Varaha Purana

तत्र चैव सुवंशः स्याद् भास्करस्य महात्मनः । साक्षात् तत्र सुराध्यक्षः सर्वदेवनमस्कृतः ।। ७६.

There also is the noble lineage of Bhāskara, the great soul; there, the overseer of the gods himself is present, honored by all the deities.

तस्याश्च दिक्षु विस्तीर्णा तत्तद्गुणसमन्विता । तेजोवती नाम पुरी हुताशस्य महात्मनः ।। ७६.

In the directions of that city, vast and endowed with various qualities, lies the city named Tejovatī, belonging to the great soul Hutāśa (Agni).

तत्तद्गुणवती रम्या पुरी वैवस्वतस्य च । नाम्ना संयमनी नाम पुरी त्रैलोक्यविश्रुता ।। ७६.

Another charming city, endowed with its own qualities, is that of Vaivasvata, known by name as Saṃyamanī, famed throughout the three worlds.

तथा चतुर्थे दिग्भागे नैर्ऋताधिपतेः शुभा । नाम्ना कृष्णावती नाम विरूपाक्षस्य धीमतः ।। ७६.

Likewise, in the fourth direction lies the auspicious city of the lord of the southwest, called Kṛṣṇāvatī, belonging to the wise Virūpākṣa.

पञ्चमे ह्युत्तरपुटे नाम्ना शुद्धवती पुरी । उदकाधिपतेः ख्याता वरुणस्य महात्मनः ।। ७६.

In the fifth, northern sector, is the city named Śuddhavatī, renowned as the city of the great-souled Varuṇa, lord of the waters.

तथा पञ्चोत्तरे देवस्वस्योत्तरपुटे पुरी । वायोर्गन्धवती नाम ख्याता सर्वगुणोत्तरा ।। ७६.

Similarly, in the northernmost sector, is the city of the lord of the gods, Vāyu, called Gandhavatī, famed as surpassing all in qualities.

तस्योत्तरपुटे रम्या गुह्यकाधिपतेः पुरी । नाम्ना महोदया नाम शुभा वैदूर्यवेदिका ।। ७६.

In the northern sector beyond that lies the delightful city of the lord of the guhyakas, called Mahodayā, auspicious and with a beryl platform.

तथाष्टमेऽन्तरपुटे ईशानस्य महात्मनः । पुरी मनोहरा नाम भूतैर्नानाविधैर्युता । पुष्पैर्धन्यैश्च विविधैर्वनैराश्रमसंस्थितैः ।। ७६.

So too, in the eighth inner sector, is the city of the great-souled Īśāna, called Manoharā, filled with various beings, adorned with diverse flowers and grains, with forests and hermitages.

प्रार्थ्यते देवलोकोऽयं स स्वर्ग इति कीर्तितः ।। ७६.

This world of the gods is sought after and is renowned as 'heaven.'

रुद्र उवाच । यदेतत् कर्णिकामूलं मेरोर्मध्यं प्रकीर्तितम् । तद् योजनसहस्त्राणि संख्यया मानतः स्मृतम् ।। ७७.

Rudra said: That which is called the root of the pericarp, the center of Meru, is reckoned by measure to be thousands of yojanas in extent.

चत्वारिंशत् तथा चाष्टौ सहस्त्राणि तु मण्डलैः । शैलराजस्य तत्तत्र मेरुमूलमिति स्मृतम् ।। ७७.

There, forty-eight thousand yojanas in circumference is said to be the base of the king of mountains, Meru.

तेषां गिरिसहस्त्राणामनेकानां महोच्छ्रयः । दिगष्टौ च पुनस्तस्य मर्यादापर्वताः शुभाः ।। ७७.

Among those countless mountains, there are many of great height, and in each of the eight directions, there are again auspicious boundary mountains.

जठरो देवकूटश्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि पर्वतौ । पूर्वपश्चायतावेतावर्णवान्तर्व्यवस्थितौ । मर्यादापर्वतानेतानष्टानाहुर्मनीषिणः ।। ७७.

Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa are the mountains in the eastern direction; these two, extending from east to west, are situated within the region. The wise call these the boundary mountains of the eight directions.

योऽसौ मेरुर्द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रोक्तः कनकपर्वतः । विष्कम्भांस्तस्य वक्ष्यामि श्रृणुध्वं गदतस्तु तान् ।। ७७.

That Meru, O best of twice-born, which is called the golden mountain—I shall now describe its supports; listen as I recount them.

महापादास्तु चत्वारो मेरोरथ चतुर्दिशम् । यैर्न चचाल विष्टब्धा सप्तद्वीपवती मही ।। ७७.

