In the celestial realms, there resides the illustrious thousand-eyed Lord Indra, husband of Śacī, surrounded by Siddhas and other exalted beings, as well as all the races of divinities. The noble lineage of Bhāskara, the radiant sun, is also present there, with the overseer of the gods himself, honored by all the deities. Within the vast and wondrous city, endowed with many qualities, lies Tejovatī, the city of the great soul Hutāśa, Agni, lord of fire. Another charming city, famed throughout the three worlds, is Saṃyamanī, belonging to Vaivasvata, the lord of justice. In the fourth direction is the auspicious city Kṛṣṇāvatī, belonging to Virūpākṣa, the wise guardian of the southwest. In the northern sector stands Śuddhavatī, renowned as the city of Varuṇa, the great-souled lord of waters. Further north is Gandhavatī, the city of Vāyu, lord of the winds, famed for surpassing all in qualities. Beyond that, in the northernmost sector, is Mahodayā, the delightful city of the lord of the guhyakas, adorned with a beryl platform. In the eighth inner sector is Manoharā, the city of the great-souled Īśāna, filled with beings of many kinds, adorned with diverse flowers and grains, forests, and hermitages. This entire world of the gods is sought after and is renowned as ‘heaven.’ Rudra then spoke: “The root of the pericarp, the very center of Meru, is vast, spanning thousands of yojanas. The base of Meru, king of mountains, is said to be forty-eight thousand yojanas in circumference. Among countless mountains, many stand tall, and in each of the eight directions, auspicious boundary mountains mark the realm. In the east, Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa rise, extending from east to west, and the wise know these as the boundary mountains of the eight directions. Meru, the golden mountain, has four great bases set in the four directions, by which the earth with its seven continents stands firm and unshaken. Each base extends ten thousand yojanas in breadth, constructed horizontally and vertically, and adorned with streaks of orpiment. Decorated with stones of realgar and gold, inlaid with precious gems, these bases shine with many 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 each mountain peak grows a great tree, attended by gods, demons, and apsarases, endowed with all virtues. On Mandara’s summit stands the sacred Kadamba tree, its long branches hanging gracefully. Its flowers are as large as water jars, with fully opened filaments and a delightful fragrance, blooming in all seasons. Surrounded by worlds and beings, the Kadamba fills the directions with its fragrance, extending over a thousand leagues. This tree, called Bhadrāśva, is born from the mountain of rain, renowned and splendid—the greatest of great trees—where Hṛṣīkeśa, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshipped by hosts of perfected beings. Viṣṇu, in the form of a horse-headed being, ascended its summit and obtained the best chowrie, again and again. That region, beheld by him, the lord of all bipeds, is called Bhadrāśva, after his name—of this, there is no doubt. On the southern mountain, Gandhamādana, revered by the gods, stands the Jambū tree, which instantly bears flowers and fruits, adorned with great branches. Its fruits are exceedingly large, sweet, and tender, resembling nectar, and they fall upon the mountain’s peak. From this best of mountains flows the divine river Jāmbūnadī, carrying the juice of the fruits. There arises the gold called Jāmbūnada, blazing like fire, a matchless ornament for the gods and a destroyer of sins. The gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, and guhyakas drank that nectar-like juice flowing from the Jambu tree’s fruit. The Jambu tree stands as the banner in the southern region, renowned among the worlds; by its name, humans call the land Jambudvipa. On the southern side of Vipula mountain grew a very large and noble fig tree, called Shringa. Tall, with a massive trunk, it is home to many kinds of beings and bears beautiful, auspicious fruits, delightful in all seasons and the size of water jars. This tree is the banner of the Ketumalas, attended by gods and gandharvas, and is famously called Ketumala. When the churning of the milk ocean was completed, garlands were placed on its trunk, and because Indra adorned the banner of the caitya with a garland, it became known as Ketumala. Thus, that region marked by this sign is widely known as Ketumala. On the northern peak of Supārshva stands the great banyan tree, Vaṭa, with a broad trunk spreading over a circle of three yojanas. Adorned with garlands, wreaths, and clusters, its branches hang down beautifully, frequented by perfected beings. It always bears golden fruits, resembling hanging water jars; this is the banner tree of the Uttarakurus. There, the seven illustrious Kurus, sons of Brahma, born from his mind and younger brothers of Sanatkumara, are renowned. Thus shines the heavenly world, with its cities, mountains, and trees, each bearing the mark of divine presence and celestial glory, forming the tapestry of heaven sought by all.