Scriptures

Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

BOOK 8 • CHAPTER 18
Ch 18 Verse 1-2 Verse
Sanskrit Text
८.१८ अष्टादशोऽध्यायः । राहुमण्डलाद्यवस्थानवर्णनम् । श्रीनारायण उवाच । अधस्तात्सवितुः प्रोक्तमयुतं राहुमण्डलम् । नक्षत्रवच्चरति च सैंहिकेयोऽतदर्हणः ॥ १ ॥ सूर्याचन्द्रमसोरेव मर्दनः सिंहिकासुतः । अमरत्वं च खेटत्वं लेभे यो विष्ण्वनुग्रहात् ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
Nārāyaṇa said :-- O Devarṣi! The Sphere of Rāhu (the ascending node) is situated one Ayuta Yoyanas below the Sun. Rāhu, the son of Simhikā is moving there like a Nakṣattra. This Rāhu swallows up both the Sun and the Moon and He has got immortality and capability to travel in the sky.
Ch 18 Verse 3-4 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यददस्तरणेर्बिम्बं तपतो योजनायुतम् । तच्छादकोऽसुरो ज्ञेयोऽप्यर्कसाहस्रविस्तरम् ॥ ३ ॥ त्रयोदशसहस्रं तु सोमस्याच्छादको ग्रहः । यः पर्वसमये वैरानुबन्धी छादकोऽभवत् ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
The Sun’s rays go up to one Ayuta Yoyanas. The Asura Rāhu thus covers his rays. So the sphere of the Moon extends upto the twelve thousand Yoyanas. Rāhu covers the field of the thirteen thousand Yoyanas. So he covers both the Sun and the Moon. Desire to take the vengeance of the previous enmity, he covers them during the time of Parva (the festivals).
Ch 18 Verse 5-7 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सूर्याचन्द्रमसोर्दूराद्भवेच्छादनकारकः । तन्निशम्योभयत्रापि विष्णुना प्रेरितं स्वकम् ॥ ५ ॥ चक्रं सुदर्शनं नाम ज्वालामालातिभीषणम् । तत्तेजसा दुःसहेन समन्तात्परिवारितम् ॥ ६ ॥ मुहूर्तो द्विजमानस्तु दूराच्चकितमानसः । आरान्निवर्तते सोऽयमुपराग इतीव ह ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
This planet wants to cover them from a distance. Hearing this, the Bhagavān Viṣṇu hurls His Sudarśan Cakra against Rāhu. This Cakra (disc) is encircled with the fiery flames and is very terrible. When all the quarters were filled with its violent flames, Rāhu became instantly alarmed and fled away from the distance.
Ch 18 Verse 8-9 Verse
Sanskrit Text
उच्यते लोकमध्ये तु देवर्षे अवबुध्यताम् । ततोऽधस्तात्समाख्याता लोकाः परमपावनाः ॥ ८ ॥ सिद्धानां चारणानां च विद्याध्राणां च सत्तम । योजनायुतविख्याता लोकाः पुण्यनिषेविताः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
O Devarṣi! This is known as the eclipse known amongst the mortals. Below the sphere of Rāhu, there are the other pure Lokas situated. O Sattama! The Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Vidyādharas live in those Lokas. Their dimensions are one Ayuta Yojanas.
Ch 18 Verse 10 Verse
Sanskrit Text
ततोऽप्यधस्ताद्देवर्षे यक्षाणां च सरक्षसाम् । पिशाचप्रेतभूतानां विहाराजिरमुत्तमम् ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
O Devarṣi! Below them live the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Piśācas, Pretas and Bhūtas with their excellent Vihāras (residences).
Ch 18 Verse 11-12 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अन्तरिक्षं च तत्प्रोक्तं यावद्वायुः प्रवाति हि । यावन्मेघास्ततोद्यन्ति तत्प्रोक्तं ज्ञानकोविदैः ॥ ११ ॥ ततोऽधस्ताद्योजनानां शतं यावद् द्विजोत्तम । पृथिवी परिसङ्ख्याता सुपर्णश्येनसारसाः ॥ १२ ॥
English Translation
The learned people call this Antarīkṣa. It extends upto where the wind blows violently and where the clouds appear. O Best of the twice-born! Below this Antarīkṣa is this earth, measuring one hundred Yoyanas.
