SB 5.24.8

Srimad-Bhagavatam - Fifth Canto - Chapter 24: The Subterranean Heavenly Planets

SB 5.24.7 - SB 5.24.9

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 8

eteṣu hi bila-svargeṣu svargād apy

adhika-kāma-bhogaiśvaryānanda-bhūti-vibhūtibhiḥ

susamṛddha-bhavanodyānākrīḍa-vihāreṣu

daitya-dānava-kādraveyā nitya-pramuditānurakta-

kalatrāpatya-bandhu-suhṛd-anucarā gṛha-pataya

īśvarād apy apratihata-kāmā māyā-vinodā nivasanti

SYNONYMS

eteṣu — in these; hi — certainly; bila-svargeṣu — known as the heavenly subterranean worlds; svargāt — than the heavenly planets; api — even; adhika — a greater quantity; kāma-bhoga — enjoyment of sense gratification; aiśvarya-ānanda — bliss due to opulence; bhūti — influence; vibhūtibhiḥ — by those things and wealth; su-samṛddha — improved; bhavana — houses; udyāna — gardens; ākrīḍa-vihāreṣu — in places for different types of sense gratification; daitya — the demons; dānava — ghosts; kādraveyāḥ — snakes; nitya — who are always; pramudita — overjoyed; anurakta — because of attachment; kalatra — to wife; apatya — children; bandhu — family relations; suhṛt — friends; anucarāḥ — followers; gṛha-patayaḥ — the heads of the households; īśvarāt — than those more capable, like the demigods; api — even; apratihata-kāmāḥ — whose fulfillment of lusty desires is unimpeded; māyā — illusory; vinodāḥ — who feel happiness; nivasanti — live.

TRANSLATION

In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Dānavas and Nāgas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully engaged in illusory, material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached to illusory happiness.

PURPORT

According to the statements of Prahlāda Mahārāja, material enjoyment is māyā-sukha, illusory enjoyment. A Vaiṣṇava is full of anxieties for the deliverance of all living entities from such false enjoyment. Prahlāda Mahārāja says, māyā-sukhāya bharam udvahato vimūḍhān: (SB 7.9.43) these fools (vimūḍhas) are engaged in material happiness, which is surely temporary. Whether in the heavenly planets, the lower planets or the earthly planets, people are engrossed in temporary, material happiness, forgetting that in due course of time they have to change their bodies according to the material laws and suffer the repetition of birth, death, old age and disease. Not caring what will happen in the next birth, gross materialists are simply busy enjoying during the present short span of life. A Vaiṣṇava is always anxious to give all such bewildered materialists the real happiness of spiritual bliss.

SB 5.24.7 - SB 5.24.9