SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 5

(1) S'rī S'uka said: 'Next I shall describe the subsections, dimensions, characteristics and form of the dvīpa ['separated area' like continent and island or also belt] named Plaksha and the others [see 5.1: 32]. (2) The way Mount Meru is surrounded by the dvīpa of Jambū is it itself [seen from the inside] surrounded by a salty ocean that is just as wide. Beyond that is it, like a moat outside a park, surrounded by the dvīpa of Plaksha that, named after a plaksha tree as tall as a jambū, is stretching twice as wide. At that tree, rising magnificently splendorous, there is a fire found counting seven flames. The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata named Idhmajihva, who divided his own dvīpa into seven varshas [lands] whom he named after his seven sons when he himself retired for the yoga of self-realization. (3-4) S'iva, Yavasa, Subhadra, S'ānta, Kshema, Amrita and Abhaya, are thus the varshas to the different rivers and mountains. The seven mountain ranges marking the varshas are known as Manikūtha, Vajrakūtha, Indrasena, Jyotishmān, Suparna, Hiranyashthhīva and Meghamāla. The Arunā, Nrimnā, Āngirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ritambharā and the Satyambharā are likewise the main rivers. Touching their water washes away the passion and darkness of the four types of men there called the Hamsas, Patangas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāngas [the swanlike, the rulers, the ambitious, and the faithful; other names for the varnas or vocations]. For a thousand years they live there like gods with most beautiful bodies, having children and performing vedic rituals at the gate to heaven, glorifying the Supreme Lord as the Supersoul of the sun-god by hymn, sacrifice and song: (5) 'Let us seek shelter with Lord Vishnu, the Soul of all souls who is the most authentic form of the Absolute Truth, of the religion, of Brahman, of the nectar [of eternal life] and of death, as well as of Sūrya, the God of the Sun.'

Jambhudvipa

(6) From Plaksha on are on the five dvīpas the people existing there without exception born with the perfections of a long life, good sense, bodily and mental fortitude, physical power, intelligence and bravery. (7) Surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice measuring as wide, is there beyond Plakshadvīpa another dvīpa known as S'ālmala, that, being equally wide, is twice as big and is surrounded by an ocean of liquor [or wine; surā, see footnote]. (8) That dvīpa has its name from a s'ālmalī tree as big as the plaksha tree and in it has, so one says, Garuda the carrier bird of vedic prayers unto Lord Vishnu, his residence. (9) The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata called Yajńabāhu. He divided it into seven varshas according the seven names of his sons: Surocana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsha, Pāribhadra, Āpyāyana and Avijńāta. (10) The seven mountains and main-rivers there are known to be the Svarasa, S'ata-s'ringa, Vāmadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Pushpa-varsha and the Sahasra-s'ruti mountains, and the river Anumati, Sinīvālī, Sarasvatī, Kuhū, Rajanī, Nandā and Rākā. (11) The people living in those varshas are known as the S'rutadharas, Vīryadharas, Vasundharas and Ishandharas [another description of the varnas meaning those who are of listening, of the heroic, of wealth, and of obedience]; fully conversant with the vedic worship they the Supreme Lord as Soma-ātmā ['the true self of the sacrificial beverage' or the moon-god]: (12) 'By His own effulgence divides He the time into the light and dark period of the month [s'ukla and krishna]; may He, that divinity of the moon as well as of the grain to be distributed to the forefathers and the gods, that King of All People, remain favorable towards us.'

(13) Following outside of that ocean of liquor is there equally wide and twice as big, a sea of ghee that, like with the dvīpa before, surrounds Kus'advīpa, of which the kus'a-grass created by God gave that dvīpa its name; like another kind of fire are by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass all directions illumined. (14) The master of that island, Hiranyaretā, the son of Mahārāja Priyavrata, o King, divided his dvīpa in seven and gave them, when he withdrew himself for his penance, according to his sons, the names of Vasu,Vasudāna, Dridharuci, Nābhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta and Vāmadeva. (15) The seven mountain ranges and seven rivers of them are the Cakra, Catuh-s'ringa, Kapila, Citrakūtha, Devānīka, Ūrdhvaromā and Dravina mountains and the rivers Ramakulyā, Madhukulyā, Mitravindā, Srutavindā, Devagarbhā, Ghritacyutā and Mantramālā. (16) By those waters do the inhabitants of Kus'advīpa called the Kus'alas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas and Kulakas [or the grass-sitters, the experienced, the competitors and the artisans], proficient in the rituals, worship the Supreme Lord in the form of the God of Fire called Jātaveda ['he who awards the wages']: (17) 'Of all the demigods of the Supreme Brahman who are the limbs of the Original Person are You the Granter of Wages, who is directly carrying the offerings of ghee and grains; please carry therefore the offerings by our sacrifices unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

