Varaha Purana

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.

देवदानवगन्धर्वयक्षराक्षसगुह्यकाः । पपुस्तदमृतप्रख्यं मधु जम्बूफलस्रवम् ।। ७७.

The gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, and guhyakas drank that juice, like nectar, which flowed from the fruit of the Jambu tree.

सा केतुर्दक्षिणे वर्षे जम्बूर्लोकेषु विश्रुता । यस्या नाम्ना समाख्याता जम्बूद्वीपेति मानवैः ।। ७७.

That Jambu is the banner in the southern region, renowned among the worlds; by its name, humans call the land Jambudvipa.

विपुलस्य च शैलस्य दक्षिणेन महात्मनः । जातः श्रृङ्गेति सुमहानश्वत्थश्चेति पादपः ।। ७७.

On the southern side of the great mountain Vipula, there grew a very large and noble fig tree, called Shringa.

महोच्छ्रायो महास्कन्धो नैकसत्त्वगुणालयः । कुम्भप्रमाणै रुचिरैः फलैः सर्वर्त्तुकैः शुभैः ।। ७७.

It is tall, with a massive trunk, a dwelling of many kinds of beings, and bears beautiful, auspicious fruits, delightful in all seasons, the size of water jars.

स केतुः केतुमालानां देवगन्धर्वसेवितः । केतुमालेति विख्यातो नाम्ना तत्र प्रकीर्तितः । तन्निबोधत विप्रेन्द्रा निरुक्तं नामकर्मणः ।। ७७.

That tree is the banner of the Ketumalas, attended by gods and gandharvas; it is famously called Ketumala by name there. Now, O best of brahmins, listen to the etymology of that name.

क्षीरोदमथने वृत्ते माला स्कन्धे निवेशिताः । इन्द्रेण चैत्यकेतोस्तु केतुमालस्ततः स्मृतः । तेन तच्चिह्नितं वर्षं केतुमालेति विश्रुतम् ।। ७७.

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. Therefore, that region marked by this sign is widely known as Ketumala.

सुपार्श्वस्योत्तरे श्रृङ्गे वटो नाम महाद्रुमः । न्यग्रोधो विपुलस्कन्धो यस्त्रियोजनमण्डलः ।। ७७.

On the northern peak of Supārshva stands a great banyan tree, called Vaṭa, with a broad trunk, spreading over a circle of three yojanas.

माल्यदामकलापैश्च विविधैस्तु समन्ततः । शाखाभिर्लम्बमानाभिः शोभितः सिद्धसेवितः ।। ७७.

Adorned all around with garlands, wreaths, and various clusters, its branches hang down beautifully, and it is frequented by perfected beings.

प्रलम्बकुम्भसदृशैर्हेमवर्णैः फलैः सदा । स ह्युत्तरकुरूणां तु केतुवृक्षः प्रकाशते ।। ७७.

It always bears golden fruits, resembling hanging water jars; this is the banner tree of the Uttarakurus.

सनत्कुमारावरजा मानसा ब्रह्मणः सुताः । सप्त तत्र महाभागाः कुरवो नाम विश्रुताः ।। ७७.

There, the seven illustrious Kurus, sons of Brahma, born from his mind and younger brothers of Sanatkumara, are renowned.