तयोर्मध्ये तु विज्ञेयो मेरुर्यत्र त्विलावृतम् दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु
Between them, know that Meru stands, where Ilāvṛta is; to the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha.
उदगायतो महाशैलो माल्यवान्नाम पर्वतः द्वात्रिंशता सहस्रेण प्रतीच्यां सागरानुगः
To the north rises the great mountain Mālyavān; it extends thirty-two thousand towards the west, following the ocean.
माल्यवान्वै सहस्रैक आ नीलनिषधायतः द्वात्रिंशत्त्वेवमप्युक्तः पर्वतो गन्धमादनः
Malyavan, indeed, extends for one thousand yojanas, from Nila to Nishadha; likewise, Gandhamadana mountain is said to be thirty-two yojanas in breadth.
परिमण्डलयोर्मध्ये मेरुः कनकपर्वतः चातुर्वर्ण्यसमो वर्णैश् चतुरस्रः समुच्छ्रितः
In the center of these circular ranges stands Meru, the golden mountain, equal in color to the four castes, and rising up with a four-sided form.
नानावर्णः स पार्श्वेषु पूर्वान्ते श्वेत उच्यते पीतं तु दक्षिणं तस्य भृङ्गिपत्त्रनिभं परम् उत्तरं तस्य रक्तं वै इति वर्णसमन्वितः
It is of various colors on its sides: at the eastern end it is called white, to the south it is yellow, to the north it is said to be dark like the wings of a bee, and to the west it is red—thus it is endowed with colors.
मेरुस्तु शुशुभे दिव्यो राजवत्स तु वेष्टितः आदित्यतरुणाभासो विधूम इव पावकः
Meru shone resplendent, divine, encircled by royal standards, glowing with the radiance of the rising sun, like fire without smoke.
योजनानां सहस्राणि चतुराशीतिसूच्छ्रितः प्रविष्टः षोडशाधस्ताद् अष्टाविंशतिविस्तृतः
It rises to a height of eighty-four thousand yojanas, descends sixteen thousand below, and spreads twenty-eight thousand in breadth.
विस्तराद्द्विगुणश्चास्य परीणाहः समन्ततः स पर्वतो महादिव्यो दिव्यौषधिसमन्वितः
Its circumference is twice its breadth on all sides; that great and divine mountain is filled with celestial herbs.
भुवनैरावृतः सर्वैर् जातरूपपरिष्कृतैः तत्र देवगणाश्चैव गन्धर्वासुरराक्षसाः शैलराजे प्रमोदन्ते सर्वतो ऽप्सरसां गणैः
It is surrounded on all sides by worlds adorned with gold; there, hosts of gods, gandharvas, asuras, and rakshasas rejoice on the king of mountains, together with groups of apsaras.
स तु मेरुः परिवृतो भुवनैर्भूतभावनैः यस्येमे चतुरो देशा नानापार्श्वेषु संस्थिताः
That Meru is encircled by worlds, the abodes of beings, and at its various sides are situated these four regions.
भद्राश्वं भारतं चैव केतुमालं च पश्चिमे उत्तराश्चैव कुरवः कृतपुण्यप्रतिश्रयाः
Bhadrāśva and Bhārata, Ketumāla to the west, and the northern Kurus, sanctuaries for those who have performed meritorious deeds.
विष्कम्भपर्वतास्तद्वन् मन्दरो गन्धमादनः विपुलश्च सुपार्श्वश्च सर्वरत्नविभूषिताः
The supporting mountains there are Mandara, Gandhamadana, Vipula, and Supārśva, all adorned with every kind of jewel.
अरुणोदं मानसं च सितोदं भद्रसंज्ञितम् तेषामुपरि चत्वारि सरांसि च वनानि च
Arunoda, Mānasa, Sitoda, and the one called Bhadra—these four lakes are above them, along with forests.
तथा भद्रकदम्बस्तु पर्वते गन्धमादने जम्बूवृक्षस्तथाश्वत्थो विपुले ऽथ वटः परम्
Likewise, the Bhadra kadamba tree grows on Gandhamadana mountain, the Jambu tree and the sacred fig on Vipula, and the great banyan tree.
