ततोऽप्यधस्ताद्देवर्षे यक्षाणां च सरक्षसाम् । पिशाचप्रेतभूतानां विहाराजिरमुत्तमम्
Further below, O devarṣi, are the realms of yakṣas and rākṣasas, and the excellent abodes for piśācas, pretas, and bhūtas.
अन्तरिक्षं च तत्प्रोक्तं यावद्वायुः प्रवाति हि । यावन्मेघास्ततोद्यन्ति तत्प्रोक्तं ज्ञानकोविदैः
That is called the atmosphere, extending as far as the wind blows and as far as clouds rise; so it is described by those skilled in knowledge.
ततोऽधस्ताद्योजनानां शतं यावद् द्विजोत्तम । पृथिवी परिसंख्याता सुपर्णश्येनसारसाः
Below that, O best of twice-born, for a hundred yojanas, the earth is counted, along with the birds Garuḍa, Śyena, and Sāra.
हंसादयः प्रोत्पतन्ति पार्थिवाः पृथिवीभवाः । भूसन्निवेशावस्थानं यथावदुपवर्णितम्
Swans and others fly forth, born of the earth; the arrangement and position of the earth have been described as appropriate.
अधस्तादवनेः सप्त देवर्षे विवराः स्मृताः । एकैकशो योजनानामायामोच्छ्रायतः पुनः
Below the earth, O devarṣi, seven cavities are remembered; each one has its own length and height measured in yojanas.
अयुतान्तरविख्याताः सर्वर्तुसुखदायकाः । अतलं प्रथमं प्रोक्तं द्वितीयं वितलं तथा
Known as separated by ten thousand yojanas, they give pleasure in all seasons; Atala is said to be the first, and Vitala the second.
तृतीयं सुतलं प्रोक्तं चतुर्थं वै तलातलम् । महातलं पञ्चमं च षष्ठं प्रोक्तं रसातलम्
The third is called Sutala, the fourth is truly Talātala; Mahātala is the fifth, and the sixth is known as Rasātala.
सप्तमं विप्र पातालं सप्तैते विवराः स्मृताः । एतेषु बिलस्वर्गेषु दिवोऽप्यधिकमेव च
The seventh, O Brahmin, is Pātāla; these seven are remembered as the lower regions, and among these subterranean heavens, they even surpass the heavens above.
कामभोगैश्वर्यसुखसमृद्धभुवनेषु च । नित्योद्यानविहारेषु सुखास्वादः प्रवर्तते
In these worlds, abundant with pleasures, enjoyments, wealth, and happiness, there is constant delight in gardens and amusements.
दैत्याश्च काद्रवेयाश्च दानवा बलशालिनः । नित्यप्रमुदिता रक्ताः कलत्रापत्यबन्धुभिः
There, the Daityas, Kādraveyas, and the powerful Dānavas, always joyful, remain attached to their wives, children, and relatives.
सुहृद्भिरनुजीवाद्यैः संयुताश्च गृहेश्वराः । ईश्वरादप्रतिहतकामा मायाविनश्च ते
Surrounded by friends, dependents, and others, they are lords of their homes; their desires are never hindered by any lord, and they are masters of illusion.
निवसन्ति सदा हृष्टाः सर्वर्तुसुखसंयुताः । मयेन मायाविभुना येषु येषु च निर्मिताः
They always dwell there, delighted, enjoying comfort in every season, in cities constructed in each region by Maya, the master of illusion.
पुरः प्रकामशो भक्ता मणिप्रवरशालिनः । विचित्रभवनाट्टालगोपुराद्याः सहस्रशः
In those places, splendid cities are built in abundance, adorned with the finest jewels, with wondrous mansions, towers, and gateways by the thousands.
सभाचत्वरचैत्यादिशोभाढ्याः सुरदुर्लभाः । नागासुराणां मिथुनैः सपारावतसारिकैः
Rich in the beauty of assembly halls, courtyards, shrines, and more—rare even for the gods—these are filled with pairs of Nāgas and Asuras, along with parrots and mynah birds.
कीर्णकृत्रिमभूमिश्च विवरेशगृहोत्तमैः । अलङ्कृताश्चकासन्ति उद्यानानि महान्ति च
The artificial grounds are scattered with the finest dwellings of the lords of the caves, and the great gardens shine, beautifully adorned.
