उष्णात्परः प्रावरकः प्रावरादंधकारकः । अंधकारकदेशात्तु मुनिदेशः परः स्मृतः
Beyond Uṣṇa is Prāvaraka, and beyond Prāvaraka is Andhakāraka; beyond the region of Andhakāraka is the region known as Muni.
मुनिदेशात्परश्चैव प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः । सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णो गौरः प्रायोजनः स्मृतः
Beyond the region of the Munis, it is said, is Dundubhisvana, inhabited by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, and the people there are mostly fair in complexion.
एते देशाः समाख्याता देवगंधर्वसेविताः । पुष्करे पुष्करो नाम पर्वतो मणिरत्नवान्
These regions have thus been described, attended by gods and Gandharvas. On Puṣkara is the mountain named Puṣkara, adorned with jewels and gems.
तत्र नित्यं प्रसरति स्वयं देवः प्रजापतिः । पर्युपासंति तं नित्यं देवाः सर्वे महर्षयः
There, the god Prajāpati himself always resides; all the gods and great sages constantly attend upon him.
वाग्भिर्मनोनुकूलाभिः पूजयंति द्विजोत्तमाः । जंबूद्वीपात्प्रवर्त्तन्ते रत्नानि विविधानि च
The best of Brahmins worship him with words pleasing to the mind; from Jambūdvīpa arise various kinds of gems.
द्वीपेषु तेषु सर्वेषु प्रजानां मुनिसत्तमाः । विप्राणां ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्येन च दमेन च
On all those islands, O best of sages, the people—especially the Brahmins—live by celibacy, truthfulness, and self-restraint.
आरोग्यायुष्प्रमाणाभ्यां द्विगुणं द्विगुणं ततः । एते जनपदा विप्रा द्वीपेषु तेषु सत्तमाः
By the measure of health and lifespan, these regions are twice, and then again twice, as great; O Brahmins, in those islands, the beings are most excellent.
उक्ता जनपदा येषु धर्मश्चैकः प्रवर्त्तते । ईश्वरो दंडमुद्यम्य स्वयमेव प्रजापतिः
The regions where a single law prevails have been described; the Lord, raising the staff, is himself the ruler of the people.
द्वीपानेतान्मुनिवरा रक्षंस्तिष्ठति सर्वदा । स राजा स शिवो विप्राः स पिता स पितामहः
O best of sages, the king protects these islands at all times; he is Shiva, he is the father, he is the grandfather, O Brahmins.
गोपायति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रजाः स द्विजपंडिताः । भोजनं चात्र विप्रेंद्राः प्रजाः स्वयमुपस्थितम्
O foremost of twice-born, he guards the people, and the learned Brahmins; and there, O chief of Brahmins, the food for the people is presented by themselves.
सिद्धमेव महाभागा भुंजते तद्धि नित्यदा । ततः परं महाशैलो दृश्यते लोकसंस्थितिः
The blessed ones always partake of it, already prepared; thereafter, the great mountain is seen, the foundation of the worlds.
चतुरस्रो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिमंडलः । तत्र तिष्ठंति विप्रेंद्राश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः
It is four-sided, O wise one, perfectly round on all sides; there, four chief Brahmins, esteemed by the world, reside.
दिग्गजा हि मुनिश्रेष्ठा वामनैरावतां जनाः । सुप्रतीकस्तथा विप्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः
O best of sages, the people of Airavata are the elephants of the directions; likewise, O Brahmins, Supratika and those with broken tusks and jaws.
तस्याहं परिमाणं न संख्यातुमिहमुत्सहे । असंख्यातः सुनित्यं हि तिर्यगूर्द्ध्वमधस्तथा
I am not able to enumerate its measure here; it is countless, always, extending sideways, upwards, and below.
तत्र वै वायवो वांति दिग्भ्यः सर्वाभ्य एव च । असंबंधा मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तान्निगृह्णंति ते द्विजाः
There, indeed, winds blow from all directions, O best of sages; those winds, unrelated, are restrained by the Brahmins.
पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः
With lotuses resembling lotus flowers, they draw in the mighty winds; then, again, a hundredfold, they swiftly release them, always.
श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः
The winds, like those of the elephants of the directions, come through their mouths and nostrils; O foremost of Brahmins, there the people remain.
यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम्
As I have described, this world is thus constructed; hear this, O wise one, the earth, which gives merit and follows the mind.
श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते
The illustrious chief of Brahmins, accomplished and esteemed by the virtuous, crosses over; his lifespan, strength, fame, and brilliance increase.
यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः
He who listens to this narration at the festival, steadfast in his vow, his ancestors and grandfathers are pleased.
ऋषय ऊचुः-। पृथिव्या हि परीमाणं संस्थानं सरितस्तथा । त्वत्तः श्रुत्वा महाभाग अमृतं पीतमेव च
The sages said: The measure and form of the earth, and its rivers, we have heard from you, O greatly fortunate one, and have indeed tasted immortality.
तत्र भूमौ च तीर्थानि पावनानीति नः श्रुतम् । आचक्ष्व तानि सर्वाणि यथाफलकराणि च । सविशेषं महाप्राज्ञ श्रोतुमिच्छामहे तव
We have heard that there are holy places on the earth, purifying; tell us all of them, and how they yield their fruits, O wise one, with details, for we wish to hear from you.
सूत उवाच-। धन्यं पुण्यं महाख्यानं पृष्टमेव तपोधनाः । यथामति प्रवक्ष्यामि यथायोगं यथाश्रुतम्
Sūta said: You ascetics have asked about the blessed, virtuous, and great narrative; I will speak according to my ability, as appropriate, and as I have heard.
पुरातनं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवर्षेर्नारदस्य हि । युधिष्ठिरेण संवादं शृणु तद्द्विजसत्तमाः
I will relate the ancient dialogue between the divine sage Nārada and Yudhiṣṭhira; listen to that, O best of Brahmins.
हृतराज्याः पांडुपुत्रा वने तस्मिन्महारथाः । न्यवसंति महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह पांडवाः
The sons of Pandu, those mighty warriors deprived of their kingdom, dwelled in that forest, blessed ones, together with Draupadi.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्
Then they beheld the great-souled divine sage Narada there, radiant with Brahmanic splendor, his brilliance equal to blazing fire.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुनंदनः । दिवि भाति हि दीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious descendant of Kuru shone in the sky with blazing energy, like Indra among the gods.
यथा च देवान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन् । न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Just as Savitri did not abandon the gods, so Yajnaseni did not forsake her husbands, the sons of Pritha, as the sun’s light does not leave Meru.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः । आश्वासयद्धर्म्मपुत्रं युक्तरूपप्रियेण च
Then the venerable sage Narada, having received their worship, comforted the righteous Yudhishthira with words appropriate and dear.
उवाच च महात्मानं धर्म्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । ब्रूहि धर्म्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ किं प्रार्थ्यं हि ददामि ते
And he spoke to the great-souled king Yudhishthira: 'Speak, best of the upholders of dharma, what do you desire? I shall grant it to you.'