TEXT 1
TEXT
sri-suka uvaca
adhastat savitur yojanayute svarbhanur naksatravac caratity eke yo ‘sav
amaratvam grahatvam calabhata bhagavad-anukampaya svayam asurapasadah
saimhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tata janma karmani coparistad vaksyamah.
Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers
of the Puranas, say that 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] below the sun is
the planet known as Rahu, which moves like one of the stars. The
presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Simhika, is the most
abominable of all asuras, but although he is completely unfit to assume
the position of a demigod or planetary deity, he has achieved that
position by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later I
shall speak further about him.
TEXT 2
TEXT
yad adas taraner mandalam pratapatas tad vistarato yojanayutam acaksate
dvadasa-sahasram somasya trayodasa-sahasram rahor yah parvani tadvyavadhana-
krd vairanubandhah surya-candramasav abhidhavati.
The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10,000 yojanas
[80,000 miles]. The moon extends for 20,000 yojanas [160,000 miles], and
Rahu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar
was being distributed, Rahu tried to create dissension between the sun
and moon by interposing himself between them. Rahu is inimical toward
both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the
sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night.
TEXT 3
TEXT
tan nisamyobhayatrapi bhagavata raksanaya prayuktam sudarsanam nama
bhagavatam dayitam astram tat tejasa durvisaham muhuh parivartamanam
abhyavasthito muhurtam udvijamanas cakita-hrdaya arad eva nivartate tad
uparagam iti vadanti lokah.
After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Rahu’s attack, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, engages His disc, known as the
Sudarsana cakra, to protect them. The Sudarsana cakra is the Lord’s most
beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its
effulgence, meant for killing non-Vaisnavas, is unbearable to Rahu, and
he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rahu disturbs the sun
or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse.
TEXT 4
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tato ‘dhastat siddha-carana-vidyadharanam sadanani tavan matra eva.
Below Rahu by 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] are the planets known as
Siddhaloka, Caranaloka and Vidyadhara-loka.
TEXT 5
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tato ‘dhastad yaksa-raksah-pisaca-preta-bhuta-gananam viharajiram
antariksam yavad vayuh pravati yavan megha upalabhyante.
Beneath Vidyadhara-loka, Caranaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called
antariksa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yaksas, Raksasas, Pisacas,
ghosts and so on. Antariksa extends as far as the wind blows and the
clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air.
TEXT 6
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tato ‘dhastac chata-yojanantara iyam prthivi yavad dhamsa-bhasa-syenasuparnadayah
patattri-pravara utpatantiti.
Below the abodes of the Yaksas and Raksasas by a distance of 100
yojanas [800 miles] is the planet earth. Its upper limits extend as high
as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly.
TEXT 7
TEXT
upavarnitam bhumer yatha-sannivesavasthanam avaner apy adhastat sapta
bhu-vivara ekaikaso yojanayutantarenayama-vistarenopaklpta atalam vitalam
sutalam talatalam mahatalam rasatalam patalam iti.
My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as
Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. I have
already explained the situation of the planetary systems of earth. The
width and length of the seven lower planetary systems are calculated to
be exactly the same as those of earth.
TEXT 8
TEXT
etesu hi bila-svargesu svargad apy adhika-kama-bhogaisvaryananda-bhutivibhutibhih
susamrddha-bhavanodyanakrida-viharesu daitya-danava-kadraveya
nitya-pramuditanurakta-kalatrapatya-bandhu-suhrd-anucara grha-pataya
isvarad apy apratihata-kama maya-vinoda nivasanti.
In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the
subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses,
gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than
those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard
of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these
planets, who are known as Daityas, Danavas and Nagas, live as
householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully
engaged in illusory, material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the
demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy
life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached
to illusory happiness.
TEXT 9
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yesu maharaja mayena mayavina vinirmitah puro nana-mani-pravara-pravekaviracita-
vicitra-bhavana-prakara-gopura-sabha-caitya-catvarayatanadibhir
nagasura-mithuna-paravata-suka-sarikakirna-krtrima-bhumibhir vivaresvaragrhottamaih
samalankrtas cakasati.
