Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 5 Chapter 24

The Subterranean Heavenly Planets

VERSE 5.24.1

śrī-śuka uvāca

adhastāt savitur yojanāyute svarbhānur nakṣatravac caratīty eke yo ’sāv amaratvaṁ grahatvaṁ cālabhata bhagavad-anukampayā svayam asurāpasadaḥ saiṁhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tāta janma karmāṇi copariṣṭād vakṣyāmaḥ.

SYNONYMS

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; adhastāt — below; savituḥ — the sun globe; yojana — a measurement equal to eight miles; ayute — ten thousand; svarbhānuḥ — the planet known as Rāhu; nakṣatra-vat — like one of the stars; carati — is rotating; iti — thus; eke — some who are learned in the Purāṇas; yaḥ — which; asau — that; amaratvam — a lifetime like those of the demigods; grahatvam — a position as one of the chief planets; ca — and; alabhata — obtained; bhagavat-anukampayā — by the compassion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam — personally; asura-apasadaḥ — the lowest of the asuras; saiṁhikeyaḥ — being the son of Siṁhikā; hi — indeed; a-tat-arhaḥ — not qualified for that position; tasya — his; tāta — O my dear King; janma — birth; karmāṇi — activities; ca — also; upariṣṭāt — later; vakṣyāmaḥ — I shall explain.

TRANSLATION

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, some historians, the speakers of the Purāṇas, say that 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] below the sun is the planet known as Rāhu, which moves like one of the stars. The presiding deity of that planet, who is the son of Siṁhikā, is the most abominable of all asuras, but although he is completely unfit to assume the position of a demigod or planetary deity, he has achieved that position by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Later I shall speak further about him.

VERSE 5.24.2

yad adas taraṇer maṇḍalaṁ pratapatas tad vistarato yojanāyutam ācakṣate dvādaśa-sahasraṁ somasya trayodaśa-sahasraṁ rāhor yaḥ parvaṇi tad-vyavadhāna-kṛd vairānubandhaḥ sūryā-candramasāv abhidhāvati.

SYNONYMS

yat — which; adaḥ — that; taraṇeḥ — of the sun; maṇḍalam — globe; pratapataḥ — which is always distributing heat; tat — that; vistarataḥ — in terms of width; yojana — a distance of eight miles; ayutam — ten thousand; ācakṣate — they estimate; dvādaśa-sahasram — 20,000 yojanas (160,000 miles); somasya — of the moon; trayodaśa — thirty; sahasram — one thousand; rāhoḥ — of the planet Rāhu; yaḥ — which; parvaṇi — on occasion; tat-vyavadhāna-kṛt — who created an obstruction to the sun and moon at the time of the distribution of nectar; vaira-anubandhaḥ — whose intentions are inimical; sūryā — the sun; candramasau — and the moon; abhidhāvati — runs after them on the full-moon night and the dark-moon day.

TRANSLATION

The sun globe, which is a source of heat, extends for 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles]. The moon extends for 20,000 yojanas [160,000 miles], and Rāhu extends for 30,000 yojanas [240,000 miles]. Formerly, when nectar was being distributed, Rāhu tried to create dissension between the sun and moon by interposing himself between them. Rāhu is inimical toward both the sun and the moon, and therefore he always tries to cover the sunshine and moonshine on the dark-moon day and full-moon night.

VERSE 5.24.3

tan niśamyobhayatrāpi bhagavatā rakṣaṇāya prayuktaṁ sudarśanaṁ nāma bhāgavataṁ dayitam astraṁ tat tejasā durviṣahaṁ muhuḥ parivartamānam abhyavasthito muhūrtam udvijamānaś cakita-hṛdaya ārād eva nivartate tad uparāgam iti vadanti lokāḥ.

SYNONYMS

tat — that situation; niśamya — hearing; ubhayatra — around both the sun and moon; api — indeed; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rakṣaṇāya — for their protection; prayuktam — engaged; sudarśanam — the wheel of Kṛṣṇa; nāma — named; bhāgavatam — the most confidential devotee; dayitam — the most favorite; astram — weapon; tat — that; tejasā — by its effulgence; durviṣaham — unbearable heat; muhuḥ — repeatedly; parivartamānam — moving around the sun and moon; abhyavasthitaḥ — situated; muhūrtam — for a muhūrta (forty-eight minutes); udvijamānaḥ — whose mind was full of anxieties; cakita — frightened; hṛdayaḥ — the core of whose heart; ārāt — to a distant place; eva — certainly; nivartate — flees; tat — that situation; uparāgam — an eclipse; iti — thus; vadanti — they say; lokāḥ — the people.

TRANSLATION

After hearing from the sun and moon demigods about Rāhu’s attack, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, engages His disc, known as the Sudarśana cakra, to protect them. The Sudarśana cakra is the Lord’s most beloved devotee and is favored by the Lord. The intense heat of its effulgence, meant for killing non-Vaiṣṇavas, is unbearable to Rāhu, and he therefore flees in fear of it. During the time Rāhu disturbs the sun or moon, there occurs what people commonly know as an eclipse.

VERSE 5.24.4

tato ’dhastāt siddha-cāraṇa-vidyādharāṇāṁ sadanāni tāvan mātra eva.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — the planet Rāhu; adhastāt — below; siddha-cāraṇa — of the planets known as Siddhaloka and Cāraṇaloka; vidyādharāṇām — and the planets of the Vidyādharas; sadanāni — the residential places; tāvat mātra — only that much distance (eighty thousand miles); eva — indeed.

TRANSLATION

Below Rāhu by 10,000 yojanas [80,000 miles] are the planets known as Siddhaloka, Cāraṇaloka and Vidyādhara-loka.

