Shloka 15

Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System

Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī

Devanagari script

येष्वमर परिवृढा: सह सुरललनाललामयूथपतय उपदेवगणैरुपगीयमानमहिमान: किल विहरन्ति ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

yeṣv amara-parivṛḍhāḥ saha sura-lalanā-lalāma-yūtha-pataya upadeva-gaṇair upagīyamāna-mahimānaḥ kila viharanti.

Translation

In jenen himmlischen Gärten vergnügen sich die besten der Devas zusammen mit ihren Gemahlinnen, die wie Schmuckstücke himmlischer Schönheit sind, während Gandharvas und andere niedere Himmelswesen ihre Herrlichkeiten besingen.

Synonyms

• येषु: in which
• येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धे 'in which' (referring to gardens)

• अमर-परिवृढाः: chiefs among the immortals
• अमर-परिवृढाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर + परिवृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अमराणां परिवृढाः = chiefs among immortals)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-योगे अव्यय (preposition/adverb)

• सुर-ललना-ललाम-यूथ-पतयः: leaders of groups of the finest celestial women
• सुर-ललना-ललाम-यूथ-पतयः: Sahakaraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + ललना + ललाम + यूथ + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: (सुराणां ललनानां) ललामाः (श्रेष्ठाः) ये यूथपतयः

• उपदेव-गणैः: by groups of subordinate deities
• उपदेव-गणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदेव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण/साधन

• उपगीयमान-महिमानः: whose glory is being sung
• उपगीयमान-महिमानः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + गी (धातु) → उपगीयमान (कृदन्त, शानच्/Present passive participle) + महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (उपगीयमानः महिमा यस्य) बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणम् (अमर-परिवृढाः)

• किल: indeed; it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/श्रुति-सूचक अव्यय (particle: indeed/it is said)

• विहरन्ति: they sport; they roam
• विहरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Amaras (demigods)
• Sura-lalanās (celestial maidens)
• Upadevas (subordinate demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demigods enjoying heavenly regions?

This verse describes exalted demigods, accompanied by celestial maidens, freely sporting in particular regions, while lesser demigods praise their fame—showing the opulence of higher worlds within Bhagavata cosmology.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing devas and their glories to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

In Canto 5, Śukadeva explains the structure of Jambūdvīpa and its realms to contextualize the universe as the Lord’s arrangement—helping Parīkṣit understand worldly and heavenly enjoyments as still within material creation, distinct from pure devotion.

Practical application: what lesson should a devotee take from descriptions of heavenly enjoyment?

Heavenly pleasures and fame are temporary and belong to the created cosmos; a devotee should appreciate the Lord’s grandeur yet aim for bhakti—seeking lasting shelter in Bhagavān rather than aspiring for celestial luxury.