(18) So is, just as Kus'advīpa is surrounded, also Krauńcadvīpa all around, outside of the ocean of ghee, surrounded by an ocean of milk [or plant-juice], evenly wide and twice as big, in which the king of the mountains named Krauńca is found that gave that dvīpa its name. (19) Although its vegetation was ruffed by the weapons of the son of S'iva [Kārttikeya], has it become fearless from always bathing in the ocean of milk and from the protection by the mighty Varuna [the demigod of the seas]. (20) Ghritaprishthha, the son of Mahārāja Priyavrata, ruler on that dvīpa gave the divisions of his own land in seven varshas the names of his sons, who were all as powerful as he was, and appointed each of them as the master of the varsha. Next took he himself shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord Hari, the soul of all souls whose glories are so auspicious. (21) Āma, Madhuruha, Meghaprishthha, Sudhāmā, Bhrājishthha, Lohitārna and Vanaspati were the sons of Ghritaprishthha and the seven mountain ranges and seven rivers were celebrated as the S'ukla and Vardhamāna, Bhojana, Upabarhina, Nanda, Nandana and Sarvatobhadra mountains and the river the Abhayā, Amritaughā, Āryakā, Tīrthavatī, Rūpavatī, Pavitravatī and the S'uklā. (22) Sanctified by using the pellucid waters of all those rivers do the inhabitants of those varshas called the Purushas, the Rishabas, the Dravinas and the Devakas [or the authentic, the superior, the wealthy, and the sporting ones], worship with folded palms full of water, God in the form of water: (23) 'O water, might of the Original Personality, you sanctify the earth, its life, its paradise; may our touching of that what by its nature destroys the spirit of evil, purify our bodies.'

(24) Consequently is, situated beyond the ocean of milk, found the dvīpa of S'āka measuring a 3.2 million yojanas as long as it is wide; it is surrounded by an ocean of whey and it owes its name to an indeed very fragrant fig tree which makes the whole dvīpa smell aromatic. (25) The ruler there, another son of Priyavrata named Medhātithi also divided the dvīpa in seven varshas to the names of his seven sons Purojava, Manojava, Pavamāna, Dhūmrānīka, Citrarepha, Bahurūpa and Vis'vadhāra, who he appointed there to be their rulers. After doing so entered he the forest of penance, with his mind absorbed in the unlimited of the Supreme Lord. (26) The mountains and rivers forming the borders of the varshas are the Īs'āna, Urus'ringa, Balabhadra, S'atakesara, Sahasra-srota, Devapāla and Mahānasa mountains and the rivers the Anaghā, Āyurdā, Ubhayasprishthi, Aparājitā, Pańcapadī, Sahasra-s'ruti and the Nijadhriti. (27) The people of those varshas, the Ritavratas, the Satyavratas, the Dānavratas and the Anuvratas [the varnas of the godfearing and the ones vowed to the truth, to providing, and to following] have themselves cleansed of their passions and ignorance by the practice of regulating the breath that is ruled by the demigod Vāyu, whom they worship in transcendental absorption: (28) 'Entering all living beings are You the one Supersoul within, the Controller directly, who maintains by the functions of the inner air; please direct us, for You control the entire cosmos.'

(29) Even so is there beyond that ocean of whey another dvīpa named Pushkara that is twice as big as the one before and is outside surrounded by an ocean of sweet water in which a very big lotusflower is found with a 100 million leaves of pure gold that are like the flames of a blazing fire; that lotus is considered to be the sittingplace of the all-powerful Lord of the Lotus [Brahmā]. (30) Within that dvīpa there is the one [mountain range] named Mānasottara marking indeed the inner and outer side of the lands there; it has, being as great as 10.000 yojanas high and wide, in its four directions the cities of the local rulers, the demigods headed by Indra. On its highest point circumambulating mount Meru moves around the chariot of the sun in an orbit that by the days and nights of the demigods consists of one whole year [a samvatsara]. (31) The ruler of that dvīpa, also a son of Priyavrata with the name Vītihotra, appointed as their rulers and named the two varshas of it to his two sons Ramanaka and Dhātaki, when he himself like his other brothers, factually remained in activities to satisfy the Supreme Lord. (32) The people of those lands, to their duty of ritual, worship the Supreme Lord in the form of Lord Brahmā for the fulfillment of their desires and pray this: (33) 'The form revealing the Supreme Brahman, which is achieved by consciously dealing with the illusion [by vedic ritual] must be worshiped by a person who, full of faith, is undivided, unwavering and of peace unto Him, the Most Powerful One we thus respect.'

