Shloka 1
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
राजोवाच उक्तस्त्वया भूमण्डलायामविशेषो यावदादित्यस्तपति यत्र चासौ ज्योतिषां गणैश्चन्द्रमा वा सह दृश्यते ॥ १ ॥
rājovāca uktas tvayā bhū-maṇḍalāyāma-viśeṣo yāvad ādityas tapati yatra cāsau jyotiṣāṁ gaṇaiś candramā vā saha dṛśyate.
రాజు పరీక్షితుడు అన్నాడు—ఓ బ్రాహ్మణా! భూమండల విస్తృతి సూర్యుడు తన కాంతి, తాపాన్ని వ్యాపింపజేసేంతవరకు, అలాగే చంద్రుడు మరియు నక్షత్రగణాలు కనిపించేంతవరకు ఉందని మీరు ముందే చెప్పారు।
In this verse it is stated that the planetary system known as Bhū-maṇḍala extends to the limits of the sunshine. According to modern science, the sunshine reaches earth from a distance of 93,000,000 miles. If we calculate according to this modern information, 93,000,000 miles can be considered the radius of Bhū-maṇḍala. In the Gāyatrī mantra, we chant om bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ. The word bhūr refers to Bhū-maṇḍala. Tat savitur vareṇyam: the sunshine spreads throughout Bhū-maṇḍala. Therefore the sun is worshipable. The stars, which are known as nakṣatra, are not different suns, as modern astronomers suppose. From Bhagavad-gītā (10.21) we understand that the stars are similar to the moon ( nakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī ). Like the moon, the stars reflect the sunshine. Apart from our modern distinguished estimations of where the planetary systems are located, we can understand that the sky and its various planets were studied long, long before Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was compiled. Śukadeva Gosvāmī explained the location of the planets, and this indicates that the information was known long, long before Śukadeva Gosvāmī related it to Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The location of the various planetary systems was not unknown to the sages who flourished in the Vedic age.
FAQs
This verse introduces Bhū-maṇḍala as the cosmic region whose extent is indicated by the range of the sun’s heat and light, where the moon and other luminaries are observed moving.
After hearing Śukadeva’s description of the world-system, Parīkṣit clarifies the scope of Bhū-maṇḍala by referencing what is directly experienced—sunlight and the visible movements of the moon and other heavenly bodies.
It trains the mind to see the universe as an ordered creation under divine governance, encouraging humility, gratitude, and steadiness in bhakti rather than a self-centered worldview.