Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.43

nabho dadāti śvasatāḿ

padaḿ yan-niyamād adaḥ

lokaḿ sva-dehaḿ tanute

mahān saptabhir āvṛtam

SYNONYMS

nabhaḥ — the sky; dadāti — gives; śvasatām — to the living entities; padam — abode; yat — of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); niyamāt — under the control; adaḥ — that; lokam — the universe; sva-deham — own body; tanute — expands; mahān — the mahat-tattva; saptabhiḥ — with the seven (layers); āvṛtam — covered.

TRANSLATION

Subject to the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sky allows outer space to accommodate all the various planets, which hold innumerable living entities. The total universal body expands with its seven coverings under His supreme control.

PURPORT

It is understood from this verse that all the planets in outer space are floating, and they all hold living entities. The word śvasatām means "those who breathe," or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there are innumerable planets. Every planet is a residence for innumerable living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the supreme order of the Lord. It is also stated here that the total universal body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the outside of the universal body. The first layer is of earth, and it is ten times greater in size than the space within the universe; the second layer is water, and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer; the third covering is fire, which is ten times greater than the water covering. In this way each layer is ten times greater than the previous one.

<<< >>>

Copyright © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness