Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 2 Chapter 5:30-42

Book 2: Chapter 5

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 2: Chapter 5: Verses 30-42 A description of the cosmos From theSattvikaEgo sprang up the cosmic Mind (as well as the deity presiding over the same, viz., the moon-god) and the ten deities severally presiding over the five senses of perception and the five organs of action, viz., the Digdevatas, the wind-god, the sun-god, Varuna, the twin-gods Aswins (the physicians of the gods), the god of fire, Indra (the lord of paradise), Lord Visnu (appearing as a younger brother of Indra and therefore called Upendra), Mitra (one of the twelve sons of Aditi) and Prajapati From the Rajasika Ego, as it underwent transformation, were evolved the ten Indriyas--the five senses of perception, viz., the auditory sense, the sense of touch, the sense of sight, the sense of taste and the olfactory sense, and the five organs of action, viz., the organ of speech, the hands and feet, the organ of generation and the organ of excretion. Again, the intellect, which is the faculty of cognition, and Praha the faculty of action, are also the evolutes of the Rajasika Ego. O Narada (the foremost among the knowers of Brahma), so long as these categories-the gross elements, the Indriyas, the mind and the three Gunas or modes of Prakrti remained dissociated they could not erect a house in the form of a body. Then, urged by God's power, they combined with one another and, assuming between themselves the role of cause and its effects, produced both the cosmic and the individual body. The macrocosm in the form of an egg lay on the causal waters in a lifeless condition for a thousand years. With the help of Time as well as of the destiny and innate disposition of the individual souls, however, at the end of this period the Lord (who is the life-giver of all) infused life into this egg. Bursting open that (Cosmic) egg, issued therefrom the same Supreme Person (the Cosmic Being) with thousands of thighs, feet, arms and eyes and thousands of faces and heads too. It is in His limbs that the wise locate the various worlds comprised in this universe-the seven lower spheres below His waist and the seven higher spheres above His hip and loins. The Brahmana (the priestly class) represents the mouth of this Cosmic Being and the Ksatriya (the warrior-class), His arms. The Vaisya (the trading class) emanated from the Lord's thighs and the Sudra (the labouring and artisan classes) from His feet. The seven subterranean spheres and the sphere of the earth are located in His lower limbs-from the feet up to the waist, the Bhuvarloka (the space between the earth and heaven) in His navel, the Swarloka (Indra's paradise) in the heart, and the Maharloka in the breast of that Supreme Being . Even so Janaloka is located in His neck, Tapoloka in His breasts, and the Satyaloka, the (comparatively) eternal abode of Brahma, in His heads. Again, the Atalaloka is located in His waist, the Vitalaloka in His thighs, the holy Sutalaloka (the abode of Prahlada, Bali and other devotees as well as of the Lord Himself as the divine Dwarf) in His knees, the Talatala in His shanks. Even so the Mahatala is located in His ankles, the Rasatala in the fore part of His feet, and the Patala in His soles . In this way the Supreme Person represents the aggregate of all the fourteen worlds. (According to another arrangement) the sphere of the earth is located in His feet, the Bhuvarloka in His navel, and the Swarloka in His head. This is how the three worlds are located according to this arrangement. Thus ends the fifth discourse in Book Two of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.