Varaha Purana

चारुकेसरजालाढ्यं मत्तभ्रमरनादितम् । तस्मिन् मध्ये भगवती साक्षात् श्रीर्नित्यमेव हि । लक्ष्मीस्तु तं तदावासं मूर्त्तिमन्तं न संशयः ।। ७९.

Rich with beautiful clusters of stamens, resounding with the hum of intoxicated bees, in its center dwells the goddess herself, Śrī, ever-present; truly, Lakṣmī abides there in embodied form, without doubt.

सरसस्तस्य तीरे तु तस्मिन् सिद्धनिषेवितम् । सदा पुष्पफलं रम्यं तत्र बिल्ववनं महत् ।। ७९.

On the shore of that lake, ever attended by siddhas, stands a great and lovely grove of bilva trees, always bearing flowers and fruit.

शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं द्वियोजनशतायतम् । अर्द्धक्रोशोच्चशिखरैर्महावृक्षैः समन्ततः । शाखासहस्त्रकलितैर्महास्कन्धैः समाकुलम् ।। ७९.

Spreading a hundred yojanas wide and two hundred yojanas long, with towering peaks half a krośa high, it is crowded all around with great trees, whose branches number in the thousands and whose trunks are massive.

फलैः सहस्त्रसङ्काशैः हरितैः पाण्डुरैस्तथा । अमृतस्वादुसदृशैर्भेरीमात्रैः सुगन्धिभिः ।। ७९.

Its fruits are as numerous as thousands, green and pale in color, fragrant and resembling the taste of nectar, each the size of a drum.

शीर्यद्भिश्च पतद्भिश्च कीर्णभूमिवनान्तरम् । नाम्ना तच्छ्रीवनं नाम सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम् ।। ७९.

With fallen and falling fruits, the ground and forest interior are strewn; that place is renowned in all the worlds as Śrīvana by name.

देवादिभिः समाकीर्णमष्टाभिः ककुभिः शुभम् । बिल्वाशिभिश्च मुनिभिः सेवितं पुण्यकारिभिः । तत्र श्रीः संस्थिता नित्यं सिद्धसङ्घनिषेविता ।। ७९.

It is filled with gods and others from all eight directions, and is served by munis who subsist on bilva fruits, doers of merit; there, Śrī is always present, attended by hosts of siddhas.

एकैकस्याचलेन्द्रस्य मणिशैलस्य चान्तरम् । शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं द्वियोजनशतायतम् ।। ७९.

Between each pair of mountain lords and jeweled peaks lies a space a hundred yojanas wide and two hundred yojanas long.

विमलं पङ्कजवनं सिद्धचारणसेवितम् । पुष्पं लक्ष्म्या धृतं भाति नित्यं प्रज्वलतीव ह ।। ७९.

There is a pure lotus grove, frequented by siddhas and cāraṇas, where a blossom held by Lakṣmī shines, as if ever blazing.

अर्द्धक्रोशं च शिखरैर्महास्कन्धैः समावृतम् । प्रफुल्लशाखाशिखरं पिञ्जरं भाति तद्वनम् ।। ७९.

That forest, encircled by great trees with massive trunks and peaks half a krośa high, shines golden with blooming branches at their summits.

द्विबाहुपरिणाहैस्तैस्त्रिहस्तायामविस्तृतैः । मनःशिलाचूर्णनिभैः पाण्डुकेसरशालिभिः ।। ७९.

With trunks as thick as two arms and branches three hastas long and wide, their pale stamens resemble powdered cinnabar.

पुष्पैर्मनोहरैर्व्याप्तं व्याकोशैर्गन्धशोभिभिः । विराजति वनं सर्वं मत्तभ्रमरनादितम् ।। ७९.

The entire forest glows, filled with enchanting flowers and fragrant, beautiful blossoms, resounding with the hum of intoxicated bees.

तद्वनं दानवैर्दैत्यैर्गन्धर्वैर्यक्षराक्षसैः । किन्नरैरप्सरोभिश्च महाभोगैश्च सेवितम् ।। ७९.

