अन्तरिक्षोदरः कोशो भूमिबुध्नो न जीर्यति दिशो ह्यस्य स्रक्तयो द्यौरस्योत्तरं बिलं स एष कोशो वसुधानस्तस्मिन्विश्वमिदं श्रितम् ॥ ३.१५.१ ॥
antarikṣodaraḥ kośo bhūmibudhno na jīryati diśo hyasya sraktayo dyaurasyottaraṃ bilaṃ sa eṣa kośo vasudhānastasminviśvamidaṃ śritam || 3.15.1 ||
1. There is a chest which has the mid-region as its inside and the earth as its bottom. It never decays. The quarters are its sides and the heaven its opening above. This chest is the container of treasures, for in it rests the whole universe.
Word-for-word explanation:
Kośaḥ, the chest; antarikṣa-udaraḥ, with the midregion as its inside; bhūmi-budhnaḥ, the earth as its bottom; na jīryati, never decays; diśaḥ, the quarters; hi asya sraktayaḥ, are its sides; dyauḥ, the heaven; asya uttaram bilam, is its opening above; saḥ eṣaḥ kośaḥ, this chest; vasudhānaḥ, [is] the container of treasures; tasmin, in it; viśvam idam śritam, rests this universe.
Commentary:
The universe is here compared to a chest. Whatever you put inside a chest is safe there. Similarly, whatever is in the universe is safe and sound. It may change its form, but it does not totally disappear.