Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.27

Sanskrit Sutra

भुवनज्ञानं सूर्ये संयमात्॥२७॥

Swami Vivekananda's translation

By making Samyama on the sun, (comes) the knowledge of the world.

Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)

तत्प्रस्तारः सप्त लोकाः। तत्रावीचेः प्रभृति मेरुपृष्ठं यावदित्येवं भूर्लोकः। मेरुपृष्ठादारभ्य आध्रुवाद्ग्रहनक्षत्रताराविचित्रोऽन्तरिक्षलोकः। ततः परः स्वर्लोकः पञ्चविधो माहेन्द्रस्तृतीयो लोकः। चतुर्थः प्राजापत्यो महर्लोकः। त्रिविधो ब्राह्मः। तद्यथा – जनलोकस्तपोलोकः सत्यलोक इति।

ब्राह्मस्त्रिभूमिको लोकः प्राजापत्यस्ततो महान्। माहेन्द्रश्च स्वरित्युक्तो दिवि तारा भुवि प्रजाः ॥ इति संग्रहश्लोकः।

तत्रावीचेरुपर्युपरि निविष्टाः षण्महानरकभूमयो घनसलिलानलानिलाकाशतमःप्रतिष्ठा महाकालाम्बरीषरौरवमहारौरवमहारौरवकालसूत्रान्धतामिस्राः। यत्र स्वकर्मोपार्जितदुःखवेदनाः प्राणिनः कष्टमायुर्दीर्घमाक्षिप्य जायन्ते। ततो महातलरसातलातलसुतलवितलतलातलपातालाख्यानि सप्त पातालानि। भूमिरियमष्टमी सप्तद्वीपा वसुमती, यस्याः सुमेरुर्मध्ये पर्वतराजः काञ्चनः। तस्य राजतवैदूर्यस्फटिकहेममणिमयानि शृङ्गाणि। तत्र वैदूर्यप्रभानुरागान्नीलोत्पलपत्रश्यामो नभसो दक्षिणो भागः, श्वेतः पूर्वः, स्वच्छः पश्चिमः, कुरण्टकाभ उत्तरः। दक्षिणपार्श्वे चास्य जम्बूर्यतोऽयं जम्बूद्वीपः। तस्य सूर्यप्रचाराद्रात्रिं दिवं लग्नमिव वर्तते।> तस्य नीलश्वेतशृङ्गवन्त उदीचीनास्त्रयः पर्वता द्विसाहस्रायामाः। तदन्तरेषु त्रीणि वर्षाणि नव नव योजनसाहस्राणि रमणकं हिरण्मयमुत्तराः कुरव इति। निषधहेमकूटहिमशैला दक्षिणतो द्विसाहस्रायामाः। तदन्तरेषु त्रीणि वर्षाणि नव नव योजनसाहस्राणि हरिवर्ष किंपुरुषं भारतमिति। सुमेरोः प्राचीना भद्राश्वमाल्यवत्सीमानः प्रतीचीनाः केतुमाला गन्धमादनसीमानः। मध्ये वर्षमिलावृतम्। तदेतद्योजनशतसाहस्रं सुमेरोर्दिशि दिशि तदर्धेन व्यूढम्।

… त एते सप्त लोकाः सर्व एव ब्रह्मलोकाः। विदेहप्रकृतिलयास्तु मोक्षपदे वर्तन्त इति न लोकमध्ये न्यस्ता इति। एतद्योगिना साक्षात्करणीयं सूर्यद्वारे संयमं कृत्वा, ततोऽन्यत्रापि एवं तावदभ्यसेद्यावदिदं सर्व दृष्टमिति ॥ २६ ॥

Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)

Its expanse consists of the seven worlds (lokas). Among them, from the Avichi hell up to the peak of Mount Meru is the Bhurloka (Earth). From the peak of Meru up to the Pole Star (Dhruva) is the Antariksha-loka (intermediate space/firmament), beautifully adorned with planets, constellations, and stars. Beyond that is the Svarloka (Heaven), which is of five kinds: the third world is Mahendra; the fourth is Prajapatya or Maharloka; the Brahma worlds are threefold, namely, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka.

The verse of summary is: ‘The Brahma world has three planes; below that is the great Prajapatya. Mahendra is called Svar (heaven). The stars are in the sky (Antariksha), and creatures are on the earth (Bhu).’

There, situated one above the other from Avichi, are six great hellish planes resting on solid matter, water, fire, wind, space, and darkness. They are Mahakala, Ambarisha, Raurava, Maharaurava, Kalasutra, and Andhatamisra. Here, beings suffering the painful consequences of their own past actions are born, enduring long and miserable lifespans. Above that are the seven netherworlds (Patalas) named: Mahatala, Rasatala, Atala, Sutala, Vitala, Talatala, and Patala.

This eighth level is the earth (Vasumati) with its seven continents, in the center of which is Sumeru, the golden king of mountains. Its peaks are made of silver, lapis lazuli (vaidurya), crystal, gold, and gems. There, due to the reflection of the luster of lapis lazuli, the southern part of the sky is dark blue like a blue lotus petal; the eastern part is white, the western part is clear/transparent, and the northern part is golden/yellow like the kurantaka flower.

On its southern side is the Jambu tree, from which this continent is called Jambu-dvipa. Due to the movement of the sun around it, day and night seem to revolve continuously attached to it.

To its north are three mountains having blue and white peaks, extending for two thousand yojanas. Between them are three regions (varshas), each nine thousand yojanas in extent: Ramanaka, Hiranmaya, and the Uttara Kurus. To its south are the mountains Nishadha, Hemakuta, and Himalaya, extending for two thousand yojanas. Between them are three regions, each nine thousand yojanas in extent: Harivarsha, Kimpurusha, and Bharata.

To the east of Sumeru is the Bhadrashva region with Malyavat as its boundary; to the west is Ketumala with Gandhamadana as its boundary. In the center is the Ilavrita region. This entire expanse is a hundred thousand yojanas, extending half of that in each direction from Sumeru.

… Thus, these seven worlds are all indeed Brahma worlds. However, the Videhas (discarnate ones) and Prakritilayas (those merged in nature) exist in a state resembling liberation (moksha), so they are not included within the worlds. All of this is to be directly realized by the yogi by performing Samyama on the portal of the sun (Suryadvara). From there, they should also practice [Samyama] on other things in the same way until all this is seen. || 26 ||

Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 3