Description of the Worlds

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.19.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । रविचन्द्रमसोर्यावन्मयूखा भासयन्ति हि । तावत्प्रमाणा पृथिवी भूलोकः स तु गीयते

sanatkumāra uvāca ravicandramasoryāvanmayūkhā bhāsayanti hi tāvatpramāṇā pṛthivī bhūlokaḥ sa tu gīyate

Sanatkumara said: As far as the rays of the sun and moon spread their light, so far is the extent of the earth reckoned; that is what is called Bhurloka.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.19.2)

भूमेर्योजनलक्षे तु संस्थितं रविमण्डलम् । योजनानां सहस्राणि सदैव परिसङ्ख्यया

bhūmeryojanalakṣe tu saṁsthitaṁ ravimaṇḍalam yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi sadaiva parisaṅkhyayā

At a distance of one hundred thousand yojanas from the earth stands the orb of the sun, always reckoned by that count of thousands of yojanas.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.19.3)

शशिनस्तु प्रमाणाय जगतः परिचक्षते । रवेरूर्ध्वं शशी तस्थौ लक्षयोजनसङ्ख्यया

śaśinastu pramāṇāya jagataḥ paricakṣate raverūrdhvaṁ śaśī tasthau lakṣayojanasaṅkhyayā

The measure of the moon too is described relative to the world; above the sun stands the moon, at a distance counted in a hundred thousand yojanas.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.19.4)

ग्रहाणां मण्डलं कृत्स्नं विधोरुपरि संस्थितम् । सनक्षत्रं सहस्राणि दशैव परितोपरि

grahāṇāṁ maṇḍalaṁ kṛtsnaṁ vidhorupari saṁsthitam sanakṣatraṁ sahasrāṇi daśaiva paritopari

The entire circle of the planets, together with the constellations, stands ten thousand yojanas higher still, above the moon.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.19.5)

बुधस्तस्मादथो काव्यस्तस्माद्भौमस्य मण्डलम् । बृहस्पतिस्तदूर्ध्वं तु तस्योपरि शनैश्चरः

budhastasmādatho kāvyastasmādbhaumasya maṇḍalam bṛhaspatistadūrdhvaṁ tu tasyopari śanaiścaraḥ

Above that is Budha (Mercury), then Kavya (Venus), then the orb of Bhauma (Mars); above that is Brihaspati (Jupiter), and above him Shanaishchara (Saturn).

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.19.6)

सप्तर्षिमण्डलं तस्माल्लक्षेणैकेन संस्थितम् । ऋषिभ्यस्तु सहस्राणां शतादूर्ध्वं ध्रुवः स्थितः

saptarṣimaṇḍalaṁ tasmāllakṣeṇaikena saṁsthitam ṛṣibhyastu sahasrāṇāṁ śatādūrdhvaṁ dhruvaḥ sthitaḥ

From there, one hundred thousand yojanas higher, stands the circle of the Seven Sages; and above the sages, a hundred thousand yojanas higher, stands Dhruva, the pole star.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.19.7)

मेढीभूतः स यस्तस्य ज्योतिश्चक्रस्य वै ध्रुवः । भूर्भुवः स्वरिति ज्ञेयं भुव ऊर्ध्वं ध्रुवादवाक्

meḍhībhūtaḥ sa yastasya jyotiścakrasya vai dhruvaḥ bhūrbhuvaḥ svariti jñeyaṁ bhuva ūrdhvaṁ dhruvādavāk

That Dhruva is, as it were, the pivot of the wheel of the luminaries. It should be known that Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah lie below Dhruva and above the earth.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.19.8)

एकयोजनकोटिस्तु यत्र ते कल्पवासिनः । ध्रुवादूर्ध्वं महर्लोकः सप्तैते ब्रह्मणः सुताः

ekayojanakoṭistu yatra te kalpavāsinaḥ dhruvādūrdhvaṁ maharlokaḥ saptaite brahmaṇaḥ sutāḥ

At a distance of one crore yojanas above Dhruva is the place where those who dwell there for a kalpa abide; above Dhruva lies Maharloka, where dwell the seven sons of Brahma.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.19.9)

