Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty-four
The Subterranean Heavenly Planets
SB5.24Summary
This chapter describes the planet Rahu, which is 10,000 yojanas (80,000 miles) below the sun, and it also describes Atala and the other lower planetary systems. Rahu is situated below the sun and moon. It is between these two planets and the earth. When Rahu conceals the sun and moon, eclipses occur, either total or partial, depending on whether Rahu moves in a straight or curving way.
Below Rahu by another 1,000,000 yojanas are the planets of the Siddhas, Caranas and Vidyadharas, and below these are planets such as Yaksaloka and Raksaloka. Below these planets is the earth, and 70,000 yojanas below the earth are the lower planetary systems—Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. Demons and Raksasas 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 svairini (independent), kamini (lusty) and pumscali (very easily subdued by men). Below Atala is the planet Vitala, wherein Lord Siva and his wife Gauri reside. Because of their presence, a kind of gold is produced called hataka. Below Vitala is the planet Sutala, the abode of Bali Maharaja, the most fortunate king. Bali Maharaja was favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, because of his intense devotional service. The Lord went to the sacrificial arena of Bali Maharaja and begged him for three paces of land, and on this plea the Lord took from him all his possessions. When Bali Maharaja agreed to all this, the Lord was very pleased, and therefore the Lord serves as his doorkeeper. The description of Bali Maharaja appears in the Eighth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
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 Prahlada Maharaja, 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.
Below Sutala is the planet Talatala, the abode of the demon Maya. This demon is always materially happy because he is favored by Lord Siva, but he cannot achieve spiritual happiness at any time. Below Talatala is the planet Mahatala, where there are many snakes with hundreds and thousands of hoods. Below Mahatala is Rasatala, and below that is Patala, where the serpent Vasuki lives with his associates. SB5.24.1 TEXT 1 sri-suka uvaca adhastat savitur yojanayute svarbhanur naksatravac caratity eke yo ’sav amaratvam grahatvam calabhata bhagavad-anukampaya svayam asurapasadah saimhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tata janma karmani coparistad vaksyamah. SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; adhastat—below; savituh—the sun globe; yojana—a measurement equal to eight miles; ayute—ten thousand; svarbhanuh—the planet known as Rahu; naksatra-vat—like one of the stars; carati—is rotating; iti—thus; eke—some who are learned in the Puranas; yah—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-anukampaya—by the compassion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam—personally; asura-apasadah—the lowest of the asuras; saimhikeyah—being the son of Simhika; hi—indeed; a-tat-arhah—not qualified for that position; tasya—his; tata—O my dear King; janma—birth; karmani—activities; ca—also; uparistat—later; vaksyamah—I shall explain. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers of the Puranas, say that 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] below the sun is the planet known as Rahu, which moves like one of the stars. The presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Simhika, 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 taraner mandalam pratapatas tad vistarato yojanayutam acaksate dvadasa-sahasram somasya trayodasa-sahasram rahor yah parvani tad-vyavadhana-krd vairanubandhah surya-candramasav abhidhavati. SYNONYMS yat—which; adah—that; taraneh—of the sun; mandalam—globe; pratapatah—which is always distributing heat; tat—that; vistaratah—in terms of width; yojana—a distance of eight miles; ayutam—ten thousand; acaksate—they estimate; dvadasa-sahasram—20,000 yojanas (160,000 miles); somasya—of the moon; trayodasa—thirty; sahasram—one thousand; rahoh—of the planet Rahu; yah—which; parvani—on occasion; tat-vyavadhana-krt—who created an obstruction to the sun and moon at the time of the distribution of nectar; vaira-anubandhah—whose intentions are inimical; surya—the sun; candramasau—and the moon; abhidhavati—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 Rahu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Rahu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Rahu 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 As stated herein, the sun extends for 10,000 yojanas, and the moon extends for twice that, or 20,000 yojanas. The word dvadasa should be understood to mean twice as much as ten, or twenty. In the opinion of Vijayadhvaja, the extent of Rahu should be