Bhū-maṇḍala as a Lotus: Jambūdvīpa, Ilāvṛta, and the Meru System
Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, and Brahmapurī
तामनुपरितो लोकपालानामष्टानां यथादिशं यथारूपं तुरीयमानेन पुरोऽष्टावुपक्लृप्ता: ॥ २९ ॥
tām anuparito loka-pālānām aṣṭānāṁ yathā-diśaṁ yathā-rūpaṁ turīya-mānena puro ’ṣṭāv upakḷptāḥ.
在梵天城周围,依诸方位安置着八位护世者(以帝释天为首)的居处。其形制与梵天城相似,但规模仅为其四分之一。
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura confirms that the townships of Lord Brahmā and the eight subordinate governors of the planetary systems, beginning with Indra, are mentioned in other Purāṇas.
The Lokapālas are the eight guardians of the directions who maintain cosmic order, each presiding over a specific direction and stationed accordingly around the described region.
He is outlining the sacred cosmography of Jambūdvīpa, showing that the universe is structured and governed—reflecting divine order rather than randomness.
It cultivates reverence for divine order and inspires disciplined living—seeing one’s duties, directions, and boundaries as part of a larger dharmic design under the Lord’s governance.