प्रमाणं च प्रमाणज्ञ पृथिव्या मम सर्वतः । निखिलेन समाचक्ष्व काननानि च संजय
And you, who know the measures, describe to me in full the extent of the earth everywhere, and also its forests, O Sañjaya.
पञ्चेमानि महाराज महाभूतानि संग्रहात्। जगतीस्थानि सर्वाणि समान्याहुर्मनीषिणः
O great king, the wise declare that all things existing in the world are comprised of these five great elements.
भूमिरापस्तथा वायुरग्निराकाशमेव च। गुणोत्तराणि सर्वाणि तेषां भूमिः प्रधानतः
Earth, water, wind, fire, and also space—these are all arranged in order of increasing subtlety, with earth being the foremost among them.
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चमः। भूमेरेते गुणाः प्रोक्ता ऋषिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिःक
Sound, touch, form, taste, and the fifth—smell: these are said by the seers who know reality to be the qualities of earth.
चत्वारोऽप्सु गुणा राजन्गन्धस्तत्र न विद्यते। शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च तेजसोऽथ गुणास्त्रयः । शब्दः स्पर्शश्च वायौ द्वौ अकाशे शब्द एव तु
Four qualities exist in water, O king—there is no smell there; sound, touch, and form are the three qualities of fire; sound and touch are the two of wind; and in space, only sound exists.
एते पञ्च गुणा राजन्महाभूतेषु पञ्चसु। वर्तन्ते सर्वलोकेषु येषु भूताः प्रतिष्ठिताः
These five qualities, O king, are found in the five great elements; in them all beings in all worlds are established.
अन्योन्यं नाभिवर्तन्ते साम्यं भवति वै यदा
They do not overpower one another when there is equilibrium among them.
यदा तु विषमीभावमाविशन्ति परस्परम् । तदा देहैर्देहवन्तो व्यतिरोहन्ति नान्यथा
But when they enter into disequilibrium with each other, then embodied beings are born and perish—never otherwise.
आनुपूर्व्या विनश्यन्ति जायन्ते चानुपूर्वशः । सर्वाम्यपरिमेयाणि तदेषां रूपमैश्वरम्
They perish in sequence and are born again in sequence; their forms are immeasurable in every way—this is their divine nature.
तत्रतत्र हि दृश्यन्ते धातवः पाञ्चभौतिकाः । तेषां मनुष्यास्तर्केण प्रमाणानि प्रचक्षते
Everywhere, compounds of the five elements are seen; people determine their measures by reasoning.
अचिन्त्याः खलु ये भावा न तांस्तर्केण साधयेत्। प्रकृतिभ्यः परं यत्तु तदचिन्त्यस्य लक्षणम्
But those realities that are inconceivable cannot be established by reasoning; what lies beyond nature is the mark of the inconceivable.
सुदर्शनं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वीपं तु कुरुनन्दन। परिमण्डलो महाराज द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः
O joy of the Kurus, I will now describe to you the Sudarshana continent: it is circular, O great king, and set out like a wheel.
नदीजालप्रतिच्छन्नः पर्वतैश्चाभ्रसन्निभैः । पुरैश्च विविधाकारै रम्यैर्जनपदैस्तथा
It is covered with networks of rivers and mountains resembling clouds, with delightful cities of various forms and peoples as well.
वृक्षैः पुष्पफलोपेतैः संपन्नधनधान्यवान् । लवणेन समुद्रेण समन्तात्परिवारितः
It is rich in trees bearing flowers and fruits, abundant in wealth and grain, and is entirely surrounded by the salty ocean.
यथा हि पुरुषः पश्येदादर्शे मुखमात्मनः । एवं सुदर्शनद्वीपो दृश्यते चन्द्रमण्डले
Just as a man sees his own face in a mirror, so is the Sudarshana continent seen in the orb of the moon.
