आदित्यतापतप्तास्ते विशंति शशिमंडलम्
Scorched by the heat of the sun, they enter the orb of the moon.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। वर्षाणां चैव नामानि पर्वतानां च सत्तम । आचक्ष्व नो यथातत्वं ये च पर्वतवासिनः
The sages said: O noble one, tell us the names of the regions and the mountains, and describe to us truthfully those who dwell in the mountains.
सूत उवाच-। दक्षिणेन तु श्वेतस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु । वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायंते तत्र मानवाः
Sūta said: To the south of Śveta and north of Niṣadha lies the region called Ramaṇaka, where people are born.
शुक्लाभिजनसंपन्नाः सर्वे ते प्रियदर्शनाः । निःसपत्नाश्च ते सर्वे जायंते तत्र मानवाः
All those born there possess pure lineage and are pleasing to behold; all are born without rivals.
दशवर्षसहस्राणि शतानि दशपंच च । जीवंति ते महाभागा नित्यं मुदितमानसाः
Those greatly fortunate ones live for ten thousand years, plus five hundred, always with joyful minds.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु । वर्षं हिरण्मयं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी
To the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha lies the region called Hiraṇmaya, where the river Hairaṇvatī flows.
यत्र चायं महाप्राज्ञाः पक्षिराट्पतगोत्तमः । यज्ञानुगा विप्रवरा धन्विनः प्रियदर्शनाः
There, O wise ones, dwells the king of birds, the foremost among winged creatures, along with excellent Brahmins devoted to sacrifice, skilled archers, and those of pleasing appearance.
महाबलास्तत्र जना विप्रा मुदितमानसाः । एकादशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते तपोधनाः
In that place, the people are mighty, the Brahmins have joyful minds, and those rich in austerity live for eleven thousand years.
आयुःप्रमाणं जीवंति शतानि दश पंच च । शृंगाणि च पवित्राणि त्रीण्येव द्विजपुंगवाः
They live according to the measure of life, ten hundred and five hundred years; and there are three pure peaks, O foremost of twice-born.
एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रुक्ममद्भुतम् । सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भवनैरुपशोभितम्
There is one made of jewels, one wondrously made of gold, and one entirely adorned with all kinds of gems, beautified by palaces.
तत्र स्वयं प्रभादेवी नित्यं वसति शंडिनी । उत्तरेण तु शृंगस्य समुद्रांते द्विजोत्तमाः
There, the radiant goddess Prabhā dwells perpetually, O ascetic; and to the north of the peak, at the edge of the ocean, O best of Brahmins.
वर्षमैरावतं नाम तस्माच्छृंगवतः परम् । न तु तत्र सूर्यगतिर्जीर्यंते न च मानवाः
There is the region called Airāvata, beyond that peak; and in that place, neither the movement of the sun causes decay, nor do the people grow old.
चंद्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो ज्योतिर्भूत इवावृतः । पद्मप्रभाः पद्मवर्णाः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणाः
The moon, along with its stars, shines as if enveloped in light; their radiance is like lotuses, their color is like lotuses, and their eyes resemble lotus petals.
पद्मपत्रसुगंधाश्च जायंते तत्र मानवाः । अनिष्पन्ना नष्टगंधा निराहारा जितेंद्रियाः
There, the people are born with the fragrance of lotus petals; those who do not attain this lose their fragrance, are without food, and have mastered their senses.
देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे तथा विरजसो द्विजाः । त्रयोदशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते द्विजोत्तमाः
All those are fallen from the world of the gods, and likewise pure Brahmins; thirteen thousand years are the measure of their lives, O best of Brahmins.
आयुःप्रमाणं जीवंति नरा धार्मिकपुंगवाः । क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य तथैवोत्तरतः प्रभुः
The righteous men live according to the measure of life; and likewise, O lord, to the north of the ocean of milk.
हरिस्तिष्ठति वैकुंठः शकटे कनकामये । अष्टचक्रं हि तद्यानं भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम्
Hari abides in Vaikuṇṭha, in a golden chariot; that vehicle has eight wheels, is filled with beings, and moves at the speed of the mind.
अग्निवर्णं महातेजो जांबूनदविभूषितम् । स प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां विभुश्च द्विजसत्तमाः
He is of the color of fire, possesses great brilliance, adorned with gold; that lord is the ruler of all beings, O best of Brahmins.
संक्षेपे विस्तरे चैव कर्ता कारयिता तथा । पृथिव्यापस्तथाकाशं वायुस्तेजश्च सत्तमाः
In brief and in detail, he is the creator and the cause; earth, water, space, wind, and light, O noble ones.
स यज्ञः सर्वभूतानामास्यं तस्य हुताशनः
He is the sacrifice for all beings, and his mouth is the fire of oblation.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। यदिदं भारतं वर्षं पुण्यं पुण्यविधायकम् । तत्सर्वं नः समाचक्ष्व त्वं हि नो बुद्धिमान्मतः
The sages said: This region of Bhārata is holy and brings merit; tell us all about it, for you are considered wise by us.
सूत उवाच-। अत्र ते कीर्त्तयिष्यामि वर्षं भारतमुत्तमम् । प्रिय मित्रस्य देवस्य मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य च
Sūta said: Here I shall recount to you the excellent region of Bhārata, dear to the divine friend, Manu, son of Vivasvat.
पृथोश्च प्राज्ञ वै न्यस्य तथैक्ष्वाकोर्महात्मनः । ययातेरंबरीषस्य मांधातुर्नहुषस्य च
And also of Prithu, the wise one, and likewise of the great-souled Ikshvaku, Yayati, Ambarisha, Mandhatri, and Nahusha.
तथैव मुचुकुंदस्य कुबेरोशीनरस्य च । ऋषभस्य तथैलस्य नृगस्य नृपतेस्तथा
In the same way, of Muchukunda, Kubera, Shini, Rishabha, Ila, and likewise of King Nriga.
कुशिकस्यैव राजर्षेर्गाधेश्चैव महात्मनः । सोमस्य चैव राजर्षेर्दिलीपस्य तथैव च
Of the royal sage Kushika, and also of the great-souled Gadhi, of the royal sage Soma, and likewise of Dilipa.
अन्येषां च महाभागाः क्षत्रियाणां बलीयसाम् । सर्वेषामेव भूतानां प्रियं भारतमुत्तमम्
And of other greatly fortunate and powerful Kshatriyas; for all beings, the excellent Bharata is dear.
ततो वर्षं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथाश्रुतमहो द्विजाः । महेंद्रो मलयःसह्यः शुक्तिमानृक्षवानपि
Then I will describe the region, as it has been heard, O excellent twice-born; Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimat, Riksha also—
विंध्यश्च पारियात्रश्च सप्तैते कुलपर्वताः । तेषां सहस्रशो विप्रा पर्वतास्ते समीपतः
Vindhya and Pariyatra—these seven are the chief mountains; near them, O Brahmins, are thousands of other mountains.
अविज्ञाताः सारवंतो विपुलाश्चित्रसानवः । अन्ये तु ये परिज्ञाता ह्रस्वा ह्रस्वोपजीविनः
Some are unknown, rich in essence, vast, with varied peaks; others, which are known, are small and sustain the small.
आर्यम्लेच्छसधर्माणस्ते मिश्राः पुरुषा द्विजाः । नदीं पिबंति विमलां गंगां सिंधुंसरस्वतीम्
There, O twice-born, are people of Aryan and Mleccha ways, mixed together; they drink the pure waters of the Ganga, Sindhu, and Sarasvati.