1
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 1:
Sri Paraasharah -
Vistaara esha kathitah pruthivyaa bhavato mayaa |
Saptatih tu sahasraani dvija ucchraayo api kathyate || *Sri Paraasharar *- I have told you, O Maitreya, the expanse of this whole earth. 70 thousand is the height, it is told.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Vistaara iti | Saptati sahasra ucchraayatvam sapta bhoomika praasaada
nyaayena | ***It is like a huge building with 7 storeys.
2
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 2:
Dasha saahasram ekaikam paataalam munisattama |
Atalam vitalam cha eva nitalam cha gabhastimat |
Mahaakhyam sutalam chaagryam paataalam cha api saptamam || ***Each one is 10 thousand, and the Paataala. The Paataala lokaas are told - *Atala, *Vitala, Nitala, Gabhastimat, Mahaatala, Sutala, Paataala.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Dasha saahasram iti | Dasha sahasrena bhoomi tat vivaramaana vibhaagah shiva
rahasya uktah * Tat antara putaah sapta naagaah sura samaashrayaah |
Yojanaanaam cha aayutaani sapta tattva artha chintakaih | Sahasra yojanaani
eshaam dalaani antara nemayah | Pratyekasho antaraani eshaam sahasraani
navaadhvanaam || iti | Adhvanaam yojanaanaam iti arthah | Atra vishesho
vaayu uktah * Pruthivyaam udakam saa cha pruthivyaam upari sthitaa |
Aakaashancha aparamadhyah punah bhoomih punah jalam || iti | Mahaakhyam
mahaa talam | Tat cha vaalukaamayam | In Shiva Rahasya, it is told - There are seven worlds where the Naagaas and gods are all living. 10 thousand yojanaas each, totally 70 thousand yojanaas. 1 thousand yojanaas is the expanse of each layer. 9 thousand yojanaas is the gap between them. Vaayu Puraana also talks about this. There is Aakaasha, Bhoomi, Jala, like this, it continues.
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**SrI VishNu PurANam (Vol. 2) *****Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 3:
Shukla krushna arunaah peetaah sharkaraah shaila kaanchanaah |
Bhoomayo yatra maitreya vara praasada manditaah || ***The seven worlds - *Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gabhastimat, Mahaatala, *Sutala and Paataala, in these, white, black, red, yellow, made of sand, stone, gold - the earth is made of these things. Each one is one story, like a building.
4
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 4:
Teshu daanava daiteya jaatayah shatashah tathaa |
Nivasanti mahaanaaga jaatayah cha mahaamune || In these worlds, daanavaas, daiteyaas, there are hundreds like this. And also those belonging to the class of serpents.
5
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 5:
Svarlokaat api ramyaani paataalaani iti naaradah |
Praaha svargasadaam madhye paataala abhyaagato divi || ***Naarada has said that they are more beautiful than even heavens. Naarada went to Paataala loka and saw all the beautiful things there and went to svarga loka and told them that Paataala loka is more beautiful than heavens.
6
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 6:
Aahlaadakaarinah shubhraah manayo yatra suprabhaah |
Naaga aabharana bhooshaasu paataalam kena tat samam || They are very pleasant, they bring great joy, clean, and have lot of bright gems. We can see the gems worn as ornaments by the serpents. What can equal this Paataala?
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Aahlaadakaarinah iti | Naaga aabharana iti | Aabhriyata iti aabharanam,
naagaih bhriyamaanah tu bhooshaasu | Yat va bhooshaah choodaadi
alamkaaraah nityaah phanaa mani prabhrutayo vaa | Naaga aabharana
bhooshaasu iti cha paathah | ***That which is worn is an ornament. On the hood, it is said to be a gem, mani, which is very bright and shining, with a lot of lustre, and they are all decorated with these. Paataala loka is extremely beautiful. There is no other world equal to this.
7
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 7:
Daitya daanava kanyaabhih itah cha itah cha shobhite |
Paataale kasya na preetih vimuktasya api jaayate || All the damsels of daityaas and daanavaas, are all roaming around there. The whole world is joyful and beautiful to see. Who will not like this?
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Daitya daanava kanyaabhih iti | Vimuktasya - vishaya raaga vimuktasya | [[59]]
Those who have controlled their sense will also get attracted by the beautiful things in this Paataala loka.
8
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 8:
Diva arka rashmayo yatra prabhaam tanvanti na aatapam |
Shashirashmih na sheetaaya nishi dyotaaya kevalam || The Sun’s rays do not cause any heat, but bring only brightness. There is no suffering because of the light of the Sun. In the same way, the rays of the moon do not cause chillness or cold, but they brighten up the whole place.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Diva ityaadi | Rashmi pravesha vachanaat dvaara sadbhaavo anumeyah | ***Because it is told that sunlight is coming all over, we can infer that there is entrance to the light.
