Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 22
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
यस्तु महाकदम्ब: सुपार्श्वनिरूढो यास्तस्य कोटरेभ्यो विनि:सृता: पञ्चायामपरिणाहा: पञ्च मधुधारा: सुपार्श्वशिखरात्पतन्त्योऽपरेणात्मानमिलावृतमनुमोदयन्ति ॥ २२ ॥
yas tu mahā-kadambaḥ supārśva-nirūḍho yās tasya koṭarebhyo viniḥsṛtāḥ pañcāyāma-pariṇāhāḥ pañca madhu-dhārāḥ supārśva-śikharāt patantyo ’pareṇātmānam ilāvṛtam anumodayanti.
An der Seite des Berges Supārśva steht ein berühmter großer Baum namens Mahākadamba. Aus seinen Höhlungen strömen fünf Honigflüsse, jeder etwa fünf Vyāmas breit. Dieser Honig fällt unaufhörlich vom Gipfel des Supārśva herab und fließt, vom Westen beginnend, rings um Ilāvṛta-varṣa, sodass das ganze Land von lieblichem Duft durchdrungen ist.
The distance between one hand and another when one spreads both his arms is called a vyāma. This comes to about eight feet. Thus each of the rivers was about forty feet wide, making a total of about two hundred feet.
FAQs
In Canto 5, the Bhāgavatam describes Ilāvṛta-varṣa as a wondrous region within Jambūdvīpa, beautified by extraordinary natural features—here, honey streams falling from Mount Supārśva are said to delight the land.
Śukadeva is answering Parīkṣit’s inquiries about the structure of the universe by detailing Jambūdvīpa’s varṣas and mountains, presenting sacred geography as part of the Bhāgavatam’s cosmological narration.
It cultivates humility and reverence for the Lord’s vast creation, helping a devotee shift from self-centered thinking to God-centered remembrance (smaraṇa) and gratitude.