As the great narration drew to a close, the listeners sat in awe, their hearts full of wonder. "What a magnificent tale you have recounted," they exclaimed, "telling us of all the Bharatas, all the noble kings, and not only them, but also of the gods, the demons, the Gandharvas, the serpents, and the Rākṣasas, as well as the Daityas, Siddhas, and Guhyakas. You have described their most wondrous deeds, their valorous acts, their steadfast commitment to dharma, and many divine stories, including the highest and most unsurpassed births. "You have properly described the creation by Prajāpati, O greatly wise one, and the stories of all the Prajāpatis, the Yakṣas, and the celestial Apsarases. All that is stationary and moving, the entire diverse world that has arisen, you have spoken of, O highly fortunate one. We have listened to this delightful account with joy. "The Purāṇa, which confers holy merit, has been told by you in gentle words, pleasing to mind and ear, truly delightful and sweet as nectar. Now, our curiosity grows even greater: we wish to hear of the entire circle of the earth. You, who know all, are worthy to speak of it. Tell us, we pray, of the number of oceans, continents, regions, mountains, forests, and rivers, and also of the holy gods and others. "What is the measure of all this? Upon what is it founded, and what is its nature? Please describe, as it truly is, the structure of this world." The sage, serene and wise, replied, "O sages, listen as I tell you, in brief, for even in a hundred years, the full extent could not be completely described. "There are seven great continents: Jambū and Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara is the seventh. Each of these continents is surrounded by a distinct ocean: one of salt, one of sugarcane juice, one of wine, one of clarified butter, one of curds, one of milk, and one of pure water. "At the very center is Jambūdvīpa, and in its midst, O best of Brāhmaṇas, stands Mount Meru, the golden mountain. Meru rises to a height of eighty-four thousand yojanas, reaching sixteen thousand yojanas below the earth, and its summit stretches thirty-two thousand yojanas across. At its base, it measures sixteen thousand yojanas all around. Like the pericarp of a lotus of the earth, this mountain is shaped like a kernel. "To the south of Meru are the mountains Himavat, Hemakūṭa, and Niṣadha; to the north are Nīla, Śveta, and Śṛṅgī—these are known as the region-mountains. Two among them measure one hundred thousand yojanas each, while the others are ten thousand less; all have a height and breadth of two thousand yojanas. "The first region is Bhārata, then comes Kiṃpuruṣa, and then Harivarṣa, all to the south of Meru. To the north lies Ramyaka, then Hiraṇmaya, and the Northern Kurus, just as Bhārata is to the south. Each of these regions measures nine thousand yojanas, and at their center lies Ilāvṛta, with the golden Meru rising high. "Ilāvṛta surrounds Meru on all four sides, nine thousand yojanas wide, and there stand four great mountains, the vast buttresses of Meru, each ten thousand yojanas wide: Mandara to the east, Gandhamādana to the south, Vipula to the west, and Supārśva to the north. On these mountains grow the kadamba, jambū, pippala, and vaṭa trees. "These trees are truly wondrous, rising to eleven hundred yojanas in height, the lords of the forests. Among them, the great jambū tree gives its name to Jambūdvīpa. Its fruits are as large as mighty elephants, and when they fall and decay upon the mountain slopes, their juice spreads everywhere. "From the juice of these fruits arises the famed river Jambūnadī, whose waters are drunk by the inhabitants of that land. For those who partake of this river, there is no fatigue, no foul odor, no aging, nor decline of the senses; such is the wondrous effect of that nectar. When the river’s juice reaches the shore and is dried by gentle winds, it becomes the gold known as Jāmbūnada, fit for the ornaments of the perfected beings. "To the east of Meru lies Bhadrāśva, to the west Ketumāla—two great regions, with Ilāvṛta between them. In the east is the forest Caitraratha, in the south Gandhamādana, in the west Vaibhrāja, and in the north the renowned Nandana. "There are four lakes always enjoyed by the gods: Aruṇoda, Mahābhadra, Asitoda, and Samānasam. To the east of Meru rise the Kesarācalas: Śāntavān, Cakrakuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavān, and Vaikaṅka at their head. To the south stand the Kesaraparvatas: Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Niṣadha, and others. To the west are the Kesarācalas: Śikhivāsa, Savaidūrya, Kapila, Gandhamādana, with Jānudhi at their head. "Adjacent to Meru, beginning with the region of Jaṭhara, are mountains such as Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, and others. To the north, the Kesarācalas begin with Kālañjara and others, and there is a great city, fourteen thousand yojanas in extent. "Above Meru, O best of Brāhmaṇas, is the city of Brahmā in the heavens, present in all eight directions and in the intermediate quarters. There, too, are the renowned foremost cities of Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, emanating from the feet of Viṣṇu and flooding the region of the moon. "All around the city of Brahmā, the sacred Ganga descended from the sky. There, having fallen, she divided herself into four streams, each flowing in a different direction. Their names are Sita, Alakananda, Caksus, and Bhadra. First, Sita, moving through the sky, travels from mountain to mountain." Thus, with gentle words and vivid description, the sage revealed the wondrous form and glory of the world, satisfying the eager curiosity of the wise.