SB 5.23.9 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

ग्रहर्क्षतारामयमाधिदैविकं पापापहं मन्त्रकृतां त्रिकालम् । नमस्यत: स्मरतो वा त्रिकालं नश्येत तत्कालजमाशु पापम् ॥ ९ ॥

Verse text

graharkṣatārāmayam ādhidaivikaṁ pāpāpahaṁ mantra-kṛtāṁ tri-kālam namasyataḥ smarato vā tri-kālaṁ naśyeta tat-kālajam āśu pāpam

Synonyms

graha — ṛkṣa — tārā — mayam — consisting of all the planets and stars ; ādhidaivikam — the leader of all the demigods ; pāpa — apaham — the killer of sinful reactions ; mantra — kṛtām — of those who chant the mantra mentioned above ; tri — kālam — three times ; namasyataḥ — offering obeisances ; smarataḥ — meditating ; vā — or ; tri — kālam — three times ; naśyeta — destroys ; tat — kāla — jam — born at that time ; āśu — very quickly ; pāpam — all sinful reactions .

Translation

The body of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, which forms the Śiśumāra-cakra, is the resting place of all the demigods and all the stars and planets. One who chants this mantra to worship that Supreme Person three times a day — morning, noon and evening — will surely be freed from all sinful reactions. If one simply offers his obeisances to this form or remembers this form three times a day, all his recent sinful activities will be destroyed.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Persons who offer respects three times a day to this form and remember this form of the Lord which is composed of the planets, constellations and stars, and which destroys all sins, while chanting this mantra, quickly destroy all sins born of time. For persons who chant this mantra just mentioned, who offer respects to and remember this form of the Supreme Lord (adhidaivikam) all sins are destroyed. From the sun to Dhruvaloka is 3,800,000 yojanas. Maharloka is 10,000,000 yojanas from Dhruvaloka. Janaloka is 20,000,000 yojanas from Maharloka. Tapaloka is 80,000,000 yojanas from Janaloka. Satyaloka is 120,000,000 yojanas from Tapaloka. From the sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas. Vaikuṇṭha is 26,200,000 yojanas above Satyaloka. That is the covering of the universe. This is mentioned in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Thus it is seen that 250,000,000 yojanas from the sun is the shell of the universe. The earth is 100,000 yojanas from the sun. The seven lower planets continue to Pātālaloka for 70,000 yojanas below the earth. From Pātālaloka to Śeṣa on the Garbodhaka Ocean is 30,000 yojanas. The Garbodhaka Ocean is 200,000 yojanas from the sun. The ocean is 249,800,000 yojanas deep. Thus from top to bottom, the universe is 500,000,000 yojanas. Thus ends the commentary on the Twenty-third Chapter of the Fifth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Twenty-four Description of the Lower Planets

Purport

Summarizing the entire description of the planetary systems of the universe, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that one who is able to meditate upon this arrangement as the virāṭ-rūpa, or viśva-rūpa, the external body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and worship Him three times a day by meditation will always be free from all sinful reactions. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura estimates that Dhruvaloka, the polestar, is 3,800,000 yojanas above the sun. Above Dhruvaloka by 10,000,000 yojanas is Maharloka, above Maharloka by 20,000,000 yojanas is Janaloka, above Janaloka by 80,000,000 yojanas is Tapoloka, and above Tapoloka by 120,000,000 yojanas is Satyaloka. Thus the distance from the sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas, or 1,870,400,000 miles. The Vaikuṇṭha planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. Thus the Viṣṇu Purāṇa describes that the covering of the universe is 260,000,000 yojanas (2,080,000,000 miles) away from the sun. The distance from the sun to the earth is 100,000 yojanas, and below the earth by 70,000 yojanas are the seven lower planetary systems called Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. Below these lower planets by 30,000 yojanas, Śeṣa Nāga is lying on the Garbhodaka Ocean. That ocean is 249,800,000 yojanas deep. Thus the total diameter of the universe is approximately 500,000,000 yojanas, or 4,000,000,000 miles. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to the Fifth Canto, Twenty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Śiśumāra Planetary Systems.”