There are four great bases of Meru, set in the four directions, by which the earth, with its seven continents, stands firm and does not shake.

दशयोजनसाहस्त्रं व्यायामस्तेषु शङ्क्यते । तिर्यगूर्ध्वं च रचिता हरितालतटैर्वृताः ।। ७७.

Each of these is said to extend ten thousand yojanas in breadth, constructed both horizontally and vertically, and adorned with streaks of orpiment.

मनःशिलादरीभिश्च सुवर्णमणिचित्रिताः ।ऽ अनेकसिद्धभवनैः क्रीडास्थानैश्च सुप्रभाः ।। ७७.

They are decorated with stones of realgar and gold, inlaid with precious gems, and shine with many abodes of accomplished beings and delightful pleasure grounds.

पूर्वेण मन्दरस्तस्य दक्षिणे गन्धमादनः । विपुलः पश्चिमे पार्श्वे सुपार्श्वश्चोत्तरे स्थितः ।। ७७.

To the east of Meru is Mandara, to the south Gandhamādana, to the west Vipula, and to the north Supārśva stands.

तेषां श्रृङ्गेषु चत्वारो महावृक्षाः प्रतिष्ठिताः । देवदैत्याप्सरोभिश्च सेविता गुणसंचयैः ।। ७७.

On the peaks of these four mountains, four great trees are established, attended by gods, demons, and apsarases, and endowed with all virtues.

मन्दरस्य गिरेः श्रृङ्गे कदम्बो नाम पादपः । प्रलम्बशाखाशिखरः कदम्बश्चैत्यपादपः ।। ७७.

On the summit of Mandara mountain stands a tree called Kadamba, with long, hanging branches, the sacred Kadamba tree.

महाकुम्भप्रमाणैश्च पुष्पैर्विकचकेसरैः । महागन्धमनोज्ञैश्च शोभितः सर्वकालजैः ।। ७७.

It is adorned with flowers as large as great water jars, with fully opened filaments, and with a delightful fragrance, blooming in all seasons.

समासेन परिवृतो भुवनैर्भूतभावनैः । सहस्त्रमधिकं सोऽथ गन्धेनापूरयन् दिशः ।। ७७.

Surrounded on all sides by worlds and beings, it fills the directions with its fragrance, extending over a thousand leagues.

भद्राश्वो नाम वृक्षोऽयं वर्षाद्रेः केतुसंभवः । कीर्तिमान् रूपवाञ्छ्रीमान् महापादपपादपः । यत्र साक्षाद्धृषीकेशः सिद्धसङ्घैर्निषेव्यते ।। ७७.

This tree, called Bhadrāśva, is born from the mountain of rain, renowned, beautiful, and splendid, the greatest of great trees, where Hṛṣīkeśa himself is worshipped by hosts of perfected beings.

तस्य भद्रकदम्बस्य तथाश्ववदनो हरिः । प्राप्तवांश्चामरश्रेष्ठः स हि सानुं पुनः पुनः ।। ७७.

To that auspicious Kadamba, Viṣṇu in the form of a horse-headed being came and obtained the best chowrie, again and again ascending its summit.

तेन चालोकितं वर्षं सर्वद्विपदनायकाः । यस्य नाम्ना समाख्यातो भद्राश्वेति न संशयः ।। ७७.

That region was beheld by him, the lord of all bipeds, and from his name it is called Bhadrāśva—of this there is no doubt.

दक्षिणस्यापि शैलस्य शिखरे देवसेविते । जम्बूः सद्यः पुष्पफला महाशाखोपशोभिता ।। ७७.

On the summit of the southern mountain, revered by the gods, stands the Jambū tree, which instantly bears flowers and fruits, adorned with great branches.

तस्या ह्यतिप्रमाणानि स्वादूनि च मृदूनि च । फलान्यमृतकल्पानि पतन्ति गिरिमूर्धनि ।। ७७.

Its fruits are exceedingly large, sweet, and tender, resembling nectar, and they fall upon the mountain's peak.

तस्माद् गिरिवरश्रेष्ठात् फलप्रस्यन्दवाहिनी । दिव्या जाम्बूनदी नाम प्रवृत्ता मधुवाहिनी ।। ७७.

From that best of mountains flows the divine river called Jāmbūnadī, carrying the juice of the fruits.

तत्र जाम्बूनदं नाम सुवर्णमनलप्रभम् । देवालङ्कारमतुलमुत्पन्नं पापनाशनम् ।। ७७.

There arises the gold called Jāmbūnada, blazing like fire, a matchless ornament for the gods and a destroyer of sins.