VERSE 5.24.5

tato ’dhastād yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānāṁ vihārājiram antarikṣaṁ yāvad vāyuḥ pravāti yāvan meghā upalabhyante.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt — beneath the planets occupied by the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Vidyādharas; yakṣa-rakṣaḥ-piśāca-preta-bhūta-gaṇānām — of Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, ghosts and so on; vihāra-ajiram — the place of sense gratification; antarikṣam — in the sky or outer space; yāvat — as far as; vāyuḥ — the wind; pravāti — blows; yāvat — as far as; meghāḥ — the clouds; upalabhyante — are seen.

TRANSLATION

Beneath Vidyādhara-loka, Cāraṇaloka and Siddhaloka, in the sky called antarikṣa, are the places of enjoyment for the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, ghosts and so on. Antarikṣa extends as far as the wind blows and the clouds float in the sky. Above this there is no more air.

VERSE 5.24.6

tato ’dhastāc chata-yojanāntara iyaṁ pṛthivī yāvad dhaṁsa-bhāsa-śyena-suparṇādayaḥ patattri-pravarā utpatantīti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt — beneath that; śata-yojana — of one hundred yojanas; antare — by an interval; iyam — this; pṛthivī — planet earth; yāvat — as high as; haṁsa — swans; bhāsa — vultures; śyena — eagles; suparṇa-ādayaḥ — and other birds; patattri-pravarāḥ — the chief among birds; utpatanti — can fly; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

Below the abodes of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas by a distance of 100 yojanas [800 miles] is the planet earth. Its upper limits extend as high as swans, hawks, eagles and similar large birds can fly.

VERSE 5.24.7

upavarṇitaṁ bhūmer yathā-sanniveśāvasthānam avaner apy adhastāt sapta bhū-vivarā ekaikaśo yojanāyutāntareṇāyāma-vistāreṇopakḷptā atalaṁ vitalaṁ sutalaṁ talātalaṁ mahātalaṁ rasātalaṁ pātālam iti.

SYNONYMS

upavarṇitam — stated previously; bhūmeḥ — of the planet earth; yathā-sanniveśa-avasthānam — according to the arrangement of the different places; avaneḥ — the earth; api — certainly; adhastāt — beneath; sapta — seven; bhū-vivarāḥ — other planets; eka-ekaśaḥ — in succession, up to the outer limit of the universe; yojana-ayuta-antareṇa — with an interval of ten thousand yojanas (eighty thousand miles); āyāma-vistāreṇa — by width and length; upakḷptāḥ — situated; atalam — named Atala; vitalam — Vitala; sutalam — Sutala; talātalam — Talātala; mahātalam — Mahātala; rasātalam — Rasātala; pātālam — Pātāla; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. I have already explained the situation of the planetary systems of earth. The width and length of the seven lower planetary systems are calculated to be exactly the same as those of earth.

VERSE 5.24.8

eteṣu hi bila-svargeṣu svargād apy adhika-kāma-bhogaiśvaryānanda-bhūti-vibhūtibhiḥ susamṛddha-bhavanodyānākrīḍa-vihāreṣu daitya-dānava-kādraveyā nitya-pramuditānurakta-kalatrāpatya-bandhu-suhṛd-anucarā gṛha-pataya īśvarād apy apratihata-kāmā māyā-vinodā nivasanti.

SYNONYMS

eteṣu — in these; hi — certainly; bila-svargeṣu — known as the heavenly subterranean worlds; svargāt — than the heavenly planets; api — even; adhika — a greater quantity; kāma-bhoga — enjoyment of sense gratification; aiśvarya-ānanda — bliss due to opulence; bhūti — influence; vibhūtibhiḥ — by those things and wealth; su-samṛddha — improved; bhavana — houses; udyāna — gardens; ākrīḍa-vihāreṣu — in places for different types of sense gratification; daitya — the demons; dānava — ghosts; kādraveyāḥ — snakes; nitya — who are always; pramudita — overjoyed; anurakta — because of attachment; kalatra — to wife; apatya — children; bandhu — family relations; suhṛt — friends; anucarāḥ — followers; gṛha-patayaḥ — the heads of the households; īśvarāt — than those more capable, like the demigods; api — even; apratihata-kāmāḥ — whose fulfillment of lusty desires is unimpeded; māyā — illusory; vinodāḥ — who feel happiness; nivasanti — live.

TRANSLATION

In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Dānavas and Nāgas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully engaged in illusory material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached to illusory happiness.

VERSE 5.24.9

yeṣu mahārāja mayena māyāvinā vinirmitāḥ puro nānā-maṇi-pravara-praveka-viracita-vicitra-bhavana-prākāra-gopura-sabhā-caitya-catvarāyatanādibhir nāgāsura-mithuna-pārāvata-śuka-sārikākīrṇa-kṛtrima-bhūmibhir vivareśvara-gṛhottamaiḥ samalaṅkṛtāś cakāsati.

SYNONYMS

yeṣu — in those lower planetary systems; mahā-rāja — O my dear King; mayena — by the demon named Maya; māyā-vinā — possessing advanced knowledge in the construction of material comforts; vinirmitāḥ — constructed; puraḥ — cities; nānā-maṇi-pravara — of valuable gems; praveka — with excellent; viracita — constructed; vicitra — wonderful; bhavana — houses; prākāra — walls; gopura — gates; sabhā — legislative meeting rooms; caitya — temples; catvara — schools; āyatana-ādibhiḥ — with hotels or recreation halls and so on; nāga — of living entities with snakelike bodies; asura — of demons, or godless persons; mithuna — by couples; pārāvata — pigeons; śuka — parrots; sārikā — mynas; ākīrṇa — crowded; kṛtrima — artificial; bhūmibhiḥ — possessing areas; vivara-īśvara — of the leaders of the planets; gṛha-uttamaiḥ — with first-class houses; samalaṅkṛtāḥ — decorated; cakāsati — shine magnificently.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, in the imitation heavens known as bila-svarga there is a great demon named Maya Dānava, who is an expert artist and architect. He has constructed many brilliantly decorated cities. There are many wonderful houses, walls, gates, assembly houses, temples, yards and temple compounds, as well as many hotels serving as residential quarters for foreigners. The houses for the leaders of these planets are constructed with the most valuable jewels, and they are always crowded with living entities known as Nāgas and Asuras, as well as many pigeons, parrots and similar birds. All in all, these imitation heavenly cities are most beautifully situated and attractively decorated.

