1370 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 32
tac-chraddhaydkranta-matih
pitr-deva-vratah puman
gatvd candramasam lokam
soma-pah punar esyati
tat—to the demigods and forefathers; sraddhaya—with reverence; akranta
—overcome; matih—his mind; pitr—to the forefathers; deva—to the demi-
gods; vratah—his vow; puman—the person; gatvad—having gone; candramasam
—to the moon; lokam—planet; soma-pah— drinking soma juice; punah—
again; esyati—will return.
TRANSLATION
Such materialistic persons, attracted by sense gratification and devoted
to the forefathers and demigods, can be elevated to the moon, where they
drink an extract of the soma plant. They again return to this planet.
PURPORT
The moon is considered one of the planets of the heavenly kingdom.
One can be promoted to this planet by executing different sacrifices
recommended in the Vedic literature, such as pious activities in worship-
ing the demigods and forefathers with rigidity and vows. But one cannot
remain there for a very long time. Life on the moon is said to last ten
thousand years according to the calculation of the demigods. The demi-
gods time is calculated in such a way that one day (12 hours) is equal to six
months on this planet. It is not possible to reach the moon by any material
vehicle like a sputnik, but persons who are attracted by material enjoy-
ment can go to the moon by pious activities. In spite of being promoted
to the moon, however, one has to come back to this earth again when the
merits of his works in sacrifice are finished. This is also confirmed in
Bhagavad-gita, Ninth Chapter: te tart bhuktvd svarga-lokam visalam ksine
punye martya-lokam visanti (Bg. 9.21).
TEXT 4
HET MTA AASTCATA ae: |
A ote oe Athed TTA TEA IANT Iv II
yada cahindra-say yayam
Sete ‘nantdsano harih
