Text 43
nabho dadāti śvasatāṁ
padaṁ yan-niyamād adaḥ
lokaṁ sva-dehaṁ tanute
mahān saptabhir āvṛtam
nabhaḥ — the sky; dadāti — gives; śvasatām — to the living entities; padam — abode; yat — of whom (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); niyamāt — under the control; adaḥ — that; lokam — the universe; sva-deham — own body; tanute — expands; mahān — the mahat-tattva; saptabhiḥ — with the seven (layers); āvṛtam — covered.
Subject to the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sky allows outer space to accommodate all the various planets, which hold innumerable living entities. The total universal body expands with its seven coverings under His supreme control.
It is understood from this verse that all the planets in outer space are floating, and they all hold living entities. The word śvasatām means “those who breathe,” or the living entities. In order to accommodate them, there are innumerable planets. Every planet is a residence for innumerable living entities, and the necessary space is provided in the sky by the supreme order of the Lord. It is also stated here that the total universal body is increasing. It is covered by seven layers, and as there are five elements within the universe, so the total elements, in layers, cover the outside of the universal body. The first layer is of earth, and it is ten times greater in size than the space within the universe; the second layer is water, and that is ten times greater than the earthly layer; the third covering is fire, which is ten times greater than the water covering. In this way each layer is ten times greater than the previous one.