SB 5.20.2 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.20.2

जम्बूद्वीपोऽयं यावत्प्रमाणविस्तारस्तावता क्षारोदधिना परिवेष्टितो यथा मेरुर्जम्ब्वाख्येन लवणोदधिरपि ततो द्विगुणविशालेन प्लक्षाख्येन परिक्षिप्तो यथा परिखा बाह्योपवनेन प्लक्षो जम्बूप्रमाणो द्वीपाख्याकरो हिरण्मय उत्थितो यत्राग्निरुपास्ते सप्तजिह्वस्तस्याधिपति: प्रियव्रतात्मज इध्मजिह्व: स्वं द्वीपं सप्तवर्षाणि विभज्य सप्तवर्षनामभ्य आत्मजेभ्य आकलय्य स्वयमात्मयोगेनोपरराम ॥ २ ॥

jambūdvīpo ’yaṁ yāvat-pramāṇa-vistāras tāvatā kṣārodadhinā pariveṣṭito yathā merur jambv-ākhyena lavaṇodadhir api tato dvi-guṇa-viśālena plakṣākhyena parikṣipto yathā parikhā bāhyopavanena; plakṣo jambū-pramāṇo dvīpākhyākaro hiraṇmaya utthito yatrāgnir upāste sapta-jihvas tasyādhipatiḥ priyavratātmaja idhmajihvaḥ svaṁ dvīpaṁ sapta-varṣāṇi vibhajya sapta-varṣa-nāmabhya ātmajebhya ākalayya svayam ātma-yogenopararāma.

[jamboodveepo ’yam yaavat-pramaana-vistaaras taavataa kshaarodadhinaa pariveshtito yathaa merur jambv-aakhyena lavanodadhir api tato dvi-guna-vishaalena plakshaakhyena parikshipto yathaa parikhaa baahyopavanena; plaksho jamboo-pramaano dveepaakhyaakaro hiranmaya utthito yatraagnir upaaste sapta-jihvas tasyaadhipatih priyavrataatmaja idhmajihvah svam dveepam sapta-varshaani vibhajya sapta-varsha-naamabhya aatmajebhya aakalayya svayam aatma-yogenopararaama.]

Word-for-word

jambū-dvīpaḥ — Jambūdvīpa, the island named Jambū ayam — this yāvat-pramāṇa-vistāraḥ — as much as the measure of its width, namely 100,000 yojanas (one yojana equals eight miles) tāvatā — so much kṣāra-udadhinā — by the ocean of salt water pariveṣṭitaḥ — surrounded yathā — just as meruḥ — Sumeru Mountain jambū-ākhyena — by the island named Jambū lavaṇa-udadhiḥ — the ocean of salt water api — certainly tataḥ — thereafter dvi-guṇa-viśālena — which is twice as wide plakṣa-ākhyena — by the island named Plakṣa parikṣiptaḥ — surrounded yathā — like parikhā — a moat bāhya — external upavanena — by a gardenlike forest plakṣaḥ — a plakṣa tree jambū-pramāṇaḥ — having the height of the jambū tree dvīpa-ākhyā-karaḥ — causing the name of the island hiraṇmayaḥ — magnificently splendorous utthitaḥ — rising yatra — where agniḥ — a fire upāste — is situated sapta-jihvaḥ — having seven flames tasya — of that island adhipatiḥ — the king or master priyavrata-ātmajaḥ — the son of King Priyavrata idhma-jihvaḥ — named Idhmajihva svam — own dvīpam — island sapta — seven varṣāṇi — tracts of land vibhajya — dividing into sapta-varṣa-nāmabhyaḥ — for whom the seven tracts of land were named ātmajebhyaḥ — to his own sons ākalayya — offering svayam — personally ātma-yogena — by the devotional service of the Lord upararāma — he retired from all material activities.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

jambū-dvīpaḥ

Jambūdvīpa, the island named Jambū

ayam

this

yāvat-pramāṇa-vistāraḥ

as much as the measure of its width, namely 100,000 yojanas (one yojana equals eight miles)

