In lands beyond ordinary comprehension, there exist realms where lifespans are wondrously steady, stretching to ten or even twelve thousand years. In these blessed places, O twice-born, there is no suffering from hunger or thirst, nor any of the earthly afflictions known to humankind. The passage of time is different there—there is no notion of the Krita, Treta, or other ages. Each of these regions is adorned with seven mighty mountain ranges, from which hundreds of rivers flow forth, O best of the twice-born. Turning our gaze to our own world, to the north of the great ocean and south of the majestic Himalaya, lies the land known as Bhārata—the cherished realm of the descendants of Bharata. This land, O noble sage, measures nine thousand yojanas across. It is here, in Bhārata, that action bears fruit, and mortals may strive for heaven or even liberation. Within Bhārata, seven principal mountain ranges stand tall: Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra. From this very land, one may ascend to heaven, attain liberation, or, departing from here, descend into animal birth or even hell, O twice-born. Nowhere else is the field of action for mortals established; it is only here that such destinies are shaped. Listen as I describe the nine divisions of Bhārata: Indradvīpa, Kasetumā, Tāmraparṇa, Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gandharva, Vāruṇa, and the ninth—an island encircled by the ocean. This island stretches a thousand yojanas from south to north; in the east reside the Kirātas, while in the west dwell the Yavanas. In the central regions, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and, in part, Śūdras are established, each devoted to their respective duties—sacrifice, warfare, trade, and other occupations. Many sacred rivers arise here. From the foot of the Himalaya spring the Śatadrū, Candrabhāgā, and others, as mentioned in the Vedas and Smṛtis. From Pāriyātra, too, flow holy rivers. The Narmadā, Suramā, and others begin at the Vindhya, while Tāpi, Payoshnī, Nirvindhyā, and the celebrated Kaverī are counted among their number. The foot of Ṛkṣa gives rise to rivers renowned for washing away sin: Godāvarī, Bhīma, Rathī, Kṛṣṇā, Veṇī, and more. From the Sahya mountains, rivers are remembered for removing sin and fear, while the Kṛtamālā and Tāmraparṇī flow from the Malaya range. The Mahendra and Śuktimat mountains give birth to rivers such as the Ṛṣikulyā and Kumārā. Countless other rivers and their tributaries nourish the land, and along their banks dwell the peoples of the Kurus, Pañcālas, and the central lands, as well as those from the east—Kāmarūpa, Pauṇḍra, Kaliṅga, Magadha—and all the southern regions. The Saurāṣṭras, Śūdras, Ābhīras, Arbudas, Mārukas, Mālavas, and those of the Pāriyātra region, together with the Sauvīras, Saindhavas, Śālvas, the folk of Śākala, Madras, Rāmas, Ambaṣṭhas, Pārasīkas, and many others—all dwell joyously along the sacred rivers, surrounded by prosperity. In Bhārata, O great sage, people experience the unfolding of the four ages—Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali—nowhere else do these cycles occur. Here, ascetics perform austerities, sacrificers offer oblations, and gifts are given with devotion for the sake of the next world. On Jambūdvīpa, the Purusha of sacrifice is worshipped by men through sacred rites; Viṣṇu, who is himself the embodiment of sacrifice, is honored in different ways on the other islands. Even among these, Bhārata shines as the foremost region of Jambūdvīpa, for here alone is the land of action—elsewhere are merely lands of enjoyment. It is said, O noble one, that after thousands upon thousands of births, a soul may, by the accumulation of great merit, obtain a human birth in Bhārata. The gods themselves sing of this, declaring, "Blessed are those who are born as humans in Bhārata, for it is the very cause and abode of heaven and liberation." Those who renounce actions and their fruits, dedicating them to Viṣṇu as the Supreme Self, attain the highest greatness and dissolution in the Infinite, purified in spirit. Let it be known that when the actions that grant heaven are exhausted, the soul attains a new body; truly blessed are those humans in Bhārata who free themselves from the bondage of the senses. O Brāhmaṇas, this Jambūdvīpa, with its nine regions, has thus been described in brief; it stretches a hundred thousand yojanas in extent. Surrounding Jambūdvīpa, at a span of a hundred thousand yojanas, lies the ocean of milk, encircling it in a perfect ring. Just as the island of Jambū is surrounded by the salt ocean, so too, encircling the salt ocean, is the island of Plakṣa. The expanse of Jambūdvīpa is one hundred thousand yojanas, but Plakṣadvīpa is said to be twice as vast. Plakṣadvīpa is ruled by seven sons of Medhātithi, its lord: Śāntabhaya, the foremost, followed by Śiśira, Sukhodaya, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, and Dhruva. Each son governs a region named after him: Śāntabhaya in the east, then Śiśira, Sukhada, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, and Dhruva. The boundaries of these regions are marked by mountains—Gomeda, Candra, Nārada, Dandubhi, Somaka, Sumanā, and Vaibhrāja. In these delightful lands and mountain regions, sinless beings dwell in harmony with gods and gandharvas, together with their peoples. In these blessed lands, the people are heroic and do not die; sorrow and disease are unknown, and happiness prevails at all times.