In the wondrous depths of the universe, there exists a realm ruled by a mighty king who dwells in Pātāla-svarga, the netherworld of splendor and mystery. Within this subterranean domain, various regions unfold, each with its own unique character. Vitala and Tala are both described as radiant and white, their brilliance illuminating the darkness below. Rasātala, famed among all, is a place often visited by many beings, while Talātala is celebrated for its dazzling magnificence, endowed with every kind of splendor imaginable. Sutala, another of these nether realms, is filled with the gods of ancient times as well as other powerful entities. These regions are inhabited by fearsome beings: great serpents such as Mahāntaka, the formidable demon Prahmāda, the mighty Jambha, and the heroic Hayagrīva. Alongside them dwell other fierce and splendid serpents, populating the resplendent netherworld. Yet, not all who reside here are noble; the wicked are also present, suffering torments beyond description, their numbers too vast to be counted. Within this mysterious world, powerful deities are present: Kālāgni, Rudra—the very soul of yoga—Nārasiṃha, and Mādhava. All these divine forms rest upon the one who has assumed the aspect of Kālāgni, the fire of time. At the end of all things, this being, blazing with venomous flames, alone dissolves the world, bringing all creation to its conclusion. This dark, Śāṃbhavī form is none other than Time itself, the ultimate destroyer of worlds. Now, turning from the depths to the surface, the determination of the earthly world is revealed. There are seven great islands: Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara among them. Each island is vast, and from one to the next, the oceans that separate them grow ever greater. These oceans bear evocative names: Dadhyoda, the ocean of milk, and the ocean of sweet water, among others. Together, they are joined by the seven islands, their distances measured in yojanas. At the very heart of these lands rises the famed Mount Meru, shining like gold, a beacon of divine radiance. Mount Meru extends sixteen units below the earth and thirty-two at its summit, its base forming the pericarp of the earth-lotus, the sacred center of the world. To the north of Meru stand the boundary mountains—Nīla, Śveta, and Śṛṅgī—each rising to a height of two thousand units, their breadth matching their height. To the south of Meru lies the revered land of Harivarṣa. Just as there are the Bharatas, so too are the northern Kurus, noble peoples of the world. In the very center of these lands is Ilāvṛta, and at its very heart stands Mount Meru itself. The buttresses of Meru ascend to a staggering ten thousand yojanas, supporting the sacred mountain. On its western side stands the vast mountain Vipula, while to the north is Supārśva, both renowned in their own right. The land known as Jambūdvīpa derives its name from the jambu fruits that fall upon the back of the earth-supporting mountain, their abundance decaying everywhere. From this bounty, a river arises, its waters nourishing the inhabitants. Those who drink from this river are blessed with clarity of mind, and from these waters comes the gold called Jāmbūnada, a treasure fit for the adornment of perfected beings. Between these two great regions lies Ilāvṛta, a land of beauty and mystery. In the west lies Vaibhrāja, and to the north, the sacred forest of Savitṛ. Four divine lakes are found here, always fit for the gods. Among the foremost mountains are Vaikaṅka, Maṇiśaila, and Ṛkṣavān, each a dwelling place of the perfected, crafted by the gods themselves. Further, the mountains Trikūṭa, Śikhara, Pataṅga, and Rucaka are named, along with Samūla, Vasudhāra, the land of the Kurus, and Sānumān. These sacred places and peaks, created by divine hands, stand as the eternal abodes of the perfected and the wise, forming the wondrous geography of the earthly and cosmic realms.