VERSE 5.24.10

udyānāni cātitarāṁ mana-indriyānandibhiḥ kusuma-phala-stabaka-subhaga-kisalayāvanata-rucira-viṭapa-viṭapināṁ latāṅgāliṅgitānāṁ śrībhiḥ samithuna-vividha-vihaṅgama-jalāśayānām amala-jala-pūrṇānāṁ jhaṣakulollaṅghana-kṣubhita-nīra-nīraja-kumuda-kuva-laya-kahlāra-nīlotpala-lohita-śatapatrādi-vaneṣu kṛta-niketanānām eka-vihārākula-madhura-vividha-svanādibhir indriyotsavair amara-loka-śriyam atiśayitāni.

SYNONYMS

udyānāni — the gardens and parks; ca — also; atitarām — greatly; manaḥ — to the mind; indriya — and to the senses; ānandibhiḥ — which cause pleasure; kusuma — by flowers; phala — of fruits; stabaka — bunches; subhaga — very beautiful; kisalaya — new twigs; avanata — bent low; rucira — attractive; viṭapa — possessing branches; viṭapinām — of trees; latā-aṅga-āliṅgitānām — which are embraced by the limbs of creepers; śrībhiḥ — by the beauty; sa-mithuna — in pairs; vividha — varieties; vihaṅgama — frequented by birds; jala-āśayānām — of reservoirs of water; amala-jala-pūrṇānām — full of clear and transparent water; jhaṣa-kula-ullaṅghana — by the jumping of different fish; kṣubhita — agitated; nīra — in the water; nīraja — of lotus flowers; kumuda — lilies; kuvalaya — flowers named kuvalaya; kahlāra-kahlāra — flowers; nīla-utpala — blue lotus flowers; lohita — red; śata-patra-ādi — lotus flowers with a hundred petals and so on; vaneṣu — in forests; kṛta-niketanānām — of birds that have made their nests; eka-vihāra-ākula — full of uninterrupted enjoyment; madhura — very sweet; vividha — varieties; svana-ādibhiḥ — by vibrations; indriya-utsavaiḥ — invoking sense enjoyment; amara-loka-śriyam — the beauty of the residential places of the demigods; atiśayitāni — surpassing.

TRANSLATION

The parks and gardens in the artificial heavens surpass in beauty those of the upper heavenly planets. The trees in those gardens, embraced by creepers, bend with a heavy burden of twigs with fruits and flowers, and therefore they appear extraordinarily beautiful. That beauty could attract anyone and make his mind fully blossom in the pleasure of sense gratification. There are many lakes and reservoirs with clear, transparent water, agitated by jumping fish and decorated with many flowers such as lilies, kuvalayas, kahlāras and blue and red lotuses. Pairs of cakravākas and many other water birds nest in the lakes and always enjoy in a happy mood, making sweet, pleasing vibrations that are very satisfying and conducive to enjoyment of the senses.

VERSE 5.24.11

yatra ha vāva na bhayam aho-rātrādibhiḥ kāla-vibhāgair upalakṣyate.

SYNONYMS

yatra — where; ha vāva — certainly; na — not; bhayam — fearfulness; ahaḥ-rātra-ādibhiḥ — because of days and nights; kāla-vibhāgaiḥ — the divisions of time; upalakṣyate — is experienced.

TRANSLATION

Since there is no sunshine in those subterranean planets, time is not divided into days and nights, and consequently fear produced by time does not exist.

VERSE 5.24.12

yatra hi mahāhi-pravara-śiro-maṇayaḥ sarvaṁ tamaḥ prabādhante.

SYNONYMS

yatra — where; hi — indeed; mahā-ahi — of great serpents; pravara — of the best; śiraḥ-maṇayaḥ — the gems on the hoods; sarvam — all; tamaḥ — darkness; prabādhante — drive away.

TRANSLATION

Many great serpents reside there with gems on their hoods, and the effulgence of these gems dissipates the darkness in all directions.

VERSE 5.24.13

na vā eteṣu vasatāṁ divyauṣadhi-rasa-rasāyanānna-pāna-snānādibhir ādhayo vyādhayo valī-palita-jarādayaś ca deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glānir iti vayo ’vasthāś ca bhavanti.

SYNONYMS

na — not; — either; eteṣu — in these planets; vasatām — of those residing; divya — wonderful; auṣadhi — of herbs; rasa — the juices; rasāyana — and elixirs; anna — by eating; pāna — drinking; snāna-ādibhiḥ — by bathing in and so on; ādhayaḥ — mental troubles; vyādhayaḥ — diseases; valī — wrinkles; palita — grey hair; jarā — old age; ādayaḥ — and so on; ca — and; deha-vaivarṇya — the fading of bodily luster; daurgandhya — bad odor; sveda — perspiration; klama — fatigue; glāniḥ — lack of energy; iti — thus; vayaḥ avasthāḥ — miserable conditions due to increasing age; ca — and; bhavanti — are.

TRANSLATION

Since the residents of these planets drink and bathe in juices and elixirs made from wonderful herbs, they are freed from all anxieties and physical diseases. They have no experience of grey hair, wrinkles or invalidity, their bodily lusters do not fade, their perspiration does not cause a bad smell, and they are not troubled by fatigue or by lack of energy or enthusiasm due to old age.

VERSE 5.24.14

na hi teṣāṁ kalyāṇānāṁ prabhavati kutaścana mṛtyur vinā bhagavat-tejasaś cakrāpadeśāt.

SYNONYMS

na hi — not; teṣām — of them; kalyāṇānām — who are by nature auspicious; prabhavati — able to influence; kutaścana — from anywhere; mṛtyuḥ — death; vinā — except; bhagavat-tejasaḥ — of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; cakra-apadeśāt — from that weapon named the Sudarśana cakra.

