SB5.20Summary

In this chapter there is a description of various islands, beginning with Plaksadvipa, and the oceans that surround them. There is also a description of the location and dimensions of the mountain known as Lokaloka. The island of Plaksadvipa, which is twice as broad as Jambudvipa, is surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The master of this island is Idhmajihva, one of the sons of Maharaja Priyavrata. The island is divided into seven regions, each with a mountain and a large river.

      The second island is called Salmalidvipa. It is surrounded by an ocean of liquor and is 3,200,000 miles wide, twice as wide as Plaksadvipa. The master of this island is Yajnabahu, one of the sons of Maharaja Priyavrata. Like Plaksadvipa, this island is also divided into seven regions, each with a mountain and a very large river. The inhabitants of this island worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Candratma.

      The third island, which is surrounded by an ocean of clarified butter and is also divided into seven regions, is called Kusadvipa. Its master is Hiranyareta, another son of Maharaja Priyavrata, and its inhabitants worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Agni, the fire-god. The width of this island is 6,400,000 miles, or, in other words, twice the width of Salmalidvipa.

      The fourth island, Krauncadvipa, which is surrounded by an ocean of milk, is 12,800,000 miles wide and is also divided, like the others, into seven regions, each with a large mountain and a large river. The master of this island is Ghrtaprstha, another son of Maharaja Priyavrata. The inhabitants of this island worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of water.

      The fifth island, Sakadvipa, which is 25,600,000 miles wide, is surrounded by an ocean of yogurt. Its master is Medhatithi, another son of Maharaja Priyavrata. It is also divided into seven regions, each with a large mountain and a large river. Its inhabitants worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Vayu, air.

      The sixth island, Puskaradvipa, which is twice as wide as the previous island, is surrounded by an ocean of clear water. Its master is Vitihotra, another son of Maharaja Priyavrata. The island is divided in two by a large mountain named Manasottara. The inhabitants of this island worship Svayambhu, another feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Beyond Puskaradvipa there are two islands, one always lit by the sunshine and the other always dark. Between them is a mountain called Lokaloka, which is situated one billion miles from the edge of the universe. Lord Narayana, expanding His opulence, resides upon this mountain. The area beyond Lokaloka Mountain is called Aloka-varsa, and beyond Aloka-varsa is the pure destination of persons who desire liberation.

SB5.20.2

TEXT 2

jambudvipo ’yam yavat-pramana-vistaras tavata ksarodadhina parivestito yatha merur jambv-akhyena lavanodadhir api tato dvi-guna-visalena plaksakhyena pariksipto yatha parikha bahyopavanena; plakso jambu-pramano dvipakhyakaro hiranmaya utthito yatragnir upaste sapta-jihvas tasyadhipatih priyavratatmaja idhmajihvah svam dvipam sapta-varsani vibhajya sapta-varsa-namabhya atmajebhya akalayya svayam atma-yogenopararama.

SYNONYMS

jambu-dvipah—Jambudvipa, the island named Jambu; ayam—this; yavat-pramana-vistarah—as much as the measure of its width, namely 100,000 yojanas (one yojana equals eight miles); tavata—so much; ksara-udadhina—by the ocean of salt water; parivestitah—surrounded; yatha—just as; meruh—Sumeru Mountain; jambu-akhyena—by the island named Jambu; lavana-udadhih—the ocean of salt water; api—certainly; tatah—thereafter; dvi-guna-visalena—which is twice as wide; plaksa-akhyena—by the island named Plaksa; pariksiptah—surrounded; yatha—like; parikha—a moat; bahya—external; upavanena—by a gardenlike forest; plaksah—a plaksa tree; jambu-pramanah—having the height of the jambu tree; dvipa-akhya-karah—causing the name of the island; hiranmayah—magnificently splendorous; utthitah—rising; yatra—where; agnih—a fire; upaste—is situated; sapta-jihvah—having seven flames; tasya—of that island; adhipatih—the king or master; priyavrata-atmajah—the son of King Priyavrata; idhma-jihvah—named Idhmajihva; svam—own; dvipam—island; sapta—seven; varsani—tracts of land; vibhajya—dividing into; sapta-varsa-namabhyah—for whom the seven tracts of land were named; atmajebhyah—to his own sons; akalayya—offering; svayam—personally; atma-yogena—by the devotional service of the Lord; upararama—he retired from all material activities.

TRANSLATION

As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambudvipa, Jambudvipa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The breadth of Jambudvipa is 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles], and the breadth of the saltwater ocean is the same. As a moat around a fort is sometimes surrounded by gardenlike forest, the saltwater ocean surrounding Jambudvipa is itself surrounded by Plaksadvipa. The breadth of Plaksadvipa is twice that of the saltwater ocean—in other words 260,000 yojanas [1,600,000 miles]. On Plaksadvipa there is a tree shining like gold and as tall as the jambu tree on Jambudvipa. At its root is a fire with seven flames. It is because this tree is a plaksa tree that the island is called Plaksadvipa. Plaksadvipa was governed by Idhmajihva, one of the sons of Maharaja Priyavrata. He endowed the seven islands with the names of his seven sons, divided the islands among the sons, and then retired from active life to engage in the devotional service of the Lord.

