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

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 5 · Chapter 16: A Description of Jambūdvīpa
5.16.255.16.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.16.26

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.16.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कुरङ्गकुररकुसुम्भवैकङ्कत्रिकूटशिशिरपतङ्गरुचकनिषधशिनीवासकपिलशङ्खवैदूर्यजारुधिहंसऋषभनागकालञ्जरनारदादयो विंशतिगिरयो मेरो: कर्णिकाया इव केसरभूता मूलदेशे परित उपक्‍ल‍ृप्ता: ॥ २६ ॥

kuraṅga-kurara-kusumbha-vaikaṅka-trikūṭa-śiśira-pataṅga-rucaka-niṣadha-śinīvāsa-kapila-śaṅkha-vaidūrya-jārudhi-haṁsa-ṛṣabha-nāga-kālañjara-nāradādayo viṁśati-girayo meroḥ karṇikāyā iva kesara-bhūtā mūla-deśe parita upakḷptāḥ.

Translation

There are other mountains beautifully arranged around the foot of Mount Meru like the filaments around the whorl of a lotus flower. Their names are Kuraṅga, Kurara, Kusumbha, Vaikaṅka, Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Niṣadha, Sinīvāsa, Kapila, Śaṅkha, Vaidūrya, Jārudhi, Haṁsa, Ṛṣabha, Nāga, Kālañjara and Nārada.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mountains Arranged Like Lotus Filaments

  1. 1

    Other mountains are beautifully arranged around the foot of Mount Meru.

  2. 2

    Their arrangement is compared to filaments surrounding the whorl of a lotus flower.

  3. 3

    The named mountains include Kuraṅga, Kurara, Trikūṭa, Śaṅkha, Haṁsa and Nārada. The translation gives each mountain a distinct name.

How it feels

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: A Description of Jambūdvīpa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Surrounding Sumeru Mountain like filaments of the whorl of a lotus are twenty mountain ranges such as Kuraṅga, Kurara, Kusumbha, Vaikaṅka and Trikūṭa. To the east of Sumeru are the mountains Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa, to the west are Pavana and Pāriyātra, to the south are Kailāsa and Karavīra, and to the north are Triśṛṅga and Makara.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kuraṅgaKuraṅga
  2. kuraraKurara; kusumbha- vaikaṅka- trikūṭa- śiśira- pataṅga- rucaka- niṣadha- śinīvāsa- kapila- śaṅkha- vaidūrya- jārudhi- haṁsa- ṛṣabha- nāga- kālañjara- nārada — the names of mountains
  3. ādayaḥand so on
  4. viṁśati-girayaḥtwenty mountains
  5. meroḥof Sumeru Mountain
  6. karṇikāyāḥof the whorl of the lotus
  7. ivalike
  8. kesara-bhūtāḥas filaments
3

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

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the lotus comparison help you picture the mountains around Meru?

Practice

Sketch a lotus-like arrangement with Meru in the center and label three surrounding mountains from the translation.

Live this todayMountains Arranged Like Lotus FilamentsThis 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 5.16.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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