TRANSLATION

They live very auspiciously and do not fear death from anything but death’s established time, which is the effulgence of the Sudarśana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

VERSE 5.24.15

yasmin praviṣṭe ’sura-vadhūnāṁ prāyaḥ puṁsavanāni bhayād eva sravanti patanti ca.

SYNONYMS

yasmin — where; praviṣṭe — when entered; asura-vadhūnām — of the wives of those demons; prāyaḥ — almost always; puṁsavanāni — fetuses; bhayāt — because of fear; eva — certainly; sravanti — slip out; patanti — fall down; ca — and.

TRANSLATION

When the Sudarśana disc enters those provinces, the pregnant wives of the demons all have miscarriages due to fear of its effulgence.

VERSE 5.24.16

athātale maya-putro ’suro balo nivasati yena ha vā iha sṛṣṭāḥ ṣaṇ-ṇavatir māyāḥ kāścanādyāpi māyāvino dhārayanti yasya ca jṛmbhamāṇasya mukhatas trayaḥ strī-gaṇā udapadyanta svairiṇyaḥ kāminyaḥ puṁścalya iti yā vai bilāyanaṁ praviṣṭaṁ puruṣaṁ rasena hāṭakākhyena sādhayitvā sva-vilāsāvalokanānurāga-smita-saṁlāpopagūhanādibhiḥ svairaṁ kila ramayanti yasminn upayukte puruṣa īśvaro ’haṁ siddho ’ham ity ayuta-mahā-gaja-balam ātmānam abhimanyamānaḥ katthate madāndha iva.

SYNONYMS

atha — now; atale — on the planet named Atala; maya-putraḥ asuraḥ — the demon son of Maya; balaḥ — Bala; nivasati — resides; yena — by whom; ha — indeed; iha — in this; sṛṣṭāḥ — propagated; ṣaṭ-ṇavatiḥ — ninety-six; māyāḥ — varieties of illusion; kāścana — some; adya api — even today; māyā-vinaḥ — those who know the art of magical feats (like manufacturing gold); dhārayanti — utilize; yasya — of whom; ca — also; jṛmbhamāṇasya — while yawning; mukhataḥ — from the mouth; trayaḥ — three; strī-gaṇāḥ — varieties of women; udapadyanta — were generated; svairiṇyaḥ — svairiṇī (one who only marries in her same class); kāminyaḥ — kāmiṇī (one who, being lusty, marries men from any group); puṁścalyaḥ — puṁścalī (one who wants to go from one husband to another); iti — thus; yāḥ — who; vai — certainly; bila-ayanam — the subterranean planets; praviṣṭam — entering; puruṣam — a male; rasena — by a juice; hāṭaka-ākhyena — made from an intoxicating herb known as hāṭaka; sādhayitvā — making sexually fit; sva-vilāsa — for their personal sense gratification; avalokana — by glances; anurāga — lustful; smita — by smiling; saṁlāpa — by talking; upagūhana-ādibhiḥ — and by embracing; svairam — according to their own desire; kila — indeed; ramayanti — enjoy sex pleasure; yasmin — which; upayukte — when used; puruṣaḥ — a man; īśvaraḥ aham — I am the most powerful person; siddhaḥ aham — I am the greatest and most elevated person; iti — thus; ayuta — ten thousand; mahā-gaja — of big elephants; balam — the strength; ātmānam — himself; abhimanyamānaḥ — being full of pride; katthate — they say; mada-andhaḥ — blinded by false prestige; iva — like.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, now I shall describe to you the lower planetary systems, one by one, beginning from Atala. In Atala there is a demon, the son of Maya Dānava named Bala, who created ninety-six kinds of mystic power. Some so-called yogīs and svāmīs take advantage of this mystic power to cheat people even today. Simply by yawning, the demon Bala created three kinds of women, known as svairiṇī, kāmiṇī and puṁścalī. The svairiṇīs like to marry men from their own group, the kāmiṇīs marry men from any group, and the puṁścalīs change husbands one after another. If a man enters the planet of Atala, these women immediately capture him and induce him to drink an intoxicating beverage made with a drug known as hāṭaka [cannabis indica]. This intoxicant endows the man with great sexual prowess, of which the women take advantage for enjoyment. A woman will enchant him with attractive glances, intimate words, smiles of love and then embraces. In this way she induces him to enjoy sex with her to her full satisfaction. Because of his increased sexual power, the man thinks himself stronger than ten thousand elephants and considers himself most perfect. Indeed, illusioned and intoxicated by false pride, he thinks himself God, ignoring impending death.

VERSE 5.24.17

tato ’dhastād vitale haro bhagavān hāṭakeśvaraḥ sva-pārṣada-bhūta-gaṇāvṛtaḥ prajāpati-sargopabṛṁhaṇāya bhavo bhavānyā saha mithunī-bhūta āste yataḥ pravṛttā sarit-pravarā hāṭakī nāma bhavayor vīryeṇa yatra citrabhānur mātariśvanā samidhyamāna ojasā pibati tan niṣṭhyūtaṁ hāṭakākhyaṁ suvarṇaṁ bhūṣaṇenāsurendrāvarodheṣu puruṣāḥ saha puruṣībhir dhārayanti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — the planet Atala; adhastāt — beneath; vitale — on the planet; haraḥ — Lord Śiva; bhagavān — the most powerful personality; hāṭakeśvaraḥ — the master of gold; sva-pārṣada — by his own associates; bhūta-gaṇa — who are ghostly living beings; āvṛtaḥ — surrounded; prajāpati-sarga — of the creation of Lord Brahmā; upabṛṁhaṇāya — to increase the population; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; bhavānyā saha — with his wife, Bhavānī; mithunī-bhūtaḥ — being united in sex; āste — remains; yataḥ — from that planet (Vitala); pravṛttā — being emanated; sarit-pravarā — the great river; hāṭakī — Hāṭakī; nāma — named; bhavayoḥ vīryeṇa — due to the semen and ovum of Lord Śiva and Bhavānī; yatra — where; citra-bhānuḥ — the fire-god; mātariśvanā — by the wind; samidhyamānaḥ — being brightly inflamed; ojasā — with great strength; pibati — drinks; tat — that; niṣṭhyūtam — spit out with a hissing sound; hāṭaka-ākhyam — named Hāṭaka; suvarṇam — gold; bhūṣaṇena — by different types of ornaments; asura-indra — of the great asuras; avarodheṣu — in the homes; puruṣāḥ — the males; saha — with; puruṣībhiḥ — their wives and women; dhārayanti — wear.