twice that of the moon, or text of the Bhagavatam, Vijayadhvaja cites the following quotation concerning Rahu; rahu-soma-ravinam tu mandala dvi-gunoktitam. This means that Rahu is twice as large as the moon, which is twice as large as the sun. This is the conclusion of the commentator Vijayadhvaja. SB5.24.3 TEXT 3 tan nisamyobhayatrapi bhagavata raksanaya prayuktam sudarsanam nama bhagavatam dayitam astram tat tejasa durvisaham muhuh parivartamanam abhyavasthito muhurtam udvijamanas cakita-hrdaya arad eva nivartate tad uparagam iti vadanti lokah. SYNONYMS tat—that situation; nisamya—hearing; ubhayatra—around both the sun and moon; api—indeed; bhagavata—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; raksanaya—for their protection; prayuktam—engaged; sudarsanam—the wheel of Krsna; nama—named; bhagavatam—the most confidential devotee; dayitam—the most favorite; astram—weapon; tat—that; tejasa—by its effulgence; durvisaham—unbearable heat; muhuh—repeatedly; parivartamanam—moving around the sun and moon; abhyavasthitah—situated; muhurtam—for a muhurta (forty-eight minutes); udvijamanah—whose mind was full of anxieties; cakita—frightened; hrdayah—the core of whose heart; arat—to a distant place; eva—certainly; nivartate—flees; tat—that situation; uparagam—an eclipse; iti—thus; vadanti—they say; lokah—the people. TRANSLATION After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Rahu’s attack, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, engages His disc, known as the Sudarsana cakra, to protect them. The Sudarsana cakra is the Lord’s most beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its effulgence, meant for killing non-Vaisnavas, is unbearable to Rahu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rahu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, is always the protector of His devotees, who are also known as demigods. The controlling demigods are most obedient to Lord Visnu, although they also want material sense enjoyment, and that is why they are called demigods, or almost godly. Although Rahu attempts to attack both the sun and the moon, they are protected by Lord Visnu. Being very afraid of Lord Visnu’s cakra, Rahu cannot stay in front of the sun or moon for more than a muhurta (forty-eight minutes). The phenomenon that occurs when Rahu blocks the light of the sun or moon is called an eclipse. The attempt of the scientists of this earth to go to the moon is as demoniac as Rahu’s attack. Of course. their attempts will be failures because no one can enter the moon or sun so easily. Like the attack of Rahu, such attempts will certainly be failures. SB5.24.4 TEXT 4 tato ’dhastat siddha-carana-vidyadharanam sadanani tavan matra eva. SYNONYMS tatah—the planet Rahu; adhastat—below; siddha-carana—of the planets known as Siddhaloka and Caranaloka; vidyadharanam—and the planets of the Vidyadharas; sadanani—the residential places; tavat matra—only that much distance (eighty thousand miles); eva—indeed. TRANSLATION Below Rahu by 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] are the planets known as Siddhaloka, Caranaloka and Vidyadhara-loka. PURPORT It is said that the residents of Siddhaloka, being naturally endowed with the powers of yogis, can go from one planet to another by their natural mystic powers without using airplanes or similar machines. SB5.24.5 TEXT 5 tato ’dhastad yaksa-raksah-pisaca-preta-bhuta-gananam viharajiram antariksam yavad vayuh pravati yavan megha upalabhyante. SYNONYMS tatah adhastat—beneath the planets occupied by the Siddhas, Caranas and Vidyadharas; yaksa-raksah-pisaca-preta-bhuta-gananam—of Yaksas, Raksasas, Pisacas, ghosts and so on; vihara-ajiram—the place of sense gratification; antariksam—in the sky or outer space; yavat—as far as; vayuh—the wind; pravati—blows; yavat—as far as; meghah—the clouds; upalabhyante—are seen. TRANSLATION Beneath Vidyadhara-loka, Caranaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antariksa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yaksas, Raksasas, Pisacas, ghosts and so on. Antariksa 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 ’dhastac chata-yojanantara iyam prthivi yavad dhamsa-bhasa-syena-suparnadayah patattri-pravara utpatantiti. SYNONYMS tatah adhastat—beneath that; sata-yojana—of one hundred yojanas; antare—by an interval; iyam—this; prthivi—planet earth; yavat—as high as; hamsa—swans; bhasa—vultures; syena—eagles; suparna-adayah—and other birds; patattri-pravarah—the chief among birds; utpatanti—can fly; iti—thus. TRANSLATION Below the abodes of the Yaksas and Raksasas 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 upavarnitam bhumer yatha-sannivesavasthanam avaner apy adhastat sapta bhu-vivara ekaikaso yojanayutantarenayama-vistarenopaklpta atalam vitalam sutalam talatalam mahatalam rasatalam patalam iti. SYNONYMS upavarnitam—stated previously; bhumeh—of the planet earth; yatha-sannivesa-avasthanam—according to the arrangement of the different places; avaneh—the earth; api—certainly; adhastat—beneath; sapta—seven; bhu-vivarah—other planets; eka-ekasah—in succession, up to the outer limit of the universe; yojana-ayuta-antarena—with an interval of ten thousand yojanas (eighty thousand miles); ayama-vistarena—by width and length; upaklptah—situated; atalam—named Atala; vitalam—Vitala; sutalam—Sutala; talatalam—Talatala; mahatalam—Mahatala; rasatalam—Rasatala; patalam—Patala; iti—thus. TRANSLATION My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. 