There, in that exalted realm, the glory of Lord Īśāna shines forth with the brilliance of a thousand suns, ever manifest within his magnificent celestial palace. In this sacred space, all the hosts of gods approach the illustrious Four-faced Lord, Brahmā himself, offering him worship with devotion, reverence, and salutations as is proper for the Supreme Creator. In those days, measured by the divine reckoning, the great-souled ones—whose minds were pure and who walked the path of righteousness—practiced celibacy with utmost discipline. After performing their prescribed worship and enjoying the sacred offerings, these devotees, ever respectful toward ancestors and gods, lived as householders. They were humble, intent on their duties, delighted in welcoming guests, and dedicated to pure deeds. Through self-control, discipline, and acts of charity, they burned away all their sins, remaining detached and purposeful in all their actions. The abode of these virtuous souls is the pure and flawless world of Brahmā, the highest destination, surpassing all other realms. This celestial world is said to stretch fourteen thousand yojanas in extent. Rising above it is a beautiful, radiant, and dark mountain, shining like the young sun, adorned with veins of precious gems—a sight of splendor. All around the great mountain Meru, dwellings made of many kinds of jewels and jeweled gateways encircle it completely. There stands the supreme mountain called Chakrapata, thirty thousand yojanas in circumference, and the mighty Jarudhi, lord of mountains—these are known as the chief northern mountains. Within this wondrous region, there are plateaus, inner valleys, and lakes of great beauty among these northern peaks. From Chakrapata flows a magnificent river, ten yojanas wide, which rises upward and is firmly established upon the earth. This sacred river passes through the city of Amarāvatī, shining with the luster of the moon. So radiant is this river that when it obscures, even the sun, moon, and stars are hidden from view. Within this realm, the best of the twice-born perform their sacred duties at sunrise and sunset, at the junctures of day and night, pleasing all the twice-born as well as the eight supreme mountains. The radiant, revolving light that arises here is considered most auspicious by Rudra and Indra themselves. Rudra spoke further: In that very region to the east of Meru, a place of supreme brilliance, encircled by a ring of mountains gleaming with various minerals, rises the city of all the immortals. This city, unassailable by the might of gods, demons, or rākṣasas, is adorned with splendid walls and grand gateways of Jāmbūnada gold. In the northeastern part of this city, resplendent and filled with radiant beings, hundreds of aerial palaces float in the sky. The city is ever joyful and auspicious, adorned with masses of flowers, festooned with garlands, banners, and flags. Gods, yakṣas, apsarases, and sages make this delightful and prosperous city vibrant—the city of Purandara, known as Amarāvatī. At the very center of Amarāvatī stands a platform of diamond and beryl, renowned throughout the three worlds as the assembly hall called Sudharmā. Here resides the glorious thousand-eyed Indra, husband of Śacī, surrounded by siddhas, divine beings, and all the celestial races. The noble lineage of Bhāskara, the great soul, is also present here, with the overseer of the gods himself honored by all the deities. Surrounding Amarāvatī in the various directions are other splendid cities: In the eastern sector lies Tejovatī, the city of the great-souled Agni, Hutāśa. In another direction is the charming city of Vaivasvata, known as Saṃyamanī, famed throughout the three worlds. In the southwest lies the auspicious city of Kṛṣṇāvatī, belonging to the wise Virūpākṣa. In the north is Śuddhavatī, the city of the great Varuṇa, lord of the waters. Further north stands Gandhavatī, the city of Vāyu, lord of the gods, surpassing all in qualities. Beyond that, in the northern sector, is Mahodayā, the delightful city of the guhyakas' lord, adorned with a beryl platform. In the eighth inner sector, the city of the great Īśāna, called Manoharā, is filled with diverse beings, decorated with various flowers and grains, forests, and hermitages. This world of the gods, with all its wonders, is sought after by all and is renowned as 'heaven.' Rudra continued: At the very root of the pericarp, the center of Meru, lies a region spanning thousands of yojanas. The base of Meru, the king of mountains, is said to be forty-eight thousand yojanas in circumference. Among the countless mountains in this land, many rise to great heights, and in each of the eight directions stand auspicious boundary mountains. To the east are Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa, stretching from east to west; these are known as the boundary mountains of the eight directions. Meru itself, called the golden mountain, is supported by four great bases, one in each direction. By these, the earth with its seven continents stands firm and unshaken. Each base extends ten thousand yojanas in breadth, both horizontally and vertically, and is adorned with brilliant streaks of orpiment. They shine with stones of realgar and gold, inlaid with precious gems, and are further beautified by the abodes of accomplished beings and delightful pleasure grounds. To the east of Meru stands Mandara; to the south, Gandhamādana; to the west, Vipula; and to the north, Supārśva. Atop the peaks of these four mountains are four great trees, attended by gods, demons, and apsarases, and endowed with all virtues. Thus is the wondrous world of the gods, their cities, mountains, and abodes—a realm of supreme splendor and divine order.