सनकश्च सनन्दश्च तृतीयश्च सनातनः । कपिलश्चासुरिश्चैव वोढुः पञ्चशिखस्तथा

sanakaśca sanandaśca tṛtīyaśca sanātanaḥ kapilaścāsuriścaiva voḍhuḥ pañcaśikhastathā

Sanaka, Sanandana, and the third, Sanatana; Kapila, Asuri, Vodhu, and likewise Panchashikha.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.19.10)

उपरिष्टात्ततः शुक्रो द्विलक्षाभ्यन्तरे स्थितः । द्विलक्षयोजनं तस्मादधः सोमसुतः स्मृतः

upariṣṭāttataḥ śukro dvilakṣābhyantare sthitaḥ dvilakṣayojanaṁ tasmādadhaḥ somasutaḥ smṛtaḥ

Above that, Shukra (Venus) stands within a distance of two hundred thousand yojanas; and two hundred thousand yojanas below him is placed the son of the Moon, Budha (Mercury).

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.19.11)

द्विलक्षयोजनं तस्मादूर्ध्वं भौमः स्थितो मुने । द्विलक्षयोजनं तस्मादूर्ध्वं जीवः स्थितो गुरुः

dvilakṣayojanaṁ tasmādūrdhvaṁ bhaumaḥ sthito mune dvilakṣayojanaṁ tasmādūrdhvaṁ jīvaḥ sthito guruḥ

O sage, two hundred thousand yojanas above that stands Bhauma (Mars); and two hundred thousand yojanas above him stands Jiva, that is, Guru (Jupiter).

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.19.12)

द्विलक्षयोजनं जीवादूर्ध्वं सौरिर्व्यवस्थितः । एते सप्त ग्रहाः प्रोक्ताः स्व स्व राशौ व्यवस्थिता

dvilakṣayojanaṁ jīvādūrdhvaṁ saurirvyavasthitaḥ ete sapta grahāḥ proktāḥ sva sva rāśau vyavasthitā

Two hundred thousand yojanas above Jiva is situated Sauri (Saturn); these are declared to be the seven planets, each established in its own zodiacal sign.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.19.13)

रुद्रलक्षैर्योजनतः सप्तोर्ध्वमृषयः स्थिताः । विश्वलक्षैर्योजनतो ध्रुवस्थितिरुदाहृता

rudralakṣairyojanataḥ saptordhvamṛṣayaḥ sthitāḥ viśvalakṣairyojanato dhruvasthitirudāhṛtā

At a distance in hundred-thousands of yojanas equal to the number of the Rudras, the Seven Sages stand above; at a distance in hundred-thousands equal to the number of the Vishvedevas, the position of Dhruva is declared.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.19.14)

चतुर्गुणोत्तरे चार्धे जनलोकात्तपः स्मृतम् । वैराजा यत्र देवा वै स्थिता दाहविवर्जिताः

caturguṇottare cārdhe janalokāttapaḥ smṛtam vairājā yatra devā vai sthitā dāhavivarjitāḥ

At four times that distance beyond Janaloka, Tapoloka is known, where the gods called Vairaja dwell, untouched by any burning.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.19.15)

षड्गुणेन तपोलोकात्सत्यलोको व्यवस्थितः । ब्रह्मलोकः स विज्ञेयो वसन्त्यमलचेतसः

ṣaḍguṇena tapolokātsatyaloko vyavasthitaḥ brahmalokaḥ sa vijñeyo vasantyamalacetasaḥ

At six times the distance from Tapoloka, Satyaloka is situated; it should be known as Brahmaloka, where those of stainless mind dwell.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.19.16)

सत्यधर्मरताश्चैव ज्ञानिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः । यद्गामिनोऽथ भूलोकान्निवसन्ति हि मानवाः

satyadharmaratāścaiva jñānino brahmacāriṇaḥ yadgāmino'tha bhūlokānnivasanti hi mānavāḥ

Those devoted to truth and dharma, the wise, and celibate students go there; and it is from Bhurloka upward that humans dwell.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.19.17)

भुवर्लोके तु संसिद्धा मुनयो देवरूपिणः । स्वर्गलोके सुरादित्या मरुतो वसवोऽश्विनौ

bhuvarloke tu saṁsiddhā munayo devarūpiṇaḥ svargaloke surādityā maruto vasavo'śvinau

