तस्य पार्श्वे महद्दिव्यं शुभ्रं कांचनवालुकम् । रम्यं विष्णुसरो नाम यत्र राजा भगीरथः
Beside it lies a great, divine, and pure place with golden sands, the delightful lake called Vishnusaras, where King Bhagiratha once dwelled.
दृष्ट्वा भागीरथीं गंगामुवास बहुलाः समाः । यूपा मणिमयास्तत्र क्षेत्राश्चापि हिरण्मयाः
Having seen the Ganga, Bhagirathi, Bhagiratha resided there for many years; there are jewel-encrusted sacrificial posts and fields of gold.
तत्रेष्ट्वा तु गतः सिद्धिं सहस्राक्षो महायशाः । स्रष्टा भूतिपतिर्यत्र सर्वलोकैः सनातनः
There, after performing sacrifices, the illustrious thousand-eyed one attained success; it is where the eternal creator, the lord of prosperity, is worshipped by all worlds.
उपास्यते तिग्मतेजा यत्र भूतः समंततः । नरनारायणौ ब्रह्मा मनुः स्थाणुश्च पंचमः
There, the one of fierce brilliance is worshipped on all sides, along with Nara and Narayana, Brahma, Manu, and Sthanu as the fifth.
तत्र दिव्या त्रिपथगा प्रथमं तु प्रतिष्ठिता । ब्रह्मलोकादपाक्रांता सप्तधा प्रतिपद्यते
There, the divine Tripathaga first became established; having departed from Brahmaloka, she divides herself into seven streams.
वटोदका सा नलिनी पार्वती च सरस्वती । जंबूनदी च सीता च गंगा सिंधुश्च सप्तमी
They are Vatodaka, Nalini, Parvati, Sarasvati, Jambunadi, Sita, and the seventh is Ganga Sindhu.
अचिंत्या दिव्यसंज्ञा सा प्रभावैश्च समन्विता । उपास्यते यत्र सत्रं सहस्रयुगपर्यये
She is inconceivable, known as divine, endowed with powers, and is worshipped there in sacrifices at the end of every thousand ages.
दृश्यादृश्या च भवति तत्रतत्र सरस्वती । एता दिव्याः सप्तगंगास्त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुताः
Sarasvati appears and disappears here and there; these seven divine Gangas are renowned throughout the three worlds.
रक्षांसि वै हिमवती हेमकूटे च गुह्यकाः । सर्पा नागाश्च निषधे गोकर्णं च तपोवनम्
On Himavat, the Rakshasas dwell, and on Hemakuta, the Guhyakas; on Nishadha, serpents and Nagas, and Gokarna is a place of ascetic practice.
देवासुराणां सर्वेषां श्वेतः पर्वतमुच्यते । गंधर्वा निषधे नित्यं नीले ब्रह्मर्षयस्तथा
Shveta is called the mountain of all the gods and asuras; Gandharvas always reside on Nishadha, and on Nila, likewise, the Brahmarshis.
शृंगवांस्तु महाभागा देवानां प्रतिसंचरः । इत्येतानि महाभागाः सप्तवर्षाणि भागशः
Shringavan is most blessed, the place of the gods’ return; thus, these seven regions are most excellent, each with its own portion.
भूतान्युपनिविष्टानि गतिमंति ध्रुवाणि च । तेषामृद्धिर्बहुविधा दृश्यते देवमानुषा
Beings have settled there, possessing movement and stability; among them, prosperity of many kinds is seen, both divine and human.
अशक्यं परिसंख्यातुं श्रद्धे या तु विभूषिता । यां तु पृच्छथ मां विप्रा दिव्यमेनां शशाकृतिम्
It is impossible to count, O faithful one, all that is adorned there; but what you ask me, O Brahmins, about this divine region shaped like a hare—
पार्श्वे शशस्य द्वे वर्षे उक्ते ये दक्षिणोत्तरे । कर्णे तु नागद्वीपश्च काश्यपद्वीप एव च
On either side of the hare, there are two regions, named Dakshina and Uttara; and on the ear, there are the islands of Nagadvipa and Kasyapadvipa.