My dear King, in the imitation heavens known as bila-svarga there is a
great demon named Maya Danava, who is an expert artist and architect. He
has constructed many brilliantly decorated cities. There are many
wonderful houses, walls, gates, assembly houses, temples, yards and
temple compounds, as well as many hotels serving as residential quarters
for foreigners. The houses for the leaders of these planets are
constructed with the most valuable jewels, and they are always crowded
with living entities known as Nagas and Asuras, as well as many pigeons,
parrots and similar birds. All in all, these imitation heavenly cities
are most beautifully situated and attractively decorated.
TEXT 10
TEXT
udyanani catitaram mana-indriyanandibhih kusuma-phala-stabaka-subhagakisalayavanata-
rucira-vitapa-vitapinam latangalingitanam sribhih
samithuna-vividha-vihangama-jalasayanam amala-jala-purnanam
jhasakulollanghana-ksubhita-nira-niraja-kumuda-kuva-laya-kahlaranilotpala-
lohita-satapatradi-vanesu krta-niketananam eka-viharakulamadhura-
vividha-svanadibhir indriyotsavair amara-loka-sriyam atisayitani.
The parks and gardens in the artificial heavens surpass in beauty
those of the upper heavenly planets. The trees in those gardens, embraced
by creepers, bend with a heavy burden of twigs with fruits and flowers,
and therefore they appear extraordinarily beautiful. That beauty could
attract anyone and make his mind fully blossom in the pleasure of sense
gratification. There are many lakes and reservoirs with clear,
transparent water, agitated by jumping fish and decorated with many
flowers such as lilies, kuvalayas, kahlaras and blue and red lotuses.
Pairs of cakravakas and many other water birds nest in the lakes and
always enjoy in a happy mood, making sweet, pleasing vibrations that are
very satisfying and conducive to enjoyment of the senses.
TEXT 11
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yatra ha vava na bhayam aho-ratradibhih kala-vibhagair upalaksyate.
Since there is no sunshine in those subterranean planets, time is not
divided into days and nights, and consequently fear produced by time does
not exist.
TEXT 12
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yatra hi mahahi-pravara-siro-manayah sarvam tamah prabadhante.
Many great serpents reside there with gems on their hoods, and the
effulgence of these gems dissipates the darkness in all directions.
TEXT 13
TEXT
na va etesu vasatam divyausadhi-rasa-rasayananna-pana-snanadibhir adhayo
vyadhayo vali-palita-jaradayas ca deha-vaivarnya-daurgandhya-sveda-klamaglanir
iti vayo ‘vasthas ca bhavanti.
Since the residents of these planets drink and bathe in juices and
elixirs made from wonderful herbs, they are freed from all anxieties and
physical diseases. They have no experience of grey hair, wrinkles or
invalidity, their bodily lusters do not fade, their perspiration does not
cause a bad smell, and they are not troubled by fatigue or by lack of
energy or enthusiasm due to old age.
TEXT 14
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na hi tesam kalyananam prabhavati kutascana mrtyur vina bhagavat-tejasas
cakrapadesat.
They live very auspiciously and do not fear death from anything but
death’s established time, which is the effulgence of the Sudarsana cakra
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 15
TEXT
yasmin praviste ‘sura-vadhunam prayah pumsavanani bhayad eva sravanti
patanti ca.
When the Sudarsana disc enters those provinces, the pregnant wives of
the demons all have miscarriages due to fear of its effulgence.
TEXT 16
TEXT
athatale maya-putro ‘suro balo nivasati yena ha va iha srstah san-navatir
mayah kascanadyapi mayavino dharayanti yasya ca jrmbhamanasya mukhatas
trayah stri-gana udapadyanta svairinyah kaminyah pumscalya iti ya vai
bilayanam pravistam purusam rasena hatakakhyena sadhayitva svavilasavalokananuraga-
smita-samlapopaguhanadibhih svairam kila ramayanti
yasminn upayukte purusa isvaro ‘ham siddho ‘ham ity ayuta-maha-gaja-balam
atmanam abhimanyamanah katthate madandha iva.
