पर्वतैश्च वनान्तैश्च काननैश्चैव शोभितम्। एतमाहुर्महेन्द्रस्य राज्ञो वैश्रवणस्य च। ऋषयः सर्वधर्मज्ञाः सर्वे तात मनीषिणः
Adorned with mountains, forest groves, and woodlands, this region is said by all the sages, wise in all dharmas, to belong to Mahendra and King Vaishravana.
अतश्चोद्यन्तमादित्यमुपतिष्ठन्ति वै प्रजाः। ऋषयश्चापि धर्मज्ञाः सिद्धाः साध्याश्च देवताः
Here, all creatures, as well as the dharma-knowing sages, the perfected beings, and the Sadhyas, worship the rising sun.
यमस्तु राजा धर्मज्ञः सर्वप्राणभृतां प्रभुः। प्रेतसत्वगतीमेतां दक्षिणामाश्रितो दिशम्
Yama, the king and knower of dharma, lord of all living beings, has taken up the southern direction, the realm of departed spirits.
एतत्संयमनं पुण्यमतीवाद्भुतदर्शनम्। प्रेतराजस्य भवनमृद्ध्या परमया युतम्
This is the sacred realm of restraint, wondrous to behold, the abode of the king of the dead, endowed with supreme prosperity.
यं प्राप्य सविता राजन्सत्येन प्रतितिष्ठति। अस्तं पर्वतराजानमेतमाहुर्मनीषिणः
Upon reaching this place, O king, the sun stands firm by truth; the wise call this mountain king the place of sunset.
एवं पर्वतराजानं समुद्रं च महोदधिम्। अवसन्वरुणो राजा भूतानि परिरक्षति
Thus, the mountain king and the great ocean are the dwelling of King Varuna, who protects all beings.
उदीचीं दीपयन्नेष दिशं तिष्ठति कीर्तिमान्। महामेरुर्महाभाग शिवो ब्रह्मविदांगतिः
Illuminating the northern direction stands the glorious Mahameru, blessed and auspicious, the path of those who know Brahman.
यस्मिन्ब्रह्मसदश्चैव भूतात्मा चावतिष्ठते। प्रजापतिः सृजन्सर्वं यत्किंचिज्जङ्गमागमम्
On which the assembly of Brahma and the soul of all beings reside, and Prajapati creates all that moves and is still.
यानाहुर्ब्रह्मणः पुत्रान्मानसान्दक्षसप्तमान्। तेषामपि महामेरुः शिवं स्थानमनामयम्
Those whom they call the mind-born sons of Brahma, the seven of Daksha, for them too Mahameru is a blessed and flawless abode.
अत्रैव प्रतितिष्ठन्ति पुनरेषोदयन्ति च। सप्त देवर्षयस्तात वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्तदा
Here, the seven divine sages, headed by Vasistha, stand firm and rise again, O dear one.
देशं विरजसं पश्य मेरोः शिखरमुत्तमम्। यत्रात्मतृप्तैरध्यास्ते देवैः सह पितामहः
Behold the pure land, the highest peak of Meru, where the grandsire dwells with the gods, content in himself.
यमाहुः सर्वभूतानां प्रकृतेः प्रकृतिं ध्रुवम्। अनादिनिधनं देवं प्रभुं नारायणं परम्
They call him the immutable source of all beings and of nature itself, the beginningless, endless, supreme lord Narayana.
ब्रह्मणः सदनात्तस्य परं स्थानं प्रकाशते। देवाश्च यत्नात्पश्यन्ति सर्वतेजोमयं शुभम्
From the abode of Brahma, that supreme place becomes manifest, which the gods strive to behold—entirely composed of radiant light, auspicious and pure.
अत्यर्कानलदीप्तं तत्स्थानं विष्णोर्महात्मनः। स्वयैव प्रभया राजन्दुष्प्रेक्ष्यं देवदानवैः
That place of the great-souled Vishnu shines brighter than the sun and fire; by its own brilliance, O King, it is impossible for gods or asuras to gaze upon.
प्राच्यां नारायणस्थानं मेरावतिविराजते
In the east, the seat of Narayana shines forth splendidly upon Mount Meru.