TRANSLATION

The next planet below Atala is Vitala, wherein Lord Śiva, who is known as the master of gold mines, lives with his personal associates, the ghosts and similar living entities. Lord Śiva, as the progenitor, engages in sex with Bhavānī, the progenitress, to produce living entities, and from the mixture of their vital fluid the river named Hāṭakī is generated. When fire, being made to blaze by the wind, drinks of this river and then sizzles and spits it out, it produces gold called Hāṭaka. The demons who live on that planet with their wives decorate themselves with various ornaments made from that gold, and thus they live there very happily.

VERSE 5.24.18

tato ’dhastāt sutale udāra-śravāḥ puṇya-śloko virocanātmajo balir bhagavatā mahendrasya priyaṁ cikīrṣamāṇenāditer labdha-kāyo bhūtvā vaṭu-vāmana-rūpeṇa parākṣipta-loka-trayo bhagavad-anukampayaiva punaḥ praveśita indrādiṣv avidyamānayā susamṛddhayā śriyābhijuṣṭaḥ sva-dharmeṇārādhayaṁs tam eva bhagavantam ārādhanīyam apagata-sādhvasa āste ’dhunāpi.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt — beneath the planet known as Vitala; sutale — on the planet known as Sutala; udāra-śravāḥ — very greatly celebrated; puṇya-ślokaḥ — very pious and advanced in spiritual consciousness; virocana-ātmajaḥ — the son of Virocana; baliḥ — Bali Mahārāja; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mahā-indrasya — of the King of heaven, Indra; priyam — the welfare; cikīrṣamāṇena — desiring to perform; āditeḥ — from Aditi; labdha-kāyaḥ — having obtained His body; bhūtvā — appearing; vaṭu — brahmacāri; vāmana-rūpeṇa — in the form of a dwarf; parākṣipta — wrested away; loka-trayaḥ — the three worlds; bhagavat-anukampayā — by the causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva — certainly; punaḥ — again; praveśitaḥ — caused to enter; indra-ādiṣu — even among the demigods like the King of heaven; avidyamānayā — not existing; susamṛddhayā — much enriched by such exalted opulence; śriyā — by good fortune; abhijuṣṭaḥ — being blessed; sva-dharmeṇa — by discharging devotional service; ārādhayan — worshiping; tam — Him; eva — certainly; bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ārādhanīyam — who is most worshipable; apagata-sādhvasaḥ — without fear; āste — remains; adhunā api — even today.

TRANSLATION

Below the planet Vitala is another planet, known as Sutala, where the great son of Mahārāja Virocana, Bali Mahārāja, who is celebrated as the most pious king, resides even now. For the welfare of Indra, the King of heaven, Lord Viṣṇu appeared in the form of a dwarf brahmacārī as the son of Aditi and tricked Bali Mahārāja by begging for only three paces of land but taking all the three worlds. Being very pleased with Bali Mahārāja for giving all his possessions, the Lord returned his kingdom and made him richer than the opulent King Indra. Even now, Bali Mahārāja engages in devotional service by worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the planet of Sutala.

VERSE 5.24.19

no evaitat sākṣātkāro bhūmi-dānasya yat tad bhagavaty aśeṣa-jīva-nikāyānāṁ jīva-bhūtātma-bhūte paramātmani vāsudeve tīrthatame pātra upapanne parayā śraddhayā paramādara-samāhita-manasā sampratipāditasya sākṣād apavarga-dvārasya yad bila-nilayaiśvaryam.

SYNONYMS

no — not; eva — indeed; etat — this; sākṣātkāraḥ — the direct result; bhūmi-dānasya — of contribution of land; yat — which; tat — that; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aśeṣa-jīva-nikāyānām — of unlimited numbers of living entities; jīva-bhūta-ātma-bhūte — who is the life and the Supersoul; parama-ātmani — the supreme regulator; vāsudeve — Lord Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa); tīrtha-tame — who is the best of all places of pilgrimage; pātre — the most worthy recipient; upapanne — having approached; parayā — by the topmost; śraddhayā — faith; parama-ādara — with great respect; samāhita-manasā — with an attentive mind; sampratipāditasya — which was given; sākṣāt — directly; apavarga-dvārasya — the gate of liberation; yat — which; bila-nilaya — of bila-svarga, the imitation heavenly planets; aiśvaryam — the opulence.

TRANSLATION

My dear King, Bali Mahārāja donated all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāmanadeva, but one should certainly not conclude that he achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of his charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the friendly Supersoul, and under His direction a living entity enjoys or suffers in the material world. Greatly appreciating the transcendental qualities of the Lord, Bali Mahārāja offered everything at His lotus feet. His purpose, however, was not to gain anything material, but to become a pure devotee. For a pure devotee, the door of liberation is automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Mahārāja was given so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances.

VERSE 5.24.20

yasya ha vāva kṣuta-patana-praskhalanādiṣu vivaśaḥ sakṛn nāmābhigṛṇan puruṣaḥ karma-bandhanam añjasā vidhunoti yasya haiva pratibādhanaṁ mumukṣavo ’nyathaivopalabhante.

