FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.16.11

मन्दरो मेरुमन्दर: सुपार्श्व: कुमुद इत्ययुतयोजनविस्तारोन्नाहा मेरोश्चतुर्दिशमवष्टम्भगिरय उपक्‍ल‍ृप्ता: ॥ ११ ॥
mandaro merumandaraḥ supārśvaḥ kumuda ity ayuta-yojana-vistāronnāhā meroś catur-diśam avaṣṭambha-giraya upakḷptāḥ.
[mandaro merumandarah supaarshvah kumuda ity ayuta-yojana-vistaaronnaahaa merosh chatur-disham avashtambha-giraya upaklriptaah.]
Word-for-word
mandaraḥ — the mountain named Mandara meru-mandaraḥ — the mountain named Merumandara supārśvaḥ — the mountain named Supārśva kumudaḥ — the mountain named Kumuda iti — thus ayuta-yojana-vistāra-unnāhāḥ — which measure ten thousand yojanas high and wide meroḥ — of Sumeru catuḥ-diśam — the four sides avaṣṭambha-girayaḥ — mountains that are like the belts of Sumeru upakḷptāḥ — situated.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mandaro merumandaraḥ supārśvaḥ kumuda ity ayuta-yojana-vistāronnāhā meroś catur-diśam avaṣṭambha-giraya upakḷptāḥ.
mandaraḥ
the mountain named Mandara
meru-mandaraḥ
the mountain named Merumandara
supārśvaḥ
the mountain named Supārśva
kumudaḥ
the mountain named Kumuda
iti
thus
ayuta-yojana-vistāra-unnāhāḥ
which measure ten thousand yojanas high and wide
meroḥ
of Sumeru
catuḥ-diśam
the four sides
avaṣṭambha-girayaḥ
mountains that are like the belts of Sumeru
upakḷptāḥ
situated.
On the four sides of the great mountain known as Sumeru are four mountains — Mandara, Merumandara, Supārśva and Kumuda — which are like its belts. The length and height of these mountains are calculated to be 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles].
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
On the four sides of the great mountain known as Sumeru are four mountains-Mandara, Merumandara, Supārśva and Kumuda—which are supporting mountains. The length and height of these mountains are calculated to be 10,000 yojanas. The length (vistāra) and height of the supporting mountains is 10,000 yojanas. Since they act as the support of Meru in the center, the mountains on the east and west side of Meru run south and north in length, and the mountains on the north and south run east and west. If each mountain was 10,000 yojanas wide, Ilāvṛta would disappear (since it is only 9000 yojanas on either side of Meru.) This would contradict the descriptions in SB 5.16.16 stating that juice cascades from the Mandara Mountain in waterfalls and becomes a river called Aruṇodā, which flows pleasantly through the eastern side of Ilāvṛta. Vistāra here means length. They spread out in the four directions (catur-diśam).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Four belt mountains gird Sumeru on its four sides. The center is supported by structures that hold it in place. Don't try to be a Sumeru without your own supporting belt — practices, community, discipline — that holds your center in place.
Reflection Questions
  • What supporting 'belt mountains' are currently holding your spiritual center in place?
  • Which one needs strengthening so the center can remain steady?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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