In the sacred narration, the illustrious mountains of the west are first remembered: Krishna, Pandava, Sahasrashirasa, Pariyatra, Shailendra, and Shrngavan—each renowned for their splendor and prominence. Turning northward from Lake Mahabhadra, the sages are invited to listen to the mountains that grace that direction: Hamsakuta, the majestic Vrishahamsa, Kapinjala, Shailendra once more, and Indrashaila with its many ridges. Further north, the mountains Nila, Kanakashringa, Shatashringa, Pushkara, Meghashaila, Viraja, Jaruchi, and Shailendra are recalled as the foremost. Among these northern peaks, the narration continues, describing the plains, valleys, and lakes nestled between them. Between the borders of the great mountain and Kumuda lies a fertile valley, nourished by birds and inhabited by countless creatures. Within this valley shines a splendid lake, three hundred yojanas long and one hundred yojanas wide, its waters divine, clear, and delightful to the eye. The lake is adorned with fragrant lotuses the size of a droṇa, and with magnificent blooms bearing thousands of petals. This sacred lake, known as Śrīsaras, glows with radiance in many places and is inhabited by gods, dānavas, gandharvas, and mighty serpents. Its pure waters offer refuge to all beings. In the midst of its lotus forest stands a single, grand lotus, whose countless petals gleam with the brilliance of the rising sun, always sweetly blossoming and gently moving in a perfect circle. Rich clusters of stamens adorn it, and intoxicated bees hum joyously around. In its heart dwells the goddess Śrī herself—Lakṣmī, ever-present in embodied form, attended by hosts of siddhas. On the shore of this lake stands a magnificent grove of bilva trees, always flowering and fruiting, attended by perfected beings. This grove, called Śrīvana, stretches a hundred yojanas wide and two hundred yojanas long, with towering peaks half a krośa high. Great trees crowd the area, their branches numbering in the thousands and their trunks massive. The fruits are abundant, green and pale, fragrant, nectar-like, and each as large as a drum. Fallen and falling fruits cover the ground and forest interior, making Śrīvana famous throughout all the worlds. Gods and beings from all eight directions fill this grove, and munis who subsist on bilva fruits dwell there, performing meritorious deeds. Lakṣmī remains ever-present, attended by siddhas. Between each pair of mountain lords and jeweled peaks lies a space a hundred yojanas wide and two hundred yojanas long. Within these spaces are pure lotus groves, frequented by siddhas and cāraṇas, where a blossom held by Lakṣmī shines brightly. These forests, encircled by great trees with massive trunks and peaks half a krośa high, glow golden with blooming branches at their summits. Their trunks are as thick as two arms, and branches three hastas long and wide, their pale stamens resembling powdered cinnabar. The entire forest is radiant, filled with enchanting flowers and fragrant blossoms, resounding with the hum of intoxicated bees. Dānavas, daityas, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, kinnaras, apsarases, and great serpents frequent these forests. Within this wondrous region lies the hermitage of the blessed Kaśyapa, lord of creatures, surrounded by hosts of siddhas and sages, and filled with various āśramas. Between the great Nīla mountain and the Kumbha mountain flows the river Sukhā, on whose bank stretches a vast forest. There is a splendid palm grove, delightful and beautiful, fifty yojanas long and thirty yojanas wide, with trees rising half a krośa in height. These mighty, strong, and unshakable trees possess thick trunks, resemble large sticks of collyrium, are curved, and bear huge fruits. Endowed with excellent fragrance and qualities, frequented by perfected beings, this grove is said to be the abode of the elephant Airāvata. Between Airāvata, Rudra, and the divine mountain lies a land a thousand yojanas long and a hundred yojanas wide. Its ground is a single slab of stone, devoid of trees and shrubs, covered everywhere by water to the depth of a foot. Thus, the various inner valleys near Meru are described in their proper order and detail. Rudra then turns to the mountain valleys of the south, inhabited by perfected beings. Between the mountains Śiśira and Pataṅga lies a white land, where creepers have shed their leaves and trees are sparse. On the summit of Ikṣukṣepa, adorned with trees, is a delightful fig grove, frequented by flocks of birds. This grove shines with fruits resembling great tortoises. Many rivers flow here, their waters clear and sweet. The hermitage of the lord Kardama, the progenitor, is found here, crowded with sages. The forest forms a perfect circle, measuring one hundred yojanas. Between the mountains Tāmrābha and Pataṅga lies a great lake, a hundred yojanas wide and twice as long, adorned with lotuses like young suns, with countless petals, and inhabited by perfected beings and gandharvas. In the middle of this lake rises a great peak, a hundred yojanas long and thirty yojanas wide, adorned with many minerals and gems. Atop it is a grand avenue with jeweled gateways and arches, and the great city of the vidyādharas, where their king Puloma resides, surrounded by a hundred thousand followers. Between the mountains Vikhākhā and Śveta lies another lake, and on its eastern shore is a vast mango grove, filled everywhere with golden-hued, highly fragrant fruits the size of large jars. Gods and gandharvas dwell there. Between Sumula and Vasudhāra lies a land thirty yojanas wide and fifty yojanas long, called Bilvasthalī. Here, the fruits resemble coral, and the falling fruits moisten the ground. Secretive beings who subsist on bilva fruits frequent this place. Between Vasudhāra and Ratnadhāra is a fragrant kimśuka grove, always in bloom, thirty yojanas wide and a hundred yojanas long, whose scent spreads for a hundred yojanas. Perfected beings dwell here, and water is present. Here also is the great abode of the god Āditya. Every month, the lord Sūrya, progenitor of all, descends, and gods and others worship him as the creator of time. Between Pañcakūṭa and Kailāsa lies a land a thousand yojanas long and a hundred yojanas wide, white as a swan, inaccessible to lesser beings, appearing like a stairway to heaven. Next, the valleys of the west are described. Between Supārśva and Śikhi lies a stretch of land, a hundred yojanas in every direction, with a rocky surface, always hot and difficult to touch. In its center is a circular area, thirty yojanas wide, which is the abode of fire. Here, the divine Samvartaka fire, which destroys the worlds, blazes eternally without fuel. Between Kumuda and Añjana is a land a hundred yojanas wide called Ātuluṅgasthalī, inaccessible to all beings, covered with yellow fruits. There is a sacred lake frequented by perfected beings, and the forest of Bṛhaspati. Between the yellow and white mountains lies a great valley, many hundreds of yojanas long, adorned with lotuses and filled with the humming of bees. Here is the supreme abode of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord. Between the great white and pale mountains is a rocky area, thirty yojanas wide and ninety yojanas long, devoid of trees. There is a clear pond with trees and a land-lotus, adorned with many kinds of lotuses. In its center stands a great banyan tree, five yojanas in size. Here, the god Maheśvara, clad in blue garments, resides, worshipped by yakṣas and others. Between Sahasraśikhara and Kumuda is a peak fifty yojanas long and twenty yojanas wide, as high as Ikṣukṣepa, frequented by many birds and adorned with various fruits and sweet saps. Here is the great hermitage of Indra, built by divine intention. Between Śaṅkhakūṭa and Ṛṣabha lies the delightful land called Puruṣasthalī, many yojanas long, endowed with fragrant kaṅkolaka fruits the size of bilva fruits. Here, intoxicated elephants and others dwell. Thus, the sacred geography of the mountains, valleys, forests, lakes, and abodes of gods, sages, and perfected beings is laid out in reverent detail, inviting the listener to marvel at the wonders and sanctity of the world surrounding Meru.