That forest is frequented by dānavas, daityas, gandharvas, yakṣas, rākṣasas, kinnaras, apsarases, and great serpents.

तत्राश्रमो भगवतः कश्यपस्य प्रजापतेः । सिद्धसाधुगणाकीर्णं नानाश्रमसमाकुलम् ।। ७९.

There is the hermitage of the blessed Kaśyapa, lord of creatures, crowded with hosts of siddhas and sages, and filled with various āśramas.

महानीलस्य मध्ये तु कुम्भस्य च गिरेस्तथा । मध्ये सुखा नदी नाम तस्यास्तीरे महद्वनम् ।। ७९.

In the midst of the great Nīla mountain and the Kumbha mountain as well, there is the river named Sukhā; on its bank lies a vast forest.

पञ्चाशद्योजनायामं त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डलम् । रम्यं तालवनं श्रीमत् क्रोशार्द्धोच्छ्रितपादपम् ।। ७९.

There is a splendid palm grove, delightful and beautiful, measuring fifty yojanas in length and thirty yojanas in breadth, with trees rising to half a krośa in height.

महाबलैर्महासारैः स्थिरैरविचलैः शुभैः । महदञ्जनसंस्थानैः परिवृत्तैर्महाफलैः ।। ७९.

It is filled with mighty, strong, and unshakable trees, possessing great strength and thick trunks, resembling large sticks of collyrium, curved and bearing huge fruits.

मृष्टगन्धगुणोपेतैरुपेतं सिद्धसेवितम् । ऐरावतस्य करिणस्तत्रैव समुदाहृतम् ।। ७९.

Endowed with excellent fragrance and qualities, frequented by perfected beings, it is said that the elephant Airāvata resides there.

ऐरावतस्य रुद्रस्य देवशैलस्य चान्तरे । सहस्त्रयोजनायामा शतयोजनविस्तृता ।। ७९.

Between Airāvata, Rudra, and the divine mountain, there is a land stretching a thousand yojanas in length and a hundred yojanas in breadth.

सर्वा ह्येकशिला भूमिर्वृक्षवीरुधवर्जिता । आप्लुता पादमात्रेण सलिलेन समन्ततः ।। ७९.

The entire ground is a single slab of stone, devoid of trees and shrubs, covered everywhere by water to the depth of a foot.

इत्येताभ्यन्तरद्रोण्यो नानाकाराः प्रकीर्त्तिताः । मेरोः पार्श्वेन विप्रेन्द्रा यथावदनुपूर्वशः ।। ७९.

Thus have the various inner valleys near Meru been described, O foremost of Brahmins, in their proper order and detail.

रुद्र उवाच । अथ दक्षिणदिग्व्यवस्थिताः पर्वतद्रोण्यः सिद्धाचरिताः कीर्त्यन्ते । शिशिरपतङ्गयोर्मध्ये शुक्लभूमिस्त्रिया मुक्तलतागलितपादपम् । इक्षुक्षेपे च शिखरे पादपैरुपशोभितम् । उदुम्बरवनं रम्यं पक्षिसङ्घनिषेवितम् ।। ८०.

Rudra said: Now, the mountain valleys situated in the southern direction, inhabited by perfected beings, are described. Between the mountains Śiśira and Pataṅga lies the white land, where the creepers have shed their leaves and trees are sparse. On the summit of Ikṣukṣepa, adorned with trees, there is a delightful fig grove frequented by flocks of birds.

फलितं तद् वनं भाति महाकूर्मोपमैः फलैः ८०.

That grove shines with fruits resembling great tortoises.

तत्र प्रसन्नस्वादुसलिला बहूदका नद्यो वहन्ति । तत्राश्रमो भगवतः कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । नानामुनिजनाकीर्णस्तच्च शतयोजनमेकं परिमण्डलं वनं च । तथा च ताम्राभस्य शैलस्य पतङ्गस्य चान्तरे शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं द्विगुणायतं बालार्कसदृशराजीवपुण़्रीकैः समन्ततः सहस्त्रपत्रैरविरलैरलंकृतं महत् सरोऽनेकसिद्धगन्धर्वाध्युषितम् । ।। ८०.

