FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.16.29

तामनुपरितो लोकपालानामष्टानां यथादिशं यथारूपं तुरीयमानेन पुरोऽष्टावुपक्‍ल‍ृप्ता: ॥ २९ ॥
tām anuparito loka-pālānām aṣṭānāṁ yathā-diśaṁ yathā-rūpaṁ turīya-mānena puro ’ṣṭāv upakḷptāḥ.
[taam anuparito loka-paalaanaam ashtaanaam yathaa-disham yathaa-roopam tureeya-maanena puro ’shtaav upaklriptaah.]
Word-for-word
tām — that great township named Brahmapurī anuparitaḥ — surrounding loka-pālānām — of the governors of the planets aṣṭānām — eight yathā-diśam — according to the directions yathā-rūpam — in exact conformity with the township of Brahmapurī turīya-mānena — by measurement only one fourth puraḥ — townships aṣṭau — eight upakḷptāḥ — situated.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tām anuparito loka-pālānām aṣṭānāṁ yathā-diśaṁ yathā-rūpaṁ turīya-mānena puro ’ṣṭāv upakḷptāḥ.
tām
that great township named Brahmapurī
anuparitaḥ
surrounding
loka-pālānām
of the governors of the planets
aṣṭānām
eight
yathā-diśam
according to the directions
yathā-rūpam
in exact conformity with the township of Brahmapurī
turīya-mānena
by measurement only one fourth
puraḥ
townships
aṣṭau
eight
upakḷptāḥ
situated.
Surrounding Brahmapurī in all directions are the residences of the eight principal governors of the planetary systems, beginning with King Indra. These abodes are similar to Brahmapurī but are one fourth the size.
Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura confirms that the townships of Lord Brahmā and the eight subordinate governors of the planetary systems, beginning with Indra, are mentioned in other Purāṇas.

merau nava-pūrāṇi syur manovaty amarāvatī tejovatī saṁyamanī tathā kṛṣṇāṅganā parā

śraddhāvatī gandhavatī tathā cānyā mahodayā yaśovatī ca brahmendra bahyādīnāṁ yathā-kramam

Brahmā’s township is known as Manovatī, and those of his assistants such as Indra and Agni are known as Amarāvatī, Tejovatī, Saṁyamanī, Kṛṣṇāṅganā, Śraddhāvatī, Gandhavatī, Mahodayā and Yaśovatī. Brahmapurī is situated in the middle, and the other eight purīs surround it in all directions.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fifth Canto, Sixteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “A Description of Jambūdvīpa.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Surrounding Brahmapurī in all directions are the residences of the eight principal governors of the directions, beginning with King Indra. These abodes are similar to Brahmapurī but are one fourth the size. These cities are in the directions starting from the east, each with their particular deities such as Indra and their corresponding colors. Their size is 2.5 million yojanas. Their names are understood from other Purāṇas: merau nava-purāṇi syur manovaty amarāvatī tejovatī saṁyamanī tathā kṛṣṇāṅganā parā śraddhāvatī gandhavatī tathā cānyā mahodayā yaśovatī ca brahmendra vahnyādīnāṁ yathā kramam On Meru there are nine cities name Manovatī, Amarāvatī, Tejovatī, Saṁyamanī, Kṛṣṇāṅganā, Śraddhāvatī, Gandhavatī, Mahodayā, Yaśovatī, belonging to Brahmā, Indra, Agni and others. [Note: The devatās of the directions starting from east are Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera, Śiva,] Thus ends the commentary on the Sixteenth Chapter of the Fifth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Seventeen Descent of the Gaṅgā
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Eight subordinate governors live in cities around Brahmapurī, each running their domain. Decentralized governance under one supreme center is the model the Lord has put in place. Local responsibility under cosmic order is the design.
Reflection Questions
  • Where are you taking too much on yourself instead of trusting the local governors the Lord has placed around you?
  • Where are you trying to be a local governor without aligning with the supreme center?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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