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.
तत्रापि भारतं वर्षं कर्मक्षेत्रमुशन्ति हि । अन्यानि चाष्टवर्षाणि भौमस्वर्गप्रदानि च
Yet, among them, the land of Bharata is called the field of action; the other eight regions grant heavenly pleasures on earth.
स्वर्गिणां पुण्यशेषस्य भोगस्थानानि नारद । पुरुषाणां चायुतायुर्वज्राङ्गा देवसन्निभाः
For those who have remaining merit from heaven, O Nārada, these are places of enjoyment; the men there have ten thousand years of life, bodies like thunderbolts, and resemble the gods.
पुरुषा नागसाहस्रैर्दशभिः परिकल्पिताः । महासौरतसन्तुष्टाः कलत्राढ्याः सुखान्विताः
The men are formed with the strength of ten thousand elephants, greatly satisfied in love, possessing many wives, and endowed with happiness.
एकवर्षोनके चायुष्याप्तगर्भाः स्त्रियोऽपि हि । त्रेतायुगसमः कालो वर्तते सर्वदैव हि
In each of those regions, women are long-lived, free from pregnancy, and the passage of time is always like the Tretā Yuga.
भुवनकोशवर्णने इलावृतभद्राश्ववर्षवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच तेषु वर्षेषु देवेशाः पूर्वोक्तैः स्तवनैः सदा । पूजयन्ति महादेवीं जपध्यानसमाधिभिः
Description of the cosmic regions: the lands of Ilāvṛta and Bhadrāśva. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: In those regions, O lords of the gods, they always worship the Great Goddess with the hymns previously mentioned, through recitation, meditation, and absorption.
सर्वर्तुकुसुमश्रेणी शोभिता वनराजयः । फलानां पल्लवानां च यत्र शोभा निरन्तरम्
The forests there are adorned with clusters of flowers in every season, and there is unbroken beauty of fruits and young shoots.
तेषु काननवर्षेषु वर्षपर्वतसानुषु । गिरिद्रोणीषु सर्वासु निर्मलोदकराशिषु
In those forested regions, on the slopes of the mountains, in all the mountain valleys, and in the clear waters—
विकचोत्पलमालासु हंससारससञ्चयैः । विमिश्रितेषु तेष्वेव पक्षिभिः कूजितेषु च
Among garlands of blooming lotuses, mingled with flocks of swans and cranes, and filled with the calls of birds—
जलक्रीडादिभिश्चित्रविनोदैः क्रीडयन्ति च । सुन्दरीललितभ्रूणां विलासायतनेषु च
They play with various delightful water games and amusements, in the abodes of beautiful, graceful women.
तत्रत्या विहरन्त्यत्र स्वैरं युवतिभिः सह । नवस्वपि च वर्षेषु भगवानादिपूरुषः
There, the inhabitants freely enjoy themselves with young women; and in all nine regions, the Blessed Primeval Person—