Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1

The Orbit of the Sun, the Measure of Day and Night, and the Sun-God’s Chariot

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एतावानेव भूवलयस्य सन्निवेश: प्रमाणलक्षणतो व्याख्यात: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca etāvān eva bhū-valayasya sanniveśaḥ pramāṇa-lakṣaṇato vyākhyātaḥ.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī dit : Mon cher Roi, jusqu’ici j’ai décrit la disposition de Bhū-maṇḍala, ainsi que le diamètre de l’univers et ses caractéristiques générales, selon les estimations des sages érudits.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—श्रीमान् शुकः (honorific epithet)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतावान्: this much/so great
• एतावान्: विशेषण (qualifier of सन्निवेशः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भू-वलयस्य: of the earth-circle (terrestrial sphere)
• भू-वलयस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—भूः वलयम् (भूवलय) ‘earth-circle’; तस्य (genitive)

• सन्निवेशः: arrangement/structure
• सन्निवेशः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निवेश (सम्+नि+विश्-धातु से निष्पन्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रमाण-लक्षणतः: in terms of measure and characteristics
• प्रमाण-लक्षणतः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित, अव्ययार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्धितान्त ‘-तः’ (ablatival adverb) = from the standpoint of; समासः—प्रमाणं च लक्षणं च (द्वन्द्वार्थ) इति, ततो (as regards measure and characteristics)

• व्याख्यातः: has been explained
• व्याख्यातः: क्रिया (predicate; passive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+आ+ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; कर्मणि भावः—‘(एषः) व्याख्यातः’ = has been explained

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the arrangement of Bhū-maṇḍala?

In this verse, Śukadeva states that the layout of Bhū-maṇḍala has been explained in terms of its measurements (pramāṇa) and defining features (lakṣaṇa).

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing measurements and characteristics in Canto 5?

He is systematically presenting the Bhagavatam’s cosmological description, giving a structured account of the world’s arrangement as part of the broader teaching on the Lord’s ordered creation.

How can Bhagavatam cosmology be applied in modern spiritual life?

It trains the mind to see creation as purposeful and divinely ordered, encouraging humility, reverence for śāstra, and deeper contemplation of the Supreme behind the cosmos.