Linga Purana

क्रीडाभूमिश् च देवानाम् अनेकाश्चर्यसंयुतः लक्षयोजन आयामस् तस्यैवं तु महागिरेः

It is the playground of the gods, filled with countless wonders, and the length of that great mountain is said to be one hundred thousand yojanas.

ततः षोडशसाहस्रं योजनानि क्षितेरधः शेषं चोपरि विप्रेन्द्रा धरायास्तस्य शृङ्गिणः

Below the earth, it extends sixteen thousand yojanas, and above as well, O best of Brahmins, is the remainder of the mountain's peaks.

मूलायामप्रमाणं तु विस्तारान् मूलतो गिरेः ऊचुर्विस्तारमस्यैव द्विगुणं मूलतो गिरेः

Its root has immeasurable length, and the breadth at the base of the mountain is said to be twice its width at the summit.

पूर्वतः पद्मरागाभो दक्षिणे हेमसन्निभः पश्चिमे नीलसंकाश उत्तरे विद्रुमप्रभः

To the east, it gleams like padmaraga; to the south, it resembles gold; to the west, it appears like sapphire; and to the north, it shines with the radiance of coral.

अमरावती पूर्वभागे नानाप्रासादसंकुला नानादेवगणैः कीर्णा मणिजालसमावृता

On the eastern side is Amaravati, crowded with various palaces, filled with hosts of different gods, and covered with networks of jewels.

गोपुरैर्विविधाकारैर् हेमरत्नविभूषितैः तोरणैर् हेमचित्रैस्तु मणिकॢप्तैः पथि स्थितैः

With gateways of various forms adorned with gold and jewels, and arches decorated with golden designs and jewels set along the pathways.

संलापालापकुशलैः सर्वाभरणभूषितैः स्तनभारविनम्रैश् च मदघूर्णितलोचनैः

Populated by those skilled in conversation and wit, adorned with all kinds of ornaments, with women bowed by the weight of their breasts and their eyes rolling from intoxication.

स्त्रीसहस्रैः समाकीर्णा चाप्सरोभिः समन्ततः दीर्घिकाभिर्विचित्राभिः फुल्लाम्भोरुहसंकुलैः

Filled everywhere with thousands of women and apsarases, with beautiful pools crowded with blooming lotuses.

हेमसोपानसंयुक्तैर् हेमसैकतराशिभिः नीलोत्पलैश्चोत्पलैश् च हैमैश्चापि सुगन्धिभिः

Equipped with golden stairways, heaps of golden sand, blue lotuses and other lotuses, and also fragrant golden flowers.

एवंविधैस्तटाकैश् च नदीभिश् च नदैर्युता विराजते पुरी शुभ्रा तयासौ पर्वतः शुभः

Adorned with such lakes, rivers, and streams, the splendid city shines, and by it that auspicious mountain is made glorious.

तेजस्विनी नाम पुरी आग्नेय्यां पावकस्य तु अमरावतीसमा दिव्या सर्वभोगसमन्विता

There is a city named Tejasvini in the southeast, belonging to Agni, divine and equal to Amaravati, endowed with all enjoyments.

वैवस्वती दक्षिणे तु यमस्य यमिनां वराः भवनैरावृता दिव्यैर् जांबूनदमयैः शुभैः

To the south is Vaivasvati, the city of Yama, foremost among controllers, surrounded by celestial mansions made of pure gold.

नैरृते कृष्णवर्णा च तथा शुद्धवती शुभा तादृशी गन्धवन्ती च वायव्यां दिशि शोभना

In the southwest is the beautiful city Shuddhavati, dark in color, and likewise Gandhavati, splendid in the northwest.

महोदया चोत्तरे च ऐशान्यां तु यशोवती पर्वतस्य दिगन्तेषु शोभते दिवि सर्वदा

In the northeast, at the edge of the mountain, there is the illustrious city Mahodaya, which always shines in the heavens.

ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां तथान्येषां निकेतनम् सर्वभोगयुतं पुण्यं दीर्घिकाभिर्नगोत्तमम्

It is the abode of Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshvara, and others; filled with all enjoyments, holy, adorned with ponds, and the best among cities.

