FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.4.17

रत्नाकराश्च रत्नौघांस्तत्पत्‍न्यश्चोहुरूर्मिभि: । क्षारसीधुघृतक्षौद्रदधिक्षीरामृतोदका: ॥ १७ ॥
ratnākarāś ca ratnaughāṁs
[ratnaakaraash cha ratnaughaams]
tat-patnyaś cohur ūrmibhiḥ
[tat-patnyash chohur oormibhih]
kṣāra-sīdhu-ghṛta-kṣaudra-
[kshaara-seedhu-ghrita-kshaudra-]
dadhi-kṣīrāmṛtodakāḥ
[dadhi-ksheeraamritodakaah]
ratnākarāḥ — the seas and oceans ca — and ratna-oghān — various kinds of gems and valuable stones tat-patnyaḥ — the wives of the oceans and seas, namely the rivers ca — also ūhuḥ — carried ūrmibhiḥ — by their waves kṣāra — the salt ocean sīdhu — the ocean of wine ghṛta — the ocean of clarified butter kṣaudra — the ocean of sugarcane juice dadhi — the ocean of yogurt kṣīra — the Ocean of Milk amṛta — and the very sweet ocean udakāḥ — water.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ratnākarāś ca ratnaughāṁs
ratnākarāḥ
the seas and oceans
ca
and
ratna-oghān
various kinds of gems and valuable stones
tat-patnyaś cohur ūrmibhiḥ
tat-patnyaḥ
the wives of the oceans and seas, namely the rivers
ca
also
ūhuḥ
carried
ūrmibhiḥ
by their waves
kṣāra-sīdhu-ghṛta-kṣaudra-
kṣāra
the salt ocean
sīdhu
the ocean of wine
ghṛta
the ocean of clarified butter
kṣaudra
the ocean of sugarcane juice
dadhi-kṣīrāmṛtodakāḥ
dadhi
the ocean of yogurt
kṣīra
the Ocean of Milk
amṛta
and the very sweet ocean
udakāḥ
water.
By the flowing of their waves, the various oceans of the universe, along with their tributaries, the rivers, which are compared to their wives, supplied various kinds of gems and jewels for Hiraṇyakaśipu’s use. These oceans were the oceans of salt water, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, milk, yogurt, and sweet water.

The water of the seas and oceans of this planet, of which we have experience, are salty, but other planets within the universe contain oceans of sugarcane juice, liquor, ghee, milk and sweet water. The rivers are figuratively described as wives of the oceans and seas because they glide down to the oceans and seas as tributaries, like the wives attached to their husbands. Modern scientists attempt excursions to other planets, but they have no information of how many different types of oceans and seas there are within the universe. According to their experience, the moon is full of dust, but this does not explain how it gives us soothing rays from a distance of millions of miles. As far as we are concerned, we follow the authority of Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who have described the universal situation according to the Vedic literature. These authorities differ from modern scientists who conclude from their imperfect sensual experience that only this planet is inhabited by living beings whereas the other planets are all vacant or full of dust.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The oceans of salt water, wine, ghee, sugar cane juice, yogurt, milk and sweet water, and rivers as well, delivered quantities of jewels on their waves. Tat-patnyaḥ means the rivers. The various oceans are described.
The universe's seven oceans — of salt, sugarcane juice, wine, ghee, milk, yogurt, sweet water — supply gems and jewels to Hiranyakasipu. The cosmos is vastly more diverse than modern science admits. Even cosmic abundance flows toward demonic centers when those centers hold power.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'flow of jewels' in your life is currently moving toward a center you would not endorse if you examined it?
  • Where might your worldview be too narrow to honor the diversity of what is real?
📝 My note

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