When the illustrious King Priyavrata resolved to establish order and harmony across the vast expanse of the earth, he looked upon his sons—Jyotiṣmān, Dyutimān, Havya, Savana, and others—and entrusted each with the rule of a great land. Seven sons he anointed as sovereigns, setting them as rulers over the seven great continents. To Āgnīdhra, mighty and steadfast, Priyavrata gave lordship over Jambūdvīpa, the central and celebrated land. Medhātithi was made king of Plakṣadvīpa, while the beautiful Śālmala was established as ruler of Śālmaladvīpa. Jyotiṣmat was set as king over Kuśadvīpa, and Dyutimat was appointed to reign in Krauñcadvīpa. Havya, too, was made the lord of Śākadvīpa. For Puṣkaradvīpa, Priyavrata chose Savana, a son unwavering in his vows, to be its sovereign. In time, Savana’s son Mahāvīta was born in Puṣkara, and along with his brother Dhātakī, they became renowned among sons. The land was named Mahāvīta in honor of that noble soul, while Dhātakī’s region came to be known as Dhātakīkhaṇḍa. Havya, ruling Śākadvīpa, also became father to seven sons: Jalada, Kumāra, Sukumāra, Maṇīcaka, Kusumottara, Modāka, and the seventh, Mahādruma. Each son was given a region bearing his name: Jalada presided over Alada, Kumāra over Kaumāra, Sukumāra over Sukumāra, Maṇīcaka over Māṇīcaka, Kusumottara over Kusumottara, Modāka over Modāka, and Mahādruma over Mahādruma. Thus, the seven regions of Śākadvīpa were each named after Havya’s sons. Similarly, Dyutimat, lord of Krauñcadvīpa, had seven sons: Kuśala, Manuga, Uṣṇa, Pīvara, Andhakāraka, Muni, and Dundubhi. The regions of that land were named for each: Kuśala, Manonuga, Uṣṇa, Pīvara, Andhakāraka, Muni, and Dundubhi, and these seven illustrious peoples flourished in Krauñcadvīpa. In Kuśadvīpa, seven mighty ones also ruled: Udbhida, Veṇumān, Dvairatha, Lavaṇa, Dhṛti, Prabhākara, and Kapila. The lands were named accordingly—Udbhida, Veṇumaṇḍala, Dvairatha, Lavaṇa, Dhṛtimat, Prabhākara, and Kapila—each bearing the mark of its lord. Śālmaladvīpa, too, was divided among seven sons of Vapuṣmat: Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Mānasā, and Suprabha. Each held sway over a region named for himself—Śveta for Śveta, Hārita for Harita, Jīmūta for Jīmūta, and so forth—so that the seven lands of Śālmaladvīpa were clearly distinguished. Turning to Plakṣadvīpa, after Jambūdvīpa, Medhātithi’s seven sons became kings there, each ruling a region. The eldest, Śāntabhaya, was followed by Śiśira, Sukhodaya, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, and Dhruva. Each established his own domain in the ancient Svāyambhuva Manvantara, and the people of Plakṣadvīpa, settled by these sons, lived according to the sacred practices of varṇa and āśrama. In Plakṣadvīpa and the regions near Śākadvīpa, dharma was known in fivefold form, reflecting the divisions of varṇa and āśrama. The people of these five islands enjoyed happiness, long life, their natural forms, strength, and righteousness. They were ever devoted to the worship of Rudra, steadfast in their dedication to Maheśvara. In Puṣkaradvīpa, too, the lords and people were filled with the bliss of devotion, honoring Prajāpati and Rudra as their cherished deities. Now, among Priyavrata’s sons, the eldest and mightiest, Āgnīdhra, born of Kāmyā, was anointed as the lord of Jambūdvīpa. Āgnīdhra was deeply devoted to Bhava (Śiva), ever youthful, steadfast in austerity, radiant in his worship, and accompanied by the noble Gomān, Dhīmān, and other revered twice-born sages. Āgnīdhra had nine sons, all equal to Prajāpati in virtue and all devoted to Maheśvara. The eldest was Nābhi, followed by Kiṃpuruṣa, Harivarṣa, Ilāvṛta, Ramya, Hiraṇmān, Kuru, Bhadrāśva, and Ketumāla. To each of these sons, Āgnīdhra bestowed a region: Nābhi received the southern land called Hema; Kiṃpuruṣa was given Hemakūṭa; Hari was granted Naiṣadha; Ilāvṛta, the region with Meru at its center, was given to Ilāvṛta; and the delightful land at the base of Nīlācalā was given to another. Thus, through the wisdom and care of Priyavrata and his sons, the great continents and their regions were established, each ruled by a noble king, each land named in honor of its sovereign, and all peoples flourishing under the guidance of dharma, devotion, and righteous rule.