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 etesu hi bila-svargesu svargad apy adhika-kama-bhogaisvaryananda-bhuti-vibhutibhih susamrddha-bhavanodyanakrida-viharesu daitya-danava-kadraveya nitya-pramuditanurakta-kalatrapatya-bandhu-suhrd-anucara grha-pataya isvarad apy apratihata-kama maya-vinoda nivasanti. SYNONYMS etesu—in these; hi—certainly; bila-svargesu—known as the heavenly subterranean worlds; svargat—than the heavenly planets; api—even; adhika—a greater quantity; kama-bhoga—enjoyment of sense gratification; aisvarya-ananda—bliss due to opulence; bhuti—influence; vibhutibhih—by those things and wealth; su-samrddha—improved; bhavana—houses; udyana—gardens; akrida-viharesu—in places for different types of sense gratification; daitya—the demons; danava—ghosts; kadraveyah—snakes; nitya—who are always; pramudita—overjoyed; anurakta—because of attachment; kalatra—to wife; apatya—children; bandhu—family relations; suhrt—friends; anucarah—followers; grha-patayah—the heads of the households; isvarat—than those more capable, like the demigods; api—even; apratihata-kamah—whose fulfillment of lusty desires is unimpeded; maya—illusory; vinodah—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, Danavas and Nagas, 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 According to the statements of Prahlada Maharaja, material enjoyment is maya-sukha, illusory enjoyment. A Vaisnava is full of anxieties for the deliverance of all living entities from such false enjoyment. Prahlada Maharaja says, maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan: [SB 7.9.43] these fools (vimudhas) are engaged in material happiness, which is surely temporary. Whether in the heavenly planets, the lower planets or the earthly planets, people are engrossed in temporary, material happiness, forgetting that in due course of time they have to change their bodies according to the material laws and suffer the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. Not caring what will happen in the next birth, gross materialists are simply busy enjoying during the present short span of life. A Vaisnava is always anxious to give all such bewildered materialists the real happiness of spiritual bliss. SB5.24.9 TEXT 9 yesu maharaja mayena mayavina vinirmitah puro nana-mani-pravara-praveka-viracita-vicitra-bhavana-prakara-gopura-sabha-caitya-catvarayatanadibhir nagasura-mithuna-paravata-suka-sarikakirna-krtrima-bhumibhir vivaresvara-grhottamaih samalankrtas cakasati. SYNONYMS yesu—in those lower planetary systems; maha-raja—O my dear King; mayena—by the demon named Maya; maya-vina—possessing advanced knowledge in the construction of material comforts; vinirmitah—constructed; purah—cities; nana-mani-pravara—of valuable gems; praveka—with excellent; viracita—constructed; vicitra—wonderful; bhavana—houses; prakara—walls; gopura—gates; sabha—legislative meeting rooms; caitya—temples; catvara—schools; ayatana-adibhih—with hotels or recreation halls and so on; naga—of living entities with snakelike bodies; asura—of demons, or godless persons; mithuna—by couples; paravata—pigeons; suka—parrots; sarika—mynas; akirna—crowded; krtrima—artificial; bhumibhih—possessing areas; vivara-isvara—of the leaders of the planets; grha-uttamaih—with first-class houses; samalankrtah—decorated; cakasati—shine magnificently. TRANSLATION My dear King, in the imitation heavens known as bila-svarga there is a great demon named Maya Danava, 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 Nagas 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 udyanani catitaram mana-indriyanandibhih kusuma-phala-stabaka-subhaga-kisalayavanata-rucira-vitapa-vitapinam latangalingitanam sribhih samithuna-vividha-vihangama-jalasayanam amala-jala-purnanam jhasakulollanghana-ksubhita-nira-niraja-kumuda-kuva-laya-kahlara-nilotpala-lohita-satapatradi-vanesu krta-niketananam eka-viharakula-madhura-vividha-svanadibhir indriyotsavair amara-loka-sriyam atisayitani. SYNONYMS udyanani—the gardens and parks; ca—also; atitaram—greatly; manah—to the mind; indriya—and to the senses; anandibhih—which cause pleasure; kusuma—by flowers; phala—of fruits; stabaka—bunches; subhaga—very