Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 27
Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
जठरदेवकूटौ मेरुं पूर्वेणाष्टादशयोजनसहस्रमुदगायतौ द्विसहस्रं पृथुतुङ्गौ भवत: । एवमपरेण पवनपारियात्रौ दक्षिणेन कैलासकरवीरौ प्रागायतावेवमुत्तरतस्त्रिशृङ्गमकरावष्टभिरेतै: परिसृतोऽग्निरिव परितश्चकास्ति काञ्चनगिरि: ॥ २७ ॥
jaṭhara-devakūṭau meruṁ pūrveṇāṣṭādaśa-yojana-sahasram udagāyatau dvi-sahasraṁ pṛthu-tuṅgau bhavataḥ; evam apareṇa pavana-pāriyātrau dakṣiṇena kailāsa-karavīrau prāg-āyatāv evam uttaratas triśṛṅga-makarāv aṣṭabhir etaiḥ parisṛto ’gnir iva paritaś cakāsti kāñcana-giriḥ.
Sa silangan ng Sumeru ay may dalawang bundok na Jaṭhara at Devakūṭa, na umaabot pahilaga–patimog nang 18,000 yojana. Gayundin sa kanluran ay Pavana at Pāriyātra; sa timog ay Kailāsa at Karavīra (silangan–kanluran); at sa hilaga ay Triśṛṅga at Makara (silangan–kanluran) na kapareho ang haba. Ang lapad at taas ng lahat ay 2,000 yojana. Napaliligiran ng walong bundok na ito, ang ginintuang Sumeru ay nagniningning na parang apoy.
FAQs
This verse states that Mount Meru (also called Kāñcana-giri, the golden mountain) is encircled by eight major mountains—Jaṭhara, Devakūṭa, Pavana, Pāriyātra, Kailāsa, Karavīra, Triśṛṅga, and Makara—arranged by direction, making Meru shine like fire surrounded on all sides.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking to King Parīkṣit, detailing the sacred geography and cosmic layout described in the Fifth Canto.
The verse encourages a sacred vision of creation—seeing the universe as ordered and purposeful—helping a devotee cultivate humility, wonder, and remembrance of the Supreme Lord behind cosmic structure.