O wise one, listen as I recount the wondrous geography of the cosmos as revealed in the sacred verses. There are seven continents, each with its own unique name: Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmala, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara. Encircling each continent are seven oceans, each bearing a different essence: salt, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, curds, milk, and water. At the very heart of these continents lies Jambūdvīpa, and in its center rises the glorious golden mountain, Meru. Meru's height is immense—eighty-four thousand yojanas soar above the earth, with sixteen thousand yojanas extending below. Its summit stretches thirty-two thousand yojanas across, while its base measures sixteen thousand all around. Meru is shaped like the kernel at the heart of the earth’s lotus, a radiant axis of creation. Surrounding Meru are the region-mountains: to the south stand Himavat, Hemakūṭa, and Niṣadha; to the north, Nīla, Śveta, and Śṛṅgī. Among these, two reach a hundred thousand yojanas in length, while the others are slightly less. All are two thousand yojanas high and equally broad. The lands encircling Meru are divided into regions. To the south are Bhārata, Kiṃpuruṣa, and Harivarṣa. To the north lie Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya, and the Northern Kurus. Each of these regions spans nine thousand yojanas, and at their center is Ilāvṛta, with golden Meru rising high within it. Ilāvṛta itself surrounds Meru on all four sides, extending nine thousand yojanas, and is bordered by four mighty mountains, the vast buttresses of Meru, each ten thousand yojanas wide. Mandara stands to the east, Gandhamādana to the south, Vipula to the west, and Supārśva to the north. Upon these mountains grow the kadamba, jambū, pippala, and vaṭa trees, towering eleven hundred yojanas tall, true lords of the mountains. Among them, the jambū tree is especially renowned, giving its name to Jambūdvīpa. The fruits of the jambū tree are as large as great elephants. When they fall and decay upon the slopes of the mountain, their juice spreads everywhere. From this juice arises the celebrated river Jambūnadī, which the inhabitants of the land drink. Those who partake of its waters never suffer fatigue, foul odor, aging, or decline of the senses; such is its marvelous effect. When the river’s juice reaches the shore and is dried by gentle winds, it transforms into gold called Jāmbūnada, prized for the ornaments of the perfected beings. To the east of Meru lies Bhadrāśva, and to the west Ketumāla; these two regions flank Ilāvṛta, which lies between them. In the east is the forest Caitraratha, in the south Gandhamādana, in the west Vaibhrāja, and in the north the renowned Nandana. Four lakes—Aruṇoda, Mahābhadra, Asitoda, and Samānasam—are always enjoyed by the gods. To the east of Meru are the Kesarācalas: Śāntavān, Cakrakuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavān, and Vaikaṅka at their head. To the south are the Kesaraparvatas: Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Niṣadha, and others. To the west are Śikhivāsa, Savaidūrya, Kapila, Gandhamādana, and Jānudhi. Adjacent to Meru, beginning with Jaṭhara, are other mountains: Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, and more. To the north, the Kesarācalas begin with Kālañjara and others, and there stands a great city, fourteen thousand yojanas in extent. Above Meru, in the heavens, is the city of Brahmā, shining in all eight directions and the intermediate quarters. There also are the 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 descends from the sky and, upon reaching the earth, divides herself into four directions. The rivers are named Sita, Alakananda, Caksus, and Bhadra. Sita, moving through the sky, travels from mountain to mountain. Bhadra flows eastward to the ocean of Sarnava, Alakananda journeys south to the land of Bharata, and, becoming sevenfold, proceeds to the ocean. Caksus crosses the western mountains and flows to the western ocean, following the land of Ketumala. Bhadra crosses the northern mountains and the region of the northern Kurus, finally reaching the northern ocean. Between the twin ranges of Anila and Nisadha, and Malyavat and Gandhamadana, lies Meru, shaped like a lotus stalk. The lands of Bharata, Ketumala, Bhadrāśva, and the Kurus surround it. The leaves of the world-mountain are outside the boundary mountains; Jathara and Devakuta are such boundaries. Anila and Nisadha stand to the south and north, Gandhamadana and Kailasa to the east and west. These boundary mountains are eighty yojanas in length and set within the ocean. Nisadha and Pariyatra are also boundary mountains, found on the western side of Meru, just as in the east. Trisringa and Jarudhi are the northern mountains of the regions, extending east and west within the ocean. Thus, the sacred geography of the world is revealed, with Meru at its luminous heart, encircled by continents, oceans, and mountains, all forming the grand tapestry of creation.