Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 42

Nārada’s Questions and Brahmā’s Reply: Vāsudeva as the Source; Sarga–Visarga; Virāṭ-rūpa Mapping

Devanagari script

भूर्लोक: कल्पित: पद्‍भ्यां भुवर्लोकोऽस्य नाभित: । स्वर्लोक: कल्पितो मूर्ध्ना इति वा लोककल्पना ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

bhūrlokaḥ kalpitaḥ padbhyāṁ bhuvarloko ’sya nābhitaḥ svarlokaḥ kalpito mūrdhnā iti vā loka-kalpanā

Translation

ചിലർ സമസ്ത ലോകവ്യവസ്ഥയെ മൂന്നു വിഭാഗങ്ങളായി വിഭജിക്കുന്നു—പാദങ്ങൾ വരെ ഭൂർലോകം, നാഭിയിൽ ഭുവർലോകം, വക്ഷസ്ഥലത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ശിരസ്സുവരെ സ്വർലോകം; ഇതാണ് ലോകകൽപ്പന.

Synonyms

• bhūḥ-lokaḥ: the earth-world (Bhūrloka)
• bhūḥ-lokaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भूः लोकः)

• kalpitaḥ: is imagined/constructed
• kalpitaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative Singular; agrees with bhūḥ-lokaḥ

• padbhyām: by (the) two feet
• padbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual; करण (instrument)

• bhuvaḥ-lokaḥ: the mid-world (Bhuvarloka)
• bhuvaḥ-lokaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvaḥ (प्रातिपदिक; from bhuvar) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भुवः लोकः)

• asya: of him/of this (cosmic person)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• nābhitaḥ: from/at the navel
• nābhitaḥ: Apādāna/Deśa (अपादान/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; ablatival adverb in -tas (तसिल्): ‘from/at the navel’

• svaḥ-lokaḥ: the heaven-world (Svarloka)
• svaḥ-lokaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वः लोकः)

• kalpitaḥ: is imagined/constructed
• kalpitaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kḷp (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत), Masculine, Nominative Singular; agrees with svaḥ-lokaḥ

• mūrdhnā: by (the) head
• mūrdhnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; करण (instrument)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• vā: or/indeed
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle; alternative/disjunctive (विकल्पार्थक)

• loka-kalpanā: the conception/arrangement of the worlds
• loka-kalpanā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकानां कल्पना)

Purport

The three divisions of the complete planetary systems are here mentioned; fourteen are imagined by others, and that is also explained.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhūrloka, Bhuvarloka, and Svarloka?

This verse explains their placement in the universal form: Bhūrloka at the feet, Bhuvarloka at the navel, and Svarloka at the head of the cosmic person.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the worlds as parts of the Lord’s body?

He is teaching Parīkṣit Mahārāja a devotional way to understand creation—by seeing all realms as resting within the Lord’s universal form, which supports meditation and God-centered vision.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice seeing the universe as sacred and connected to the Divine—this reduces ego-centered thinking and strengthens reverence, gratitude, and steady remembrance of God.