SYNONYMS

yasya — of whom; ha vāva — indeed; kṣuta — when in hunger; patana — falling down; praskhalana-ādiṣu — stumbling and so on; vivaśaḥ — being helpless; sakṛt — once; nāma abhigṛṇan — chanting the holy name of the Lord; puruṣaḥ — a person; karma-bandhanam — the bondage of fruitive activity; añjasā — completely; vidhunoti — washes away; yasya — of which; ha — certainly; eva — in this way; pratibādhanam — the repulsion; mumukṣavaḥ — persons desiring liberation; anyathā — otherwise; eva — certainly; upalabhante — are trying to realize.

TRANSLATION

If one who is embarrassed by hunger or who falls down or stumbles chants the holy name of the Lord even once, willingly or unwillingly, he is immediately freed from the reactions of his past deeds. Karmīs entangled in material activities face many difficulties in the practice of mystic yoga and other endeavors to achieve that same freedom.

VERSE 5.24.21

tad bhaktānām ātmavatāṁ sarveṣām ātmany ātmada ātmatayaiva.

SYNONYMS

tat — that; bhaktānām — of great devotees; ātma-vatām — of self-realized persons like Sanaka and Sanātana; sarveṣām — of all; ātmani — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the soul; ātma-de — who gives Himself without hesitation; ātmatayā — who is the Supreme Soul, Paramātmā; eva — indeed.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul, sells Himself to His devotees such as Nārada Muni. In other words, the Lord gives pure love to such devotees and gives Himself to those who love Him purely. Great, self-realized mystic yogīs such as the four Kumāras also derive great transcendental bliss from realizing the Supersoul within themselves.

VERSE 5.24.22

na vai bhagavān nūnam amuṣyānujagrāha yad uta punar ātmānusmṛti-moṣaṇaṁ māyāmaya-bhogaiśvaryam evātanuteti.

SYNONYMS

na — not; vai — indeed; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nūnam — certainly; amuṣya — unto Bali Mahārāja; anujagrāha — showed His favor; yat — because; uta — certainly; punaḥ — again; ātma-anusmṛti — of remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; moṣaṇam — which robs one; māyā-maya — an attribute of Māyā; bhoga-aiśvaryam — the material opulence; eva — certainly; ātanuta — extended; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead did not award His mercy to Bali Mahārāja by giving him material happiness and opulence, for these make one forget loving service to the Lord. The result of material opulence is that one can no longer absorb his mind in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

VERSE 5.24.23

yat tad bhagavatānadhigatānyopāyena yācñā-cchalenāpahṛta-sva-śarīrāvaśeṣita-loka-trayo varuṇa-pāśaiś ca sampratimukto giri-daryāṁ cāpaviddha iti hovāca.

SYNONYMS

yat — which; tat — that; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anadhigata-anya-upāyena — who is not perceived by other means; yācñā-chalena — by a trick of begging; apahṛta — taken away; sva-śarīra-avaśeṣita — with only his own body remaining; loka-trayaḥ — the three worlds; varuṇa-pāśaiḥ — by the ropes of Varuṇa; ca — and; sampratimuktaḥ — completely bound; giri-daryām — in a cave in a mountain; ca — and; apaviddhaḥ — being detained; iti — thus; ha — indeed; uvāca — said.

TRANSLATION

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead could see no other means of taking everything away from Bali Mahārāja, He adopted the trick of begging from him and took away all the three worlds. Thus only his body was left, but the Lord was still not satisfied. He arrested Bali Mahārāja, bound him with the ropes of Varuṇa and threw him in a cave in a mountain. Nevertheless, although all his property was taken and he was thrown into a cave, Bali Mahārāja was such a great devotee that he spoke as follows.

VERSE 5.24.24

nūnaṁ batāyaṁ bhagavān artheṣu na niṣṇāto yo ’sāv indro yasya sacivo mantrāya vṛta ekāntato bṛhaspatis tam atihāya svayam upendreṇātmānam ayācatātmanaś cāśiṣo no eva tad-dāsyam ati-gambhīra-vayasaḥ kālasya manvantara-parivṛttaṁ kiyal loka-trayam idam.

SYNONYMS

nūnam — certainly; bata — alas; ayam — this; bhagavān — very learned; artheṣu — in self-interest; na — not; niṣṇātaḥ — very experienced; yaḥ — who; asau — the King of heaven; indraḥ — Indra; yasya — of whom; sacivaḥ — the prime minister; mantrāya — for giving instructions; vṛtaḥ — chosen; ekāntataḥ — alone; bṛhaspatiḥ — named Bṛhaspati; tam — him; atihāya — ignoring; svayam — personally; upendreṇa — by means of Upendra (Lord Vāmanadeva); ātmānam — myself; ayācata — requested; ātmanaḥ — for himself; ca — and; āśiṣaḥ — blessings (the three worlds); no — not; eva — certainly; tat-dāsyam — the loving service of the Lord; ati — very; gambhīra-vayasaḥ — having an insurmountable duration; kālasya — of time; manvantara-parivṛttam — changed by the end of a life of a Manu; kiyat — what is the value of; loka-trayam — three worlds; idam — these.

TRANSLATION

Alas, how pitiable it is for Indra, the King of heaven, that although he is very learned and powerful and although he chose Bṛhaspati as his prime minister to instruct him, he is completely ignorant concerning spiritual advancement. Bṛhaspati is also unintelligent because he did not properly instruct his disciple Indra. Lord Vāmanadeva was standing at Indra’s door, but King Indra, instead of begging Him for an opportunity to render transcendental loving service, engaged Him in asking me for alms to gain the three worlds for his sense gratification. Sovereignty over the three worlds is very insignificant because whatever material opulence one may possess lasts only for an age of Manu, which is but a tiny fraction of endless time.

VERSE 5.24.25

yasyānudāsyam evāsmat-pitāmahaḥ kila vavre na tu sva-pitryaṁ yad utākutobhayaṁ padaṁ dīyamānaṁ bhagavataḥ param iti bhagavatoparate khalu sva-pitari.