(34) Beyond that there is a mountain named Lokāloka which all around exists as the boundary between the places material and immaterial. (35) The earth of the land, found all between Meru and the Mānasottara range, is golden, and the rest outside is as smooth as a mirror; anything dropped there can no way be retrieved and therefore is the place shunned by all living entities. (36) The mountain Lokāloka [that is the outer shell] is established as the separation by which one speaks of the lands inhabited and the lands not inhabited. (37) That end of the three worlds, created all around of them by the Controller, extends that excessively that for the rays of all the luminaries from the sun up to the goal of liberation of Dhruva [the universal center, see 4.12: 12], there is no possibility to reach beyond. (38) The scholars investigating calculated that the locations of the planets, to the sizes of their appearances as well as to their stellar situations, cover as much as half a billion yojanas, of which this tangible world of light constitutes but one quarter [of the complete of all matter in existence; the rest being 'dark matter' one says these days].

(39) On top of that are in the four directions by the master of the universe [Brahmā], which is the cradle of the soul, established the best of all elephants called Rishabha, Pushkaracūda, Vāmana and Aparājita, that so take care of the stability of the different planets in the universe. (40) Of all his locally ruling, personal divinities and all the types of heroes thriving on Him, is He the Supreme Lord, the foremost and greatest personality, the great master of all grace, the Soul in the beyond, the True Self of the purest goodness characterized by religion, spiritual knowledge, detachment, all opulence and the eight great perfections [see 3.15: 45]; surrounded by expansions like Vishvaksena and decorated with His different weapons held up by His own stout arms, manifests He, for the benefit of all worlds, on that greatest of all mountains His form existing all around. (41) For the time of His creation has the Supreme Lord by His own spiritual potency thus accepted this perfected appearance, just for the purpose of maintaining that way the manifold of the various worlds of living. (42) The uninhabited nonmaterial varsha extends as far outside Lokāloka as the width found within, and that beyond is the path of the Lord of Yoga that is said to be the purest.

(43) In the center of the universe are the stars found in between heaven and earth; that globe in the middle consists of a quarter of a billion suns. (44) From having entered into the fixed of this globe at its time of creation, is he [Brahmā] known as Mārtanda [the God of the Suns]; the designation known as Hiranyagarbha ['the gold inside' or Brahmā] came into existence that way because that [golden luminosity] is where he received his body from. (45) From the sun-god we indeed have the divisions of the directions of the sky, the planets above and the worlds below, and also all other divisions of heavenly abodes, abodes of liberation as also of hellish places such as Atala. (46) The sun-god is the controller of all sorts of living beings, he is the life, soul and vision of the godly, the lower animals, the human beings and everything crawling and creeping, the life, soul and vision.

S'rī S'uka said: 'Next I shall describe the subsections, dimensions, characteristics and form of the dvīpa ['separated area' like continent and island or also belt] named Plaksha and the others [see 5.1: 32].

S'rī S'uka said: 'Next I shall describe the subsections, dimensions, characteristics and form of the dvīpa ['separated area' like continent and island or also belt] named Plaksha and the others [see 5-1-32]. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The way Mount Meru is surrounded by the dvīpa of Jambū is it itself [seen from the inside] surrounded by a salty ocean that is just as wide. Beyond that is it, like a moat outside a park, surrounded by the dvīpa of Plaksha that, named after a plaksha tree as tall as a jambū, is stretching twice as wide. At that tree, rising magnificently splendorous, there is a fire found counting seven flames. The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata named Idhmajihva, who divided his own dvīpa into seven varshas [lands] whom he named after his seven sons when he himself retired for the yoga of selfrealisation.

Like Mount Meru is surrounded by the dvīpa of Jambū is it itself [seen from the inside] surrounded by a salty ocean that is just as wide. Beyond that is it, like a moat outside a park, surrounded by the dvīpa of Plaksha that, named after a Plaksha-tree as tall as a Jambū, is stretching twice as wide. At that tree rising magnificently splendorous there is a fire found counting seven flames. The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata named Idhmajihva, who divided his own dvīpa into seven varshas [lands] whom he named after his seven sons when he himself retired for the yoga of selfrealization. (Vedabase)

