In ancient times, there was a great ruler who had seven sons. To each son, he bestowed a region, and these regions bore their names: Jalada, Kumara, Sukumara, Maniraka, Kusamoda, Modaki, and Mahadruma. Thus, seven distinct lands arose, each named after its guardian. Within these regions, seven mighty mountains stood as natural boundaries, dividing the lands. The first was Udayagiri, followed by Jaladhara, Raivataka, Shyama, Ambhogiri, Astikeya, Ramya, and Kesari, the finest of all. Amidst these wonders grew the great Shaka tree, attended by Siddhas and Gandharvas. When the wind passed through its leaves, it brought supreme delight to all who dwelled nearby. In these regions, people of all four classes lived together—holy souls, free from danger and disease. Sacred rivers flowed through the land, purifying all who bathed in them and removing sin and fear. Among them were Sukumari, Kumari, Nalini, and Renuka, as well as Ikshu, Dhenuka, Gabhasti, and Saptami. Besides these, tens of thousands of smaller rivers nourished the land. Hundreds and thousands of great mountains rose throughout these regions, and the people who lived in Jalada and the other lands drank joyfully from their waters. The inhabitants of these lands possessed a fourth part of virtue, and the rivers themselves were so holy that they descended from heaven to earth. Righteousness never declined among these people; neither excessive joy nor sorrow disturbed them, and none transgressed the boundaries of their seven lands. The communities were known as Magas, Magadhas, Manasas, and Mandagas. Among them, the Magas were mostly Brahmins, the Magadhas were Kshatriyas, the Manasas were Vaishyas, and the Mandagas were Shudras. On the island of Shaka, Vishnu, present as Hari in the form of the Sun, was worshipped by all with proper rites and disciplined minds. Beyond Shaka island lay the ocean of milk, encircling all sides with a ring equal in measure to Shakadvīpa. This ocean was itself surrounded by Puṣkara. The island of Puṣkara, twice the size of Shakadvīpa in every direction, became the domain of Savana’s son. Dhātaki, another great soul, had two regions named after him, both bearing his name, and a third called Dhātakīkhanda. At the heart of Puṣkara stood the renowned Mānasottara mountain, rising fifty thousand yojanas high and equally wide, forming a perfect circle. This mountain divided Puṣkaradvīpa into two regions, separating them with its ring-like form. Between these two regions, humans lived for ten thousand years, free from disease and sorrow, untouched by passion or hatred. Among them, there were neither the lowest nor the highest, no killers or victims. Envy, jealousy, fear, anger, fault, and greed were unknown. The great region lay outside, and Dhātakīkhanda within. The Mānasottara mountain was served by gods, demons, and others. In Puṣkara, truth and falsehood did not exist; there were neither rivers nor mountains in the island’s two regions. The people there were of equal appearance, just like the gods, all of one form. There were no castes or stages of life, no practice of dharma, no three Vedas, agriculture, punishment, or service. These two regions were the highest earthly heavens, granting happiness to all. Time there was free from old age and disease. In Puṣkara, Dhātakīkhanda, and Mahāvīta, the banyan tree stood as the supreme abode of Brahmā. There, Brahmā resided, worshipped by gods and demons alike. Puṣkara was surrounded by an ocean of sweet water, whose extent and circumference were equal. Thus, the seven islands were encircled by seven oceans, each island and ocean equal in measure, the next always twice the size of the previous, their waters always balanced. There was never any deficiency or excess among the oceans, just as water in a pot does not overflow from contact with fire. During the waxing and waning of the moon, the ocean’s waters would increase and decrease, neither exceeding nor falling short. At the moon’s rising and setting, during both the bright and dark fortnights, the measure was always one hundred and fifteen finger-breadths. The increase and decrease of the oceanic waters were carefully observed. On the Lotus Island, food appeared of its own accord, always of six tastes, and the existence of the world was seen around the sweet water. Beyond this lay the golden land, twice as wide and devoid of all living beings. Then came the Lokāloka mountain, stretching ten thousand yojanas high and wide. Enveloping this mountain on all sides was darkness, and beyond that, the shell of the cosmic egg surrounded everything. This earth, with its continents and mountains, measures fifty crores in extent, together with the cosmic shell. It is the supporter and creator, endowed with all qualities of beings, the foundation of all worlds.