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.
धनञ्जयस्य च पुरं नागेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः
And the city of Dhanañjaya, the great-souled lord of serpents.
एवं पुरसहस्राणि नागदानवरक्षसाम्
In this way, there are thousands of cities of Nāgas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas.
द्वितीये सुतले विप्रा दैत्येन्द्रस्य च रक्षसः
In the second region, Sutala, O Brahmins, is the palace of the Daitya king and the Rākṣasa.
इयग्रीवस्य कृष्णस्य निकुम्भस्य च मन्दिरम्
The palaces of Iyagrīva, Kṛṣṇa, and Nikumbha are there as well.
राक्षसस्य च नीलस्य मेघस्य कथनस्य च
And of the demon Nīla, and the account of the cloud.
कंबलस्य च नागस्य पुरमश्वतरस्य च
And of the serpent Kaṃbala, and of the city of Aśvatara.
एवं पुरसहस्राणि नागदानवरक्षसाम्
Thus, thousands of cities of serpents, demons, and rākṣasas.
तृतीये तु तले ख्यातं प्रह्लादस्य महात्मनः
On the third level, the renowned city of the great-souled Prahlāda.
तारकाश्यस्य च पुरं पुरं त्रिशिरसस्तथा
The city of Tārakāsura, and likewise the city of Triśiras.
पुरञ्जनस्य दैत्यस्य हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलम्
The city of the demon Purañjana, teeming with joyful and prosperous people.