गन्धमादनपार्श्वे तु पश्चिमे ऽमरगण्डिकः द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि योजनैः सर्वतः समः
On the western side of Gandhamadana is Amaragandhika, which is thirty-two thousand yojanas in extent on all sides.
तत्र ते शुभकर्माणः केतुमालाः परिश्रुताः तत्र कालानलाः सर्वे महासत्त्वा महाबलाः
There, the Ketumalas are renowned for their virtuous deeds; there dwell all the Kalanalas, beings of great strength and power.
स्त्रियश् चोत्पलवर्णाभाः सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः तत्र दिव्यो महावृक्षः पनसः पत्त्रभासुरः
There, women shine with the hue of blue lotuses, beautiful and pleasing to behold; there stands a divine, great tree—the jackfruit, radiant with its leaves.
तस्य पीत्वा फलरसं संजीवन्ति समायुतम् तस्य माल्यवतः पार्श्वे पूर्वे पूर्वा तु गण्डिका द्वात्रिंशच्च सहस्राणि तत्रापि शतमुच्यते
By drinking the juice of its fruit, they live long together; on the eastern side of Malyavan is the eastern Gandhika, which is also said to be thirty-two thousand yojanas, and there are a hundred such places.
भद्राश्वस्तत्र विज्ञेयो नित्यं मुदितमानसः भद्रमालवनं तत्र कालाम्रश्च महाद्रुमः
There, Bhadrāśva is to be known, ever joyful in mind; there is the Bhadramala forest, and the great tree Kālāmrā.
तत्र ते पुरुषाः श्वेता महासत्त्वा महाबलाः स्त्रियः कुमुदवर्णाभाः सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः
There, the men are white, of great strength and power; the women are radiant like white lotuses, beautiful and delightful to behold.
चन्द्रप्रभाश् चन्द्रवर्णाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः चन्द्रशीतलगात्राश्च स्त्रियो ह्युत्पलगन्धिकाः
Women with the radiance of the moon, complexions like the moon, faces resembling the full moon, and bodies cool as moonlight, are fragrant with the scent of blue lotuses.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि आयुस्तेषामनामयम् कालाम्रस्य रसं पीत्वा ते सर्वे स्थिरयौवनाः
Their lifespan is ten thousand years, free from disease; having drunk the essence of the immortal fruit, all of them remain ever youthful.
इत्युक्तवानृषीन्ब्रह्मा वर्षाणि च निसर्गतः पूर्वं ममानुग्रहकृद् भूयः किं वर्णयामि वः
Thus Brahmā spoke to the sages, describing the years as they naturally are; having bestowed my favor before, what more shall I recount to you?
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्ते तु ऋषयः संशितव्रताः जातकौतूहलाः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुस्ते मुदान्विताः
Hearing these words, the sages of firm vows, all filled with curiosity, joyfully replied.
पूर्वापरौ समाख्यातौ यौ देशौ तौ त्वया मुने उत्तराणां च वर्षाणां पर्वतानां च सर्वशः
O sage, you have described the lands of the east and west, and also all the northern regions and mountains.
आख्याहि नो यथातथ्यं ये च पर्वतवासिनः एवमुक्तस्तु ऋषिभिस् तेभ्यस्त्वाख्यातवान्पुनः
Tell us truly about those who dwell in the mountains; thus addressed by the sages, he spoke to them again.
शृणुध्वं यानि वर्षाणि पूर्वोक्तानि च वै मया दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु
Hear now of those regions previously mentioned by me—south of Nīla and north of Niṣadha.
वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायन्ते यत्र वै प्रजाः रतिप्रधाना विमला जायन्ते यत्र मानवाः शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे ते प्रियदर्शनाः
There is a land called Ramaṇaka, where beings are born; there, pure-hearted men are born, devoted to delight, all endowed with noble lineage and pleasing to behold.
तत्रापि च महावृक्षो न्यग्रोधो रोहिणो महान् तस्यापि ते फलरसं पिबन्तो वर्तयन्ति हि
There too is a great tree, a mighty banyan of the Rohiṇa kind; by drinking the juice of its fruit, they live.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च जीवन्ति ते महाभागाः सदा हृष्टा नरोत्तमाः
Those blessed, excellent men live for ten thousand and one thousand years, always joyful.