beautiful; kisalaya—new twigs; avanata—bent low; rucira—attractive; vitapa—possessing branches; vitapinam—of trees; lata-anga-alingitanam—which are embraced by the limbs of creepers; sribhih—by the beauty; sa-mithuna—in pairs; vividha—varieties; vihangama—frequented by birds; jala-asayanam—of reservoirs of water; amala-jala-purnanam—full of clear and transparent water; jhasa-kula-ullanghana—by the jumping of different fish; ksubhita—agitated; nira—in the water; niraja—of lotus flowers; kumuda—lilies; kuvalaya—flowers named kuvalaya; kahlara—kahlara flowers; nila-utpala—blue lotus flowers; lohita—red; sata-patra-adi—lotus flowers with a hundred petals and so on; vanesu—in forests; krta-niketananam—of birds that have made their nests; eka-vihara-akula—full of uninterrupted enjoyment; madhura—very sweet; vividha—varieties; svana-adibhih—by vibrations; indriya-utsavaih—invoking sense enjoyment; amara-loka-sriyam—the beauty of the residential places of the demigods; atisayitani—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, kahlaras and blue and red lotuses. Pairs of cakravakas 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 vava na bhayam aho-ratradibhih kala-vibhagair upalaksyate. SYNONYMS yatra—where; ha vava—certainly; na—not; bhayam—fearfulness; ahah-ratra-adibhih—because of days and nights; kala-vibhagaih—the divisions of time; upalaksyate—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 mahahi-pravara-siro-manayah sarvam tamah prabadhante. SYNONYMS yatra—where; hi—indeed; maha-ahi—of great serpents; pravara—of the best; sirah-manayah—the gems on the hoods; sarvam—all; tamah—darkness; prabadhante—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 va etesu vasatam divyausadhi-rasa-rasayananna-pana-snanadibhir adhayo vyadhayo vali-palita-jaradayas ca deha-vaivarnya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glanir iti vayo ’vasthas ca bhavanti. SYNONYMS na—not; va—either; etesu—in these planets; vasatam—of those residing; divya—wonderful; ausadhi—of herbs; rasa—the juices; rasayana—and elixirs; anna—by eating; pana—drinking; snana-adibhih—by bathing in and so on; adhayah—mental troubles; vyadhayah—diseases; vali—wrinkles; palita—grey hair; jara—old age; adayah—and so on; ca—and; deha-vaivarnya—the fading of bodily luster; daurgandhya—bad odor; sveda—perspiration; klama—fatigue; glanih—lack of energy; iti—thus; vayah avasthah—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 tesam kalyananam prabhavati kutascana mrtyur vina bhagavat-tejasas cakrapadesat. SYNONYMS na hi—not; tesam—of them; kalyananam—who are by nature auspicious; prabhavati—able to influence; kutascana—from anywhere; mrtyuh—death; vina—except; bhagavat-tejasah—of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; cakra-apadesat—from that weapon named the Sudarsana cakra. TRANSLATION They live very auspiciously and do not fear death from anything but death’s established time, which is the effulgence of the Sudarsana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. PURPORT This is the defect of material existence. Everything in the subterranean heavens is very nicely arranged. There are well situated residential quarters, there is a pleasing atmosphere, and there are no bodily inconveniences or mental anxieties, but nevertheless those who live there have to take another birth according to karma. Persons whose minds are dull cannot understand this defect of a materialistic civilization aiming at material comforts. One may make his living conditions very pleasing for the senses, but despite all favorable conditions, one must in due course of time meet death. The members of a demoniac civilization endeavor to make their living conditions very comfortable, but they cannot check death. The influence of the Sudarsana cakra will not allow their so-called material happiness to endure. SB5.24.15 TEXT 15 yasmin praviste ’sura-vadhunam prayah pumsavanani bhayad eva sravanti patanti ca. SYNONYMS yasmin—where; praviste—when entered; asura-vadhunam—of the wives of those demons; prayah—almost always; pumsavanani—fetuses; bhayat—because of fear; eva—certainly; sravanti—slip out; patanti—fall down; ca—and. TRANSLATION When the Sudarsana disc enters those provinces, the pregnant wives of the demons all have miscarriages due to fear of its effulgence. SB5.24.16 TEXT 16 athatale maya-putro ’suro balo nivasati yena ha va iha srstah san-navatir mayah kascanadyapi mayavino dharayanti yasya ca jrmbhamanasya mukhatas trayah stri-gana udapadyanta svairinyah kaminyah pumscalya iti ya vai bilayanam pravistam purusam rasena hatakakhyena sadhayitva sva-vilasavalokananuraga-smita-samlapopaguhanadibhih svairam kila ramayanti yasminn upayukte purusa isvaro ’ham siddho ’ham ity ayuta-maha-gaja-balam atmanam abhimanyamanah katthate madandha iva. SYNONYMS atha—now; atale—on