पप्रथतुः केतुमालभद्राश्वयोः सीमानं विदधाते ॥१०॥
tathaivelÄvá¹›tam apareṇa pÅ«rveṇa ca mÄlyavad-gandhamÄdanÄv ÄnÄ«la-niá¹£adhÄyatau dvi-sahasraá¹ paprathatuḥ ketumÄla-bhadrÄÅ›vayoḥ sÄ«mÄnaá¹ vidadhÄte
tathÄ eva - exactly like that; ilÄvá¹›tam apareṇa - on the western side of IlÄvá¹›ta-vará¹£a; pÅ«rveṇa ca - and on the eastern side; mÄlyavad-gandha-mÄdanau - the demarcation mountains of MÄlyavÄn on the west and GandhamÄdana on the east; Ä-nÄ«la-niá¹£adha-Äyatau - on the northern side up to the mountain known as NÄ«la and on the southern side up to the mountain known as Niá¹£adha; dvi-sahasram - two thousand yojanas; paprathatuḥ - they extend; ketumÄla-bhadrÄÅ›vayoḥ - of the two vará¹£as named KetumÄla and BhadrÄÅ›va; sÄ«mÄnam - the border; vidadhÄte - establish.
In the same way, west and east of IlÄvá¹›ta-vará¹£a are two great mountains named MÄlyavÄn and GandhamÄdana respectively. These two mountains, which are 2,000 yojanas [16,000 miles] high, extend as far as NÄ«la Mountain in the north and Niá¹£adha in the south. They indicate the borders of IlÄvá¹›ta-vará¹£a and also the vará¹£as known as KetumÄla and BhadrÄÅ›va.
There are so many mountains, even on this planet earth. We do not think that the measurements of all of them have actually been calculated. While passing over the mountainous region from Mexico to Caracas, we actually saw so many mountains that we doubt whether their height, length and breadth have been properly measured. Therefore, as indicated in ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam by Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ«, we should not try to comprehend the greater mountainous areas of the universe merely by our calculations. Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ« has already stated that such calculations would be very difficult even if one had a duration of life like that of BrahmÄ. We should simply be satisfied with the statements of authorities like Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ« and appreciate how the entire cosmic manifestation has been made possible by the external energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The measurements given herein, such as 10,000 yojanas or 100,000 yojanas, should be considered correct because they have been given by Åšukadeva GosvÄmÄ«. Our experimental knowledge can neither verify nor disprove the statements of ÅšrÄ«mad-BhÄgavatam. We should simply hear these statements from the authorities. If we can appreciate the extensive energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that will benefit us.