द्विरशस्तु ततः प्लक्षो द्विरंशः शाल्मलिर्महान् । द्विरंशः पिप्पलस्तस्य द्विरंशश्च कुशो महान्। सर्वौषधिसमापन्नः पर्वतैः परिवारितः
Next, twice its size is the Plaksha continent; twice that is the great Shalmali; twice that is the Pippala; and twice that is the great Kusha, filled with all herbs and surrounded by mountains.
आपस्ततोऽन्या विज्ञेयाः शेषः संक्षेप उच्यते। ततोऽन्य उच्यते चायमेनं संक्षेपतः श्रृणु
Other than water, there are further elements to be known; the remainder will be stated briefly. Now, another is described—listen to this in summary.
मेरोरथोत्तरं पार्श्वं पूर्वं चाचक्ष्व संजय। निखिलेन महाबुद्धे माल्यवन्तं च पर्वतम्
O Sanjaya, describe the northern side of Meru and the eastern as well, O wise one, and also the mountain Mālyavat in its entirety.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य मेरोः पार्श्वे तथोत्तरे। उत्तराः कुरवो राजन्पुण्याः सिद्धनिषेविताः
To the south of Nīla, and on the northern side of Meru, O King, are the northern Kurus, sacred and frequented by the perfected beings.
तत्र वृक्षा मधुफला नित्यपुष्पफलोपगाः। पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि रसवन्ति फलानि च
There, the trees bear honeyed fruits, always adorned with flowers and fruit; the flowers are fragrant, and the fruits are full of juice.
सर्वकामफलास्तत्र केचिद्वृक्षा जनाधिप । अपरे क्षीरिणो नाम वृक्षास्तत्र नराधिप
Some trees there, O ruler of men, yield all desired fruits; others are called 'milk-bearing' trees, O King.
ये क्षरन्ति सदा क्षीरं षड्रसं चामृपोतमम् । वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयन्ते फलेष्वाभरणानि च
These always pour forth milk, of six flavors and supreme nectar; garments are produced from their fruits, and also ornaments.
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सूक्ष्मकाञ्चनवालुका । सर्वर्तुसुखसंस्पर्शा निष्पङ्का च जनाधिप । पुष्करिष्यः शुभास्तत्र सुखस्पर्शा मनोरमाः
The entire land is made of gems, with fine golden sand; pleasant in all seasons to the touch, free from impurity, O King; there are beautiful lotus ponds, delightful and pleasing to the touch.
देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः। शुक्लाभिजनसंयन्नाः सर्वे सुप्रियदर्शनाः
All the people born there descend from the world of the gods; they are of noble lineage, all exceedingly lovely to behold.
मिथुनानि च जायन्ते स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः। तेषां ते क्षीरिणां क्षीरं पिबन्त्यमृतसन्निभम्
Couples are born there, and the women are like apsaras; they drink the milk of those milk-bearing trees, which is akin to nectar.
मिथुनं जायते काले समं तच्च प्रवर्धते। तुल्यरूगुणोपेतं समवेषं तथैव च
A couple is born at the same time, and they grow together; possessing equal beauty and qualities, and matching attire as well.
एवमेवानुरूपं च चक्रवाकसमं विभो । निरापगाम ते लोका नित्यं मुदितमानसाः
In this way, they are harmonious, like chakravāka birds, O mighty one; their worlds are free from sorrow, their minds always joyful.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि शशवर्षशतानि च । जीवन्ति ते महाराज न चान्योन्यं जहत्युत
They live for ten thousand years and a hundred years of the moon, O great king; and they never abandon one another.
भारुण्डा नाम शकुनास्तीक्ष्णतुण्डा महाबलाः । तान्निर्हरन्तीह मृतान्दरीषु प्रक्षिपन्ति च
There are birds called Bhāruṇḍa, with sharp beaks and great strength; they carry away the dead and deposit them in caves.
उत्तराः कुरवो राजन्व्याख्यातास्ते समासतः। मेरोः पार्श्वमहं पूर्वं वक्ष्याम्यथ यथातथम्
O King, the northern Kurus have thus been described in summary; now I will speak of the eastern side of Meru, as it truly is.