FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.29.43

नभो ददाति श्वसतां पदं यन्नियमादद: । लोकं स्वदेहं तनुते महान् सप्तभिरावृतम् ॥ ४३ ॥
nabho dadāti śvasatāṁ
[nabho dadaati shvasataam]
padaṁ yan-niyamād adaḥ
[padam yan-niyamaad adah]
lokaṁ sva-dehaṁ tanute
[lokam sva-deham tanute]
mahān saptabhir āvṛtam
[mahaan saptabhir aavritam]
Word-for-word
nabhaḥ — the sky dadāti — gives śvasatām — to the living entities padam — abode yat — of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) niyamāt — under the control adaḥ — that lokam — the universe sva-deham — own body tanute — expands mahān — the mahat-tattva saptabhiḥ — with the seven (layers) āvṛtam — covered.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nabho dadāti śvasatāṁ
nabhaḥ
the sky
dadāti
gives
śvasatām
to the living entities
padaṁ yan-niyamād adaḥ
padam
abode
yat
of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead)
niyamāt
under the control
adaḥ
that
lokaṁ sva-dehaṁ tanute
lokam
the universe
sva-deham
own body
tanute
expands
mahān saptabhir āvṛtam
mahān
the mahat-tattva
saptabhiḥ
with the seven (layers)
āvṛtam
covered.
Subject to the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sky allows outer space to accommodate all the various planets, which hold innumerable living entities. The total universal body expands with its seven coverings under His supreme control.
Purport

It is understood from this verse that all the planets in outer space are floating, and they all hold living entities. The word śvasatām means “those who breathe,” or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there are innumerable planets. Every planet is a residence for innumerable living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the supreme order of the Lord. It is also stated here that the total universal body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the outside of the universal body. The first layer is of earth, and it is ten times greater in size than the space within the universe; the second layer is water, and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer; the third covering is fire, which is ten times greater than the water covering. In this way each layer is ten times greater than the previous one.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
By the order of time, the sky provides space for entities who are alive, and Brahmā spreads out his body of the planets, covered by seven layers of matter. On the order of time, the sky gives space (padam) for the living entities (śvasatām), those who are breathing, not those who are dead. By the order of time, Brahmā, made of mahat-tattva (mahān), spreads out his body in the form of the vairāja-rūpa (universal form), with planets like earth, covered by seven layers.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse describes a universe that is not a random stage but an arrangement with a purpose. Our work is not to engineer that purpose but to find our seat within it. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
  • What would humility actually look like for you in your work this week?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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