tāvatā

so much

kṣāra-udadhinā

by the ocean of salt water

pariveṣṭitaḥ

surrounded

yathā

just as

meruḥ

Sumeru Mountain

jambū-ākhyena

by the island named Jambū

lavaṇa-udadhiḥ

the ocean of salt water

api

certainly

tataḥ

thereafter

dvi-guṇa-viśālena

which is twice as wide

plakṣa-ākhyena

by the island named Plakṣa

parikṣiptaḥ

surrounded

yathā

parikhā

a moat

bāhya

external

upavanena

by a gardenlike forest

plakṣaḥ

a plakṣa tree

jambū-pramāṇaḥ

having the height of the jambū tree

dvīpa-ākhyā-karaḥ

causing the name of the island

hiraṇmayaḥ

magnificently splendorous

utthitaḥ

rising

yatra

where

agniḥ

a fire

upāste

is situated

sapta-jihvaḥ

having seven flames

tasya

of that island

adhipatiḥ

the king or master

priyavrata-ātmajaḥ

the son of King Priyavrata

idhma-jihvaḥ

named Idhmajihva

svam

own

dvīpam

island

sapta

seven

varṣāṇi

tracts of land

vibhajya

dividing into

sapta-varṣa-nāmabhyaḥ

for whom the seven tracts of land were named

ātmajebhyaḥ

to his own sons

ākalayya

offering

svayam

personally

ātma-yogena

by the devotional service of the Lord

upararāma

he retired from all material activities.

As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambūdvīpa, Jambūdvīpa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water. The breadth of Jambūdvīpa is 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles], and the breadth of the saltwater ocean is the same. As a moat around a fort is sometimes surrounded by gardenlike forest, the saltwater ocean surrounding Jambūdvīpa is itself surrounded by Plakṣadvīpa. The breadth of Plakṣadvīpa is twice that of the saltwater ocean — in other words 200,000 yojanas [1,600,000 miles]. On Plakṣadvīpa there is a tree shining like gold and as tall as the jambū tree on Jambūdvīpa. At its root is a fire with seven flames. It is because this tree is a plakṣa tree that the island is called Plakṣadvīpa. Plakṣadvīpa was governed by Idhmajihva, one of the sons of Mahārāja Priyavrata. He endowed the seven islands with the names of his seven sons, divided the islands among the sons, and then retired from active life to engage in the devotional service of the Lord.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

As Sumeru Mountain is surrounded by Jambūdvīpa, Jambūdvīpa is also surrounded by an ocean of salt water whose breadth is the same as that of Jambūdvīpa (100,000 yojanas.) As a moat around a fort is sometimes surrounded by gardenlike forest, the saltwater ocean surrounding Jambūdvīpa is itself surrounded by Plakṣadvīpa, whose breadth is twice that of the saltwater ocean (200,000 yojanas). On Plakṣadvīpa there is a plakṣa tree [Note: This seems to be the pippala tree. The dimensions of the Jambhū tree are mentioned in SB 5.16.12 as 1100 yojanas high and 100 yojanas wide. ] as tall as the jambū tree on Jambūdvīpa, after which the island gets its name. There is a blazing, upward fire with seven flames. Plakṣadvīpa was governed by Idhmajihva, one of the sons of Mahārāja Priyavrata. Idhmajihva, who named its seven varṣas after his seven sons, divided the varṣas among the sons, and then retired from active life to engage in the devotional service of the Lord. Parikṣitaḥ means surrounded. The fire remains predominant (upāste). Ākalaya means gave.

Personal Guidance

One island is surrounded by an ocean, which is itself surrounded by another island — each protective layer holding another. So in life: relationships, communities, traditions, and the Lord nest around us in concentric care. Notice how many layers actually hold you.

Reflection Questions

Which layers of support around me have I taken for granted?
Whom am I holding as a 'surrounding ocean' for someone else?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io