My dear King, now I shall describe to you the lower planetary systems,
one by one, beginning from Atala. In Atala there is a demon, the son of
Maya Danava named Bala, who created ninety-six kinds of mystic power.
Some so-called yogis and svamis take advantage of this mystic power to
cheat people even today. Simply by yawning, the demon Bala created three
kinds of women, known as svairini, kamini and pumscali. The svairinis
like to marry men from their own group, the kaminis marry men from any
group, and the pumscalis change husbands one after another. If a man
enters the planet of Atala, these women immediately capture him and
induce him to drink an intoxicating beverage made with a drug known as
hataka [cannabis indica]. This intoxicant endows the man with great
sexual prowess, of which the women take advantage for enjoyment. A woman
will enchant him with attractive glances, intimate words, smiles of love
and then embraces. In this way she induces him to enjoy sex with her to
her full satisfaction. Because of his increased sexual power, the man
thinks himself stronger than ten thousand elephants and considers himself
most perfect. Indeed, illusioned and intoxicated by false pride, he
thinks himself God, ignoring impending death.
TEXT 17
TEXT
tato ‘dhastad vitale haro bhagavan hatakesvarah sva-parsada-bhutaganavrtah
prajapati-sargopabrmhanaya bhavo bhavanya saha mithuni-bhuta
aste yatah pravrtta sarit-pravara hataki nama bhavayor viryena yatra
citrabhanur matarisvana samidhyamana ojasa pibati tan nisthyutam
hatakakhyam suvarnam bhusanenasurendravarodhesu purusah saha purusibhir
dharayanti.
The next planet below Atala is Vitala, wherein Lord Siva, who is known
as the master of gold mines, lives with his personal associates, the
ghosts and similar living entities. Lord Siva, as the progenitor, engages
in sex with Bhavani, the progenitress, to produce living entities, and
from the mixture of their vital fluid the river named Hataki is
generated. When fire, being made to blaze by the wind, drinks of this
river and then sizzles and spits it out, it produces gold called Hataka.
The demons who live on that planet with their wives decorate themselves
with various ornaments made from that gold, and thus they live there very
happily.
TEXT 18
TEXT
tato ‘dhastat sutale udara-sravah punya-sloko virocanatmajo balir
bhagavata mahendrasya priyam cikirsamanenaditer labdha-kayo bhutva vatuvamana-
rupena paraksipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punah
pravesita indradisv avidyamanaya susamrddhaya sriyabhijustah svadharmenaradhayams
tam eva bhagavantam aradhaniyam apagata-sadhvasa aste
‘dhunapi.
Below the planet Vitala is another planet, known as Sutala, where the
great son of Maharaja Virocana, Bali Maharaja, who is celebrated as the
most pious king, resides even now. For the welfare of Indra, the King of
heaven, Lord Visnu appeared in the form of a dwarf brahmacari as the son
of Aditi and tricked Bali Maharaja by begging for only three paces of
land but taking all the three worlds. Being very pleased with Bali
Maharaja for giving all his possessions, the Lord returned his kingdom
and made him richer than the opulent King Indra. Even now, Bali Maharaja
engages in devotional service by worshiping the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in the planet of Sutala.
TEXT 19
TEXT
no evaitat saksatkaro bhumi-danasya yat tad bhagavaty asesa-jivanikayanam
jiva-bhutatma-bhute paramatmani vasudeve tirthatame patra
upapanne paraya sraddhaya paramadara-samahita-manasa sampratipaditasya
saksad apavarga-dvarasya yad bila-nilayaisvaryam.
My dear King, Bali Maharaja donated all his possessions to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, but one should certainly not conclude
that he achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of
his charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is
the source of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the
friendly Supersoul, and under His direction a living entity enjoys or
suffers in the material world. Greatly appreciating the transcendental
qualities of the Lord, Bali Maharaja offered everything at His lotus
feet. His purpose, however, was not to gain anything material, but to
become a pure devotee. For a pure devotee, the door of liberation is
automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Maharaja was given
so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When one becomes
a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material
position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not
mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of
his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the
awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which
continues under all circumstances.
