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.
तत्र ते पुरुषाः श्वेतास्तेजोयुक्तमहाबलाः । स्त्रियः कुमुदवर्णाश्च सुंदर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः
There, the men are white, endowed with brilliance and great strength; the women are lotus-colored, beautiful, and pleasing to behold.
चंद्रवर्णाश्चतुर्वर्णाः पूर्णचंद्रनिभाननाः । चंद्रशीतलगात्राश्च नृत्यगीतविशारदाः
They are moon-colored, of four hues, with faces resembling the full moon; their bodies are cool as moonlight, skilled in dance and song.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि तत्रायुर्द्विजसत्तमाः । कालाम्ररसपीतास्ते नित्यं संस्थितयौवनाः
There, O best of twice-born, the lifespan is ten thousand years; those who drink the juice of the black mango remain perpetually youthful.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु । सुदर्शनो नाम महान्जंबूवृक्षः सनातनः
To the south of Nīla and north of Niṣadha stands Sudarśana, the great and eternal Jambu tree.
सर्वकामफलः पुण्यः सिद्धचारणसेवितः । तस्य नाम्ना समाख्यातो जंबूद्वीपः सनातनः
It bears all desired fruits, is holy, and frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas; by its name, the eternal Jambūdvīpa is known.
योजनानां सहस्रं च शतं च द्विजसत्तमाः । तथा माल्यवतः शृंगे पूर्वे पूर्वानुगांतकाः
O best of Brāhmaṇas, a thousand yojanas and a hundred more, likewise on the eastern summit of Mālyavat, those who proceed eastward.
योजनानां सहस्राणि पंचाशन्माल्यवान्द्विजाः । महारजतसंकाशा जायंते तत्र मानवाः
O Brāhmaṇas, fifty thousand yojanas on Mālyavat; there, people are born with the radiance of great silver.
ब्रह्मलोकच्युताः सर्वे सर्वे च ब्रह्मवादिनः । तपस्तप्यंति ते दिव्यं भवंति ह्यूर्ध्वरेतसः
All are fallen from Brahmaloka, all are speakers of Brahman; they practice divine austerity and become those with elevated energy.
रक्षणार्थं तु भूतानां प्रविशंति दिवाकरम् । षष्टिस्तानि सहस्राणि षष्टिरेव शतानि च
For the protection of beings, they enter the sun; sixty thousand and sixty hundred of them.
अरुणस्याग्रतो यांति परिवार्य दिवाकरम् । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिरेव शतानि च
They go before Aruṇa, surrounding the sun; sixty thousand years and sixty hundred as well.