Surrounding the golden peak of Meru on all four sides lies the illustrious region known as Ilāvṛta, stretching nine thousand yojanas across. At each of its cardinal points stand four great mountains, forming the mighty buttresses of Meru, each ten thousand yojanas wide. To the east rises Mandara, to the south Gandhamādana, to the west Vipula, and to the north Supārśva. Upon these mountains grow magnificent trees: the kadamba, jambū, pippala, and vaṭa, towering as mountain-lords themselves, some reaching eleven hundred yojanas in height. Of these, the great jambū tree is especially renowned, for it gives its name to the entire region, Jambūdvīpa. Its fruits are enormous, the size of great elephants, and when they fall and decay upon the mountain slopes, their juice spreads everywhere. From this juice, famed throughout the land, is born the river Jambūnadī, whose waters are drunk by the inhabitants. Those who partake of this river’s nectar know no fatigue, no foul odor, no aging, and their senses never decline; such is the wondrous effect of the river’s flow. When the river’s juice reaches the shore and is dried by gentle winds, it transforms into a special gold called Jāmbūnada, prized for the ornaments of the perfected beings. To the east of Meru lies the land of Bhadrāśva, and to the west, Ketumāla; these two regions flank Ilāvṛta, which lies between them. In the east is the enchanting Caitraratha forest, in the south Gandhamādana, in the west Vaibhrāja, and in the north the renowned Nandana forest. Four splendid lakes—Aruṇoda, Mahābhadra, Asitoda, and Samānasam—are ever enjoyed by the gods. To the east of Meru, the Kesarācalas, or “crest mountains,” are Śāntavān, Cakrakuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavān, and at their head, Vaikaṅka. To the south, the Kesaraparvatas include Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Niṣadha, and others. In the west, the Kesarācalas are Śikhivāsa, Savaidūrya, Kapila, Gandhamādana, and Jānudhi at their head. Close to Meru, in regions beginning with Jaṭhara, stand mountains such as Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, and more. To the north, the Kesarācalas begin with Kālañjara and others, and there lies a vast city, stretching fourteen thousand yojanas. High above Meru, in the heavens, shines the city of Brahmā, present in all eight directions and the intermediate quarters. There, too, are the famed cities of Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, all emanating from the feet of Viṣṇu and flooding the realm of the moon. It is here, around the city of Brahmā, that the divine Ganga descends from the sky, dividing herself into four mighty streams. These are Sita, Alakananda, Caksus, and Bhadra. Sita, first, courses through the sky from mountain to mountain; Bhadra flows east to the ocean of Sarnava; Alakananda takes the southern route to the land of Bharata, where she becomes sevenfold before reaching the sea; and Caksus, crossing the western mountains, likewise flows to the western ocean, passing through the land of Ketumala. Bhadra, in turn, traverses the northern mountains and the land of the northern Kurus, crossing the northern ocean to arrive at her destination. Between the twin ranges of Anila and Nisadha, and also Malyavat and Gandhamadana, stands the great Meru, shaped like the stalk of a lotus. Around it lie the lands of Bharata, Ketumala, Bhadrāśva, and the Kurus. The world-mountain’s leaves extend beyond the boundary mountains, among which Jathara and Devakuta are prominent. Anila and Nisadha are situated to the south and north, while Gandhamadana and Kailasa stand to the east and west. These boundary mountains, each eighty yojanas long, are set within the ocean. Nisadha and Pariyatra are also such boundary mountains. On the western side of Meru, Anila and Nisadha stand just as they do in the east. The northern mountains of the regions are Trisringa and Jarudhi, stretching east and west within the ocean. Thus, the boundary mountains encircle Meru, two by two in each of the four directions. The Kesara mountains, delightful in all four directions of Meru, beginning with Shita, are especially beautiful. Their inner valleys, frequented by Siddhas and Caranas, are most charming and shelter ancient forests. Within these sacred places are the foremost shrines of Lakshmi, Vishnu, Agni, Surya, Indra, and other gods, adored by humans and Kinnaras alike. Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Daityas, and Danavas play day and night in these delightful mountain valleys. These are remembered as earthly heavens, abodes of the righteous, where evil-doers cannot reach, even in a hundred births. In Bhadrāśva, the blessed Viṣṇu abides as Hayagrīva; in Ketumāla, he appears as the Boar; in Bhārata, he takes the form of the Tortoise. Among the Kurus, Govinda dwells as the eternal Fish; and Hari, the Lord of all, is present everywhere in his universal form, the foundation of all, pervading everything. As for the eight regions, beginning with Kiṃpuruṣa, in those blessed lands there is no sorrow, no fatigue, no distress, nor fear of hunger. The people there are ever well, free from trouble, and untouched by all suffering.