Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
ह्रदाश्चत्वार: पयोमध्विक्षुरसमृष्टजला यदुपस्पर्शिन उपदेवगणा योगैश्वर्याणि स्वाभाविकानि भरतर्षभ धारयन्ति ॥ १३ ॥ देवोद्यानानि च भवन्ति चत्वारि नन्दनं चैत्ररथं वैभ्राजकं सर्वतोभद्रमिति ॥ १४ ॥
hradāś catvāraḥ payo-madhv-ikṣurasa-mṛṣṭa-jalā yad-upasparśina upadeva-gaṇā yogaiśvaryāṇi svābhāvikāni bharatarṣabha dhārayanti; devodyānāni ca bhavanti catvāri nandanaṁ caitrarathaṁ vaibhrājakaṁ sarvatobhadram iti.
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of the Bharatas! Between these four mountains are four great lakes whose waters taste like milk, honey, sugarcane juice, and pure water. By touching them, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas and other celestial beings naturally possess yogic opulences. There are also four heavenly gardens: Nandana, Caitraratha, Vaibhrājaka, and Sarvatobhadra.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva explains that by merely touching certain divine lakes, minor celestial beings naturally obtain and sustain yogic perfections—showing siddhis can arise from higher, subtle environments, not only from personal austerity.
He is mapping the sacred geography of Jambūdvīpa and illustrating the extraordinary conditions of higher realms, where even contact with sanctified places can bestow yogic opulences.
It highlights the power of sāttvika association and sacred contact—seeking holy places, saintly company, and devotional practices that elevate consciousness beyond ordinary material influence.