Ch 18 Verse 13-14 Verse
Sanskrit Text
हंसादयः प्रोत्पतन्ति पार्थिवाः पृथिवीभवाः । भूसन्निवेशावस्थानं यथावदुपवर्णितम् ॥ १३ ॥ अधस्तादवनेः सप्त देवर्षे विवराः स्मृताः । एकैकशो योजनानामायामोच्छ्रायतः पुनः ॥ १४ ॥
English Translation
All the articles and things of the earth are found here; birds herons, cranes and ducks all fly over the earth. The earth extends upto this. Now is described the configuration of the earth. O Devarṣi! At the lower part of this earth there are seven places (caves or nether regions).
Ch 18 Verse 15-16 Verse
Sanskrit Text
अयुतान्तरविख्याताः सर्वर्तुसुखदायकाः । अतलं प्रथमं प्रोक्तं द्वितीयं वितलं तथा ॥ १५ ॥ तृतीयं सुतलं प्रोक्तं चतुर्थं वै तलातलम् । महातलं पञ्चमं च षष्ठं प्रोक्तं रसातलम् ॥ १६ ॥
English Translation
Their diameter is one Ayuta Yoyanas. In all the seasons, all sorts of enjoyments can be had at these places. The first is Atala; the second is Vitala. Next come in order :-- Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala. Rasātala, and lastly (the seventh) the Pātāla. O Vipra! Thus the seven holes or regions are reckoned.
Ch 18 Verse 17-18 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सप्तमं विप्र पातालं सप्तैते विवराः स्मृताः । एतेषु बिलस्वर्गेषु दिवोऽप्यधिकमेव च ॥ १७ ॥ कामभोगैश्वर्यसुखसमृद्धभुवनेषु च । नित्योद्यानविहारेषु सुखास्वादः प्रवर्तते ॥ १८ ॥
English Translation
These are termed the Vila-Svargas and they yield the happinesses, greater than those of the Heavens. These are all filled with lovely amorous enjoyments, prosperity and happiness. They are crowded with gardens and Vihāras (the places of enjoyments).
Ch 18 Verse 19-20 Verse
Sanskrit Text
दैत्याश्च काद्रवेयाश्च दानवा बलशालिनः । नित्यप्रमुदिता रक्ताः कलत्रापत्यबन्धुभिः ॥ १९ ॥ सुहृद्भिरनुजीवाद्यैः संयुताश्च गृहेश्वराः । ईश्वरादप्रतिहतकामा मायाविनश्च ते ॥ २० ॥
English Translation
And these Vihāras are all decorated tastefully so as to furnish special tastes of enjoyments. The powerful Daityas, Dānavas, and Snakes enjoy here great happiness incessantly, united lovingly with their sons, wives and friends. The householders also pass their time in ease and enjoyments, surrounded by their friends and attendants.
Ch 18 Verse 21-22 Verse
Sanskrit Text
निवसन्ति सदा हृष्टाः सर्वर्तुसुखसंयुताः । मयेन मायाविभुना येषु येषु च निर्मिताः ॥ २१ ॥ पुरः प्रकामशो भक्ता मणिप्रवरशालिनः । विचित्रभवनाट्टालगोपुराद्याः सहस्रशः ॥ २२ ॥
English Translation
They are all Māyāvis (Magicians) and their resolves are not thwarted; they are more than God in this respect and they are filled with desires. They all live with joy and in enjoyments and they find pleasure in all the seasons. Māyā, the Lord of Māyā had built separate cities, as he liked, in those nether regions. Besides he has created thousands of dwelling-houses, palaces, and town-gates, studded with gems and jewels.
Ch 18 Verse 23-24 Verse
Sanskrit Text
सभाचत्वरचैत्यादिशोभाढ्याः सुरदुर्लभाः । नागासुराणां मिथुनैः सपारावतसारिकैः ॥ २३ ॥ कीर्णकृत्रिमभूमिश्च विवरेशगृहोत्तमैः । अलङ्कृताश्चकासन्ति उद्यानानि महान्ति च ॥ २४ ॥
English Translation
The assembly halls, Chatvaras, and Caityas are elaborately decorated and rare even to the Suras. The Nāgas and Asuras live in those houses with their consorts; doves and pigeons and female Mayinā birds are hovering there. In those places many plots marked out artificially and excellent rows of palatial buildings of the Lords of those Vivaras adorn there. Very big gardens also exist there.
