At the sacred region of Prayaga, the Supreme Lord himself manifested as a vast banyan tree, standing as Maheshvara. Around this divine presence, the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great sages continually guard the area, ensuring that no evil deeds occur within its bounds. Those who offer oblations here are freed from the sight of their own sins or the torments of hell, for Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara are all present at Prayaga, sanctifying this holy land. Here, the seven continents, the oceans, and the mountains of the earth are protected, enduring safely until the time of cosmic dissolution. Everything that exists on earth—created by the three great deities—is established in this region, and many beings dwell here, O Yudhishthira. Prayaga is renowned as the field of Prajapati, sacred and pure. Yudhishthira is urged to rule this land as his own kingdom, together with his brothers, for he is sinless and worthy. In reverence, Yudhishthira, along with his brothers and his wife Draupadi, bowed before the Brahmanas, satisfying his teachers and the gods. At that moment, Vasudeva—Madhava—also arrived, and all the Pandavas together worshipped Krishna. With Krishna and the other noble souls present, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, was again anointed as sovereign ruler. The great sage Markandeya, having bid farewell, soon returned to his hermitage. Yudhishthira, righteous in soul, remained at Prayaga with his brothers. After giving great charity, the noble-minded son of Dharma stayed on, honoring the sacredness of the place. It is said that whoever rises early and reads of Prayaga’s glory, remembering it daily, attains the highest state, is freed from all sins, and reaches the world of Rudra. These words must be followed, O great king: always recite and offer oblations at Prayaga, free from affliction. Remember Prayaga always with us, O Yudhishthira; you, king of kings, will surely attain the heavenly world—there is no doubt. Whoever visits Prayaga or dwells there is purified from all sins and attains the world of Rudra. The one who refrains from accepting gifts, who is content, self-controlled, pure, and free from pride, attains the fruit of pilgrimage. Likewise, the one who is not prone to anger, who is truthful, who speaks truth, who is firm in vows, and who regards all beings as himself, attains the fruit of pilgrimage. Sacrifices have been prescribed by the seers and gods in proper order, but the poor are often unable to perform them, as sacrifices require many implements and materials, and only the wealthy can sometimes accomplish them. Yet, O lord of men, there is a rite that even the poor can perform—a pilgrimage to holy places—which yields merit equal to the fruits of sacrifice. This is the supreme secret of the seers: the act of pilgrimage surpasses even sacrifices. In the month of Magha, ten thousand holy places and thirty million sacred rivers converge upon the Ganga, O bull among the Bharatas. Be at ease, O great king, and enjoy your kingdom without hindrance; you will again see the sacrificer in particular. Having spoken thus, the illustrious ascetic Markandeya vanished before King Yudhishthira. With his companions, the king bathed his limbs at Prayaga, performed the prescribed rites, and attained supreme contentment. Nandisha then urged Narada to set out for Prayaga, saying, “After performing the ablution today, you will have accomplished your purpose.” With these words, Nandisha vanished, and Narada quickly set out for Prayaga. There, Narada bathed and recited mantras, performed the prescribed rites, and gave gifts to the foremost twice-born, then returned to his own house. Afterwards, a question arose: “O Lord, how many continents and oceans are there, and how many mountains? How many regions are there, and which rivers are remembered within them? What is the measure of the great earth, and likewise of Lokāloka? Tell also the extent, the dimensions, and the courses of the moon and the sun. Tell us all this in detail, as you know the truth; we wish to hear everything you say.” It was explained that there are a thousand divisions of continents, with seven among them; yet, it is not possible to describe the entire world here in order. Only the seven will be described, along with the moon, sun, and planets—their measures declared according to human reasoning. For what is inconceivable cannot be established by reasoning; what is beyond nature is the mark of the inconceivable. The seven regions of Jambūdvīpa were described in their proper order, along with their extent and circle, measured in yojanas. The breadth of the continent is one hundred thousand yojanas, filled with various peoples and adorned with many splendid cities. It is crowded with Siddhas and Cāraṇas, beautified by mountains covered with minerals and rising with masses of rocks. Rivers flow all around, originating from the mountains with great banks, and there are six mountain ranges within the regions. On both sides, the eastern and western oceans must be crossed. There are Himavat, mostly snowy, Hemakūṭa, and Hemavān. All around lies the great mountain Niṣadha, with a beautiful face. Meru, golden and lofty, is said to be four-caste and made of gold, spreading twenty-four thousand yojanas in all directions. Its shape is circular, but it is set as a square, equal on all sides, adorned with various colors and endowed with the qualities of the Lord of Creatures.