SYNONYMS

yasya — of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); anudāsyam — the service; eva — certainly; asmat — our; pitā-mahaḥ — grandfather; kila — indeed; vavre — accepted; na — not; tu — but; sva — own; pitryam — paternal property; yat — which; uta — certainly; akutaḥ-bhayam — fearlessness; padam — position; dīyamānam — being offered; bhagavataḥ — than the Supreme Personality of Godhead; param — other; iti — thus; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uparate — when killed; khalu — indeed; sva-pitari — his own father.

TRANSLATION

Bali Mahārāja said: My grandfather Prahlāda Mahārāja is the only person who understood his own self-interest. Upon the death of Prahlāda’s father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva wanted to offer Prahlāda his father’s kingdom and even wanted to grant him liberation from material bondage, but Prahlāda accepted neither. Liberation and material opulence, he thought, are obstacles to devotional service, and therefore such gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead are not His actual mercy. Consequently, instead of accepting the results of karma and jñāna, Prahlāda Mahārāja simply begged the Lord for engagement in the service of His servant.

VERSE 5.24.26

tasya mahānubhāvasyānupatham amṛjita-kaṣāyaḥ ko vāsmad-vidhaḥ parihīṇa-bhagavad-anugraha upajigamiṣatīti.

SYNONYMS

tasya — of Prahlāda Mahārāja; mahā-anubhāvasya — who was an exalted devotee; anupatham — the path; amṛjita-kaṣāyaḥ — a person who is materially contaminated; kaḥ — what; — or; asmat-vidhaḥ — like us; parihīṇa-bhagavat-anugrahaḥ — being without the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upajigamiṣati — desires to follow; iti — thus.

TRANSLATION

Bali Mahārāja said: Persons like us, who are still attached to material enjoyment, who are contaminated by the modes of material nature and who lack the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot follow the supreme path of Prahlāda Mahārāja, the exalted devotee of the Lord.

VERSE 5.24.27

tasyānucaritam upariṣṭād vistariṣyate yasya bhagavān svayam akhila-jagad-gurur nārāyaṇo dvāri gadā-pāṇir avatiṣṭhate nija-janānukampita-hṛdayo yenāṅguṣṭhena padā daśa-kandharo yojanāyutāyutaṁ dig-vijaya uccāṭitaḥ.

SYNONYMS

tasya — of Bali Mahārāja; anucaritam — the narration; upariṣṭāt — later (in the Eighth Canto); vistariṣyate — will be explained; yasya — of whom; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; svayam — personally; akhila-jagad-guruḥ — the master of all the three worlds; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa Himself; dvāri — at the gate; gadā-pāṇiḥ — bearing the club in His hand; avatiṣṭhate — stands; nija-jana-anukampita-hṛdayaḥ — whose heart is always filled with mercy for His devotees; yena — by whom; aṅguṣṭhena — by the big toe; padā — of His foot; daśa-kandharaḥ — Rāvaṇa, who had ten heads; yojana-ayuta-ayutam — a distance of eighty thousand miles; dik-vijaye — for the purpose of gaining victory over Bali Mahārāja; uccāṭitaḥ — driven away.

TRANSLATION

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, how shall I glorify the character of Bali Mahārāja? The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of the three worlds, who is most compassionate to His own devotee, stands with club in hand at Bali Mahārāja’s door. When Rāvaṇa, the powerful demon, came to gain victory over Bali Mahārāja, Vāmanadeva kicked him a distance of eighty thousand miles with His big toe. I shall explain the character and activities of Bali Mahārāja later [in the Eighth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam].

VERSE 5.24.28

tato ’dhastāt talātale mayo nāma dānavendras tri-purādhipatir bhagavatā purāriṇā tri-lokī-śaṁ cikīrṣuṇā nirdagdha-sva-pura-trayas tat-prasādāl labdha-pado māyāvinām ācāryo mahādevena parirakṣito vigata-sudarśana-bhayo mahīyate.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — the planet known as Sutala; adhastāt — below; talātale — in the planet known as Talātala; mayaḥ — Maya; nāma — named; dānava-indraḥ — the king of the Dānava demons; tri-pura-adhipatiḥ — the Lord of the three cities; bhagavatā — by the most powerful; purāriṇā — Lord Śiva, who is known as Tripurāri; tri-lokī — of the three worlds; śam — the good fortune; cikīrṣuṇā — who was desiring; nirdagdha — burned; sva-pura-trayaḥ — whose three cities; tat-prasādāt — by Lord Śiva’s mercy; labdha — obtained; padaḥ — a kingdom; māyā-vinām ācāryaḥ — who is the ācārya, or master, of all the conjurers; mahā-devena — by Lord Śiva; parirakṣitaḥ — protected; vigata-sudarśana-bhayaḥ — who is not afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His Sudarśana cakra; mahīyate — is worshiped.

TRANSLATION

Beneath the planet known as Sutala is another planet, called Talātala, which is ruled by the Dānava demon named Maya. Maya is known as the ācārya [master] of all the māyāvīs, who can invoke the powers of sorcery. For the benefit of the three worlds, Lord Śiva, who is known as Tripurāri, once set fire to the three kingdoms of Maya, but later, being pleased with him, he returned his kingdom. Since that time, Maya Dānava has been protected by Lord Śiva, and therefore he falsely thinks that he need not fear the Sudarśana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

VERSE 5.24.29

tato ’dhastān mahātale kādraveyāṇāṁ sarpāṇāṁ naika-śirasāṁ krodhavaśo nāma gaṇaḥ kuhaka-takṣaka-kāliya-suṣeṇādi-pradhānā mahā-bhogavantaḥ patattri-rājādhipateḥ puruṣa-vāhād anavaratam udvijamānāḥ sva-kalatrāpatya-suhṛt-kuṭumba-saṅgena kvacit pramattā viharanti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ — the planet Talātala; adhastāt — beneath; mahātale — in the planet known as Mahātala; kādraveyāṇām — of the descendants of Kadrū; sarpāṇām — who are big snakes; na eka-śirasām — who have many hoods; krodha-vaśaḥ — always subject to anger; nāma — named; gaṇaḥ — the group; kuhaka — Kuhaka; takṣaka — Takṣaka; kāliya — Kāliya; suṣeṇa — Suṣeṇa; ādi — and so on; pradhānāḥ — who are the prominent ones; mahā-bhogavantaḥ — addicted to all kinds of material enjoyment; patattri-rāja-adhipateḥ — from the king of all birds, Garuḍa; puruṣa-vāhāt — who carries the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anavaratam — constantly; udvijamānāḥ — afraid; sva — of their own; kalatra-apatya — wives and children; suhṛt — friends; kuṭumba — relatives; saṅgena — in the association; kvacit — sometimes; pramattāḥ — infuriated; viharanti — they sport.

