—json {

  "name":"SB 2.5.36",
  "h1":"SB 2.5.36",
  "label":"Text 36",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2.5.36",
  "description":"Great philosophers imagine that the complete planetary systems in the universe are displays of the different upper and lower limbs of the universal body of the Lord."

} —

SB 2.5.36

यस्येहावयवैर्लोकान्कल्पयन्ति मनीषिणः ।
कट्यादिभिरधः सप्त सप्तोर्ध्वं जघनादिभिः ॥३६॥

Text

yasyehāvayavair lokān
kalpayanti manīṣiṇaḥ
kaṭy-ādibhir adhaḥ sapta
saptordhvaṁ jaghanādibhiḥ

Synonyms

yasya—whose; iha—in the universe; avayavaiḥ—by the limbs of the body; lokān—all the planets; kalpayanti—imagine; manīṣiṇaḥ—great philosophers; kaṭi-ādibhiḥ—down from the waist; adhaḥ—downwards; sapta—seven systems; sapta ūrdhvam—and seven systems upwards; jaghana-ādibhiḥ—front portion.

Translation

Great philosophers imagine that the complete planetary systems in the universe are displays of the different upper and lower limbs of the universal body of the Lord.

Purport

The word kalpayanti, or “imagine,” is significant. The virāṭ universal form of the Absolute is an imagination of the speculative philosophers who are unable to adjust to the eternal two-handed form of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Although the universal form, as imagined by the great philosophers, is one of the features of the Lord, it is more or less imaginary. It is said that the seven upper planetary systems are situated above the waist of the universal form, whereas the lower planetary systems are situated below His waist. The idea impressed herein is that the Supreme Lord is conscious of every part of His body, and nowhere in the creation is there anything beyond His control.