272 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 20

The sixth island, Puskaradvipa, which is twice as wide as the previous
island, is surrounded by an ocean of clear water. Its master is Vitihotra,
another son of Maharaja Priyavrata. The island is divided in two by a
large mountain named Manasottara. The inhabitants of this island wor-
ship Svayambhi, another feature of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Beyond Puskaradvipa there are two islands, one always lit by
the sunshine and the other always dark. Between them is a mountain
called Lokaloka, which is situated one billion miles from the edge of the
universe. Lord Narayana, expanding His opulence, resides upon this
mountain. The area beyond Lokaloka Mountain is called Aloka-varsa,
and beyond Aloka-varsa is the pure destination of persons who desire
liberation.

Vertically, the sun-globe is situated just in the middle of the universe,
in Antariksa, the space between Bharloka and Bhuvarloka. The distance
between the sun and the circumference of Anda-golaka, the globe of the
universe, is estimated to be twenty-five koti yojanas (two billion miles).
Because the sun enters the universe and divides the sky, it is known as
Martanda, and because it is produced from Hiranyagarbha, the body of
the mahat-tattva, it is also called Hiranyagarbha.

TEXT 1

HT TAI
a Ut wate weeded Ta sre
Wea
$ri-Suka uvdca
atah param plaksddindm pramana-laksana-sarnsthanato varsa-
vibhdga upavarnyate.

Sri-Sukah uvdca—Sukadeva Gosvami said; atah param—after this;
plaksa-ddindm—of the island named Plaksa and others; pramdna-lak-
sana-saristhanatah—from the angle of dimensions, particular charac-
teristics and form; varsa-vibhagah—the division of the island; upavar-
nyate—is described.
