Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 31
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
ये वा उ ह तद्रथचरणनेमिकृतपरिखातास्ते सप्त सिन्धव आसन् यत एव कृता: सप्त भुवो द्वीपा: ॥ ३१ ॥
ye vā u ha tad-ratha-caraṇa-nemi-kṛta-parikhātās te sapta sindhava āsan yata eva kṛtāḥ sapta bhuvo dvīpāḥ.
Lorsque Priyavrata conduisit son char derrière le soleil, les jantes de ses roues tracèrent des sillons qui devinrent plus tard sept océans, divisant le système appelé Bhū-maṇḍala en sept îles.
Sometimes the planets in outer space are called islands. We have experience of various types of islands in the ocean, and similarly the various planets, divided into fourteen lokas, are islands in the ocean of space. As Priyavrata drove his chariot behind the sun, he created seven different types of oceans and planetary systems, which altogether are known as Bhū-maṇḍala, or Bhūloka. In the Gāyatrī mantra, we chant, om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tat savitur vareṇyam. Above the Bhūloka planetary system is Bhuvarloka, and above that is Svargaloka, the heavenly planetary system. All these planetary systems are controlled by Savitā, the sun-god. By chanting the Gāyatrī mantra just after rising early in the morning, one worships the sun-god.
FAQs
This verse says the seven rivers manifested from the furrows/trenches formed by the rim of the divine chariot wheel near the Lord’s feet—indicating sacred geography arising from divine potency.
In the narrative of Canto 5, Śukadeva presents Ṛṣabhadeva as Bhagavān’s empowered manifestation; the description teaches that the cosmos and holy places ultimately rest on the Lord’s will and līlā, not merely material causation.
It trains devotion and humility: seeing nature and sacred places as connected to the Divine encourages reverence, gratitude, and a more dharmic relationship with the earth.