O noble one, listen as I recount the wondrous geography and spiritual significance of the sacred realms encircling Mount Meru. Around this celestial mountain, in each of the four directions, stand the boundary mountains, paired two by two, as I have described. Among these, the Kesara mountains—beginning with the delightful Shita—shine forth in all directions, their beauty surpassing all telling. Within the inner valleys of these mountains, where Siddhas and Caranas wander, lie enchanting forests of ancient origin. These valleys are adorned with the foremost shrines dedicated to Lakshmi, Vishnu, Agni, Surya, Indra, and the host of gods, sanctified by the presence of humans and Kinnaras alike. Day and night, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, as well as Daityas and Danavas, revel and play amidst these delightful surroundings. Such places are remembered as earthly heavens, abodes of the righteous, where evil-doers, even after a hundred births, cannot hope to reach. In these blessed lands, in Bhadrāśva, Vishnu himself abides as Hayagrīva; in Ketumāla, he takes the form of the Boar; and in Bhārata, he manifests as the Tortoise. Among the Kurus, Govinda dwells eternally in the form of the Fish, and Hari, the Lord of all, pervades everywhere in his universal form, the very foundation of all that exists. In the eight regions, beginning with Kiṃpuruṣa, there is no sorrow, no fatigue, no distress, nor fear of hunger. The people there are ever well, free from trouble, and untouched by suffering. Their lives are steady, lasting ten or twelve thousand years, and they know not the afflictions of hunger or thirst. In these lands, there is no awareness of the cycles of Krita, Treta, or other ages. Each region is graced with seven great mountain ranges, from which hundreds of rivers flow. Now, hear of Bhārata, that sacred land lying to the north of the ocean and south of the Himalaya, where the lineage of Bharata dwells. This land, O best of the twice-born, stretches for nine thousand yojanas and is renowned as the realm of action, where mortals may strive for heaven or liberation. Here rise the seven principal mountain ranges: Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra. From this land, one may attain heaven, liberation, or, by departing from the path, fall into animal birth or even hell. Only here is the true field of action for mortals established; nowhere else does such opportunity exist. Listen further to the nine divisions of Bhārata: Indradvīpa, Kasetumā, Tāmraparṇa, Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gandharva, Vāruṇa, and the ninth, the island surrounded by ocean. This island stretches a thousand yojanas from south to north. In the east dwell the Kirātas, and in the west, the Yavanas. In the central lands reside Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and, in part, Śūdras, each engaged in their respective duties—sacrifice, warfare, trade, and other occupations. Many sacred rivers arise here: the Śatadrū and Candrabhāgā from the Himalaya, others from Pāriyātra as mentioned in the Vedas and Smṛtis. From Vindhya spring the Narmadā, Suramā, and others; from Ṛkṣa, the Godāvarī, Bhīma, Rathī, Kṛṣṇā, and Veṇī, all renowned for removing sin. From Sahya, rivers arise that dispel sin and fear; from Malaya, the Kṛtamālā and Tāmraparṇī. The Ṛṣikulyā, Kumārā, and others flow from Mahendra and Śuktimat mountains. Along these rivers dwell countless people: the Kurus, Pañcālas, and those of the central lands; those in the east—Kāmarūpa, Pauṇḍra, Kaliṅga, Magadha, and the southern lands; as well as the Saurāṣṭras, Śūdras, Ābhīras, Arbudas, Mārukas, Mālavas, and those of Pāriyātra. The Sauvīras, Saindhavas, Śālvas, Śākala, Madras, Rāmas, Ambaṣṭhas, Pārasīkas, and many more dwell joyfully and prosperously along these riverbanks. In Bhārata, people live through the four ages—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali—nowhere else do these cycles occur. Here ascetics practice austerities, sacrificers offer oblations, and gifts are given with reverence for the sake of the next world. On Jambūdvīpa, the Purusha of sacrifice is worshipped by men through sacrifices; on other islands, Vishnu—who is himself sacrifice—is worshipped in other ways. Yet, even among all these, Bhārata stands foremost in Jambūdvīpa, for it is the land of action, while the others are lands of enjoyment. Here, after thousands upon thousands of births, a being may, by the accumulation of merit, obtain the rare gift of human birth. The gods themselves sing in praise: “Blessed are those who, in the land of Bhārata, are born as humans, for this is the cause and abode of heaven and liberation.” Those who renounce actions and their fruits, dedicating all to Vishnu as the Supreme Self, attain the greatness of action in the Infinite and, being pure, go to dissolution. When the actions that grant heaven are dissolved, the bond of the body is broken; truly blessed are those humans in Bhārata who are freed from the senses. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, I have briefly described Jambūdvīpa, with its nine regions, stretching a hundred thousand yojanas. May this knowledge inspire reverence for the sacred land of Bhārata and the higher purpose of human birth.