There are those who commit grave transgressions: those who sell the sacred Soma, those who barter away the Vedas, and those who bear false witness. All such souls, by the weight of their actions, find themselves cast into the dreadful Raurava hell. Their suffering does not end there; they endure torment in the blinding darkness of Andhatamisra and wander through the forest of sword-leaves, where agony knows no respite. For those who have committed such evils, a precipitous chasm appears before them—an abyss into which they are hurled. Thus have the fates of the ungrateful and the reviled been set forth, each described in their due order. In this world, there are always those who stand foremost among their kind: just as Ananta is the chief among serpents, and the earth is the greatest among beings; as the cultivated field is the best of all lands, and among holy fords, the broad waters reign supreme. The abode of Brahmā is exalted above all worlds, and among all acts prescribed by dharma, none surpasses the truth. Among ascetics, the lineage of Sumbha is preeminent; among scriptures, revelation is held highest. Manu stands foremost among lawgivers, just as the new and full moons are most sacred among lunar days, and the act of giving at the solstices is most meritorious. Even among the Rākṣasas, you are counted among the best; among the Nāgas who are bound, the bond itself is foremost. Of all flowers, the jasmine is most prized, just as Kāñcī is the jewel among cities; Rambhā is the loveliest among women, and for the weary, the householder is a haven. The mango is supreme among fruits, the ashoka among buds, and among all medicinal herbs, pathyā is most esteemed. Of white substances, milk is considered the finest, as cotton is among coverings. Among vegetables, kākamācī takes precedence, and among flavors, salt stands alone as chief. The banyan tree towers above all others, just as Śiva is the highest among the wise. Among fortresses and fearsome places, the river Vaitaraṇī, lord of the night-dwellers, is the most formidable, bringing about the downfall of kings. Yet, for one who destroys a friend, there is no atonement; even after billions of years, the stain of that sin remains, unwashed by time. Now, let the great sages describe the wondrous structure of Jambūdvīpa. This vast land is divided into nine great regions, each immense and capable of granting the fruits of heaven and liberation. In the east and north lies Hiraṇya, lord of the rākṣasas. Bhārata is found in the south, while Hari occupies the southwestern quarter. In the north is the land of Kuru, encircled by wish-fulfilling trees. Apart from Bhārata, there are eight other regions, beginning with Ilāvṛta. Among these, there is neither reversal nor inequality—none is superior, none inferior, none intermediate. Each is separated from the others by vast oceans, making them inaccessible to one another. Other lands are also mentioned: Nāga Island, Kaṭāha, Siṃhala, and Vāruṇa. The island called Kumāra lies between the northern and southern divisions. In the south dwell the Andhras, while the Turushkas are found in the north. These peoples are purified by acts such as worship, battle, and trade. Within this land, seven principal mountain ranges are celebrated: the Vindhya and the Pāriyātra, both broad, lofty, beautiful, and auspicious in their slopes. Vātandhama, Vaidyuta, Maināka, and Saras are also counted among them. Ujjāyana, Puṣpagiri, Arbuda, and Raivata rise as well, along with Śrīparvata, Koṅgaṇa, and hundreds of other mountains. From these mountains flow the foremost rivers, each bearing a sacred name: Śatadru, Candrikā, Nīlā, Vitastā, Irāvatī, and Kuhū; Gomatī, Dhūtapāpā, Bāhudā, and Sadṛṣadvatī; Saru and the mighty Lauhitya, which springs from the foot of the Himalaya. There are also the Parṇāśā, Nandinī, Pāvanī, and the Mahī, all flowing forth to nourish and sanctify the land. Thus is the order of sin and merit, the greatness of beings and places, and the sacred geography of Jambūdvīpa revealed, as the sages have described.