1116 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 26

PURPORT

This universe, or the universal sky which we can visualize with its
innumerable planets, is shaped just like an egg. As an egg is covered by a
skin, so the universe is also covered by various layers. The first layer is
water, the next is fire, then air, then sky, and the ultimate holding crust is
pradhana. Within this egglike universe is the universal form of the Lord as
the virdta-purusa. All the different planetary situations are parts of His
body. This is already explained in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Second Canto. The planetary systems are considered to form different
bodily parts of that universal form of the Lord. Persons who cannot
directly engage in the worship of the transcendental form of the Lord are
advised to think of and worship this universal form. The lowest planetary
system, Patala, is considered to be the sole of the Supreme Lord, and the
earth is considered to be the belly of the Lord. Brahmaloka, or the highest
planetary system, where Brahma lives, is considered to be the head of the
Lord.

This virdta-purusa is considered an incarnation of the Lord. The origi-
nal form of the Lord is Krsna, as confirmed in Brahma-samhita: “adi-
purusa.”’ The virdta-purusa is also purusa, but He is not adi-purusa.
The ddi-purusa is Krsna. [svarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-dnanda-vigrahah/
anddir adir govindah. In Bhagavad-gtta Krsna is also accepted as the ddi-
purusa, the original. Krsna says, ‘““No one is greater than |.” There are
innumerable expansions of the Lord, and all of them are purusas or en-
joyers, but neither the virdta-purusa nor the purusa-avatdras—Karanodaka-
sayi Visnu, Garbhodakasgayi Visnu and Ksirodakagayt Visnu—nor any of
the many other expansions, is the original. In each universe there is
Garbhodakasgayi Visnu, the virata-purusa and KsirodakaSayi Visnu. The
active manifestation of the virdta-purusa is described here. Persons who
are in the lower grade of understanding regarding the Supreme Personality
of Godhead may think of the universal form of the Lord, for that is
advised in the Bhdgavatam.

The dimensions of the universe are estimated here. The outer covering
is made of layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva, and each
layer is ten times greater than the one previous. The space within the
hollow of the universe cannot be measured by any human scientist or
anyone else, and beyond the hollow there are seven coverings, each one
ten times greater than the one preceding it. The layer of water is ten times
greater than the length of the universe, and the layer of fire is ten times
greater than that of water. Similarly, the layer of air is ten times greater