TRANSLATION

The planetary system below Talātala is known as Mahātala. It is the abode of many-hooded snakes, descendants of Kadrū, who are always very angry. The great snakes who are prominent are Kuhaka, Takṣaka, Kāliya and Suṣeṇa. The snakes in Mahātala are always disturbed by fear of Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, but although they are full of anxiety, some of them nevertheless sport with their wives, children, friends and relatives.

VERSE 5.24.30

tato ’dhastād rasātale daiteyā dānavāḥ paṇayo nāma nivāta-kavacāḥ kāleyā hiraṇya-puravāsina iti vibudha-pratyanīkā utpattyā mahaujaso mahā-sāhasino bhagavataḥ sakala-lokānubhāvasya harer eva tejasā pratihata-balāvalepā bileśayā iva vasanti ye vai saramayendra-dūtyā vāgbhir mantra-varṇābhir indrād bibhyati.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt — below the planetary system Mahātala; rasātale — on the planet called Rasātala; daiteyāḥ — the sons of Diti; dānavāḥ — the sons of Danu; paṇayaḥ nāma — named Paṇis; nivāta-kavacāḥ — Nivāta-kavacas; kāleyāḥ — Kāleyas; hiraṇya-puravāsinaḥ — Hiraṇya-puravāsīs; iti — thus; vibudha-pratyanīkāḥ — enemies of the demigods; utpattyāḥ — from birth; mahā-ojasaḥ — very powerful; mahā-sāhasinaḥ — very cruel; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; sakala-loka-anubhāvasya — who is auspicious for all planetary systems; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva — certainly; tejasā — by the Sudarśana cakra; pratihata — defeated; bala — strength; avalepāḥ — and pride (because of bodily strength); bila-īśayāḥ — the snakes; iva — like; vasanti — they live; ye — who; vai — indeed; saramayā — by Saramā; indra-dūtyā — the messenger of Indra; vāgbhiḥ — by the words; mantra-varṇābhiḥ — in the form of a mantra; indrāt — from King Indra; bibhyati — are afraid.

TRANSLATION

Beneath Mahātala is the planetary system known as Rasātala, which is the abode of the demoniac sons of Diti and Danu. They are called Paṇis, Nivāta-kavacas, Kāleyas and Hiraṇya-puravāsīs [those living in Hiraṇya-pura]. They are all enemies of the demigods, and they reside in holes like snakes. From birth they are extremely powerful and cruel, and although they are proud of their strength, they are always defeated by the Sudarśana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who rules all the planetary systems. When a female messenger from Indra named Saramā chants a particular curse, the serpentine demons of Mahātala become very afraid of Indra.

VERSE 5.24.31

tato ’dhastāt pātāle nāga-loka-patayo vāsuki-pramukhāḥ śaṅkha-kulika-mahāśaṅkha-śveta-dhanañjaya-dhṛtarāṣṭra-śaṅkhacūḍa-kambalāśvatara-devadattādayo mahā-bhogino mahāmarṣā nivasanti yeṣām u ha vai pañca-sapta-daśa-śata-sahasra-śīrṣāṇāṁ phaṇāsu viracitā mahā-maṇayo rociṣṇavaḥ pātāla-vivara-timira-nikaraṁ sva-rociṣā vidhamanti.

SYNONYMS

tataḥ adhastāt — beneath that planet Rasātala; pātāle — on the planet known as Pātāla; nāga-loka-patayaḥ — the masters of the Nāgalokas; vāsuki — by Vāsuki; pramukhāḥ — headed; śaṅkha — Śaṅkha; kulika — Kulika; mahā-śaṅkha — Mahāśaṅkha; śveta — Śveta; dhanañjaya — Dhanañjaya; dhṛtarāṣṭra — Dhṛtarāṣṭra; śaṅkha-cūḍa — Śaṅkhacūḍa; kambala — Kambala; aśvatara — Aśvatara; deva-datta — Devadatta; ādayaḥ — and so on; mahā-bhoginaḥ — very addicted to material happiness; mahā-amarṣāḥ — greatly envious by nature; nivasanti — live; yeṣām — of all of them; u ha — certainly; vai — indeed; pañca — five; sapta — seven; daśa — ten; śata — one hundred; sahasra — one thousand; śīrṣāṇām — of those possessing hoods; phaṇāsu — on those hoods; viracitāḥ — fixed; mahā-maṇayaḥ — very valuable gems; rociṣṇavaḥ — full of effulgence; pātāla-vivara — the caves of the Pātāla planetary system; timira-nikaram — the mass of darkness; sva-rociṣā — by the effulgence of their hoods; vidhamanti — disperse.

TRANSLATION

Beneath Rasātala is another planetary system, known as Pātāla or Nāgaloka, where there are many demoniac serpents, the masters of Nāgaloka, such as Śaṅkha, Kulika, Mahāśaṅkha, Śveta, Dhanañjaya, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Śaṅkhacūḍa, Kambala, Aśvatara and Devadatta. The chief among them is Vāsuki. They are all extremely angry, and they have many, many hoods — some snakes five hoods, some seven, some ten, others a hundred and others a thousand. These hoods are bedecked with valuable gems, and the light emanating from the gems illuminates the entire planetary system of bila-svarga.