In Bhuvarloka dwell the perfected sages of divine form; in Svargaloka dwell the gods -- the Adityas, the Maruts, the Vasus, and the two Ashvins.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.19.18)

विश्वेदेवास्तथा रुद्राः साध्या नागाः खगादयः । नवग्रहास्ततस्तत्र ऋषयो वीतकल्मषाः

viśvedevāstathā rudrāḥ sādhyā nāgāḥ khagādayaḥ navagrahāstatastatra ṛṣayo vītakalmaṣāḥ

And likewise the Vishvedevas, the Rudras, the Sadhyas, the Nagas, and birds and the like; and the nine planets, and sages free from sin, dwell there too.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.19.19)

एते सप्त महालोकाः कालेय कथितास्तव । पातालानि च सप्तैव ब्रह्माण्डस्य च विस्तरः

ete sapta mahālokāḥ kāleya kathitāstava pātālāni ca saptaiva brahmāṇḍasya ca vistaraḥ

O Kaleya, these seven great worlds have been described to you, and the seven Patalas as well -- this is the entire extent of the cosmic egg.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.19.20)

दधिवृक्षफलं यद्वद् वृत्तिश्चोर्ध्वमधस्तथा । एतदण्डकटाहेन सर्वतो वै समावृतम्

dadhivṛkṣaphalaṁ yadvad vṛttiścordhvamadhastathā etadaṇḍakaṭāhena sarvato vai samāvṛtam

Just as the rind of a round fruit encloses it above and below on every side, so this entire cosmic egg is wholly enclosed on every side by its shell.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.19.21)

दशगुणेन पयसा सर्वतस्तत्समावृतम् । वह्निना वायुना चापि नभसा तमसा तथा

daśaguṇena payasā sarvatastatsamāvṛtam vahninā vāyunā cāpi nabhasā tamasā tathā

That egg is in turn surrounded on every side by water ten times as vast, then by fire, then by air, then by ether, and then by darkness.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.19.22)

भूतादिनापि महता दिग्गुणोत्तरवेष्टितः । महान्तं च समावृत्य प्रधानं पुरुषः स्थितः

bhūtādināpi mahatā digguṇottaraveṣṭitaḥ mahāntaṁ ca samāvṛtya pradhānaṁ puruṣaḥ sthitaḥ

That is enveloped by the great Bhutadi, the ego-principle, each successive layer more extensive than the one before; and having enveloped the Mahat, Prakriti stands, and beyond her stands Purusha.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.19.23)

अनन्तस्य न तस्यास्ति सङ्ख्यापि परमात्मनः । तेनानन्त इति ख्यातः प्रमाणं नास्ति वै यतः

anantasya na tasyāsti saṅkhyāpi paramātmanaḥ tenānanta iti khyātaḥ pramāṇaṁ nāsti vai yataḥ

Of that infinite Supreme Self there is not even a reckoning; therefore he is renowned as Ananta, the Infinite, since no measure of him exists.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.19.24)

हेतुभूतः समस्तस्य प्रकृतिः सा परा मुने । अण्डानां तु सहस्राणां सहस्राण्ययुतानि च

hetubhūtaḥ samastasya prakṛtiḥ sā parā mune aṇḍānāṁ tu sahasrāṇāṁ sahasrāṇyayutāni ca

O sage, that supreme Prakriti alone is the cause of everything; and there are thousands upon thousands, tens of thousands, of such cosmic eggs.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.19.25)

ईदृशानां प्रभूतानि तस्मादव्यक्तजन्मनः । दारुण्यग्निस्तिले तैलं पयःसु च यथा घृतम्

īdṛśānāṁ prabhūtāni tasmādavyaktajanmanaḥ dāruṇyagnistile tailaṁ payaḥsu ca yathā ghṛtam

Countless multitudes of such eggs are born from that Unmanifest -- just as fire is latent in wood, oil in sesame seed, and ghee in milk.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.19.26)

तथासौ परमात्मा वै सर्वं व्याप्यात्मवेदनः । आदिबीजात्प्रसुवते ततस्तेभ्यः परेऽण्डजाः

tathāsau paramātmā vai sarvaṁ vyāpyātmavedanaḥ ādibījātprasuvate tatastebhyaḥ pare'ṇḍajāḥ

In that same way that all-pervading, self-aware Supreme Self brings forth creation from the primal seed, and from that, further egg-born beings arise.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.19.27)

तेभ्यः पुत्रास्तथान्येषां बीजान्यन्यानि वै ततः । महदादियोविशेषान्तास्तद्भवन्ति सुरादयः

tebhyaḥ putrāstathānyeṣāṁ bījānyanyāni vai tataḥ mahadādiyoviśeṣāntāstadbhavanti surādayaḥ

From them come sons, and from them again other seeds; thus, from Mahat down to the specific elements, the gods and other beings come into existence.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.19.28)

बीजाद् वृक्षप्ररोहेण यथा नापचयस्तरोः । सूर्यकान्तमणेः सूर्याद्यद्वद्वह्निः प्रजायते

bījād vṛkṣapraroheṇa yathā nāpacayastaroḥ sūryakāntamaṇeḥ sūryādyadvadvahniḥ prajāyate

Just as a tree suffers no loss when it sprouts from a seed, and just as fire is produced from the sun through a sun-crystal --

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.19.29)

तद्वत्सञ्जायते सृष्टिः शिवस्तत्रः न कामयेत् । शिवशक्तिसमायोगे देवाद्याः प्रभवन्ति हि

tadvatsañjāyate sṛṣṭiḥ śivastatraḥ na kāmayet śivaśaktisamāyoge devādyāḥ prabhavanti hi

-- in that same way creation comes into being; Shiva himself holds no desire in it. It is through the union of Shiva and Shakti that the gods and other beings arise.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.19.30)

तथा स्वकर्मणैकेन प्ररोहमुपयान्ति वै । ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्राश्च स शिवः परिगीयते

tathā svakarmaṇaikena prarohamupayānti vai brahmā viṣṇuśca rudrāśca sa śivaḥ parigīyate

And so, by their own single act, they come forth into being -- Brahma, Vishnu, and the Rudras; and he, the source of all, is celebrated as Shiva.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.19.31)

तस्मादुद्धरते सर्वं यस्मिंश्च लयमेष्यति । कर्ता क्रियाणां सर्वासां स शिवः परिगीयते

tasmāduddharate sarvaṁ yasmiṁśca layameṣyati kartā kriyāṇāṁ sarvāsāṁ sa śivaḥ parigīyate

From him everything is drawn forth, and into him everything shall return in dissolution; he who is the doer of all actions is celebrated as Shiva.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.19.32)

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ छिन्धि मे संशयं महत् । सन्ति लोका हि ब्रह्माण्डादुपरिष्टान्न वा मुने

vyāsa uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña chindhi me saṁśayaṁ mahat santi lokā hi brahmāṇḍādupariṣṭānna vā mune

Vyasa said: O all-knowing Sanatkumara, resolve this great doubt of mine -- O sage, are there worlds above the cosmic egg, or not?

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.19.33)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ब्रह्माण्डादुपरिष्टाच्च सन्ति लोका मुनीश्वर । तान् शृणु त्वं विशेषेण वच्मि तेऽहं समागतः

sanatkumāra uvāca brahmāṇḍādupariṣṭācca santi lokā munīśvara tān śṛṇu tvaṁ viśeṣeṇa vacmi te'haṁ samāgataḥ

Sanatkumara said: O lord of sages, there are indeed worlds above the cosmic egg. Hear of them in detail; I have come here to tell you fully.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.19.34)

विधिलोकात्परो लोको वैकुण्ठ इति विश्रुतः । विराजते महादीप्त्या यत्र विष्णुः प्रतिष्ठितः

vidhilokātparo loko vaikuṇṭha iti viśrutaḥ virājate mahādīptyā yatra viṣṇuḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Beyond the world of Brahma lies the world renowned as Vaikuntha, shining with great splendor, where Vishnu is established.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.19.35)

तस्योपरिष्टात्कौमारो लोको हि परमाद्भुतः । सेनानीः शम्भुतनयो राजते यत्र सुप्रभः

tasyopariṣṭātkaumāro loko hi paramādbhutaḥ senānīḥ śambhutanayo rājate yatra suprabhaḥ

Above that lies the exceedingly wondrous world called Kaumara, where the resplendent commander of the gods, the son of Shambhu, reigns.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.19.36)

ततः परमुमालोको महादिव्यो विराजते । यत्र शक्तिर्विभात्येका त्रिदेवजननी शिवा

tataḥ paramumāloko mahādivyo virājate yatra śaktirvibhātyekā tridevajananī śivā

Beyond that shines the greatly divine world of Uma, where the one Shakti, the auspicious mother of the three gods, radiantly dwells.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.19.37)

परात्परा हि प्रकृती रजःसत्त्वतमोमयी । निर्गुणा च स्वयं देवी निर्विकारा शिवात्मिका

parātparā hi prakṛtī rajaḥsattvatamomayī nirguṇā ca svayaṁ devī nirvikārā śivātmikā

She is Prakriti, higher than the highest, composed of rajas, sattva, and tamas; yet the Goddess herself is beyond qualities and beyond change, being the very self of Shiva.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.19.38)

तस्योपरिष्टाद्विज्ञेयः शिवलोकः सनातनः । अविनाशी महादिव्यो महाशोभान्वितः सदा

tasyopariṣṭādvijñeyaḥ śivalokaḥ sanātanaḥ avināśī mahādivyo mahāśobhānvitaḥ sadā

Above that should be known the eternal world of Shiva, imperishable, greatly divine, ever endowed with the greatest splendor.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.19.39)

विराजते परं ब्रह्म यत्र शम्भुर्महेश्वरः । त्रिदेवजनकः स्वामी सर्वेषां त्रिगुणात्परः

virājate paraṁ brahma yatra śambhurmaheśvaraḥ tridevajanakaḥ svāmī sarveṣāṁ triguṇātparaḥ

There the Supreme Brahman shines forth, where Shambhu, the Great Lord, dwells -- the father of the three gods, the master of all, beyond the three gunas.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.19.40)

तत ऊर्ध्वं न लोकाश्च गोलोकस्तत्समीपतः । गोमातरः सुशीलाख्यास्तत्र सन्ति शिवप्रिया

tata ūrdhvaṁ na lokāśca golokastatsamīpataḥ gomātaraḥ suśīlākhyāstatra santi śivapriyā

Above that there are no further worlds; near it lies Goloka, where dwell the cow-mothers known as Sushila, beloved of Shiva.

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.19.41)

तत्पालः कृष्णनामा हि राजते शङ्कराज्ञया । प्रतिष्ठितः शिवेनैव शक्त्या स्वच्छन्दचारिणा

tatpālaḥ kṛṣṇanāmā hi rājate śaṅkarājñayā pratiṣṭhitaḥ śivenaiva śaktyā svacchandacāriṇā

Its protector, named Krishna, reigns there by the command of Shankara, established there by Shiva himself, moving freely by his own will together with his Shakti.

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.19.42)

शिवलोकोऽद्भुतो व्यास निराधारो मनोहरः । तथानिर्वचनीयश्च नानावस्तुविराजितः

śivaloko'dbhuto vyāsa nirādhāro manoharaḥ tathānirvacanīyaśca nānāvastuvirājitaḥ

O Vyasa, the world of Shiva is wondrous, without any support, enchanting, and truly indescribable, adorned with manifold things.

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.19.43)

शिवस्तु तदधिष्ठाता सर्वदेवशिरोमणिः । विष्णुब्रह्महरैः सेव्यः परमात्मा निरञ्जनः

śivastu tadadhiṣṭhātā sarvadevaśiromaṇiḥ viṣṇubrahmaharaiḥ sevyaḥ paramātmā nirañjanaḥ

Shiva is the ruler of that world, the crown-jewel of all gods, served by Vishnu, Brahma, and Hara, the Supreme Self, untainted.

Verse 44 (shiva.uma.19.44)

इति ते कथिता तात सर्वब्रह्माण्डसंस्थितिः । तदूर्ध्वं लोकसंस्थानं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

iti te kathitā tāta sarvabrahmāṇḍasaṁsthitiḥ tadūrdhvaṁ lokasaṁsthānaṁ kimanyacchrotumicchasi

Thus, my child, has the entire structure of the cosmic egg been told to you, and the arrangement of the worlds above it as well. What else do you wish to hear?