यत्रयत्र हि दृश्यंते धावंति पांचभौतिकाः । तेषां मनुष्यास्तर्केण प्रमाणानि प्रचक्षते
Wherever the five-elemental beings are seen moving, humans determine their measures by reasoning.
अचिंत्याः खलु ये भावास्तान्न तर्केण साधयेत् । सुदर्शनं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वीपं तु मुनिपुंगवाः
But those entities that are truly inconceivable cannot be established by reasoning; I shall now describe to you the Sudarśana continent, O foremost sages.
परिमंडलो महाभागा द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः । नदीजलपरिच्छिन्नः पर्वतैश्चाब्धिसन्निभैः
That continent is perfectly round, O illustrious ones, shaped like a wheel, surrounded by river waters and mountains resembling oceans.
पुरैश्च विविधाकारै रम्यैर्जनपदैस्तथा । वृक्षैः पुष्पफलोपेतैः संपन्नो धनधान्यवान्
It is adorned with delightful cities of various forms, with regions, trees bearing flowers and fruits, and is abundant in wealth and grain.
लवणेन समुद्रेण समंतात्परिवारितः । यथा हि पुरुषः पश्येदादर्शे मुखमात्मनः
Surrounded on all sides by the salty ocean, just as a man might see his own face in a mirror,
एवं सुदर्शनो द्वीपो दृश्यते चक्रमंडलः । द्विरंशे पिप्पलस्तस्य द्विरंशे च शशो महान्
so is the Sudarshana continent seen, like a circle; in one half is the pippala tree, and in the other half is the great hare.
सर्वौषधिं समादाय सर्वतः परिवारितः । आपस्ततोन्या विज्ञेयाः शेषः संक्षेप उच्यते
Having gathered all medicinal herbs, it is encircled on every side; other waters are to be understood there—the rest is told in brief.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। उक्तो यस्य च संक्षेपो बुद्धिमन्विधिवत्त्वया । तत्त्वज्ञश्चासि सर्वस्य विस्तरं सूत नो वद
The sages said: You have concisely described it with understanding and in proper order; you know the truth of all—now tell us the details, Sūta.
यावान्भूम्यवकाशोयं दृश्यते शशलक्षणे । तस्य प्रमाणं प्रब्रूहि ततो वक्ष्यसि पिप्पलम्
As much as the expanse of earth is seen in the region marked by the hare, tell us its measurement; after that, you will speak of the pippala.
एवं तैः किल पृष्टः स सूतो वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् । सूत उवाच-। प्रागायता महाप्राज्ञाः षडेते रत्नपर्वताः
Thus, when questioned by them, the Sūta spoke these words: O wise ones, these six are the jewel mountains extending eastward.
अवगाढा ह्युभयतः समुद्रौ पूर्वपश्चिमौ । हिमवान्हिमकूटश्च निषधश्च नगोत्तमः
Immersed on both sides by the eastern and western oceans are Himavān, Himakūṭa, and Niṣadha, the best of mountains.
नीलश्च वैडूर्यमयः श्वेतश्च शशिसन्निभः । सर्वधातुपिनद्धश्च शृंगवान्नामपर्वतः
Nīla, made of beryl, and Śveta, resembling the moon, and Śṛṅgavān, the mountain bound with all minerals, are their names.
एते वै पर्वता विप्राः सिद्धचारणसेविताः । तेषामंतरविष्कुंभौ योजनानि सहस्रशः
These, O Brāhmaṇas, are the mountains frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers; between them are valleys measuring thousands of yojanas.
तत्र पुण्या जनपदास्तानि वर्षाणि सत्तमाः । वसंति तेषां सत्त्वानि नानाजातीनि सर्वशः
There are holy regions and those excellent lands; in them dwell beings of all kinds, living everywhere.
इदं तु भारतं वर्षं ततो हैमवतं परम् । हेमकूटात्परं चैव हरिवर्षं प्रचक्षते
This land is called Bhārata; beyond that is the Himālayan region, and beyond Hemakūṭa, they say, is the land called Harivarṣa.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण च । प्रागायतो महाभागा माल्यवान्नाम पर्वतः
To the south of Nīla and north of Niṣadha, extending eastward, is the great mountain called Mālyavān.
