Let me tell you the story as revealed in these verses, weaving together the wonders of the world’s geography and the lives of its inhabitants. There are four rivers bearing sacred names: Sita, Alakananda, Suchakshur, and Bhadranami. From the eastern region, the river Bhadrashva makes its way to the ocean. Piercing the sea, it divides itself into seven streams, O best of the twice-born. Having journeyed to the western realm known as Ketumala, it once again reaches the ocean. Crossing the northern ocean, it approaches, O great sages. At the heart of these lands stands Meru, shaped like the central bud of a lotus. The petals of the world-lotus stretch far beyond the boundary mountains. On Meru’s southern and northern sides rise the mountains called Nila and Nishadha. These two, eighty yojanas in length, lie within the intervening region. On the western side of Meru, they are positioned just as they are in the east. Both mountains, extending east and west, are situated within the intervening ocean. Jaṭhara and others are stationed on all four sides of Meru, O great sages. In these realms, women radiant as lotus petals live for a hundred thousand years. Those who eat mangoes enjoy a lifespan of ten thousand years. Those established in virtue, who partake of banyan fruit, also live long. Men and women dwell as if in the realm of the gods. In the Kuru region, people with dark complexions subsist on milk. On Candradvīpa, the inhabitants constantly worship the great god Śiva. Those who eat the fruit of the plakṣa tree live for ten thousand years, their minds absorbed in meditation, devoted and reverent. Those who consume the juice of sugarcane also live for ten thousand years. The people, devoted to Viṣṇu, always worship him. There exists a celestial palace of Vāsudeva, nestled within the Pārijāta grove. Fortified with ten walls, it is unassailable and extremely difficult to approach. Adorned on all sides with thousands of golden pillars, furnished with a divine throne, and endowed with every kind of splendor, it radiates magnificence. Pure devotees of Nārāyaṇa fill this palace, intent on studying the Vedas. They continually praise Mādhava with sacred mantras and bow before him. The kings perpetually perform acts of greatness, while the women, endowed with youth, are always intent on adorning themselves. Their stable lifespan is thirteen thousand years, and the highest lifespan is said to be one hundred thousand years, O virtuous ones. This is the land of action, O brāhmaṇas, for those humans who are qualified. Here, the Vindhya and Pāriyātra are two of the seven principal mountains. There is also the Nāga island, gentle one, as well as Gandharva and Vāruṇa. This island stretches a thousand yojanas from south to north. In the middle dwell Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and likewise Śūdras. Pure rivers flow forth, issuing from the mountains: Irāvatī, Vitastā, Vipāśā, Devikā, and Kuhū. Kauśikī and Lohitā also arise from the foot of Himavat, nourishing the land and its people with their sacred waters.