SB5.20.3-4

TEXTS 3–4

sivam yavasam subhadram santam ksemam amrtam abhayam iti varsani tesu girayo nadyas ca saptaivabhijnatah; manikuto vajrakuta indraseno jyotisman suparno hiranyasthivo meghamala iti setu-sailah aruna nrmnangirasi savitri suptabhata rtambhara satyambhara iti maha-nadyah; yasam jalopasparsana-vidhuta-rajas-tamaso hamsa-patangordhvayana-satyanga-samjnas catvaro varnah sahasrayuso vibudhopama-sandarsana-prajananah svarga-dvaram trayya vidyaya bhagavantam trayimayam suryam atmanam yajante.

SYNONYMS

sivam—Siva; yavasam—Yavasa; subhadram—Subhadra; santam—Santa; ksemam—Ksema; amrtam—Amrta; abhayam—Abhaya; iti—thus; varsani—the tracts of land according to the names of the seven sons; tesu—in them; girayah—mountains; nadyah ca—and rivers; sapta—seven; eva—indeed; abhijnatah—are known; mani-kutah—Manikuta; vajra-kutah—Vajrakuta; indra-senah—Indrasena; jyotisman—Jyotisman; suparnah—Suparna; hiranya-sthivah—Hiranyasthiva; megha-malah—Meghamala; iti—thus; setu-sailah—the ranges of mountains marking the borders of the varsas; aruna—Aruna; nrmna—Nrmna; angirasi—Angirasi; savitri—Savitri; supta-bhata—Suptabhata; rtambhara—Rtambhara; satyambhara—Satyambhara; iti—thus; maha-nadyah—very large rivers; yasam—of which; jala-upasparsana—simply by touching the water; vidhuta—washed off; rajah-tamasah—whose modes of passion and ignorance; hamsa—Hamsa; patanga—Patanga; urdhvayana—Urdhvayana; satyanga—Satyanga; samjnah—named; catvarah—four; varnah—castes or divisions of men; sahasra-ayusah—living for one thousand years; vibudha-upama—similar to the demigods; sandarsana—in having very beautiful forms; prajananah—and in producing children; svarga-dvaram—the gateway to the heavenly planets; trayya vidyaya—by performing ritualistic ceremonies according to Vedic principles; bhagavantam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; trayi-mayam—established in the Vedas; suryam atmanam—the Supersoul, represented by the sun-god; yajante—they worship.

TRANSLATION

The seven islands [varsas] are named according to the names of those seven sons—Siva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Santa, Ksema, Amrta and Abhaya. In those seven tracts of land, there are seven mountains and seven rivers. The mountains are named Manikuta, Vajrakuta, Indrasena, Jyotisman, Suparna, Hiranyasthiva and Meghamala, and the rivers are named Aruna, Nrmna, Angirasi, Savitri, Suptabhata, Rtambhara and Satyambhara. One can immediately be free from material contamination by touching or bathing in those rivers, and the four castes of people who live in Plaksadvipa—the Hamsas, Patangas, Urdhvayanas and Satyangas—purify themselves in that way. The inhabitants of Plaksadvipa live for one thousand years. They are beautiful like the demigods, and they also beget children like the demigods. By completely performing the ritualistic ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas and by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead as represented by the sun-god, they attain the sun, which is a heavenly planet.

PURPORT

SB5.20.7

TEXT 7

plaksah sva-samaneneksu-rasodenavrto yatha tatha dvipo ’pi salmalo dvi-guna-visalah samanena surodenavrtah parivrnkte.

SYNONYMS

plaksah—the land known as Plaksadvipa; sva-samanena—equal in width; iksu-rasa—of sugarcane juice; udena—by an ocean; avrtah—surrounded; yatha—just as; tatha—similarly; dvipah—another island; api—also; salmalah—known as Salmala; dvi-guna-visalah—twice as big; samanena—equal in width; sura-udena—by an ocean of liquor; avrtah—surrounded; parivrnkte—exists.

TRANSLATION

Plaksadvipa is surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice, equal in breadth to the island itself. Similarly, there is then another island—Salmalidvipa—twice as broad as Plaksadvipa [400,000 yojanas, or 3,200,000 miles] and surrounded by an equally broad body of water called Surasagara, the ocean that tastes like liquor.

SB5.20.8

TEXT 8

yatra ha vai salmali plaksayama yasyam vava kila nilayam ahur bhagavatas chandah-stutah patattri-rajasya sa dvipa-hutaye upalaksyate.