TEXT 20
TEXT
yasya ha vava ksuta-patana-praskhalanadisu vivasah sakrn namabhigrnan
purusah karma-bandhanam anjasa vidhunoti yasya haiva pratibadhanam
mumuksavo ‘nyathaivopalabhante.
If one who is embarrassed by hunger or who falls down or stumbles
chants the holy name of the Lord even once, willingly or unwillingly, he
is immediately freed from the reactions of his past deeds. Karmis
entangled in material activities face many difficulties in the practice
of mystic yoga and other endeavors to achieve that same freedom.
TEXT 21
TEXT
tad bhaktanam atmavatam sarvesam atmany atmada atmatayaiva.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s
heart as the Supersoul, sells Himself to His devotees such as Narada
Muni. In other words, the Lord gives pure love to such devotees and gives
Himself to those who love Him purely. Great, self-realized mystic yogis
such as the four Kumaras also derive great transcendental bliss from
realizing the Supersoul within themselves.
TEXT 22
TEXT
na vai bhagavan nunam amusyanujagraha yad uta punar atmanusmrti-mosanam
mayamaya-bhogaisvaryam evatanuteti.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not award His mercy to Bali
Maharaja by giving him material happiness and opulence, for these make
one forget loving service to the Lord. The result of material opulence is
that one can no longer absorb his mind in the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
TEXT 23
TEXT
yat tad bhagavatanadhigatanyopayena yacna-cchalenapahrta-svasariravasesita-
loka-trayo varuna-pasais ca sampratimukto giri-daryam
capaviddha iti hovaca.
When the Supreme Personality of Godhead could see no other means of
taking everything away from Bali Maharaja, He adopted the trick of
begging from him and took away all the three worlds. Thus only his body
was left, but the Lord was still not satisfied. He arrested Bali
Maharaja, bound him with the ropes of Varuna and threw him in a cave in a
mountain. Nevertheless, although all his property was taken and he was
thrown into a cave, Bali Maharaja was such a great devotee that he spoke
as follows.
TEXT 24
TEXT
nunam batayam bhagavan arthesu na nisnato yo ‘sav indro yasya sacivo
mantraya vrta ekantato brhaspatis tam atihaya svayam upendrenatmanam
ayacatatmanas casiso no eva tad-dasyam ati-gambhira-vayasah kalasya
manvantara-parivrttam kiyal loka-trayam idam.
Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that although
he is very learned and powerful and although he chose Brhaspati as his
prime minister to instruct him, he is completely ignorant concerning
spiritual advancement. Brhaspati is also unintelligent because he did not
properly instruct his disciple Indra. Lord Vamanadeva was standing at
Indra’s door, but King Indra, instead of begging Him for an opportunity
to render transcendental loving service, engaged Him in asking me for
alms to gain the three worlds for his sense gratification. Sovereignty
over the three worlds is very insignificant because whatever material
opulence one may possess lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a
tiny fraction of endless time.
TEXT 25
TEXT
yasyanudasyam evasmat-pitamahah kila vavre na tu sva-pitryam yad
utakutobhayam padam diyamanam bhagavatah param iti bhagavatoparate khalu
sva-pitari.
Bali Maharaja said: My grandfather Prahlada Maharaja is the only
person who understood his own self-interest. Upon the death of Prahlada’s
father, Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva wanted to offer Prahlada his
father’s kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material
bondage, but Prahlada accepted neither. Liberation and material opulence,
he thought, are obstacles to devotional service, and therefore such gifts
from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not His actual mercy.
Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jnana,
Prahlada Maharaja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the service of
His servant.
TEXT 26
TEXT
tasya mahanubhavasyanupatham amrjita-kasayah ko vasmad-vidhah parihinabhagavad-
anugraha upajigamisatiti.
Bali Maharaja said: Persons like us, who are still attached to
material enjoyment, who are contaminated by the modes of material nature
and who lack the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot
follow the supreme path of Prahlada Maharaja, the exalted devotee of the
Lord.
TEXT 27
TEXT
tasyanucaritam uparistad vistarisyate yasya bhagavan svayam akhila-jagadgurur
narayano dvari gada-panir avatisthate nija-jananukampita-hrdayo
yenangusthena pada dasa-kandharo yojanayutayutam dig-vijaya uccatitah.
