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.
उत्तरेण तु श्वेतस्य पार्श्वे शृङ्गस्य दक्षिणे वर्षं हिरण्वतं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी
North of Śveta, beside the southern slope of Śṛṅga, is a land called Hiraṇvata, where the river Hairaṇvatī flows.
महाबला महासत्त्वा नित्यं मुदितमानसाः शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे च प्रियदर्शनाः
There, men of great strength and spirit, ever cheerful, endowed with noble lineage, all are pleasing to behold.
एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते नरोत्तमाः आयुष्प्रमाणं जीवन्ति शतानि दश पञ्च च
Those excellent men live for eleven thousand years and one hundred and fifty more, as their measure of life.
तस्मिन्वर्षे महावृक्षो लकुचः पत्त्रसंश्रयः तस्य पीत्वा फलरसं तत्र जीवन्ति मानवाः
In that land is a great tree, the lakuca, sheltering with its leaves; by drinking the juice of its fruit, people there live.
शृङ्गसाह्वस्य शृङ्गाणि त्रीणि तानि महान्ति वै एकं मणियुतं तत्र एकं तु कनकान्वितम् सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भुवनैरुपशोभितम्
Śṛṅgasāhvā has three great peaks: one adorned with jewels, one with gold, and one made of all precious stones, shining among the worlds.
उत्तरे चास्य शृङ्गस्य समुद्रान्ते च दक्षिणे कुरवस्तत्र तद्वर्यं पुण्यं सिद्धनिषेवितम्
To the north of this Śṛṅga, and at the southern edge by the sea, are the Kurus; that region is sacred, frequented by perfected beings.
तत्र वृक्षा मधुफला दिव्यामृतमयापगाः वस्त्राणि ते प्रसूयन्ते फलैश्चाभरणानि च
There, trees bear honeyed fruit, and divine, nectar-like streams flow; garments are produced there, and ornaments from the fruits as well.
सर्वकामप्रदातारः केचिद्वृक्षा मनोरमाः अपरे क्षीरिणो नाम वृक्षास्तत्र मनोरमाः ये रक्षन्ति सदा क्षीरं षड्रसं चामृतोपमम्
Some delightful trees there grant every desire; others, called milk-trees, ever yield milk, six-flavored and like nectar, to those who preserve it.
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सूक्ष्मा काञ्चनवालुका सर्वत्र सुखसंस्पर्शा निःशब्दाः पवनाः शुभाः
The entire ground is made of jewels, fine with golden sand, pleasant to the touch everywhere, with auspicious breezes that are silent.
देवलोकच्युतास्तत्र जायन्ते मानवाः शुभाः शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे ते स्थिरयौवनाः
There, auspicious humans are born who have fallen from the world of the gods; all of them possess pure lineage and steady youth.
मिथुनानि प्रजायन्ते स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः तेषां ते क्षीरिणां क्षीरं पिबन्ति ह्यमृतोपमम्
Couples are born, and the women are like apsarases; they drink the milk of those who give milk, which is like nectar.
एकाहाज्जायते युग्मं समं चैव विवर्धते समं रूपं च शीलं च समं चैव म्रियन्ति वै
A pair is born in one day, they grow equally, their form and character are the same, and they die at the same time.
एकैकमनुरक्ताश्च चक्रवाकमिव ध्रुवम् अनामया ह्यशोकाश्च नित्यं मुदितमानसाः
Each is devoted to one, just like the chakravāka birds; they are free from illness and sorrow, and their minds are always joyful.
दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च जीवन्ति च महासत्त्वा न चान्या स्त्री प्रवर्तते
These great beings live for ten thousand and ten hundred years, and no other woman is involved.
एवमेव निसर्गो वै वर्षाणां भारते युगे दृष्टः परमधर्मज्ञाः किं भूयः कथयामि वः
Such indeed is the nature of the years seen in Bhārata Yuga by those who know the highest dharma; what more shall I tell you?
आख्यातास्त्वेवमृषयः सूतपुत्रेण धीमता उत्तरश्रवणे भूयः पप्रच्छुः सूतनन्दनम्
Thus the sages were told by the wise son of Sūta; in the northern recitation, they again questioned the son of Sūta.
यदिदं भारतं वर्षं यस्मिन् स्वायम्भुवादयः चतुर्दशैव मनवः प्रजासर्गं ससर्जिरे
This land of Bhārata, in which the fourteen Manus beginning with Svāyambhuva created the generations of beings.
एतद् वेदितुम् इच्छामः सकाशात्तव सुव्रत उत्तरश्रवणं भूयः प्रब्रूहि वदतां वर
We wish to know this from you, O virtuous one; tell us again the northern recitation, O best of speakers.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ऋषीणां तु प्राब्रवील्लौमहर्षणिः पौराणिकस्तदा सूत ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्
Having heard this, Lomaharṣaṇa, the Purāṇika, then spoke to the sages of purified soul, O Sūta.
बुद्ध्या विचार्य बहुधा विमृश्य च पुनः पुनः तेभ्यस्तु कथयामास उत्तरश्रवणं तदा
Having considered with reason in many ways and reflected again and again, he then related to them the northern recitation.