Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 13
Brahmā’s Tapasya, the Vision of Vaikuṇṭha, and the Lord’s Seed Instructions
Catuḥ-śloki
भ्राजिष्णुभिर्य: परितो विराजते लसद्विमानावलिभिर्महात्मनाम् । विद्योतमान: प्रमदोत्तमाद्युभि: सविद्युदभ्रावलिभिर्यथा नभ: ॥ १३ ॥
bhrājiṣṇubhir yaḥ parito virājate lasad-vimānāvalibhir mahātmanām vidyotamānaḥ pramadottamādyubhiḥ savidyud-abhrāvalibhir yathā nabhaḥ
வைகுண்ட லோகங்களைச் சுற்றி மகாத்ம பக்தர்களின் ஒளிரும் விமான வரிசைகள் விளங்கின; தெய்வீக நிறமுடைய அழகிய பெண்கள் மின்னலைப் போல பிரகாசித்து, மேகமும் மின்னலும் அலங்கரித்த வானம்போல் அனைத்தும் தோன்றின.
It appears that in the Vaikuṇṭha planets there are also airplanes brilliantly glowing, and they are occupied by the great devotees of the Lord with ladies of celestial beauty as brilliant as lightning. As there are airplanes, so there must be different types of carriages like airplanes, but they may not be driven machines, as we have experience in this world. Because everything is of the same nature of eternity, bliss and knowledge, the airplanes and carriages are of the same quality as Brahman. Although there is nothing except Brahman, one should not mistakenly think that there is only void and no variegatedness. Thinking like that is due to a poor fund of knowledge; otherwise no one would have such a misconception of voidness in Brahman. As there are airplanes, ladies and gentlemen, so there must be cities and houses and everything else just suitable to the particular planets. One should not carry the ideas of imperfection from this world to the transcendental world and not take into consideration the nature of the atmosphere, as completely free from the influence of time, etc., as described previously.
FAQs
This verse portrays the Lord in the spiritual realm as surrounded by radiant mahātmās in shining celestial vimānas, illuminating the scene like lightning flashing through clusters of clouds in the sky.
He is giving Parīkṣit Mahārāja a vivid meditation image of the Lord’s divine majesty and the brilliance of His eternal associates, emphasizing the transcendental atmosphere of the Lord’s abode.
Use the imagery as a focus for devotional meditation: remember the Lord’s transcendental form and aspire for the company of saintly devotees (mahātmās), keeping your mind uplifted from worldly anxiety to spiritual contemplation.