey, each measuring five fathoms in diameter, streaming from its hollows. They fall from the summit of Supaarshva, delighting Ilavrita towards the west of the streams.

या ह्युपयुञ्जानानां मुखनिर्वासितो वायु: समन्ताच्छतयोजनमनुवासयति ॥२३॥

या हि-उपयुञ्जानानाम्

that indeed (those) drinking

मुख-निर्वासित:

(from their) mouths issuing

वायु: समन्तात्-

breeze all around

शत-योजनम्-

till one hundred Yojanas

अनुवासयति

perfumes

Those who partake of that honey, the breeze with the odour emanating from their mouths, renders one hundred Yojanas, all around them, surcharged with perfume.

एवं कुमुदनिरूढो य: शतवल्शो नाम वटस्तस्य स्कन्धेभ्यो नीचीना: पयोदधिमधुघृतगुडान्नाद्यम्बरशय्यासनाभरणादय: सर्व एव कामदुघा नदा: कुमुदाग्रात्पतन्तस्तमुत्तरेणेलावृतमुपयोजयन्ति ॥२४॥

एवम् कुमुद-निरूढ:

like this, on Kumuda (mountain) standing

य: शतवल्श: नाम वट:-

that Shatawalsha named Banyan (tree)

तस्य स्कन्धेभ्य: नीचीना:

from its shoulders (boughs), downwards

पय:-दधि-मधु-

milk, curd, honey,

घृत-गुड-अन्न-आदि-

clarified butter, jaggery, grains, etc.,

अम्बर-शय्या-आसन-

raiment's, beds, seats,

आभरण-आदय: सर्वे एव

ornaments, and others all also

कामदुघा नदा:

desires yielding rivers

कुमुद-अग्रात्-पतन्त:-

from Kumuda's front, flow

तम्-उत्तरेण-इलावृतम्-

towards the north of that Ilavrita

उपयोजयन्ति

benefit

In the same manner, on the mountain Kumuda, stands the Banayan tree, named Shatadal. From its shoulders or branches, flow down from its front side desire yielding rivers, which give, milk, curd, honey, clarified butter, jaggery, grains and also things like raiment's, beds, seats, ornaments, etc. They benefit the northern part of Ilavrita.

यानुपजुषाणानां न कदाचिदपि प्रजानां वलीपलितक्लमस्वेददौर्गन्ध्यजरामयमृत्युशीतोष्णवैवर्ण्योपसर्गादयस्तापविशेषा भवन्ति यावज्जीवं सुखं निरतिशयमेव ॥२५॥

यान्-उपजुषाणानाम्

which consuming

न कदाचिद्-अपि प्रजानाम्

never ever also, of the people

वली-पलित-क्लम-स्वेद-

wrinkles, tiredness, perspiration,

दौर्गन्ध्य-जरा-

foul smell, old age, disease, death (untimely)

शीत-उष्ण-वैवर्ण्य-उपसर्ग-

cold, heat, pallor, trouble,

आदय ताप-विशेषा: भवन्ति