Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.21.2
एतेन हि दिवो मण्डलमानं तद्विद उपदिशन्ति यथा द्विदलयोर्निष्पावादीनां ते अन्तरेणान्तरिक्षं तदुभयसन्धितम् ॥ २ ॥
etena hi divo maṇḍala-mānaṁ tad-vida upadiśanti yathā dvi-dalayor niṣpāvādīnāṁ te antareṇāntarikṣaṁ tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.
[etena hi divo mandala-maanam tad-vida upadishanti yathaa dvi-dalayor nishpaavaadeenaam te antarenaantariksham tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.]
Word-for-word
etena
—
by this estimation
hi
—
indeed
divaḥ
—
of the upper planetary system
maṇḍala-mānam
—
the measurement of the globe
tat-vidaḥ
—
the experts who know about it
upadiśanti
—
instruct
yathā
—
just as
dvi-dalayoḥ
—
in the two halves
niṣpāva-ādīnām
—
of grain such as wheat
te
—
of the two divisions
antareṇa
—
in the intervening space
antarikṣam
—
the sky or outer space
tat
—
by the two
ubhaya
—
on both sides
sandhitam
—
where the two parts join.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etena hi divo maṇḍala-mānaṁ tad-vida upadiśanti yathā dvi-dalayor niṣpāvādīnāṁ te antareṇāntarikṣaṁ tad-ubhaya-sandhitam.
etena
by this estimation
hi
indeed
divaḥ
of the upper planetary system
maṇḍala-mānam
the measurement of the globe
tat-vidaḥ
the experts who know about it
upadiśanti
instruct
yathā
just as
dvi-dalayoḥ
in the two halves
niṣpāva-ādīnām
of grain such as wheat
te
of the two divisions
antareṇa
in the intervening space
antarikṣam
the sky or outer space
tat
by the two
ubhaya
on both sides
sandhitam
where the two parts join.
As a grain of wheat is divided into two parts and one can estimate the size of the upper part by knowing that of the lower, so, expert geographers instruct, one can understand the measurements of the upper part of the universe by knowing those of the lower part. The sky between the earthly sphere and heavenly sphere is called antarikṣa, or outer space. It adjoins the top of the sphere of earth and the bottom of that of heaven.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
By the dimensions of Bhū-maṇḍala experts indicate the dimension of the sky about the earth. They are like two halves of a bean seed. Antarikṣa joins the two together.
Niṣpāva is a type of been, ādīnām indicates less specific seeds. Just as by seeing the dimension of one of the halves of the seed one can understand the dimension of the other half, one should consider the dimension of the earthly sphere [Note: The word golaka is used. This means a globe. Here is should mean a semi-sphere, since the comparison is made to half a seed.] and the heavenly sphere to be the same. Between them is the antarīkṣa, measuring 200,000 yojanas. It is joined to them on both its sides.
Personal Guidance
By knowing the part one can infer the whole — measuring the lower half lets us know the upper. So in spiritual life: the way we handle small daily moments reveals the shape of our overall relationship with the Lord. Tend the visible, and the invisible cares for itself.
Reflection Questions
- What does the way I handle small inconveniences reveal about my deeper relationship with the Lord?
- Where am I aiming at lofty growth while neglecting the visible 'lower half' of my conduct?
My note
Source: vedabase.io