Shloka 38

The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka

Devanagari script

एतावाँल्लोकविन्यासो मानलक्षणसंस्थाभिर्विचिन्तित: कविभि: स तु पञ्चाशत्कोटिगणितस्य भूगोलस्य तुरीयभागोऽयं लोकालोकाचल: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

etāvāḻ loka-vinyāso māna-lakṣaṇa-saṁsthābhir vicintitaḥ kavibhiḥ sa tu pañcāśat-koṭi-gaṇitasya bhū-golasya turīya-bhāgo ’yaṁ lokālokācalaḥ.

Translation

Gelehrte Weise, frei von Irrtum, Täuschung und Betrugsneigung, haben so die Anordnung der Welten, ihre Merkmale, Maße und Lagen beschrieben. Nach reiflicher Überlegung stellten sie fest, dass die Entfernung zwischen Sumeru und dem Berg Lokāloka ein Viertel des Durchmessers des Universums beträgt: 125.000.000 Yojanas.

Synonyms

• etāvān: this much, so great
• etāvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• loka-vinyāsaḥ: arrangement of the worlds
• loka-vinyāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + vinyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (loka-vinyāsa = lokasya vinyāsaḥ)

• māna-lakṣaṇa-saṁsthābhiḥ: by the systems of measures and characteristics
• māna-lakṣaṇa-saṁsthābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna + lakṣaṇa + saṁsthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समाहार/निर्देशार्थ बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; करण (instrument)

• vicintitaḥ: considered, computed
• vicintitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√cint (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘विचिन्तितः’ = ‘considered’

• kavibhiḥ: by sages/poets
• kavibhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; कर्तृकरण-निर्देश (agent in passive)

• saḥ: that (it)
• saḥ: Anuvādya/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चय-व्यतिरेकसूचक (particle: but/indeed)

• pañcāśat-koṭi-gaṇitasya: of that which is reckoned as fifty crores
• pañcāśat-koṭi-gaṇitasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcāśat + koṭi + gaṇita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (pañcāśat-koṭibhiḥ gaṇitaḥ)

• bhū-golasya: of the terrestrial globe
• bhū-golasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū + gola (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (bhū-gola = bhūmeḥ golaḥ)

• turīya-bhāgaḥ: a fourth part
• turīya-bhāgaḥ: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turīya + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (turīyaḥ bhāgaḥ)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣya/Subject-apposition (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• lokāloka-acalaḥ: the Lokāloka mountain
• lokāloka-acalaḥ: Karta/Predicate-noun (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka + aloka + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (lokālokaḥ acalaḥ)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has given accurate astronomical information about the location of Lokāloka Mountain, the movements of the sun globe and the distance between the sun and the circumference of the universe. However, the technical terms used in the astronomical calculations given by the Jyotir Veda are difficult to translate into English. Therefore to satisfy the reader, we may include the exact Sanskrit statement given by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, which records exact calculations regarding universal affairs.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lokāloka Mountain?

This verse states that Lokāloka Mountain forms one fourth of the earthly sphere (bhū-gola) and is part of the carefully measured cosmic arrangement described by the sages.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing measurements and cosmic structure to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva explains the Lord’s ordered creation to broaden Parīkṣit’s understanding of Bhagavān’s governance of the cosmos and to support contemplative devotion through hearing (śravaṇam).

How can a modern reader apply this Bhagavatam cosmology in daily spiritual practice?

By reflecting that the universe is purposeful and regulated, one can cultivate humility and devotion, using śravaṇa (hearing) to remember the Supreme Lord behind all cosmic order.