1278 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 29

PURPORT

It is understood from this verse that all the planets in outer space are
floating, and they all hold living entities. The word svasatam means those
who breathe, or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there
are innumerable planets. Every planet is a residence for innumerable
living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the
supreme order of the Lord. It is also stated here that the total universal
body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five
elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the
outside of the universal body. The first layer is of earth, and it is ten
times greater in size than the space within the universe; the second layer
is water, and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer; the third
covering is fire, which is ten times greater than the water covering. In this
way each layer is ten times greater than the previous one.

TEXT 44

TU Tat: AATNATA THAT |
qTaasaa Wt aT TTT levi

gunabhimanino devah
sargadisv asya yad-bhayat

vartante *‘nuyugam yesam
vasa etac cardcaram

guna—the modes of material nature; abhimaninah—in charge of; devah—
the demigods; sarga-adisu—in the matter of creation and so on; asya— of this
world; yat-bhayat—out of fear of whom; vartante—carry out functions;
anuyugam—according to the yugas; yesam—of whom; vase—under the
control; etat—this; cara-acaram—everything animate and inanimate.

TRANSLATION

Out of fear of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the directing
demigods in charge of the modes of material nature carry out the functions
of creation, maintenance and destruction; everything animate and inani-
mate within this material world is under their control.

PURPORT

The three modes of material nature, namely goodness, passion and
ignorance, are under the control of three deities—Brahma, Visnu and