9
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 9:
Bhakshya bhojya mahaa paanam uditaih api bhogibhih |
Yatra na jnyaayate kaalo gato api danuja aadibhih || ***All the various delicacies and food items and varieties of drinks are available. The serpents who are there are enjoying this, and don’t realize how time passes there.
10
***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 10:
Vanaani nadyo ramyaani saraamsi kamalaakaraah |
Pumskokilaa abhilaapaah cha manojnyaani ambaraani cha || ***There are wonderful parks and rivers, forests and streams, filled with lotuses. The male cuckoos are all the time making pleasant sounds. Nice dresses are available.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 11:
Bhooshanaani ati shubhraani gandhaadhyam cha anulepanam |
Veena venu mrudangaanaam svanaih aapooritaani cha || ***Pure and good dresses are available, and all kinds of fragrances and pastes which are fragrant. Air is filled with the sounds of Veena, Venu, Mrudanga and these instruments.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 12:
Etaani anyaani cha udaara bhaagya bhogyaani daanavaih |
Daitya uragaih cha bhujyante paataala antara gocharaih || ***All these and also many more, those endowed with the bhaagyaas enjoy there, the daanavaas, daityaas, serpents. They enjoy all these available in the *Paataala *loka. Those who live there are daityaas, uragaas and daanavaas. The demons and serpents who live there are enjoying all those things. [[60]]
The greatness of Paataala loka is told. There is also description of Ananta who is bearing the whole earth. We are studying the 5th Adhyaaya, we were studying the description of the lower worlds - Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gabhastimat, Mahaatala, Sutala and Paataala. These are the seven worlds, and these are also bhoga bhoomis. Those who live there enjoy all kinds of pleasures and enjoyment, and it is much better than heaven; this is what Naarada was telling, after having seen these lokaas. Those endowed with that kind of punya to be in those lokaas, enjoy different kinds of food, music.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 13:
Paataalaanaam adhah cha aaste vishnoh yaa taamasee tanuh |
Sheshaakhyaa yat gunaan vaktum na shaktaa daitya daanavaah || Below the Paataala is Ananta, the great serpent. Now, Paraasharar is going to tell about the greatness of that Ananta. All the daityaas and daanavaas who are there are unable to describe the excellent qualities of that Shesha Naaga, which is said to be the taamasee tanu of Vishnu below the Paataala.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Paataalaanaam iti | * Tasya moola deshe trimshat yojana sahasra antara aaste
yaa vai kalaa bhagavatah taamasee samaakhyaataa anante * iti bhaagavat uktih
| Taamasee samhaara hetubhoota tamo adhishthaatree | Ata eva asya vadanaat
kaala agni rudra nishkramanam uttaratra uchyate | This is said to be thirty thousand yojanaas, it is called Taamasee, the form of Bhagavaan Vishnu, and is called Ananta, as told in Bhaagavata. Taamasee means it is the cause of samhaara, dissolution, and it is tamas which is the cause of samhaara; the adhishtaatru devataa of that is called Taamasee. Later on, it will be told that from the mouth of Ananta, the Kaala Agni called Rudra comes out and does the samhaara, the fire which comes during dissolution.
14
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 14:
Yo anantah pathyate siddhaih devo devarshi poojitah |
Yah sahasra shiraa vyaktah svastikaamala bhooshanah || He is called Ananta, and is being worshipped by all Devarshis, and is is God Himself. He has thousand hoods. There is one sign on the hood called Svastika.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Yo iti | Svastikam phanastha rekhaa chinha visheshah | ***Svastika is a special sign which is present on the hood of Ananta.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 15:
Phanaa mani sahasrena yah sa vidyotayan dishah | [[61]]
***Sarvaan karoti nirveeryaan hitaaya jagato asuraan || ***He brightens up all the directions, everywhere, all around, with the thousands of gems present on the hoods. The radiance, brilliance of the gems is so much that for the good of the world, it makes all the demons lose their valour, makes them very weak.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 16:
Madaaghoonita netro asou yah sadaa eva eka kundalah |
Kireetee sragdharo bhaati saagnih shveta ivaachalah || ***His eyes are always as though intoxicated, He is having ear ornaments, wears a crown, and also wears a wonderful garland. He shines as though it is a white mountain with a fire on top of it.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 17:
Neela vaasaa madodriktah shveta haara upashobhitah |
Saabhra gangaa pravaaho asou kailaasa adrih iva aparah || ***He is wearing a dark blue cloth. He is always excited with intoxication, He is shining with the white garland. He looks like another Kailaasa Shikhara, which is with all clouds and flux of Gangaa river flowing out. His ornaments, garland and cloth look as though there is another huge Kailaasa mountain itself, with clouds and Gangaa river flowing out.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 18:
Laangala aasakta hastaagro vibhran musalam uttamam |
Upaasyate svayam kaantyaa yo vaarunyaa cha moortayaa || ***He is holding the plough, pestle, in His hands, and *Shobhaa Devi, Vaaruni *Devi do upaasana of Him.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 19:
Kalpaante yasya vaktrebhyo vishaanala shikha ujvalah |
Sankarshana aatmako rudro nishkramya atti jagat trayam || At the end of the kalpa, from His mouth, the flames of the poisonous fire come out, this is nothing but Rudra, who is said to be having Sankarshana as His aatman, and eats up the three worlds.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Kalpaante iti | Sankarshana aatmakah sankarshana adhishthitah | ***Sankarshana is the form of Vishnu, who is responsible for dissolution.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 20:
Sa bibhrat shekhareebhootam ashesham kshiti mandalam |
Aaste paataala moolasthah shesho ashesha sura architah || ***Bearing on His head, the entire world, Shesha sits at the bottom of Paataala, and is [[62]]
being worshipped by all the gods.