मनःप्रसन्नकारीणि फलपुष्पविशालिभिः । ललनानां विलासार्हस्थानैः शोभितभाञ्जि च
These gardens, vast with fruits and flowers, bring joy to the mind, and are graced with delightful places suitable for the play of women.
नानाविहंगमव्रातसंयुक्तजलराशिभिः । स्वच्छार्णपूरितह्रदैः पाठीनसमलङ्कृतैः
They are filled with various flocks of birds and masses of water, with clear sand filling their depths, adorned with pāṭhīna fish.
जलजन्तुक्षुब्धनीरनीरजातैरनेकशः । कुमुदोत्पलकह्लारनीलरक्तोत्पलैस्तथा
The waters are stirred by many aquatic creatures, and are covered with lotuses, blue lilies, and red lotuses, as well as kumuda and utpala flowers.
तेषु कृतनिकेतानां विहारैः सङ्कुलानि च । इन्द्रियोत्सवकारैश्च तथैव विविधैः स्वरैः
These places, where they have made their homes, are crowded with amusements and sensory delights, as well as with various kinds of music.
अमराणां च परमां श्रियं चातिशयन्ति च । यत्र नैव भयं क्वापि कालाङ्गैर्दिनरात्रिभिः
There, they surpass even the supreme splendor of the immortals, and there is nowhere any fear from time, or from day and night.
यत्राहिप्रवराणां च शिरःस्थैर्मणिरश्मिभिः । नित्यं तमः प्रबाध्येत सदा प्रस्फुटकान्तिभिः
There, by the rays of the jewels set on the heads of the foremost serpents, darkness is always dispelled, ever shining with clear brilliance.
न वा एतेषु वसतां दिव्यौषधिरसायनैः । रसान्नपानस्नानाद्यैर्नाधयो न च व्याधयः
For those dwelling there, no diseases or ailments arise from divine herbs, elixirs, food, drink, or bathing.
वलीपलितजीर्णत्ववैवर्ण्यस्वेदगन्धताः । अनुत्साहवयोऽवस्था न बाधन्ते कदाचन
Wrinkles, gray hair, old age, discoloration, sweat, or foul odors, nor any weakness or decline of youth, ever trouble them.
कल्याणानां सदा तेषां न च मृत्युभयं कुतः । भगवत्तेजसोऽन्यत्र चक्राच्चैव सुदर्शनात्
For them, who are always blessed, there is never any fear of death; except for the divine radiance of the Lord and the Sudarśana discus.
यस्मिन्प्रविष्टे दैतेयवधूनां गर्भराशयः । प्रायो भयात्पतन्त्येव स्रवन्ति ब्रह्मपुत्रक
O son of Brahma, when he enters, the wombs of the wives of the Daityas, out of fear, mostly miscarry and flow out.
अतलवितलसुतललोकवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच प्रथमे विवरे विप्र अतलाख्ये मनोरमे । मयपुत्रो बलो नाम वर्ततेऽखर्वगर्वकृत्
The Description of Atala, Vitala, and Sutala Worlds. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: In the first delightful cavity, called Atala, there dwells Maya's son named Bala, who is filled with immeasurable pride.
षण्णवत्यो येन सृष्टा मायाः सर्वार्थसाधिकाः । मायाविनो याश्च सद्यो धारयन्ति च काश्चन
He has created ninety-six kinds of magical arts, capable of fulfilling all desires, and some magicians can instantly master them.
जृम्भमाणस्य यस्यैव बलस्य बलशालिनः । स्त्रीगणा उपपद्यन्ते त्रयोलोकविमोहनाः
When this powerful Bala yawns, groups of women arise, enchanting the three worlds.
पुंश्चल्यश्चैव स्वैरिण्यः कामिन्यश्चेति विश्रुताः । या वै बिलायनं प्रेष्ठं प्रविष्टं पुरुषं रहः
These women are renowned as courtesans, independent women, and passionate ones, who, when a man dear to them enters their subterranean abode in secret—
रसेन हाटकाख्येन साधयित्वा प्रयत्नतः । स्वविलासावलोकानुरागस्मितविगूहनैः
—by means of a special intoxicating drink called Hāṭaka, and through their glances, playful gestures, affection, and hidden smiles—