5.98

jale bhari’ ardha tanha kaila nija-vasa

ara ardhe kaila caudda-bhuvana prakasa

SYNONYMS

jale—with water; bhari’-filling; ardha—half; tanha—there; kaila—made; nija-vasa—own residence; ara—other; ardhe—in the half; kaila—did; caudda-bhuvana—fourteen worlds; prakasa—manifestation.

After filling half the universe with water, He made His own residence therein and manifested the fourteen worlds in the other half.

PURPORT

The fourteen worlds are enumerated in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto, Fifth Chapter.

The upper planetary systems are (1) Bhu, (2) Bhuvar, (3) Svar, (4) Mahar, (5) Janas, (6) Tapas and (7) Satya.

The seven lower planetary systems are (1) Tala, (2) Atala, (3) Vitala, (4) Nitala, (5) Talatala, (6) Mahatala and (7) Sutala.

The lower planets, as a whole, are called Patala.

Among the upper planetary systems, Bhu, Bhuvar and Svar constitute Svargaloka, and the rest are called Martya.

The entire universe is thus known as Triloka.