Chapter 21 - Upper Regions (Bhūr, Bhuvar, Svar etc.)

The sages said:

1-2. Everything has been mentioned to us by you. We wish to know further about the upper worlds Bhūr, Bhuvar, Svar etc. “We also wish to know how the planets are stationed and what their magnitude is. O highly blessed Lomaharṣaṇa, mention these precisely.

Lomaharṣaṇa said:

3. That area which is illuminated by the rays of the sun and the moon is known as earth. It consists of oceans, rivers and mountains also.

4. The extent and magnitude of the sky is the same as those of the earth.

5. O brahmins, the disc of the sun is stationed a hundred thousand Yojanas away from the earth. The disc of the moon is stationed a hundred thousand Yojanas away from the sun.

6. Full hundred thousand Yojanas above the moon, the -entire sphere of the stars shines.

7. O brahmins, mercury (Budha) is two hundred thousand Yojanas above the sphere of stars. Venus (Uśanas) is stationed so many Yojanas above Mercury.

8. Mars (Aṅgāraka) is stationed so many Yojanas above Venus. The preceptor of Devas, Jupiter, is stationed two hundred thousand Yojanas above Mars.

9. Saturn (Sauri) is stationed two hundred thousand Yojanas above Jupiter. The sphere of seven sages (the Great Bear), O excellent brahmins, is stationed a hundred thousand Yojanas beyond it.

10. Polestar Dhruva that is the pivot of entire luminaries is stationed a hundred thousand Yojanas above seven sages.

11. O excellent sages, the three worlds have been succinctly mentioned. This is the ground for the benefit of sacrifice. The sacrifice is established here.

12. The Maharloka is a crore of Yojanas above Dhruva. It is here that the Kalpavāsins reside.

13. The Janaloka is two crores of Yojanas above Maharloka. It is here that Sanandana and other sons of Brahmā live. O brahmins, they are pure-minded.

14. Four times that distance above Janaloka (i.e. eight crores of Yojanas) is the Tapas region. It is there that the gods called Vairājas are stationed. They are devoid of physical forms.

15. Six times that distance above the Tapas region (i.e. 48 crores of Yojanas) shines the Satyaloka. This region releases, one from the bondage of death (that which does not kill again) and is known as the world of Brahmā.

16. Wherever there is earthly ground or object that can be traversed by foot, it is called Bhurloka. Its extent has been mentioned by me.

17. O excellent sages, the space between the earth and the sun, frequented by the sages, Siddhas and others, is called Bhuvarloka. It is the second of upper worlds.

18. The space between Dhruva and the sun which extends to one million four hundred thousand Yojanas is said to be Svarloka by those who are conversant with the geography of the worlds.

19. This set of three worlds is called Kṛtaka (artificial) by the brahmins. The three worlds Jana, Tapas and Satya are called Akṛtaka (Natural).

20. In between the two, Maharloka is known as Kṛtakākṛtaka. At the end of a Kalpa it becomes empty but is not annihilated entirely.

21. O brahmins, these seven upper worlds have been mentioned by me to you as also the seven nether worlds. This is the detailed description of the cosmic Egg.

22. This is enveloped by the cauldron of the Egg (Aṇḍakaṭāha) all round, at the sides above and below like the seeds of an apple fruit.

23. The Egg is enveloped by water ten times its size. The encircling volume of water is enveloped by fire.

24. O brahmins, the fire is enveloped by wind; and the wind is enveloped by Ether. O excellent sages, the Ether is enveloped by Mahat.

25. These seven are such that the outer one is ten times, the size of the inner one..The Pradhāna stands enveloping the Mahat.

26. It is infinite and endless. It has no reckoning since it cannot be measured by any unit, nor calculated by any figure.

27. O brahmins, it is the cause of entire creation. It is the great Prakṛti. There are thousands and thousands of such cosmic Eggs.

28-30. There are eggs like these, crores and hundred crores in number.

Just as there is fire in the wood, or oil in the gingelly seed so also the Puruṣa is stationed in the Pradhāna which it provides. He is known as the conscious Ātman.

O excellent brahmins, the Pradhāna and the Puruṣa are sustained by the Energy of Viṣṇu that is the soul of all living beings. They mix together in their activity. Thus the energy of Viṣṇu alone is the cause of separation and integration of Puruṣa and Pradhāna.

31-36. O excellent sages, at the creation of the universe it is the cause of agitation.

Just as wind contains chillness of each and every drop of water so also the Energy of Viṣṇu contains both Pradhāna and Puruṣa together.

A tree with its roots, stem and branches grows out of the first seed. Many seeds come out of that thereafter. From those seeds grow other trees. These have the same characteristics, causes and parts.

In the same manner the Mahat etc are evolved, at the outset from the unevolved Pradhāna. From the Mahat to Viśeṣa this is the process of creation. Therefrom the gods and others are born. Their sons are born, their sons and grandsons. It goes on.

Just as there is no deficiency or decline in the tree due to the growth of another tree from its seeds so also the elements do not dwindle by the creation of other elements.

37. Just as the Ether, time, etc. are as the cause of the tree by their mere presence, nearly so also Viṣṇu is the cause of universe without undergoing transformation.

38-40. In the seed of a grain all these are present in latent form—viz—the root, stalk, sprout, leaf, stem, ovary, flower, milk (soup), rice-grain, husks and the bits of grain. O excellent sages, when all the complements of causes for the growth are present, these parts, already present within manifest themselves.

In the same manner, the physical forms of gods and human beings are already present in the diverse activities. They grow up, by coming into contact with the energy of Viṣṇu.

41-44. That Viṣṇu is the great Brahman from whom this universe evolves, in whom it subsists and in whom it is dissolved.

That Brahman is the greatest abode; and the great region beyond Sat and Asat. The universe consisting of mobile and immobile beings is identical with him.

He alone is the Primordial Nature. He alone is the universe when his form becomes manifest. In him alone everything is evolved and dissolved.

He is the agent of rites; he is worshipped; he alone is the sacrifice and the benefit thereof; he alone is the means of sacrifice. There is nothing which is separate and different from him.