Text 3-4

S'iva, Yavasa, Subhadra, S'ānta, Kshema, Amrita and Abhaya, are thus the varshas to the different rivers and mountains. The seven mountain ranges marking the varshas are known as Manikūtha, Vajrakūtha, Indrasena, Jyotishmān, Suparna, Hiranyashthhīva and Meghamāla. The Arunā, Nrimnā, Āngirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ritambharā and the Satyambharā are likewise the main rivers. Touching their water washes away the passion and darkness of the four types of men there called the Hamsas, Patangas, Ūrdhvāyanas and Satyāngas [the swanlike, the rulers, the ambitious, and the faithful; other names for the varnas or vocations]. For a thousand years they live there like gods with most beautiful bodies, having children and performing vedic rituals at the gate to heaven, glorifying the Supreme Lord as the Supersoul of the sun-god by hymn, sacrifice and song:

S'iva, Yavasa, Subhadra, S'ānta, Kshema, Amrita and Abhaya, are thus the varshas to the different rivers and mountains. The seven mountain-ranges marking the varshas are known as Manikūtha, Vajrakūtha, Indrasena, Jyotishmān, Suparna, Hiranyashthhīva and Meghamāla. The Arunā, Nrimnā, Āngirasī, Sāvitrī, Suptabhātā, Ritambharā and the Satyambharā are likewise the main rivers. Touching their water washes away the passion and darkness of the four types of men there called Hamsa, Patanga, Ūrdhvāyana and Satyānga [the swanlike, the rulers, the ambitious, and the faithful; other names for the varnas or vocations]. For a thousand years they live there like gods with most beautiful bodies, having children and performing vedic rituals at the gate to heaven glorifying the Supreme Lord as the Supersoul of the Sungod by hymn, sacrifice and song: (Vedabase)

Text 5

'Let us seek shelter with Lord Vishnu, the Soul of all souls who is the most authentic form of the Absolute Truth, of the religion, of Brahman, of the nectar [of eternal life] and of death, as well as of Sūrya, the God of the Sun.'

(5) 'Let us seek shelter with Lord Vishnu, the Soul of all souls who is the most authentic form of the Absolute Truth, of the religion, of Brahman, of the nectar [of eternal life] and the death, as well as of Sūrya, the God of the Sun.' (Vedabase)

Text 6

From Plaksha on are on the five dvīpas the people existing there without exception born with the perfections of a long life, good sense, bodily and mental fortitude, physical power, intelligence and bravery.

From Plaksha on are on the five dvīpas the people existing there without exception born with the perfections of a long life, good sense, bodily and mental fortitude, physical power, intelligence and bravery. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice measuring as wide, is there beyond Plakshadvīpa another dvīpa known as S'ālmala, that, being equally wide, is twice as big and is surrounded by an ocean of liquor [or wine; surā, see footnote].

Surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice measuring as wide, is there beyond Plakshadvīpa another dvīpa known as S'ālmala, that being equally wide is twice as big and is surrounded by an ocean of liquor [or wine; surā, see footnote ]. (Vedabase)

Text 8

That dvīpa has its name from a s'ālmalī tree as big as the plaksha tree and in it has, so one says, Garuda the carrier bird of vedic prayers unto Lord Vishnu, his residence.

That dvīpa has its name from a S'ālmali-tree as big as the Plaksha-tree and in it has, so one says, Garuda the carrier bird of vedic prayers unto Lord Vishnu, his residence. (Vedabase)

Text 9

The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata called Yajńabāhu. He divided it into seven varshas according the seven names of his sons: Surocana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsha, Pāribhadra, Āpyāyana and Avijńāta.

The master of that dvīpa is the son of Priyavrata called Yajńabāhu. He divided it into seven varshas according the seven names of his sons: Surocana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsha, Pāribhadra, Āpyāyana and Avijńāta. (Vedabase)

Text 10

The seven mountains and main-rivers there are known to be the Svarasa, S'ata-s'ringa, Vāmadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Pushpa-varsha and the Sahasra-s'ruti mountains, and the river Anumati, Sinīvālī, Sarasvatī, Kuhū, Rajanī, Nandā and Rākā.

The seven mountains and main-rivers there are known to be the Svarasa, S'ata-s'ringa, Vāmadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Pushpa-varsha and the Sahasra-s'ruti mountains and the river Anumati, Sinīvālī, Sarasvatī, Kuhū, Rajanī, Nandā and Rākā. (Vedabase)

Text 11

The people living in those varshas are known as the S'rutadharas, Vīryadharas, Vasundharas and Ishandharas [another description of the varnas meaning those who are of listening, of the heroic, of wealth, and of obedience]; fully conversant with the vedic worship they the Supreme Lord as Soma-ātmā ['the true self of the sacrificial beverage' or the moon-god]:

The people living in those varshas are known as S'rutadhara, Vīryadhara, Vasundhara and Ishandhara [another description of the varnas meaning those who are of listening, of the heroic, of wealth, and of obedience]; fully conversant with the vedic do they worship the Supreme Lord as Soma-ātmā ['the true self of the sacrificial beverage' or the moongod]: (Vedabase)

Text 12

'By His own effulgence divides He the time into the light and dark period of the month [s'ukla and krishna]; may He, that divinity of the moon as well as of the grain to be distributed to the forefathers and the gods, that King of All People, remain favorable towards us.'

