प्रागायतौ पूर्ववृत्तौ महापर्वतराजकौ । एवं चोत्तरतो मेरोस्त्रिशृङ्गमकरौ गिरी
Both are of equal height and circular in form, the great lords of mountains; likewise, to the north of Meru are the mountains called Triśṛṅga and Makarā.
एतैश्चाद्रिवरैरष्टसंख्यैः परिवृतो गिरिः । सुमेरुः काञ्चनगिरिः परिभ्राजन् रविर्यथा
Thus, surrounded by these eight mountains, Mount Sumeru, the golden mountain, shines like the sun encircled by its rays.
मेरोर्मूर्धनि धातुर्हि पुरी पङ्कजजन्मनः । मध्यतश्चोपक्लृप्तेयं दशसाहस्रयोजनैः
At the summit of Meru is the city of Dhātu, the lotus-born; in the center is this city, measuring ten thousand yojanas.
समानचतुरस्रां च शातकौम्भमयीं पुरीम् । वर्णयन्ति महात्मानः परावरविदो बुधाः
It is described by the great sages, knowers of the highest and lowest, as a city of gold, perfectly square and equal on all sides.
तां पुरीमनुलोकानामष्टानामीशिषां पराः । पुर्यः प्रख्यातसौवर्णरूपास्ताश्च यथादिशम्
That city is the supreme abode of the eight lords of the worlds; these cities, famed for their golden forms, are as follows in order.
यथारूपं सार्धनेत्रसहस्रप्रमिताः कृताः । मेरोर्नव पुराणि स्युर्मनोवत्यमरावती
According to their form, each is measured at one and a half thousand yojanas; the nine cities of Meru are Manovatī, Amarāvatī...
तेजोवती संयमनी तथा कृष्णाङ्गनापरा । श्रद्धावती गन्धवती तथा चान्या महोदया
There was Tejovati, Samyamani, and also another named Krishnangana; Shraddhavati, Gandhavati, and another, Mahodaya.
यशोवती च ब्रह्मेन्द्रवह्न्यादीनां यथाक्रमम् । तत्रैव यज्ञलिङ्गस्य विष्णोर्भगवतो विभोः
Yashovati too, in due order, belonged to Brahma, Indra, Agni, and the others; there also was the sacrificial emblem of the glorious Lord Vishnu.
वामपादाङ्गुष्ठनखनिर्भिन्नस्य च नारद । अण्डोर्ध्वभागरन्ध्रस्य मध्यात्संविशती दिवः
O Narada, from the middle of the upper opening of the cosmic egg, pierced by the nail of the left big toe,
मूर्धन्यवततारेयं गङ्गा संविशती विभो । लोकानामखिलानां च पापहारिजलाकुला
the Ganga flowed forth from the crown of the Lord, entering the heavens, filled with waters that remove the sins of all worlds.
इयं च साक्षाद्भगवत्पदी लोकेषु विश्रुता । कालेन महता सा तु युगसाहस्रकेण तु
This very river is renowned among people as Bhagavatpadi; over a great period of time, indeed over a thousand yugas,
दिवो मूर्धानमागत्य देवी देवनदीश्वरी । यत्तद्विष्णुपदं नाम स्थानं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
the goddess, sovereign of the divine rivers, reached the crown of heaven; that place is called Vishnupada, famed throughout the three worlds.
औत्तानपादिर्यत्रास्ते ध्रुवः परमपावनः । भगवत्पादयुगलं पद्मकोशरजो दधत्
There dwells Dhruva, son of Uttanapada, supremely pure, bearing the dust of the lotus-like feet of the Lord.
अद्याप्यास्ते स राजर्षिः पदवीमचलां श्रितः । तत्र सप्तर्षयस्तस्य प्रभावज्ञा महाशयाः
Even today that royal sage abides there, established in the unshakable path; there the seven great sages, wise and knowing his radiance,
प्रदक्षिणं प्रक्रमन्ति सर्वलोकहितेप्सवः । आत्यन्तिकी सिद्धिरियं तपतां सिद्धिदायिनी
circumambulate him, desiring the welfare of all worlds; this is the supreme attainment, bestowing success upon those who practice austerity.
