Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 5

Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens

Bila-svarga

Devanagari script

ततोऽधस्ताद्यक्षरक्ष: पिशाचप्रेतभूतगणानां विहाराजिरमन्तरिक्षं यावद्वायु: प्रवाति यावन्मेघा उपलभ्यन्ते ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tato ’dhastād yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānāṁ vihārājiram antarikṣaṁ yāvad vāyuḥ pravāti yāvan meghā upalabhyante.

Translation

Sa ibaba ng Siddhaloka, Cāraṇaloka, at Vidyādharaloka, sa kalangitang tinatawag na antarikṣa, naroon ang mga pook ng aliw ng mga Yakṣa, Rākṣasa, Piśāca, mga multo at iba pa. Umaabot ang antarikṣa hanggang sa inaabot ng hangin at sa nakikitang mga ulap; sa itaas nito ay wala nang hangin.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: below that/thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• adhastāt: beneath
• adhastāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place

• yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānām: of the groups of yakṣas, rākṣasas, piśācas, pretas, and bhūtas
• yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa + rakṣas + piśāca + preta + bhūta + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural; chain-compound ending in gaṇa ‘groups of …’; overall ‘of the groups of Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Pretas, and Bhūtas’

• vihāra-ajiram: roaming-ground
• vihāra-ajiram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihāra + ajira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘courtyard/ground for roaming’

• antarikṣam: the mid-space/atmosphere
• antarikṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• yāvat: as far as
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative ‘as far as/so long as’

• vāyuḥ: wind
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• pravāti: blows
• pravāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• yāvat: as far as
• yāvat: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative ‘as long as/as far as’

• meghāḥ: clouds
• meghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• upalabhyante: are perceived/are found
• upalabhyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√labh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural; passive-like sense ‘are found/are perceived’

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas
• Rākṣasas
• Piśācas
• Pretas
• Bhūtas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the antariksha (mid-sky) region?

This verse describes antarikṣa as the atmospheric expanse extending as far as wind blows and clouds are visible, and as a roaming region for Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and ghostly beings like Pretas and Bhūtas.

Who is describing these cosmic regions in Canto 5 Chapter 24?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the structure of the cosmos and the lower regions to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

Practical application: what is the takeaway from hearing about Yakshas, Pretas, and Bhutas in the Bhagavatam?

The verse reminds a seeker that the universe contains many grades of beings and realms; hearing this in devotion fosters humility, sobriety, and a focus on bhakti as the safe path beyond fear and confusion.