भूतेभ्यः परतस्तेभ्यो व्यालोका सा धरा स्मृता
Beyond the elements, and further beyond them, that illumination is known as the earth.
पात्रे महति पात्राणि यथैवान्तर्गतानि तु
Just as smaller vessels are contained within a larger vessel,
तथा ह्यालोक आकाशे भेदास्त्वन्तर्गता मताः
So too, the divisions of illumination within space are considered to be contained.
यावदेतानि भूतानि तावदुत्पत्तिरुच्यते
As long as these elements exist, so long is their origin spoken of.
प्रत्या ख्याय तु भूतानि कार्योत्पर्त्तिन विद्यते
When the elements are withdrawn, there is no production of effects.
कारणात्मकास्तथैक स्युर्भेदा ये महदादयः
Those divisions beginning with the great principle are of the nature of causes, and are one.
सप्तद्वीपसमुद्राड्यो याथातथ्यन वै द्विजाः
O twice-born, the regions of the seven continents and oceans are as they truly are.
वैश्वरूप्रधानस्य परिणामैकदेशिकः
The transformation pertains to only a part of the universal form of the chief principle.
एवंभूतगणाः सप्त सन्निविष्टाः परस्परम्
Thus, seven groups of such beings are established together.
एतावदेव श्रोतव्यं संनिवेशे तु पार्थेवे
Only this much should be heard regarding the arrangement of the earthly realm.
तास्त्वहं परिमाणेन नं संख्यातुमिहोत्सहे
I am unable here to enumerate them by measure.
तारकासंनिवेशश्च यावद्दिव्यानुमण्डलम्
And the arrangement of stars, as far as the celestial sphere,
अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि कृथिव्या वै विचक्षणाः
From here onward, I will speak, O wise ones, about the earth.
पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिश्च पञ्चमम्
Earth, air, space, water, and light are the five elements.
जननी सर्वभूतानां सर्वसत्त्वधरा धरा
The earth is the mother of all beings, the bearer of all creatures.
नानानदनदीशैला नैकजातिसमाकुला
Filled with many rivers and mountains, teeming with countless kinds of life.
नदीनदससुद्रस्थास्तन्था क्षुद्राश्रयस्थिताः
They dwell in small rivers, streams, and lowly places, remaining in humble abodes.
आपो ऽनन्ता हि विज्ञेयास्तथाग्निः सर्वलोकगः
Know that waters are indeed endless, and likewise fire pervades all worlds.
तथाकाशमनालेख्यं रम्यं नानाश्रयं स्मृतम्
In the same way, space is said to be ungraspable, delightful, and possessing various abodes.
आपः पृथिव्यामुदके पृथिव्युपरि संस्थिताः
Waters are established within the earth, in the waters, and above the earth.
एवं मतमनन्तस्य भौतिकस्य न विद्यते
Thus, the view of the infinite material (elements) is not fixed.
भूमिर्जलमथा काशमिति या या परंपरा
Earth, water, and then space—such is the succession described.
दशयोजनसाहस्रमेकं भौमं रसातलम्
The earthly Rasatala is said to be one thousand leagues of ten yojanas each.
प्रथमं तत्वलं नाम सुतलं तु ततः परम्
First is the region called Atala, and next beyond that is Sutala.
ततोर्ऽवाक्च तलं नाम परतश्च रसातलम्
Below that is the region named Talātala, and beyond that is Rasātala.
कृष्णभौमश्च प्रथमो भूमिभागः प्रकीर्त्तितः
The first region of the earth is called Kṛṣṇabhauma, the dark earth.
पीतभौमश्चतुर्थस्तु पञ्चमः शर्करामयः
The fourth is Pītābhauma, the yellow earth, and the fifth is made of gravel.
प्रथमे ऽस्मिंस्तले ख्यातमसुरेद्रस्य मन्दिरम्
In the first of these regions is known the palace of the Asura king.
पुरं च शङ्कुकर्णस्य कबन्धस्य च मन्दिरम्
There is also the city of Śaṅkukarṇa and the palace of Kabandha.
राक्षसस्य च भीमस्य शूलदन्तस्य चालयम्
And the abode of the Rākṣasa Bhīma and of Śūladanta.