Shloka 4
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
ऋषिरुवाच न वै महाराज भगवतो मायागुणविभूते: काष्ठां मनसा वचसा वाधिगन्तुमलं विबुधायुषापि पुरुषस्तस्मात्प्राधान्येनैव भूगोलकविशेषं नामरूप मानलक्षणतो व्याख्यास्याम: ॥ ४ ॥
ṛṣir uvāca na vai mahārāja bhagavato māyā-guṇa-vibhūteḥ kāṣṭhāṁ manasā vacasā vādhigantum alaṁ vibudhāyuṣāpi puruṣas tasmāt prādhān-yenaiva bhū-golaka-viśeṣaṁ nāma-rūpa-māna-lakṣaṇato vyākhyāsyāmaḥ.
ఋషి శుకదేవుడు అన్నాడు—ఓ మహారాజా! భగవంతుని మాయాశక్తి గుణమయ విస్తారానికి అంతం మనసుతో గానీ వాక్తో గానీ గ్రహించడం అసాధ్యం; బ్రహ్మాయుష్యమంత కాలం ఉన్నా కూడా కాదు. అందువల్ల నేను ప్రధానంగా భూలోకాది ప్రాంతాల పేర్లు, రూపాలు, పరిమాణాలు, లక్షణాలను యథాశక్తి వివరిస్తాను।
The material world is only one fourth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s creation, but it is unlimited and impossible for anyone to know or describe, even with the qualification of a life as long as that of Brahmā, who lives for millions and millions of years. Modern scientists and astronomers try to explain the cosmic situation and the vastness of space, and some of them believe that all the glittering stars are different suns. From Bhagavad-gītā, however, we understand that all these stars ( nakṣatras ) are like the moon, in that they reflect the sunshine. They are not independent luminaries. Bhūloka is explained to be that portion of outer space through which the heat and light of the sun extend. Therefore it is natural to conclude that this universe extends in space as far as we can see and encompasses the glittering stars. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī admitted that to give full details of this expansive material universe would be impossible, but nevertheless he wanted to give the King as much knowledge as he had received through the paramparā system. We should conclude that if one cannot comprehend the material expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one certainly cannot estimate the expansiveness of the spiritual world. The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33) confirms this:
FAQs
This verse states that even with a demigod-like lifespan, a person cannot fully comprehend the extent of the Lord’s manifestations through māyā and the material modes—whether by mind or speech.
Because the Lord’s cosmic opulences are immeasurable, Śukadeva chooses a practical, summarized description—focusing on names, forms, measurements, and defining features of the earthly sphere—suitable for human understanding.
It encourages humility: accept that the Supreme is infinite, and focus on faithful hearing of essential teachings rather than trying to master everything intellectually.