Sridhara Swami’s introduction to Canto 5.

1. athätaù païcama-skandha/ vyäkhyäneka-viçeñavän

priyavratänvayo yatra/ sa-prapaïcaù prapaïcyate.

Now the Fifth Canto delineates many subjects, explaining Priyavrata’s dynasty together
with the material universe.

2. ñaò-viàçatyädhunädhyäyaiù/ païcame sthänam éryate

loka-dvépädi-maryädä/ pälanäkhyam aneka-dhä

In 26 chapters in the Fifth Canto sthanam is explained: the order for the planets and
continents as well as different way they are maintained. [Sthanam is given as the topic of
Canto Five also by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.]

3. påthivy-upary-adho-lokair/ maryädä tri-vidhä matä

punaç caikaikaças teñu/ maryädä bahudhä matä

There are three main orders designed for the earth, upper planets and lower planets. And
then again in these three divisions there are many different orders (arrangments and
laws).

4. bhuvi dvépädi-maryädäù/ pälyante räjabhiù påthak

bhümer upari devädyais/ tataç cädho ’surädibhiù

On the earth and continents the order is maintained by different rulers, above earth – by
the demigods, and below earth – by the asuras.

5. taträdhyäyais tu viàçatyä/ priyavrata-puraù-saraiù

bhuvi dvépädi-maryädäù/ pälitä iti varëyate

Within the Fifth Canto twenty chapters, beginning with the story of Maharaja
Priyavrata’s rule, describe how the order is mainited on the earth with its different
dvipas.

6. tribhiù süryädibhir jyotiç/ cakrädiñv iti kértyate

atalädiñu daityädyaiù/ pälanaà ca tatas tribhiù

In three chapters the movements of the lumanaries, beginning with the Sun, are
described. Then in three chapters how the daityas and other rulers maintain the Atala and
the rest of subterranean planets.

7. tatra tu prathame ’dhyäye/ jïänino räjya-nirvåtiù

punaç ca jïäna-niñöheti/ priyavrata-kathädbhutä

So, in the first chapter the amazing story of Maharaja Priyavrata is given, describing how
this person, being in full knowledge, accepted the enjoyment of the kingdom and then
again became fixed in knowledge.