यत्र भूतेश्वरस्तात सर्वप्रकृतिरात्मभूः। भासयन्सर्वभूतानि सुश्रियाऽभिविराजते
There, O dear one, the Lord of all beings, the source of all natures, illuminates all creatures, resplendent with supreme beauty.
नात्र ब्रह्मर्षयस्तात कुत एव महर्षयः। प्राप्नुवन्ति गतिं ह्येतां यतीनां भावितात्मनाम्
Neither the Brahmarshis, O dear one, nor even the Maharshis, attain that path; it is reached only by ascetics of purified soul.
न तं ज्योतींपि सर्वाणि प्राप्य भासन्ति पाण्डव। स्वयंप्रभुरचिन्त्यात्मा तत्र ह्यतिविराजते
O Pandava, even after reaching that light, all other lights do not shine; there, the self-luminous, inconceivable Self shines supremely.
यतयस्तत्र गच्छन्ति भक्त्या नारायणं हरिम्। परेण तपसा युक्ता भाविताः कर्मभिः शुभैः। योगसिद्धा महात्मानस्तमोमोहविवर्जिताः
Ascetics go there with devotion to Narayana Hari, endowed with supreme austerity, purified by virtuous deeds, accomplished in yoga, great-souled, free from darkness and delusion.
तत्र गत्वा पुनर्नेमं लोकमायान्ति भारत। स्वयंभुवं महात्मानं देवदेवं सनातनम्
Having reached there, O Bharata, they do not return to this world; they attain the Self-born, the great-souled, the eternal Lord of gods.
स्थानमेतन्महाभाव ध्रुवमक्षयमव्ययम्। ईश्वरस्य सदा ह्येतत्प्रणमात्र युधिष्ठिर
This is the place, O mighty one, that is fixed, imperishable, and eternal; it always belongs to the Lord, O Yudhishthira, merely by bowing.
[एनं त्वहरहर्मेरुं सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ ध्रुवम्। प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्यकुरुतः कुरुनन्दन
[Every day, O son of the Kurus, Meru, the sun, the moon, and the pole star revolve around it in a clockwise direction.]
ज्योतींषि चाप्यशेषेण सर्वाण्यनघ सर्वतः। परियान्ति महाराज गिरिराजं प्रदक्षिणम् ।।]
And, O sinless one, all the luminaries, without exception, circle the king of mountains in a clockwise direction from every side.
एतं ज्योतींषि सर्वाणि प्रकर्षन्भगवानपि। कुरुते वितमस्कर्मा आदित्योऽभिप्रदक्षिणम्
Drawing all these lights along, the blessed sun, free from sin, also circles it in a clockwise direction.
अस्तं प्राप्य ततः सन्ध्यामतिक्रम्य दिवाकरः। उदीचीं भजते काष्ठां बहुधा पर्वसन्धिषु
Having reached the setting, then passing beyond twilight, the sun moves toward the northern quarter in many ways at the junctions of the seasons.
सुमेरुमनुवृत्तः स पुनर्गच्छति पाण्डव। प्राङ्युखः सविता देवः सर्वभूतहिते रतः
Following Mount Sumeru, O Pandava, the sun god again proceeds eastward, intent on the welfare of all beings.
स सम्यग्विभजन्कालान्बहुधा पर्वसन्धिषु। तथैव भगवान्सोमो नक्षत्रैः सह गच्छति
Dividing time properly in many ways at the junctions of the seasons, so too does the blessed Soma (moon) move along with the constellations.
एवमेतं त्वतिक्रम्य महामेरुमतन्द्रितः। सोमश्च विभजन्कालं बहुधा पर्वसन्धिषु। भासयन्सर्वभूतानि पुनर्गच्छति सागरम्
In this way, tirelessly surpassing great Meru, Soma also divides time in many ways at the seasonal junctions, illuminating all beings, and again proceeds to the ocean.
तथा तमिस्रहा देवो मयूखैर्भासयञ्जगत्। मार्गमेतमसंबाधमादित्यः परिवर्तते
Likewise, the god who dispels darkness, illuminating the world with his rays, the sun moves along this path, which is free from obstacles.
सिसृक्षुः शिशिराण्येव दक्षिणां भजते दिशम्। ततः सर्वाणि भूतानि कालं शिशिरमृच्छति
Desiring to produce the cold seasons, he turns toward the southern direction; then all beings experience the time called winter.