SB 5.20.13 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.20.13

एवं सुरोदाद्ब‍‌हिस्तद्‌‌द्विगुण: समानेनावृतो घृतोदेन यथापूर्व: कुशद्वीपो यस्मिन् कुशस्तम्बो देवकृतस्तद्‌द्वीपाख्याकरो ज्वलन इवापर: स्वशष्परोचिषा दिशो विराजयति ॥ १३ ॥

evaṁ surodād bahis tad-dvi-guṇaḥ samānenāvṛto ghṛtodena yathā-pūrvaḥ kuśa-dvīpo yasmin kuśa-stambo deva-kṛtas tad-dvīpākhyākaro jvalana ivāparaḥ sva-śaṣpa-rociṣā diśo virājayati.

[evam surodaad bahis tad-dvi-gunah samaanenaavrito ghritodena yathaa-poorvah kusha-dveepo yasmin kusha-stambo deva-kritas tad-dveepaakhyaakaro jvalana ivaaparah sva-shashpa-rochishaa disho viraajayati.]

Word-for-word

evam — thus surodāt — from the ocean of liquor bahiḥ — outside tat-dvi-guṇaḥ — twice that samānena — equal in width āvṛtaḥ — surrounded ghṛta-udena — an ocean of clarified butter yathā-pūrvaḥ — as previously with Sālmalīdvīpa kuśa-dvīpa — the island called Kuśadvīpa yasmin — in which kuśa-stambaḥ — kuśa grass deva-kṛtaḥ — created by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead tat-dvīpa-ākhyā-karaḥ — giving the island its name jvalanaḥ — fire iva — like aparaḥ — another sva-śaṣpa-rociṣā — by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass diśaḥ — all directions virājayati — illuminates.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

evam

thus

surodāt

from the ocean of liquor

bahiḥ

outside

tat-dvi-guṇaḥ

twice that

samānena

equal in width

āvṛtaḥ

surrounded

ghṛta-udena

an ocean of clarified butter

yathā-pūrvaḥ

as previously with Sālmalīdvīpa

kuśa-dvīpa

the island called Kuśadvīpa

yasmin

in which

kuśa-stambaḥ

kuśa grass

deva-kṛtaḥ

created by the supreme will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead

tat-dvīpa-ākhyā-karaḥ

giving the island its name

jvalanaḥ

fire

iva

aparaḥ

another

sva-śaṣpa-rociṣā

by the effulgence of the young sprouting grass

diśaḥ

all directions

virājayati

illuminates.

Outside the ocean of liquor is another island, known as Kuśadvīpa, which is 800,000 yojanas [6,400,000 miles] wide, twice as wide as the ocean of liquor. As Śālmalīdvīpa is surrounded by a liquor ocean, Kuśadvīpa is surrounded by an ocean of liquid ghee as broad as the island itself. On Kuśadvīpa there are clumps of kuśa grass, from which the island takes its name. This kuśa grass, which was created by the demigods by the will of the Supreme Lord, appears like a second form of fire, but with very mild and pleasing flames. Its young shoots illuminate all directions.

Purport

From the descriptions in this verse, we can make an educated guess about the nature of the flames on the moon. Like the sun, the moon must also be full of flames because without flames there cannot be illumination. The flames on the moon, however, unlike those on the sun, must be mild and pleasing. This is our conviction. The modern theory that the moon is full of dust is not accepted in the verses of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In regard to this verse, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says, suśaṣpāṇi sukomala-śikhās teṣāṁ rociṣā: the kuśa grass illuminates all directions, but its flames are very mild and pleasing. This gives some idea of the flames existing on the moon.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Outside the ocean of liquor is another island, known as Kuśadvīpa, which is 800,000 yojanas wide, twice as wide as the ocean of liquor. As Śālmalīdvīpa is surrounded by a liquor ocean, Kuśadvīpa is surrounded by an ocean of liquid ghee as broad as the island itself. On Kuśadvīpa there are clumps of kuśa grass, from which the island takes its name. This kuśa grass, which was created by the devatās by the will of the Supreme Lord, like a second form of fire, illuminates all directions by the effulgence of its tender shoots. The effulgence of the tender shoots (suśaṣpa) illuminates the directions.

Personal Guidance

Kuśa grass, used in sacred ceremonies, grew on this island by the will of the Supreme Lord — even what looks like ordinary grass exists for the purpose of worship. Look at the ordinary things around you and ask: what part could this play in worship?

Reflection Questions

Which ordinary objects in my home or workplace could I dedicate to a higher purpose?
Where am I assuming that worship requires special items when ordinary grass was good enough?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io