Ch 18 Verse 25 Verse
Sanskrit Text
मनःप्रसन्नकारीणि फलपुष्पविशालिभिः । ललनानां विलासार्हस्थानैः शोभितभाञ्जि च ॥ २५ ॥
English Translation
All these cheer the minds; and, to add to their beauty, many places of fruits and flowers are close by, fit for the comfort and enjoyments of the ladies.
Ch 18 Verse 26-27 Verse
Sanskrit Text
नानाविहङ्गमव्रातसंयुक्तजलराशिभिः । स्वच्छार्णपूरितह्रदैः पाठीनसमलङ्कृतैः ॥ २६ ॥ जलजन्तुक्षुब्धनीरनीरजातैरनेकशः । कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारनीलरक्तोत्पलैस्तथा ॥ २७ ॥
English Translation
The tanks and pools of water are crowded with various birds; the lakes are filled with clear waters and the Pāṭhīna fishes abound there. The aquatic animals move in the waters, violently agitating them. Various kinds of lotuses, Kumud, Utpala, Kahlāra, blue lotus, red lotus, are fully blown in these lakes or reservoirs of water.
Ch 18 Verse 28-29 Verse
Sanskrit Text
तेषु कृतनिकेतानां विहारैः सङ्कुलानि च । इन्द्रियोत्सवकारैश्च तथैव विविधैः स्वरैः ॥ २८ ॥ अमराणां च परमां श्रियं चातिशयन्ति च । यत्र नैव भयं क्वापि कालाङ्गैर्दिनरात्रिभिः ॥ २९ ॥
English Translation
The gardens there are all overcrowded with the Vihāras of the inhabitants there and echoed with the sweet melodious music, pleasing to the senses. For there, these places seem to vie with the Heavens. No fear is there, whether during the day or during the night.
Ch 18 Verse 30-31 Verse
Sanskrit Text
यत्राहिप्रवराणां च शिरःस्थैर्मणिरश्मिभिः । नित्यं तमः प्रबाध्येत सदा प्रस्फुटकान्तिभिः ॥ ३० ॥ न वा एतेषु वसतां दिव्यौषधिरसायनैः । रसान्नपानस्नानाद्यैर्नाधयो न च व्याधयः ॥ ३१ ॥
English Translation
The gems on the crest of snakes constantly illumine the environments and there is no darkness there at any time. The food there is prepared with the divine medicines and they drink and bathe with these medicinal plants; so no disease attacks them.
Ch 18 Verse 32 Verse
Sanskrit Text
वलीपलितजीर्णत्ववैवर्ण्यस्वेदगन्धताः । अनुत्साहवयोऽवस्था न बाधन्ते कदाचन ॥ ३२ ॥
English Translation
Old age, fever, indigestion, paleness, sweats, bad smells, or loss of energy or any other source of trouble cannot trouble them. The people are always happy and good.
Ch 18 Verse 33-34 Verse
Sanskrit Text
कल्याणानां सदा तेषां न च मृत्युभयं कुतः । भगवत्तेजसोऽन्यत्र चक्राच्चैव सुदर्शनात् ॥ ३३ ॥ यस्मिन्प्रविष्टे दैतेयवधूनां गर्भराशयः । प्रायो भयात्पतन्त्येव स्रवन्ति ब्रह्मपुत्रक ॥ ३४ ॥
Sanskrit Colophon
इति श्रीमद्देवीभागवते महापुराणेऽष्टादशसाहस्र्यां संहितायामष्टमस्कन्धे राहुमण्डलाद्यवस्थानवर्णनं नामाष्टादशोऽध्यायः ॥ ८.१८॥
English Translation
Only they fear the Teja of the Bhagavān and His Sudarśan disc; and they fear nothing else. When the Teja of the Bhagavān enters, the women’s abortions take place. Here ends the Eighteenth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narrative of Rāhu Maṇḍalam in the Mahāpurāṇam Śrī Mad Devī Bhāgavatam of 18,000 verses, by Maharṣi Veda Vyāsa.