21
Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 21:
Tasya veeryam prabhaavah cha svaroopam roopam eva cha |
Na hi varnayitum shakyam jnyaatum vaa tridashaih api || His valour, zeal, power, real nature, His form, gods cannot even know it, what to talk about describing it? It is so great.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Tasya iti | Veeryam utsaahah, prabhaavah shaktih, svaroopam tattvam, roopam
aakaarah | ***
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 22:
Yasya eshaa sakalaa pruthivee phanaa mani shikha arunaa |
Aaste kusuma maalaa iva kah tat veeryam vadishyati || ***This entire world, with the gems of His hood, looks reddish. It looks as though it is like a garland of flowers. Who can even talk about His greatness.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 23:
Yadaa vijhrumbate ananto madaaghoornita lochanah |
Tadaa chalati bhooh eshaa sa adri toyaa sa kaananaa || ***When He wakes up with excitement, Ananta with all His eyes as though intoxicated, the whole world with all the oceans and forests moves, shakes up.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 24:
Gandharva apsarasah siddhaah kinnara uraga chaaranaah |
Na antam gunaanaam gacchanti tena ananto ayam avyayah || Gandharvaas, Apsaraas, Siddhaas, Kinnaraas, Chaaranaas, serpents, are not able to know His qualities completely; that is why He is called Ananta; there is no end to the greatness of His qualities, unchanging always.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 25:
Yasya naaga vadhoo hastaih gaalitam hari chandanam |
Muhuh shvaasa anilaapaastam yaati dikshodavaasataam || ***The Naaga women with their hands, smear sandal paste on His body. Being carried by His breath, it spreads over, and everything gets fragrant with sandal particles everywhere.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Yasya iti | Gaalitam vastra shodhitam | Lambhitam harichandanam iti paathe
lambhitam samaalamba nikrutam, anga raageekrutam iti arthah | Diksha
udavaasataam dishaam kshodavaasataam, adhivaasa choornatvam | Dikshu
udavaasataam iti paathe dikshu jala aadhivaasana choornatvam iti | [[63]]
Particles of the sandal spread all over in all directions, being carried by His breath.
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 26:
Yam aaraadhya puraana arpih gargo jyoteemshi tattvatah |
Jnyaatavaan sakalam cha eva nimitta pathitam phalam || ***Garga Rishi worshipped this Ananta, and mastered all the Jyotisha and *Nimitta *vidyaas, astrology, predicting the good and bad things which are going to happen by using the movements and positions of the planets, comets, etc. This is the greatness of Ananta.
***Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary:
Yam iti | Nimitte graha chaara utvaata shakuna aadou shubha ashubha
soochake, pathitam | Nimitta phalitam iti cha paathah | ***
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***Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 2, Chapter 5, Shloka 27:
Tena iyam naaga varyena shirasaa vidhrutaa mahee |
Bibharti maalaam lokaanaam sat eva asura maanushaam || ***This entire world, is born on the head by this excellent serpent, Ananta. He bears this chain of worlds having devaas, asuraas, manushyaas. He supports all the worlds on His head.
This concludes the Fifth Chapter.
***|| Iti Sri Vishnu Puraane Dviteeye Amshe Panchamo Adhyaayah ||
|| Iti Sri Vishnu Puraana Vyaakhyaane Vishnu Chitteeye Dviteeye Amshe
Panchamo Adhyaayah || ***
*** [[64]]
|| Atha Shashto Adhyaayah ||
Narakaas and Praayaschitta, Greatness of Harinaama
Samsmarana***
Now the Sixth Chapter. This describes the different kinds of hell.