Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 36

The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka

Devanagari script

लोकालोक इति समाख्या यदनेनाचलेन लोकालोकस्यान्तर्वर्तिनावस्थाप्यते ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

lokāloka iti samākhyā yad anenācalena lokālokasyāntarvar-tināvasthāpyate.

Translation

Between the lands inhabited by living entities and those that are uninhabited stands the great mountain which separates the two and which is therefore celebrated as Lokāloka.

Synonyms

• lokālokaḥ: Lokāloka (name)
• lokālokaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lokāloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-marker (इति-वाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); quotative particle

• samākhyā: designation/name
• samākhyā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: because/that
• yat: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya usage of yat (यत्) introducing reason/explanation (यत् = because/that)

• anena: by this
• anena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• acalena: by the mountain
• acalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• lokālokasya: of the loka-and-aloka (realm)
• lokālokasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lokāloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• antarvartinā: being in-between/within
• antarvartinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antarvartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective ‘being within’; qualifies acalena (by the mountain which is within/between)

• avasthāpyate: is established/kept in place
• avasthāpyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

FAQs

What is Lokāloka Mountain in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Lokāloka is the cosmic boundary described in Canto 5 that separates the illuminated, inhabited regions (loka) from the dark regions beyond (aloka), establishing the limits of each.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Lokāloka boundary to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

He is explaining the ordered structure of the universe to show how the Lord’s arrangement maintains clear divisions and governance within creation.

Practical application of the idea of 'loka' and 'aloka' in modern life?

It can be taken as a reminder to keep clear boundaries between clarity and confusion—choosing disciplines and devotion that keep one in the 'light' of dharma and God-consciousness.