the planet named Atala; maya-putrah asurah—the demon son of Maya; balah—Bala; nivasati—resides; yena—by whom; ha va—indeed; iha—in this; srstah—propagated; sat-navatih—ninety-six; mayah—varieties of illusion; kascana—some; adya api—even today; maya-vinah—those who know the art of magical feats (like manufacturing gold); dharayanti—utilize; yasya—of whom; ca—also; jrmbhamanasya—while yawning; mukhatah—from the mouth; trayah—three; stri-ganah—varieties of women; udapadyanta—were generated; svairinyah—svairini (one who only marries in her same class); kaminyah—kamini (one who, being lusty, marries men from any group); pumscalyah—pumscali (one who wants to go from one husband to another); iti—thus; yah—who; vai—certainly; bila-ayanam—the subterranean planets; pravistam—entering; purusam—a male; rasena—by a juice; hataka-akhyena—made from an intoxicating herb known as hataka; sadhayitva—making sexually fit; sva-vilasa—for their personal sense gratification; avalokana—by glances; anuraga—lustful; smita—by smiling; samlapa—by talking; upaguhana-adibhih—and by embracing; svairam—according to their own desire; kila—indeed; ramayanti—enjoy sex pleasure; yasmin—which; upayukte—when used; purusah—a man; isvarah aham—I am the most powerful person; siddhah aham—I am the greatest and most elevated person; iti—thus; ayuta—ten thousand; maha-gaja—of big elephants; balam—the strength; atmanam—himself; abhimanyamanah—being full of pride; katthate—they say; mada-andhah—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 Danava named Bala, who created ninety-six kinds of mystic power. Some so-called yogis and svamis take advantage of this mystic power to cheat people even today. Simply by yawning, the demon Bala created three kinds of women, known as svairini, kamini and pumscali. The svairinis like to marry men from their own group, the kaminis marry men from any group, and the pumscalis 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 hataka [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 ’dhastad vitale haro bhagavan hatakesvarah sva-parsada-bhuta-ganavrtah prajapati-sargopabrmhanaya bhavo bhavanya saha mithuni-bhuta aste yatah pravrtta sarit-pravara hataki nama bhavayor viryena yatra citrabhanur matarisvana samidhyamana ojasa pibati tan nisthyutam hatakakhyam suvarnam bhusanenasurendravarodhesu purusah saha purusibhir dharayanti. SYNONYMS tatah—the planet Atala; adhastat—beneath; vitale—on the planet; harah—Lord Siva; bhagavan—the most powerful personality; hatakesvarah—the master of gold; sva-parsada—by his own associates; bhuta-gana—who are ghostly living beings; avrtah—surrounded; prajapati-sarga—of the creation of Lord Brahma; upabrmhanaya—to increase the population; bhavah—Lord Siva; bhavanya saha—with his wife, Bhavani; mithuni-bhutah—being united in sex; aste—remains; yatah—from that planet (Vitala); pravrtta—being emanated; sarit-pravara—the great river; hataki—Hataki; nama—named; bhavayoh viryena—due to the semina and ovum of Lord Siva and Bhavani; yatra—where; citra-bhanuh—the fire-god; matarisvana—by the wind; samidhyamanah—being brightly inflamed; ojasa—with great strength; pibati—drinks; tat—that; nisthyutam—spit out with a hissing sound; hataka-akhyam—named Hataka; suvarnam—gold; bhusanena—by different types of ornaments; asura-indra—of the great asuras; avarodhesu—in the homes; purusah—the males; saha—with; purusibhih—their wives and women; dharayanti—wear. TRANSLATION The next planet below Atala is Vitala, wherein Lord Siva, who is known as the master of gold mines, lives with his personal associates, the ghosts and similar living entities. Lord Siva, as the progenitor, engages in sex with Bhavani, the progenitress, to produce living entities, and from the mixture of their vital fluid the river named Hataki 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 Hataka. 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 Bhavani, Lord Siva 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 Srila Sanatana Gosvami also states that when bell metal is treated with mercury, it can produce gold. Srila Sanatana Gosvami mentions this in regard to the initiation of low-class men to turn them into brahmanas. Sanatana Gosvami said: yatha kancanatam yati “As one can transform kamsa, or bell metal, into gold by treating it with mercury, one can also turn a lowborn man into a brahmana by initiating him properly into Vaisnava activities.” The International Society for Krishna Consciousness is trying to turn mlecchas and yavanas into real brahmanas 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 Krsna maha-mantra can certainly become a pure brahmana through the process of bona fide initiation, as suggested by Srila Sanatana Gosvami. 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.
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam