Devanagari
पुरुषावयवैर्लोका: सपाला: पूर्वकल्पिता: ।
लोकैरमुष्यावयवा: सपालैरिति शुश्रुम ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
puruṣāvayavair lokāḥ
sapālāḥ pūrva-kalpitāḥ
lokair amuṣyāvayavāḥ
sa-pālair iti śuśruma
Synonyms
puruṣa
—
the universal form of the Lord ( virāṭ-puruṣaḥ )
;
avayavaiḥ
—
by different parts of the body
;
lokāḥ
—
the planetary system
;
sa
—
pālāḥ — with respective governors
;
pūrva
—
formerly
;
kalpitāḥ
—
discussed
;
lokaiḥ
—
by the different planetary systems
;
amuṣya
—
His
;
avayavāḥ
—
different parts of the body
;
sa
—
pālaiḥ — with the governors
;
iti
—
thus
;
śuśruma
—
I heard .
Translation
O learned brāhmaṇa, it was formerly explained that all the planets of the universe with their respective governors are situated in the different parts of the gigantic body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. I have also heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. But what is their actual position? Will you please explain that?
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The planets and their protectors were previously identified with limbs of the puruṣa and the limbs of the puruṣa were identified with the planets. This I have heard. If there are more details please explain them.
Commentary (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Now Parīkṣit asks another question. The planets were previously imagined as limbs of the puruṣa starting in SB 2.5.36. The limbs of the puruṣa were equated with the planets starting in SB 2.1.26. I have heard this from your mouth. If there are some other details concerning this, please tell that. I asked about the jīva controlled by the Lord and the second puruṣa situated in the universe (SB 2.8.8). I have asked about the first puruṣa, creator of the mahat-tattva (SB 2.8.10) and the third puruṣa situated in all living entities (SB 2.8.10). It is said in the smṛti:
viṣṇos tu trīṇi rūpāṇi puruṣākhyāny atho viduḥ |
ekaṁ tu mahataḥ sraṣṭṛ dvitīyaṁ tantu-saṁsthitam |
tṛtīyaṁ sarva-bhūtasthaṁ tāni jṣātvā vimucyate ||
The three forms of Viṣṇu are called puruṣas. The first is the creator of the mahat-tattva. The second is situated in the universe, and the third is situated in all living entities. One who knows them becomes liberated.
I have also asked about the totality of jīvas in the present question about the limbs of the puruṣa. These five questions are suitable for śānta and dāsya bhakti. These questions indicate that Śukadeva should tell how the form of the Lord, that Brahmā saw, is distinct from the jīva. This is desired in prīti-bhakti or dāsya-bhakti.