Sūta, having described the greatness of Śaṅkara, was now asked to reveal the essential nature of Rudra, the soul of all beings. He began by explaining that the worlds—Bhū, Bhuvaḥ, Svar, Mahas, Jana, Tapas, and Satya—together with Pātāla, the realms of hell, and countless deep oceanic abysses, all exist and are sustained by Rudra’s grace. The stars, planets, moon, sun, Dhruva, the seven sages, celestial beings, and many others owe their existence to him. It is by Rudra’s power that all these worlds are created, for he is established as the totality, the very soul of everything, always manifest as Śiva. Yet, those who are deluded by his Māyā, his divine illusion, fail to recognize the great soul, the supreme god, the great lord who is the soul of all. Sūta explained that the body of Rudra himself is the three worlds. Therefore, honoring him, Sūta resolved to speak of the auspicious arrangement of the worlds. He reminded the sages that he had already recounted the creation of the cosmic egg, and now he would describe the nature of the worlds within the Brahmāṇḍa. From the cosmic egg arise the seven auspicious worlds: earth, atmosphere, heaven, Mahar, Jana, Tapas, and Satya. Beneath these, he said, are seven realms known as Talas, beginning with Mahātala, and below these, in due order, are the hells. Mahātala is described as resplendent, adorned with gold, gems, splendid palaces, and various abodes belonging to Bhava. It is associated with Ananta, the wise king Mucukunda, a mighty ruler, and those who dwell in Pātāla and Svarga. Rasātala is a mountain, Śārkara is Talātala, Pīta is called Sutala, and Vitala shines like coral. Atala and Tala are white, as are other places among them, and their expanse is as great as the earth below. The number and measure of these Talas are established: the sky itself is a thousand yojanas, and ten thousand as well; the dense Talas measure a hundred thousand and seven thousand, and the root of the sky is thirty thousand. Rasātala is renowned as golden and auspicious, inhabited by Vāsuki and others. Talātala is served by Virocana, Hiraṇyākṣa, Naraka, and others, and is endowed with all splendor. Sutala is filled with the ancient gods, led by Vaināyaka and Kālanemi, as well as others. Vitala is inhabited by Dānavas, such as Tāraka, Agnimukha, Mahāntaka, Nāgas, and the Asura Prahlāda. Vitala is also known for being served by Kambala and Aśva, by the heroic Mahākumbha and the wise Hayagrīva. It is divided by Śaṅkukarṇa, Namuci and his followers, and various other heroes, making Tala beautifully adorned. In all these realms, the supreme lord is present with Ambā, Skanda, Nandin, and is surrounded everywhere by the Gaṇas. Above all the Talas, there are seven sets of seven earth realms, and Sūta promised to describe the seven divisions of the earth. The earth, he said, consists of seven continents, filled with rivers and mountains, and is adorned on all sides by seven oceans. These continents, or islands, are Jambū, Plakṣa, Śālmalī, Kuśa, Krauñca, Śāka, and Puṣkara, in due order. Within all these seven islands, Hara manifests in various forms, surrounded by his hosts, and reveals his presence. The seven oceans encircling the continents are, in sequence: salt water, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, curd, milk, and sweet water. In every one of these oceans, at all times, Śiva, accompanied by his attendants, takes the very form of water and sports with arms of waves. Just as nectar is found in the ocean of milk, so does Hari always reside in the milk-ocean, aware of Śiva, absorbed in yogic sleep. When the Blessed Lord awakens, the whole world awakens; when he sleeps, everything—moving and unmoving—pervaded by him, also sleeps. It is by him alone that all is created, sustained, protected, and ultimately dissolved, by the grace of the supreme Lord of gods. Known as Suṣeṇa, the best among sages worship the supreme person Aniruddha, who bears the conch, discus, and mace. Those who meditate on Aniruddha, the person, are all considered equal to Nārāyaṇa, endowed with every prosperity. Sanandana, the Blessed One, Sanaka, Sanātana, the Vālakhilya sages, the Siddhas, and also Mitra and Varuṇa—these all constantly worship Hari, the source of the universe. In the seven islands stand many great peaks with various summits, some stretching as far as the ocean, with caves as well. Many lords of the earth have existed over time, shaped by the weight of the ages. By the power of the supreme lords, from the progenitor of Krauñca’s enemy, in all the past and future cycles of time, the manvantaras, Sūta promised to declare the lords of the earth. He would recount those of the Svāyambhuva manvantara and all others, past and future. All these lords were equally proud and united in purpose; the grandsons of Svāyambhuva Manu were mighty indeed. Among them, the heroic sons of Priyavrata are named: Āgnīdhra, Agnibāhu, Medha, Medhātithi, and Vasu. Thus Sūta began to reveal the wondrous arrangement of the worlds and the great souls who have ruled them, all under the gracious gaze of Rudra, the soul of all.