SYNONYMS

yatra—where; ha vai—certainly; salmali—a salmali tree; plaksa-ayama—as big as the plaksa tree (one hundred yojanas broad and eleven hundred yojanas high); yasyam—in which; vava kila—indeed; nilayam—rest or living place; ahuh—they say; bhagavatah—of the most powerful; chandah-stutah—who worships the Lord by Vedic prayers; patattri-rajasya—of Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu; sa—that tree; dvipa-hutaye—for the name of the island; upalaksyate—is distinguished.

TRANSLATION

On Salmalidvipa there is a salmali tree, from which the island takes its name. That tree is as broad and tall as the plaksa tree—in other words 100 yojanas [800 miles] broad and 1,100 yojanas [8,800 miles] tall. Learned scholars say that this gigantic tree is the residence of Garuda, the king of all birds and carrier of Lord Visnu. In that tree, Garuda offers Lord Visnu his Vedic prayers.

SB5.20.9

TEXT 9

tad-dvipadhipatih priyavratatmajo yajnabahuh sva-sutebhyah saptabhyas tan-namani sapta-varsani vyabhajat surocanam saumanasyam ramanakam deva-varsam paribhadram apyayanam avijnatam iti.

SYNONYMS

tat-dvipa-adhipatih—the master of that island; priyavrata-atmajah—the son of Maharaja Priyavrata; yajna-bahuh—named Yajnabahu; sva-sutebhyah—unto his sons; saptabhyah—seven in number; tat-namani—having names according to their names; sapta-varsani—seven tracts of land; vyabhajat—divided; surocanam—Surocana; saumanasyam—Saumanasya; ramanakam—Ramanaka; deva-varsam—Deva-varsa; paribhadram—Paribhadra; apyayanam—Apyayana; avijnatam—Avijnata; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

The son of Maharaja Priyavrata named Yajnabahu, the master of Salmalidvipa, divided the island into seven tracts of land, which he gave to his seven sons. The names of those divisions, which correspond to the names of the sons, are Surocana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsa, Paribhadra, Apyayana and Avijnata.

SB5.20.10

TEXT 10

tesu varsadrayo nadyas ca saptaivabhijnatah svarasah satasrngo vamadevah kundo mukundah puspa-varsah sahasra-srutir iti; anumatih sinivali sarasvati kuhu rajani nanda raketi.

SYNONYMS

tesu—in those tracts of land; varsa-adrayah—mountains; nadyah ca—as well as rivers; sapta eva—seven in number; abhijnatah—understood; svarasah—Svarasa; sata-srngah—Satasrnga; vama-devah—Vamadeva; kundah—Kunda; mukundah—Mukunda; puspa-varsah—Puspa-varsa; sahasra-srutih—Sahasra-sruti; iti—thus; anumatih—Anumati; sinivali—Sinivali; sarasvati—Sarasvati; kuhu—Kuhu; rajani—Rajani; nanda—Nanda; raka—Raka; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

In those tracts of land there are seven mountains—Svarasa, Satasrnga, Vamadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Puspa-varsa and Sahasra-sruti. There are also seven rivers—Anumati, Sinivali, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani, Nanda and Raka. They are still existing.

SB5.20.11

TEXT 11

tad-varsa-purusah srutadhara-viryadhara-vasundharesandhara-samjna bhagavantam vedamayam somam atmanam vedena yajante.

SYNONYMS

tat-varsa-purusah—the residents of those tracts of land; srutadhara—Srutadhara; viryadhara—Viryadhara; vasundhara—Vasundhara; isandhara—Isandhara; samjnah—known as; bhagavantam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; veda-mayam—fully conversant with the Vedic knowledge; somam atmanam—represented by the living entity known as Soma; vedena—by following the Vedic rules and regulations; yajante—they worship.

TRANSLATION

Strictly following the cult of varnasrama-dharma, the inhabitants of those islands, who are known as Srutidharas, Viryadharas, Vasundharas and Isandharas, all worship the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead named Soma, the moon-god.

SB5.20.12

TEXT 12

sva-gobhih pitr-devebhyo

vibhajan krsna-suklayoh

prajanam sarvasam raja-

ndhah somo na astv iti

SYNONYMS

sva-gobhih—by expansion of his own illuminating rays; pitr-devebhyah—unto the pitas and the demigods; vibhajan—dividing; krsna-suklayoh—into the two fortnights, dark and light; prajanam—of the citizens; sarvasam—of all; raja—the king; andhah—food grains; somah—the moon-god; nah—toward us; astu—let him remain favorable; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

[The inhabitants of Salmalidvipa worship the demigod of the moon in the following words.] By his own rays, the moon-god has divided the month into two fortnights, known as sukla and krsna, for the distribution of food grains to the pitas and the demigods. The demigod of the moon is he who divides time, and he is the king of all the residents of the universe. We therefore pray that he may remain our king and guide, and we offer him our respectful obeisances.