Text 4] A Description of Jambiadvipa 95
tainly; bhi-golaka-visesam—the particular description of Bhiloka:
ndma-riipa—names and forms: mdéna—measurements: laksanatah—
according to symptoms: vyakhydsyamah—I shall try to explain.
TRANSLATION

The great rsi Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, there is no
limit to the expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s
material energy. This material world is a transformation of the
material qualities [sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna], yet no
one could possibly explain it perfectly, even in a lifetime as long as
that of Brahma. No one in the material world is perfect, and an
imperfect person could not describe this material universe ac-
curately, even after continued speculation. O King, I shall
nevertheless try to explain to you the principal regions, such as
Bhia-golaka [Bhaloka], with their names, forms, measurements
and various symptoms.

PURPORT

The material world is only one fourth of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead’s creation, but it is unlimited and impossible for anyone to
know or describe, even with the qualification of a life as long as that of
Brahma, who lives for millions and millions of years. Modern scientists
and astronomers try to explain the cosmic situation and the vastness of
space, and some of them believe that all the glittering stars are different
suns. From Bhagavad-gitd, however. we understand that all these stars
(naksatras) are like the moon, in that they reflect the sunshine. They are
not independent luminaries. Bhiloka is explained to be that portion of
outer space through which the heat and light of the sun extend.
Therefore it is natural to conclude that this universe extends in space as
far as we can see and encompasses the glittering stars. Srila Sukadeva
Gosvami admitted that to give full details of this expansive material
universe would be impossible, but nevertheless he wanted to give the
King as much knowledge as he had received through the parampara
system. We should conclude that if one cannot comprehend the material
expansions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. one certainly cannot
estimate the expansiveness of the spiritual world. The Brahma-samhita
(5.33) confirms this:
