Listen now to the wondrous description of Meru and its surrounding realms, as revealed in the ancient scriptures. At the heart of the worlds stands the divine mountain Meru, its circumference stretching forty thousand yojanas in every direction, perfectly measured as a vast quadrangle. This mountain is not only immense but also sacred, endowed with celestial herbs of great potency. Upon Meru and around it dwell hosts of gods, Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas, all sharing this exalted realm. Meru itself is encircled by many worlds and by the creators of living beings. To its west lie the lands of Bhadrāśva, Bharata, and Ketumālā, each with their own distinct regions and peoples. Beside the mountain of Gandhamādana, there is a region known as Paraīṣāparagaṇḍikā. This land extends thirty-two thousand yojanas from east to west and is home to the Ketumālās, a virtuous people renowned for their good deeds. The women of this region are all beautiful, their radiance likened to the delicate petals of the lotus. Presiding over these lands is a lord, the son of Brahmā, who moves freely and swiftly, as fast as thought itself. To the east, beside the mountain Mālyavat, lies the region called Apūrvā Gaṇḍikā. Here reside the Bhadrāśvas, a people always joyful in mind. The men of this land are white in complexion, full of enthusiasm and strength, shining with a brilliance like that of the moon; their faces, too, resemble the full moon. Blessed with a lifespan of ten thousand years, they are free from disease and suffering. Between the mountains Śveta to the south and Nīla to the north, the women are devoted to pleasure, pure in nature, and untouched by the decay or impurity of old age. In this region stands a vast and ancient nyagrodha (banyan) tree, red in color, whose age is ten times ten thousand years, plus five hundred more. South of Śṛṅgavata and north of Śveta lies another remarkable land, where men of great strength and radiant energy are born. Their mighty lifespan reaches eleven thousand years. There, too, grows a great lakuca tree, whose fruit contains all six tastes, nourishing all who partake of it. In this sacred region, the three peaks of Śṛṅgavata rise high, vast and lofty. One of these peaks is formed entirely of jewels of every kind, adorned with splendid palaces. Here, in a land revered and served by perfected beings, dwell the Kurus. The trees themselves grant garments and ornaments, and excellent honey—fragrant, colorful, and delicious—flows freely. Milk, always abundant and possessing the six tastes, streams forth like nectar, pure and auspicious, never muddied, and suited to every season. Those who dwell here are blessed with noble lineage, wealth, and eternal youth. They drink the milk of their cows, which is truly nectar-like, and among them, all are equal in character, appearance, and affection. Free from disease and sorrow, they are ever devoted to happiness, living long, vigorous lives, and remaining steadfast in their relationships. Such are the realms perceived by those who know the highest truth. What more, indeed, can be described? These fourteen Manus, too, became the progenitors in the great cycle of creation. Having heard these marvelous accounts, Romaharṣaṇa addressed the assembly with further words. And now, it is said, this middle region of the world is diverse, producing both auspicious and inauspicious results for those who dwell within it.