कर्णद्वीपशिलो विप्राः श्रीमान्मलयपर्वतः । एतद्द्वितीयं द्वीपस्य दृश्यते शशिसंस्थितम्
O Brahmins, Karnadvipa is there, and the splendid Malaya mountain; this is seen as the second region, established in the form of the moon.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। मेरोरथोत्तरं पश्चात्पूर्वमाचक्ष्व सूततः । निखिलेन महाबुद्ध माल्यवंतं च पर्वतम्
The sages said: O Suta, tell us in full of the regions north, west, and east of Meru, and also of the great Malyavan mountain.
सूत उवाच-। दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य मेरोः पार्श्वे तथोत्तरे । उत्तराः कुरवो विप्राः पुण्याः सिद्धनिषेविताः
Suta said: To the south of Nila, and on the northern side of Meru, O Brahmins, are the blessed northern Kurus, attended by the perfected beings.
तत्र वृक्षा मधुफला नित्यपुष्पफलोपगाः । पुष्पाणि च सुगंधीनि रसवंति फलानि च
There, the trees bear honeyed fruits, always adorned with flowers and fruits; the flowers are fragrant, and the fruits are full of juice.
सर्वकामफलास्तत्र केचिद्वृत्या द्विजोत्तमाः । अपरे क्षीरिणो नाम वृक्षास्तत्र द्विजोत्तमाः
There are trees that yield all desired fruits, O best of twice-born; and others, called milk-trees, are also found there, O best of Brahmins.
प्रक्षरंति सदा क्षीरं तत्र सर्वेऽमृतोपमम् । वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयंते फलेष्वाभरणानि च
From them, milk always flows, like nectar for all; garments are produced on the fruits, and ornaments as well.
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सूक्ष्मकांचनवालुका । सर्वर्तुसुखसंस्पर्शा निष्फलाश्च तपोधनाः
All the ground is made of jewels, with fine golden sand; the touch is pleasant in every season, and the ascetics are without want.
देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे जायंते तत्र मानवाः । शुक्लाभिजनसंपन्नाः सर्वसुप्रियदर्शनाः
All the people born there are those who have fallen from the world of the gods; they are endowed with pure lineage and are pleasing to behold in every way.
मिथुनानि च जायंते स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः । तेषां ते क्षीरिणां क्षीरं पिबंत्यमृतसंनिभम्
Couples are born there, and the women are like Apsaras; they drink the milk of the milk-trees, which is like nectar.
मिथुनं जायते काले समंताच्च प्रवर्द्धते । तुल्यरूपगुणोपेतं समवेशं तथैव च
A couple is born at the proper time and grows together; they are equal in form and qualities, and are united in every way.
एकमेवानुरूपं च चक्रवाकसमं द्विजाः । निरामयाश्च ते लोका नित्यं मुदितमानसाः
Each one is perfectly matched, like a pair of chakravaka birds, O Brahmins; those worlds are free from disease, and their minds are always joyful.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च । जीवंति ते महाभागा न चान्योन्यं जहत्युत
They live for ten thousand years and ten hundred years, O blessed ones, and they never abandon one another.
भारुंडा नाम शकुनास्तीक्ष्णतुंडा महाबलाः । तान्निर्हरंतीहमृतान्दरीषु प्रक्षिपंति च
There are birds called Bhāruṇḍa, with sharp beaks and great strength; they carry away the dead and deposit them in caves.
उत्तराःकुरवो विप्रा व्याख्यातास्ते समासतः । मेरुपार्श्वमहं पूर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथातथम्
O Brāhmaṇas, the Uttarakurus have been described to you in brief; now I will properly explain the region beside Mount Meru.
तस्य मूर्द्धाभिषेकस्तु भद्राश्वस्य तपोधनाः । भद्रशालवनं यत्र कालाम्राश्च महाद्रुमाः
The coronation place of Bhadrāśva, O ascetics, is where the forest of Bhadraśāla stands, along with great trees of black mango.
कालाम्रास्तु महाभागा नित्यंपुष्पफलाः शुभाः । द्रुमाश्च योजनोत्सेधाः सिद्धचारणसेविताः
The black mango trees are most excellent, always bearing flowers and fruits, auspicious; and the trees rise to a yojana in height, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas.