In ancient times, the wise king Āgnīdhra divided the world among his sons, assigning to each a great region. To Hiraṇmaya, he gave the northern land called Śveta, while Kuru received the northern Śṛṅgavarṣa. Bhadrāśva was entrusted with the region of Mālyavat, and Ketumālā with Gandhamādana. Thus, nine vast regions were apportioned, and in each, Āgnīdhra established his sons as rulers. Having fulfilled his duties, Āgnīdhra, righteous and orderly, devoted himself to austerity, purifying his mind through penance and self-study. Immersed in contemplation, he began meditating upon Śiva. The scripture then describes eight auspicious regions, beginning with Kiṃpuruṣa. In these sacred lands, the inhabitants naturally attain perfection without effort. They are untouched by the opposites of life, by aging or death; neither righteousness nor unrighteousness exists among them, nor distinctions of superior, inferior, or middling. There is no division of ages, and all live in harmony. In these Rudra-kshetras, both moving and unmoving beings who die—whether devoted followers or incidental ones—are transported to these regions. For their welfare, Rudra himself created these eight lands, and there, the great god always manifests his presence. The people of these regions, seeing the divine within their hearts, live in perpetual happiness, with the great god as their supreme goal. Now the origin of Nābhi is recounted. Listen with reverence: Nābhi, wise and noble, fathered a son by Merudevī. This son was Ṛṣabha, the foremost of kings, honored by all Kṣatriyas. Ṛṣabha’s eldest among his hundred sons was Bharata, heroic and renowned. Ṛṣabha, affectionate to Bharata, installed him as king, relying on knowledge and detachment, having conquered the great serpents of the senses. Establishing the Supreme Self within himself through complete absorption, Ṛṣabha became naked, matted-haired, without food, clad in bark, and entered darkness. Free from desire and doubt, he attained the supreme Śaiva state, and assigned the southern region of Himālaya to Bharata. Thus, the wise know that region as Bhārata, named after Bharata. Bharata’s son was Sumati, learned and righteous. In time, Bharata established Sumati as king in that realm, relinquishing his own glory and entering the forest. At the heart of this continent stands the great mountain Meru, adorned with peaks made of precious gems, the foremost among steadfast mountains. It rises eighty-four thousand units in height, with sixteen thousand extending below and likewise across. Shaped like an upturned bowl, its summit spreads thirty-two thousand units, and its circumference is estimated at three times its breadth. Meru shines golden from the touch of Maheshvara’s auspicious body, glowing like the dhattura flower, and serves as the abode of all the gods. This mountain is the playground of the gods, filled with countless wonders. Its length is said to be one hundred thousand yojanas, with sixteen thousand yojanas extending below the earth and the remainder above. Its root is immeasurable, and its base twice as broad as its summit. To the east, Meru gleams like padmaraga; to the south, like gold; to the west, like sapphire; and to the north, with the radiance of coral. On the eastern side lies Amaravati, crowded with various palaces, filled with hosts of gods and covered with networks of jewels. Its gateways are adorned with gold and gems, with arches decorated in golden designs and jewels lining the pathways. The city is populated by those skilled in conversation and wit, adorned with ornaments, and women whose beauty is intoxicating. Everywhere are thousands of women and apsarases, beautiful pools crowded with blooming lotuses, golden stairways, heaps of golden sand, blue lotuses, fragrant golden flowers, and lakes, rivers, and streams that make the city shine and glorify the mountain. In the southeast stands Tejasvini, the city of Agni, divine and equal to Amaravati, endowed with every enjoyment. To the south is Vaivasvati, the city of Yama, surrounded by celestial mansions made of pure gold. In the southwest is Shuddhavati, beautiful and dark in color, and Gandhavati, splendid in the northwest. In the northeast, at the mountain’s edge, is Mahodaya, illustrious and ever shining in the heavens. This city is the abode of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshvara, and others; it is filled with all enjoyments, adorned with ponds, and is the best among cities. Mahodaya is populated by Siddhas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, eminent sages, and various other groups of beings, each with their own forms. Atop the mountain, to the left, stands a vast palace shining like pure crystal, with a thousand courts. There, the great-armed Sharva, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, sits upon a jeweled throne with the goddess and Karttikeya. Nearby is Hari’s palace, half as wide, made of divine padmaraga gems, and to the south is the splendid palace of Padmaja. Thus is the world divided, governed, and adorned by the presence of the gods and sages, with Meru at its heart, radiating splendor and sanctity through all the realms.