आद्रियन्ते च शिरसा जटाजूटोषितेन च । ततो विष्णुपदाद्देवी नैकसाहस्रकोटिभिः
They honor her with bowed heads, their hair matted; then, from Vishnupada, the goddess descends by countless millions of celestial vehicles.
विमानैराकुले देवयानेऽवतरती च सा । चन्द्रमण्डलमाप्लाव्य पतन्ती ब्रह्यसद्यनि
She, filled with the lunar orb, descends on the path of the gods, and, flooding the region of the moon, falls toward the abode of Brahma.
चतुर्धा भिद्यमाना सा ब्रह्मलोके च नारद । चतुर्भिर्नामभिर्देवी चतुर्दिशमभिसृता
O Narada, there in Brahmaloka, she was divided into four streams, the goddess proceeding in four directions under four names.
सरितां च नदीनां च पतिमेवान्वपद्यत । सीता चालकनन्दा च चतुर्भद्रेति* नामभिः
She became the mistress of rivers and streams; as Sita, Alakananda, and by the name Chaturbhadra.
*चक्षुर्भद्रेति? सीता च ब्रह्मसदनाच्छिखरेभ्यः क्षमाभृताम् । केसराभिधनाम्ना च प्रस्रवन्ती च स्वर्णदी
Sita, from the abode of Brahma, from the peaks of the mountains, is known as Kesarā and also as Prasravanti, the golden river.
गन्धमादनमूर्ध्नीह पतिता पापहारिणी । अन्तरेण तु भद्राश्ववर्षं प्राच्यां समागता
Falling on the summit of Gandhamadana, she destroys sin; passing through the land of Bhadrashva, she reaches the eastern ocean.
क्षारोदधिं गता सा तु द्युनदी देवपूजिता । ततो माल्यवतः शृङ्गाद् द्वितीया परिनिर्गता
She, the divine river worshipped by the gods, reached the salt ocean; then, from the peak of Malyavat, the second stream emerged.
ततो वेगवती भूत्वा केतुमालं समागता । चक्षुर्नाम्नी देवनदी प्रतीच्यां दिश्युपागता
Then, becoming Vegavati, she reached Ketumala; the divine river named Chakshus flowed to the western direction.
सरितां पतिमाविष्टा सा गङ्गा देववन्दिता । ततस्तृतीया धारा तु नाम्ना ख्याता च नारद
Entering the lord of rivers, that Ganga, praised by the gods, became manifest; then the third stream, O Narada, became known by name.
पुण्या चालकनन्दा वै दक्षिणेनाब्जभूपदात् । वनानि गिरिकूटानि समतिक्रम्य चागता
The sacred river Alakananda, indeed, having come from the southern side of the lotus-born's abode, has crossed forests and mountain peaks and arrived here.
हेमकूटं गिरिवरं प्राप्तातोऽपीह निर्गता । अतिवेगवती भूत्वा भारतं चागतापरा
Having reached the excellent mountain Hemakuta, she then emerged from there as another swift-flowing stream and entered the land of Bharata.
दक्षिणं जलधिं प्राप्ता तृतीया सा सरिद्वरा । यस्याः स्नानाय सरतां मनुजानां पदे पदे
The third great river reached the southern ocean, and for those humans who bathe in her waters at every step—
राजसूयाश्वमेधादि फलं तु न हि दुर्लभम् । ततश्चतुर्थी धारा तु भृङ्गवत्पर्वतात्पुनः
The fruit of Rajasūya, Ashvamedha, and other great sacrifices is not difficult to obtain; then, the fourth stream, again from the mountain Bhringavat—
भद्राभिधा संस्रवन्ती कुरून्सन्तर्प्य चोत्तरान् । समुद्रं समनुप्राप्ता गङ्गा त्रैलोक्यपावनी
Known as Bhadrā, she flows, satisfying the northern Kurus, and reaches the ocean—the Ganga, purifier of the three worlds.
अन्ये नदाश्च नद्यश्च वर्षे वर्षेऽपि सन्ति हि । बहुशो मेरुमन्दारप्रसूताश्चैव नारद
There are also many other rivers and streams in every region, O Nārada, many of which arise from Meru and Mandara.