'By His own effulgence does He divide the time into the light and dark period of the month [s'ukla and Krishna]; may He, that divinity of the moon as well as of the grain to be distributed to the forefathers and the gods, that King of All People, remain favorable towards us.' (Vedabase)

Text 13

Following outside of that ocean of liquor is there equally wide and twice as big, a sea of ghee that, like with the dvīpa before, surrounds Kus'advīpa, of which the kus'a-grass created by God gave that dvīpa its name; like another kind of fire are by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass all directions illumined.

Following outside of that ocean of liquor is there equally wide and twice as big, a sea of ghee that, like with the dvīpa before, surrounds Kus'advīpa, of which the kus'agrass created by God gave that dvīpa its name; like another kind of fire are by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass all directions illumined. (Vedabase)

Text 14

The master of that island, Hiranyaretā, the son of Mahārāja Priyavrata, o King, divided his dvīpa in seven and gave them, when he withdrew himself for his penance, according to his sons, the names of Vasu,Vasudāna, Dridharuci, Nābhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta and Vāmadeva.

The master of that island, Hiranyaretā, the son of Mahārāja Priyavrata, o King, divided his dvīpa in seven and gave them, when he withdrew himself for his penance, in accord to his sons the names of Vasu,Vasudāna, Dridharuci, Nābhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta and Vāmadeva. (Vedabase)

Text 15

The seven mountain ranges and seven rivers of them are the Cakra, Catuh-s'ringa, Kapila, Citrakūtha, Devānīka, Ūrdhvaromā and Dravina mountains and the rivers Ramakulyā, Madhukulyā, Mitravindā, Srutavindā, Devagarbhā, Ghritacyutā and Mantramālā.

The seven mountain ranges and seven rivers of them are the Cakra, Catuh-s'ringa, Kapila, Citrakūtha, Devānīka, Ūrdhvaromā and Dravina mountains and the rivers Ramakulyā, Madhukulyā, Mitravindā, Srutavindā, Devagarbhā, Ghritacyutā and Mantramālā. (Vedabase)

Text 16

By those waters do the inhabitants of Kus'advīpa called the Kus'alas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas and Kulakas [or the grass-sitters, the experienced, the competitors and the artisans], proficient in the rituals, worship the Supreme Lord in the form of the God of Fire called Jātaveda ['he who awards the wages']:

By those waters do the inhabitants of Kus'advīpa called the Kus'alas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas and Kulakas [or the grass-sitters, the experienced, the competitors and the artisans], proficient in the rituals, worship the Supreme Lord in the form of the God of Fire called Jātaveda ['he who awards the wages']: (Vedabase)

Text 17

'Of all the demigods of the Supreme Brahman who are the limbs of the Original Person are You the Granter of Wages, who is directly carrying the offerings of ghee and grains; please carry therefore the offerings by our sacrifices unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'

'Of all the demigods of the Supreme Brahman who are the limbs of the Original Person are You the Granter of Wages, who is directly carrying the offerings of ghee and grains; please carry therefore the offerings by our sacrifices unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.' (Vedabase)

Text 18

So is, just as Kus'advīpa is surrounded, also all around, Krauńcadvīpa outside of the ocean of ghee, surrounded by an ocean of milk [or plant-juice], evenly wide and twice as big, in which the king of the mountains named Krauńca is found that gave that dvīpa its name.

So is, just as Kus'advīpa is surrounded, also Krauńcadvīpa all around, outside of the ocean of ghee, surrounded by an ocean of milk [or plant-juice], evenly wide and twice as big, in which the king of mountains named Krauńca is found that gave that dvīpa its name. (Vedabase)

Text 19

Although its vegetation was ruffed by the weapons of the son of S'iva [Kārttikeya], has it become fearless from always bathing in the ocean of milk and from the protection by the mighty Varuna [the demigod of the seas].

Although its vegetation was ruffed by the weapons of the son of S'iva [Kārttikeya], has it become fearless from always bathing in the ocean of milk and from the protection by the mighty Varuna [the demigod of the seas]. (Vedabase)