FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.12.27

एतद्विमानप्रवरमुत्तमश्लोकमौलिना । उपस्थापितमायुष्मन्नधिरोढुं त्वमर्हसि ॥ २७ ॥
etad vimāna-pravaram
[etad vimaana-pravaram]
uttamaśloka-maulinā
[uttamashloka-maulinaa]
upasthāpitam āyuṣmann
[upasthaapitam aayushmann]
adhiroḍhuṁ tvam arhasi
[adhirodhum tvam arhasi]
etat — this vimāna — airplane pravaram — unique uttamaśloka — the Supreme Personality of Godhead maulinā — by the head of all living entities upasthāpitam — sent āyuṣman — O immortal one adhiroḍhum — to board tvam — you arhasi — are worthy.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etad vimāna-pravaram
etat
this
vimāna
airplane
pravaram
unique
uttamaśloka-maulinā
uttamaśloka
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
maulinā
by the head of all living entities
upasthāpitam āyuṣmann
upasthāpitam
sent
āyuṣman
O immortal one
adhiroḍhuṁ tvam arhasi
adhiroḍhum
to board
tvam
you
arhasi
are worthy.
O immortal one, this unique airplane has been sent by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is worshiped by selected prayers and who is the chief of all living entities. You are quite worthy to board such a plane.

According to astronomical calculation, along with the polestar there is another star, which is called Śiśumāra, where Lord Viṣṇu, who is in charge of the maintenance of this material world, resides. Śiśumāra or Dhruvaloka can never be reached by anyone but the Vaiṣṇavas, as will be described by the following ślokas. The associates of Lord Viṣṇu brought the special airplane for Dhruva Mahārāja and then informed him that Lord Viṣṇu had especially sent this airplane.

The Vaikuṇṭha airplane does not move by mechanical arrangement. There are three processes for moving in outer space. One of the processes is known to the modern scientist. It is called ka-pota-vāyu. Ka means “outer space,” and pota means “ship.” There is a second process also called kapota-vāyu. Kapota also means “pigeon.” One can train pigeons to carry one into outer space. The third process is very subtle. It is called ākāśa-patana. This ākāśa-patana system is also material. Just as the mind can fly anywhere one likes without mechanical arrangement, so the ākāśa-patana airplane can fly at the speed of mind. Beyond this ākāśa-patana system is the Vaikuṇṭha process, which is completely spiritual. The airplane sent by Lord Viṣṇu to carry Dhruva Mahārāja to Śiśumāra was a completely spiritual, transcendental airplane. Material scientists can neither see such vehicles nor imagine how they fly in the air. The material scientist has no information about the spiritual sky, although it is mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā ( paras tasmāt tu bhāvo ’nyaḥ ).

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O immortal! You are qualified to board this excellent plane sent by the best of famous persons. Āyuṣman (long-lived) indicates that he will go in the same body.
This unique airplane has been sent by the Lord Himself; you are worthy. The vehicle of return is dispatched by the Person you've been worshiping; transport is not your problem.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I worrying about the means when the Lord is the One handling logistics?
  • What is my job, if His is sending the plane?
📝 My note

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