सिद्धैर्यक्षैस्तु सम्पूर्णं गन्धर्वैर्मुनिपुङ्गवैः तथान्यैर्विविधाकारैर् भूतसंघैश् चतुर्विधैः

It is filled with Siddhas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, eminent sages, and various other groups of beings of four kinds, each with different forms.

गिरेरुपरि विप्रेन्द्राः शुद्धस्फटिकसन्निभम् सहस्रभौमं विस्तीर्णं विमानं वामतः स्थितम्

On top of the mountain, O best of Brahmins, stands to the left a vast palace, shining like pure crystal, with a thousand courts.

तस्मिन्महाभुजः शर्वः सोमसूर्याग्निलोचनः सिंहासने मणिमये देव्यास्ते षण्मुखेन च

There, the great-armed Sharva, whose eyes are the moon, sun, and fire, sits upon a jeweled throne with the goddess and Karttikeya.

हरेस्तदर्धं विस्तीर्णं विमानं तत्र सो ऽपि च पद्मरागमयं दिव्यं पद्मजस्य च दक्षिणे

Nearby is Hari’s palace, half as wide, made of divine padmaraga gems, and to the south is the splendid palace of Padmaja.

तस्मिन् शक्रस्य विपुलं पुरं रम्यं यमस्य च सोमस्य वरुणस्याथ निरृतेः पावकस्य च

There are also the grand and delightful cities of Shakra, Yama, Soma, Varuna, Nirriti, and Agni.

वायोश्चैव तु रुद्रस्य शर्वालयसमन्ततः तेषां तेषां विमानेषु दिव्येषु विविधेषु च

Likewise, the palaces of Vayu and Rudra are all around Sharva’s abode; in those various divine palaces, each resides.

ईशान्यामीश्वरक्षेत्रे नित्यार्चा च व्यवस्थिता सिद्धेश्वरैश् च भगवाञ् छैलादिः शिष्यसंमतः

In the northeast, in the domain of Ishvara, constant worship is established; the blessed Lord Shailadi, revered by Siddhas and disciples, abides there.

सनत्कुमारः सिद्धैस्तु सुखासीनः सुरेश्वरः सनकश् च सनन्दश् च सदृशाश् च सहस्रशः

Sanatkumara, the lord of the gods, sits happily with Siddhas; Sanaka, Sananda, and thousands of others like them are present.

योगभूमिः क्वचित्तस्मिन् भोगभूमिः क्वचित्क्वचित् बालसूर्यप्रतीकाशं विमानं तत्र शोभनम्

In some places there is the realm of yoga, elsewhere the realm of enjoyment; there, a splendid palace shines, resembling the young sun.

शैलादिनः शुभं चास्ति तस्मिन्नास्ते गणेश्वरः षण्मुखस्य गणेशस्य गणानां तु सहस्रशः

There is the auspicious abode of Shailadi, where Ganesha resides, along with Karttikeya and thousands of hosts of Ganas.

सुयशायाः सुनेत्रायाः मातॄणां मदनस्य च तस्य जम्बूनदी नाम मूलमावेष्ट्य संस्थिता

There, the mothers Suyaśā and Sunetrā, and Madana, are present; at the base stands the river called Jambūnadī.

तस्य दक्षिणपार्श्वे तु जम्बूवृक्षः सुशोभनः अत्युच्छ्रितः सुविस्तीर्णः सर्वकालफलप्रदः

On its southern side is the beautiful Jambu tree, very tall and wide, which bears fruit in all seasons.

मेरोः समन्ताद्विस्तीर्णं शुभं वर्षमिलावृतम् तत्र जम्बूफलाहाराः केचिच्चामृतभोजनाः

All around Meru lies a vast and auspicious region covered with Varshamila trees; there, some eat Jambu fruits, others partake of nectar.

जांबूनदसमप्रख्या नानावर्णाश् च भोगिनः मेरुपादाश्रितो विप्रा द्वीपो ऽयं मध्यमः शुभः

There are enjoyers of various colors, resembling Jambunada gold; Brahmins dwelling at the foot of Meru call this the auspicious middle continent.