ततः परं माल्यवतः पर्वतो गंधमादनः । परिमंडलस्तयोर्मध्ये मेरुः कनकपर्वतः
Beyond Mālyavān is the mountain Gandhamādana, perfectly round; between the two stands Meru, the golden mountain.
आदित्यतरुणाभासो विधूम इव पावकः । योजनानां सहस्राणि चतुरशीतिरुच्छ्रितः
Shining like the morning sun, like a smokeless fire, it rises to eighty-four thousand yojanas.
अधस्ताच्चतुरशीतिर्योजनानां द्विजोत्तमाः । ऊर्ध्वमधश्च तिर्यक्च लोकानावृत्य तिष्ठति
And below as well, O best of Brāhmaṇas, it extends eighty-four thousand yojanas; above, below, and across, it stands enveloping the worlds.
तस्य पार्श्वेष्वमी द्वीपाश्चत्वारः संस्थिता द्विजाः । भद्राश्वः केतुमालश्च जंबूद्वीपश्च सत्तमाः
At its sides, O Brāhmaṇas, are situated four continents: Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla, and the excellent Jambūdvīpa,
उत्तराश्चैव कुरुवः कृतपुण्य प्रतिश्रयाः । विहंगसुमुखो यस्तु सुपार्श्वस्यात्मजः किल
and also the northern Kurus, a refuge for those who have performed good deeds; Vihaṃgasumukha, who is said to be the son of Supārśva,
स वै विचिंतयामास सौवर्णान्प्रेक्ष्य वायसान् । मेरुरुत्तममध्यानामधमानां च पक्षिणाम्
he indeed reflected, seeing the golden crows; Meru is the highest, the middle, and the lowest among birds.
अविशेषकरो यस्मात्तस्मादेनं त्यजाम्यहम् । तमादित्योनुपर्येति सततं ज्योतिषां वरः
Because he makes no distinction, therefore I abandon him; the best of lights, the Sun, always follows after him.
चंद्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो वायुश्चैव प्रदक्षिणः । स पर्वतो महाप्राज्ञा दिव्यपुष्पसमन्वितः
The Moon with its constellations, and the Wind, too, circle around that great mountain, adorned with divine flowers, O wise one.
भवनैरावृतैः सर्वैः र्जांबूनदमयैः शुभैः । तत्र देवगणा विप्रा गंधर्वासुरराक्षसाः
All its splendid palaces are encircled with pure Jambū gold; there, O brāhmaṇas, are hosts of gods, gandharvas, asuras, and rākṣasas.
अप्सरोगणसंयुक्ताः शैले क्रीडंति सर्वदा । तत्र ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च शक्रश्चापि सुरेश्वरः
There, always joined by groups of apsarases, they sport upon the mountain; and there, too, are Brahmā, Rudra, and Śakra, lord of the gods.
समेत्य विविधैर्यज्ञैर्यजंतेऽनेक दक्षिणैः । तुंबुरुर्नारदश्चैव विश्वावसुर्हाहा हूहूः
Gathering together, they perform various sacrifices with many gifts; Tumburu, Nārada, Viśvāvasu, Hāhā, and Hūhū are there.
अभिगम्यामरश्रेष्ठं स्तुवंति विविधैः स्तवैः । सप्तर्षयो महात्मानः कश्यपश्च प्रजापतिः
Approaching the best of immortals, they praise him with various hymns; the great-souled Seven Sages and Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures, are there.
तत्र गच्छंति भद्रं वः सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि । तस्यैव मूर्द्धन्युशना काव्यो दैत्यैर्महीयते
They go there, blessings upon you, always at every festival; on its very summit, Uśanas Kāvya is honored by the Daityas.
तस्य हैमानि रत्नानि तस्यैते रत्नपर्वताः । तस्मात्कुबेरो भगवांश्चतुर्थं भागमश्नुते
Its jewels are golden, and those are the jewel-mountains; from there, the blessed Kubera enjoys a fourth share.