Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 8
The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka
यत्र ह वै शाल्मली प्लक्षायामा यस्यां वाव किल निलयमाहुर्भगवतश्छन्द: स्तुत: पतत्त्रिराजस्य सा द्वीपहूतये उपलक्ष्यते ॥ ८ ॥
yatra ha vai śālmalī plakṣāyāmā yasyāṁ vāva kila nilayam āhur bhagavataś chandaḥ-stutaḥ patattri-rājasya sā dvīpa-hūtaye upalakṣyate.
Em Śālmalīdvīpa há uma grande árvore śālmalī, da qual a ilha recebe o nome. Ela é tão vasta quanto a árvore plakṣa: cem yojanas de largura e mil e cem yojanas de altura. Os sábios dizem que essa árvore gigantesca é a morada de Garuḍa, rei das aves e montaria do Senhor Viṣṇu; ali Garuḍa oferece a Śrī Viṣṇu suas preces védicas.
FAQs
This verse notes that Garuḍa, the king of birds, is celebrated through Vedic meters and hymns that glorify the Supreme Lord, indicating Garuḍa’s intimate connection to Bhagavān and devotional praise.
In Canto 5, Śukadeva explains the universe’s structure and sacred geography, showing that all realms ultimately relate to the Supreme Lord and His devotees, not merely as physical detail but as a devotional worldview.
Even when studying cosmic descriptions, the takeaway is to remember the Supreme Lord and honor His devotees—seeing knowledge as meant to deepen reverence, humility, and bhakti rather than mere curiosity.