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.
तस्य मूर्धाभिषेकस्तु भद्राश्वस्य विशांपते । भद्रसालवनं यत्र कालाम्रश्च महाद्रुमः
The coronation ground of Bhadrāśva, O lord of peoples, is there; where the forest of Bhadrāsāla stands, and the great tree Kālāmbra.
कालाम्रस्तु महाराज नित्यपुष्पफलः शुभः । द्रुमश्च योजनोत्सेधः सिद्धचारणसेवितः
The Kālāmbra, O great king, is auspicious, always bearing flowers and fruit; it is a tree of great height, frequented by siddhas and cāraṇas.
तत्र ते पुरुषाः श्वेतास्तेजोयुक्ता महाबलाः। स्त्रियः कुमुदवर्णाश्च सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः
There, the men are white, endowed with energy and great strength; the women are lotus-colored, beautiful and pleasing to behold.
चन्द्रप्रभाश्चन्द्रवर्णाः पूर्वचन्द्रनिभाननाः । चन्द्रशीतलगात्र्यश्च नृत्तिगीतविशारदाः
They shine like the moon, their faces resembling the early moon; their bodies are cool as moonlight, skilled in dance and song.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तत्रायुर्भरतर्षभ । कालाम्ररसपीतास्ते नित्यं संस्थितयौवनाः
There, O best of the Bharatas, the lifespan is ten thousand years; nourished by the juice of the kālāmra fruit, they always remain in the prime of youth.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु। सुदर्शनो नाम महाञ्जम्बूवृक्षः सनातनः
To the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha stands the great and eternal Jambū tree, called Sudarśana.
सर्वकामफलः पुण्यः सिद्धचारणसेवितः। तस्य नाम्ना समाख्यातो जम्बूद्वीपः सनातनः
It bears all desired fruits, is sacred, and attended by Siddhas and Cāraṇas; after its name, this ancient land is called Jambūdvīpa.
योजनानां सहस्त्रं च शतं च भरतर्षभ । उत्सेधो वृक्षराजस्य दिवस्पृङ्भनुजेश्वर
O best of the Bharatas, the height of that king of trees, O lord of the day’s offspring, is one thousand and one hundred yojanas.
अरत्नीनां सहस्रं च शतानि दश पञ्च च । परिणाहस्तु वृक्षस्य फलानां रसभेदिनाम्
Its girth, measured by cubits, is fifteen thousand; the fruits, filled with diverse juices, encircle the tree.
पतमानानि तान्युर्वी कुर्वन्ति विपुलं स्वनम् । मुञ्चन्ति च रसं राजंस्तस्मिन्रजतसन्निभम्
As they fall, those fruits make a great sound upon the earth, and from them, O king, a silver-like juice flows forth.