Upon the broad and majestic summit of Mount Meru, a place adorned with countless jewels and covered in flourishing trees and winding vines, the landscape was further beautified by a profusion of diverse flowers. The air resonated with the delightful calls of many birds, and the mountain was crowded with blossoming plants, filled with myriad creatures, and endowed with wonders beyond imagination. Meru’s slopes shone with stones of many colors and were embellished with various metals, while sages of numerous kinds gathered there, their hermitages scattered across the mountain’s expanse. At the heart of this sacred place sat the Lord of the universe, the source of all creation—Brahma, four-faced and revered by all. He was the master of the world, the foundation of existence, the Supreme Lord, and the grandsire of all beings. Surrounding him were gods and demons, gandharvas and yakshas, vidyadharas, serpents, sages, siddhas, apsarases, and others who dwell in the heavens. Some among them praised Brahma, others sang before him, some played musical instruments, and others danced, filling the atmosphere with joy and reverence. At this auspicious and joyful gathering, when all beings had assembled, the southern breeze carried the sweet scents of many flowers through the air. Then, Bhrigu and the other great sages, bowing respectfully to Brahma, addressed him as their father and the grandsire, and asked a question with humility and reverence: “O Lord, we wish to hear about the land of action on earth. You alone are worthy to speak of this, O Lord of the gods, and of the rare field of liberation.” Hearing their words, Brahma, the lord of the gods, replied, for the best of sages had asked exactly what should be asked. He said, “Hear, O sages, what I will now declare to you: an ancient account connected to the Vedas, auspicious and granting both enjoyment and liberation. On earth, the land called Bharata is known as the field of action, where deeds bear fruit—it is heaven and hell alike. In that land, O twice-born, a person certainly receives the results of both sinful and virtuous deeds. There, Brahmins and others who perform their duties with self-restraint attain the highest perfection—of this, there is no doubt. O best of twice-born, a person who is well-restrained attains in that land all four aims of life: righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation. Even Indra and the other gods, having performed excellent deeds in Bharata, attained divinity. Other wise men, peaceful and free from passion and envy, with controlled senses, also attained liberation there. Those who dwell in heaven, free from suffering and riding in aerial chariots, also reached the heavens by performing virtuous deeds in Bharata. The gods always long for residence in the land of Bharata, which yields the fruits of heaven and liberation; they say, ‘When shall we see it?’ O best of gods, the deeds you have described yield merit or sin nowhere else but in Bharata. Therefore, heaven and liberation are attained through this middle realm; nowhere else on earth are actions prescribed for mortals. Thus, O Brahman, describe our land of Bhārata in detail, if you have compassion for us, and as it truly exists. Tell us of this land, its mountain ranges, and all the divisions of this region, without omission.” Brahma continued, “Hear now of the land of Bhārata, O twice-born, divided into nine parts, separated by oceans, and mutually connected. Indradvīpa, Kaśeru, Tāmravarṇa, Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gāndharva, and Vāruṇa—these are the eight, and the ninth is an island surrounded by the ocean, stretching a thousand yojanas from south to north. To its east dwell the Kirātas, to the west the Yavanas; at the ends reside Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras, O twice-born. Purified by acts such as worship, battle, and trade, their mutual dealings are governed by these actions. Heaven and liberation arise from virtue and sin. Within this land, Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, and Ṛkṣa are the principal mountain ranges, along with Vindhya and Pāriyātra, making seven in all. Nearby are thousands of other mountains—wide, lofty, delightful, and vast, with varied peaks: Kolāhala, Vaibhrāja, Mandara, and Dardalācala; Vātaṃdhaya, Vaidyuta, Maināka, Surasa, Tuṅgaprastha, Nāgagiri, Godhana, and Pāṇḍarācala; Puṣpagiri, Vaijayanta, Raivata, Arbuda, Ṛṣyamūka, Gomantha, Kṛtaśaila, and Kṛtācala; Śrīparvata, Cakora, and hundreds of others. Among these mountains dwell mixed peoples and various groups such as the Mlecchas. From these mountains flow the greatest rivers—know them, O best of twice-born: Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī, Sindhu, and Candrabhāgā; Yamunā, Śatadrū, Vipāśā, Vitastā, Irāvatī, Kuhū, Gomatī, Dhūtapāpā, Bāhudā, and Dṛṣadvatī; Vipāśā, Devikā, Cakṣur, Niṣṭhīvā, Gaṇḍakī, Kauśikī, and Āpagā—all these arise from the foot of Himavat; Devamṛti, Devavatī, Vātaghnī, Sindhu, Veṇyā, Candanā, Sadānīrā, and Mahī as well; Carmaṇvatī, Vṛṣī, Vidiśā, Vedavatī, Siprā, Avantī, and those rivers flowing along the Pāriyātra mountains are remembered; Śoṇā, Mahānadī, Narmadā, Surathā, Kriyā, Mandākinī, Daśārṇā, and Citrakūṭā are other rivers. Thus, Brahma revealed the sacred geography and significance of Bharata, the land where action, virtue, and liberation unfold, to the assembled sages and celestial beings atop Meru, filling their hearts with awe and devotion.