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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 2 · Chapter 5: The Cause of All Causes

2.5.39 2.5.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 2.5.40-41

Sthāna· The universe in order

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.5.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

तत्कट्यां चातलं क्लृप्तमूरुभ्यां वितलं विभो: ।

जानुभ्यां सुतलं शुद्धं जङ्घाभ्यां तु तलातलम् ॥ ४० ॥

महातलं तु गुल्फाभ्यां प्रपदाभ्यां रसातलम् ।

पातालं पादतलत इति लोकमय: पुमान् ॥ ४१ ॥

tat-kaṭyāṁ cātalaṁ kḷptam

ūrubhyāṁ vitalaṁ vibhoḥ

jānubhyāṁ sutalaṁ śuddhaṁ

jaṅghābhyāṁ tu talātalam

mahātalaṁ tu gulphābhyāṁ

prapadābhyāṁ rasātalam

pātālaṁ pāda-talata

iti lokamayaḥ pumān

Translation

My dear son Nārada, know from me that there are seven lower planetary systems out of the total fourteen. The first planetary system, known as Atala, is situated on the waist; the second, Vitala, is situated on the thighs; the third, Sutala, on the knees; the fourth, Talātala, on the shanks; the fifth, Mahātala, on the ankles; the sixth, Rasātala, on the upper portion of the feet; and the seventh, Pātāla, on the soles of the feet. Thus the virāṭ form of the Lord is full of all planetary systems.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Opens the Eternal Kingdom

1
The universe contains seven upper and seven lower planetary systems, all included in the Lord’s virāṭ form. Innumerable material universes occupy only an insignificant portion of the spiritual sky.
2
Even on Satyaloka, the highest material planet, living beings remain subject to birth, death, old age and disease. Complete freedom from these sufferings is found in the eternal kingdom of God.
3
The Supreme Lord kindly invites living beings to return home, back to Godhead. Entry into His kingdom requires becoming His devotee and developing a spiritual attitude of service.

Key points from the purport

Modern enterprisers (the astronauts who travel in space) may take information from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that in space there are fourteen divisions of planetary systems.
And similarly there are seven lower planetary systems, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla lokas.
The moon is situated in the third status of the upper planetary system, and in the Fifth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we shall be able to know the distant situation of the various planets scattered over the vast material sky.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 2.5.40-41 quotesBG 8.16

The Supreme Lord very kindly invites the intelligent human beings to return home, back to Godhead, in the following verse of the Bhagavad-gītā (8.16): Beginning from Satyaloka, the topmost planet of the universe, situated just below the eternal Brahmaloka, as described above, all the planets are material.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 5: The Cause of All Causes

Nārada questions Brahmā, who explains his dependence on the Supreme Lord and describes creation.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.5

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tatin His
kaṭyāmwaist
caalso
atalamthe first planetary system below the earth
kḷptamsituated
ūrubhyāmon the thighs
vitalamthe second planetary system below
vibhoḥof the Lord

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Sthāna · Planetary systems
How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 2.5
In this verse: “sufferings”, “kindly”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.5
In this verse: “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.5
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you give more attention to serving the Lord rather than merely improving your material situation?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to ask the Lord for a sincere desire to serve Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Opens the Eternal KingdomThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 2.5.40-41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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