In ancient times, upon the vast expanse of Śālmaladvīpa, there reigned seven illustrious lords, all sons of Vapuṣmat. Each bore a name that became the mark of his own region: Śveta, Harita, Jīmūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Mānasā, and Suprabha. Thus, Śveta ruled over the region of Śveta, Harita over Hārita, Jīmūta over Jīmūta, Rohita over Rohita, Vaidyuta over Vaidyuta, Mānasā over Mānasā, and Suprabha over Suprabha. In this way, the seven regions of Śālmaladvīpa were distinguished, each bearing the name of its sovereign. Turning next to Plakṣadvīpa, which followed the renowned Jambūdvīpa, there were again seven kings, the noble sons of Medhātithi. The eldest among them was Śāntabhaya, and from him descended the seven regions: Śāntabhaya, Śiśira, Sukhodaya, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, and Dhruva. Each of these sons established and gave their own name to a distinct region, as had been ordained in the ancient Svāyambhuva Manvantara. By their guidance, the people of Plakṣadvīpa were settled in accordance with the sacred practices of varṇa and āśrama. Within Plakṣadvīpa, as well as in the neighboring regions of Śākadvīpa, dharma was observed in a fivefold manner, reflecting the various divisions of social order and stages of life. Across all five of these islands, happiness, long life, natural beauty, strength, and adherence to dharma were the shared blessings of the people. The inhabitants were ever devoted to the worship of Rudra and Maheśvara, and those born in Puṣkaradvīpa were known as the lords of the people. Among them, the followers of Prajāpati and Rudra lived in the bliss of unwavering devotion. In Jambūdvīpa, Priyavrata anointed his eldest and mighty son Āgnīdhra, born of Kāmyā, as its lord. Āgnīdhra was steadfast in austerity, ever youthful, deeply devoted to Bhava (Śiva), and constantly engaged in his worship. His glory was shared with companions such as Gomān, Dhīmān, and other noble twice-born sages. Āgnīdhra had nine sons, all equal in virtue to Prajāpati and devoted to Maheśvara, the great god Mahādeva. The eldest was Nābhi, followed by Kiṃpuruṣa, Harivarṣa, Ilāvṛta, Ramya, Hiraṇmān, Kuru, Bhadrāśva, and Ketumāla. To each son, Āgnīdhra granted a region: Nābhi received the southern land called Hema; Kiṃpuruṣa, Hemakūṭa; Harivarṣa, the region of Naiṣadha; Ilāvṛta, the central land where Meru stands, along with the beautiful base of Nīlācalā; Hiraṇmān, the northern Śveta; Kuru, the northern Śṛṅgavarṣa; Bhadrāśva, Mālyavat; and Ketumāla, Gandhamādana. Thus, the nine great regions of Jambūdvīpa were divided, and Āgnīdhra installed each of his sons as ruler over their respective domains. Having fulfilled his kingly duties, Āgnīdhra then withdrew, dedicating himself to austerity, self-study, and deep meditation upon Śiva. In this way, the eight auspicious regions, beginning with Kiṃpuruṣa, were described. By their very nature, the inhabitants of these regions easily attained perfection, free from effort. They knew neither the opposites of pleasure and pain, nor old age, nor death. Among them, there was no distinction of righteousness or unrighteousness, no superior or inferior, and no division of ages. In these Rudra-kshetras, both moving and unmoving beings who died, as well as the devoted and even casual followers, were granted residence. Rudra himself created these eight regions for their welfare, and the great god always manifested his presence among them. Seeing the great god within their own hearts, the people of these eight regions remained ever happy, regarding him alone as their supreme goal. Now, hear of the origin of Nābhi. Nābhi, wise and noble, begot a son with Merudevī—a son named Ṛṣabha, foremost among kings and honored by all Kṣatriyas. From Ṛṣabha was born Bharata, the eldest and most heroic among a hundred sons. Ṛṣabha, full of affection for his son, installed Bharata as king, relying on knowledge and detachment, having conquered the great serpents of the senses. He established the Supreme Self in his own being through complete absorption, renounced all worldly ties, and entered the forest as a naked ascetic with matted hair, clad in bark, free from desire and doubt. Thus, he attained the supreme Śaiva state. He assigned the southern region of the Himālaya to Bharata, and so, in honor of Bharata, the wise know that land as Bhārata. Bharata’s son was Sumati, learned and righteous, whom Bharata installed as king before he himself retired to the forest, relinquishing all glory. At the heart of this continent stands the mighty mountain Meru, radiant and adorned with peaks of many precious gems, the foremost among steadfast mountains. Meru rises to a height of eighty-four thousand units, extending sixteen thousand below the earth and likewise sixteen thousand across. Shaped like an upturned bowl, its summit spreads thirty-two thousand in breadth, and its circumference is measured as three times that width. Thus stands Meru, the central pillar of the world, resplendent in its glory.