124 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 16

dasa-guna-uttaraih —each ten times more than the previous one; anda-
koSah—egg-shaped universe; yatra—in whom; patati—falls; anu-
kalpah—like a minute atom; saha—with; anda-koti-kotibhih—millions
of such universes; tat—therefore; anantah—(You are called) unlimited.

TRANSLATION

Every universe is covered by seven layers—earth, water, fire,
air, sky, the total energy and false ego—each ten times greater
than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides
this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about
like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta].

PURPORT
The Brahma-samhita (5.48) says:

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
Jivanti loma-vilajé jagad-anda-nathah

visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam ddi-purusam tam aham bhajami

The origin of the material creation is Maha-Visnu, who lies in the Causal
Ocean. While He sleeps in that ocean, millions of universes are generated
as He exhales, and they are all annihilated when He inhales. This Maha-
Visnu is a plenary portion of a portion of Visnu, Govinda (yasya kala-
visesah). The word kala refers to a plenary portion of a plenary portion.
From Krsna, or Govinda, comes Balarama; from Balarama comes
Sankarsana; from Sankarsana, Narayana; from Narayana, the second
Sankarsana; from the second Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu; from Maha-
Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu; and from Garbhodakasayi Visnu,
Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Ksirodakasayi Visnu controls every universe. This
gives an idea of the meaning of ananta, unlimited. What is to be said of
the unlimited potency and existence of the Lord? This verse describes
the coverings of the universe (saptabhir dasa-gunottarair anda-kosah).
The first covering is earth, the second is water, the third is fire, the
fourth is air, the fifth is sky, the sixth is the total material energy, and
the seventh is the false ego. Beginning with the covering of earth, each
covering is ten times greater than the previous one. Thus we can only