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, how shall I glorify the
character of Bali Maharaja? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
master of the three worlds, who is most compassionate to His own devotee,
stands with club in hand at Bali Maharaja’s door. When Ravana, the
powerful demon, came to gain victory over Bali Maharaja, Vamanadeva
kicked him a distance of eighty thousand miles with His big toe. I shall
explain the character and activities of Bali Maharaja later [in the
Eighth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam].
TEXT 28
TEXT
tato ‘dhastat talatale mayo nama danavendras tri-puradhipatir bhagavata
purarina tri-loki-sam cikirsuna nirdagdha-sva-pura-trayas tat-prasadal
labdha-pado mayavinam acaryo mahadevena pariraksito vigata-sudarsanabhayo
mahiyate.
Beneath the planet known as Sutala is another planet, called Talatala,
which is ruled by the Danava demon named Maya. Maya is known as the
acarya [master] of all the mayavis, who can invoke the powers of sorcery.
For the benefit of the three worlds, Lord Siva, who is known as
Tripurari, once set fire to the three kingdoms of Maya, but later, being
pleased with him, he returned his kingdom. Since that time, Maya Danava
has been protected by Lord Siva, and therefore he falsely thinks that he
need not fear the Sudarsana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 29
TEXT
tato ‘dhastan mahatale kadraveyanam sarpanam naika-sirasam krodhavaso
nama ganah kuhaka-taksaka-kaliya-susenadi-pradhana maha-bhogavantah
patattri-rajadhipateh purusa-vahad anavaratam udvijamanah svakalatrapatya-
suhrt-kutumba-sangena kvacit pramatta viharanti.
The planetary system below Talatala is known as Mahatala. It is the
abode of many-hooded snakes, descendants of Kadru, who are always very
angry. The great snakes who are prominent are Kuhaka, Taksaka, Kaliya and
Susena. The snakes in Mahatala are always disturbed by fear of Garuda,
the carrier of Lord Visnu, but although they are full of anxiety, some of
them nevertheless sport with their wives, children, friends and
relatives.
TEXT 30
TEXT
tato ‘dhastad rasatale daiteya danavah panayo nama nivata-kavacah kaleya
hiranya-puravasina iti vibudha-pratyanika utpattya mahaujaso mahasahasino
bhagavatah sakala-lokanubhavasya harer eva tejasa pratihatabalavalepa
bilesaya iva vasanti ye vai saramayendra-dutya vagbhir mantravarnabhir
indrad bibhyati.
Beneath Mahatala is the planetary system known as Rasatala, which is
the abode of the demoniac sons of Diti and Danu. They are called Panis,
Nivata-kavacas, Kaleyas and Hiranya-puravasis [those living in Hiranyapura].
They are all enemies of the demigods, and they reside in holes
like snakes. From birth they are extremely powerful and cruel, and
although they are proud of their strength, they are always defeated by
the Sudarsana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who rules all
the planetary systems. When a female messenger from Indra named Sarama
chants a particular curse, the serpentine demons of Mahatala become very
afraid of Indra.
TEXT 31
TEXT
tato ‘dhastat patale naga-loka-patayo vasuki-pramukhah sankha-kulikamahasankha-
sveta-dhananjaya-dhrtarastra-sankhacuda-kambalasvataradevadattadayo
maha-bhogino mahamarsa nivasanti yesam u ha vai pancasapta-
dasa-sata-sahasra-sirsanam phanasu viracita maha-manayo rocisnavah
patala-vivara-timira-nikaram sva-rocisa vidhamanti.
Beneath Rasatala is another planetary system, known as Patala or
Nagaloka, where there are many demoniac serpents, the masters of
Nagaloka, such as Sankha, Kulika, Mahasankha, Sveta, Dhananjaya,
Dhrtarastra, Sankhacuda, Kambala, Asvatara and Devadatta. The chief among
them is Vasuki. They are all extremely angry, and they have many, many
hoods–some snakes five hoods, some seven, some ten, others a hundred and
others a thousand. These hoods are bedecked with valuable gems, and the
light emanating from the gems illuminates the entire planetary system of
bila-svarga.
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