There, many rivers flow with clear, sweet water. There is the hermitage of the lord Kardama, the progenitor, crowded with various sages. That forest is a perfect circle, measuring one hundred yojanas. Likewise, between the mountains Tāmrābha and Pataṅga, there is a great lake, a hundred yojanas wide and twice as long, adorned all around with lotuses like young suns, with countless petals, and inhabited by many perfected beings and gandharvas.

तस्य च मध्ये महाशिखरः शतयोजनायामस्त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णोऽनेकधातुरत्नभूषितस्तस्य चोपरि महती रथ्या रत्नप्राकारतोरणा । तस्यां महद् विद्याधरपुरम् । तत्र पुलोमनामा विद्याधरराजः शतसहस्त्रपरीवारः । तथा च विखाखाचलेन्द्रस्य श्वेतस्य चान्तरे सरः । तस्य च पूर्वतीरे महदाम्रवनं कनकसंकाशैः फलैरतिसुगन्धिभिर्महाकुम्भमात्रैः सर्वतश्चितम् । देवगन्धर्वादयश्च तत्र निवसन्ति

In the middle of that 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. There is a great city of the vidyādharas, where the vidyādhara king Puloma resides, surrounded by a hundred thousand followers. Likewise, between the mountains Vikhākhā and Śveta, there is a lake. On its eastern shore is a great mango grove, filled everywhere with golden-hued, highly fragrant fruits the size of large jars. Gods and gandharvas dwell there.

सुमुलस्याचलेन्द्रस्य वसुधारस्य चान्तरे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णे पञ्चाशद्योजनायते

Between the mountains Sumula and Vasudhāra, there is a land thirty yojanas wide and fifty yojanas long.

बिल्वस्थली नाम । तत्र फलानि विद्रुमसंकाशानि तैश्च पतद्भिः स्थलमृत्तिका क्लिन्ना । तां च स्थलीं सुगुह्यकादयः सेवन्ते बिल्वफलाशिनः । तथा च वसुधाररत्नधारयोरन्तरे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतं सुगन्धिकिंशुकवनं सदाकुसुमं यस्य गन्धेन वास्यते योजनशतम् । तत्र सिद्धाध्युषितं जलोपेतं च

It is called Bilvasthalī. There, the fruits resemble coral, and the falling fruits moisten the ground. That place is frequented by secretive beings who eat bilva fruits. Likewise, between Vasudhāra and Ratnadhāra, there is a fragrant kimśuka grove, always in bloom, thirty yojanas wide and a hundred yojanas long, whose scent spreads for a hundred yojanas. There, perfected beings dwell, and water is present.

तत्र चादित्यस्य देवस्य महदायतनम् । समासे मासे च भगवानवतरति सूर्यः प्रजापतिः । कालजनकं देवादयो नमस्यन्ति । तथा च पञ्चकूटस्य कैलासस्य चान्तरे सहस्त्रयोजनायामं विस्तीर्णं शतयोजनं हंसपाण्डुरं क्षुद्रसत्त्वैरनाधृष्यं स्वर्गसोपानमिव भूमण्डलम्

There is the great abode of the god Āditya. Every month, the lord Sūrya, the progenitor, descends there. The gods and others worship him as the creator of time. Likewise, between Pañcakūṭa and Kailāsa, there is 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.

अथ पश्चिमदिग्भागे व्यवस्थिता गिरिद्रोण्यः कीर्त्यन्ते । सुपार्श्वशिखिशैलयोर्मध्ये समन्ताद् योजनशतमेकं भौमशिलातलं नित्यतप्तं दुःस्पर्शम् । तस्य मध्ये त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णं मण्डलं वह्निस्थानम् । स च सर्वकालमनिन्धनो भगवान् लोकक्षयकारी संवर्तको ज्वलते । अन्तरे च शैलवरयोः कुमुदाञ्जनयोः शतयोजनविस्तीर्णामातुलुङ्गस्थली सर्वसत्त्वानामगम्या । पीतवर्णैः फलैरावृता सती सा स्थली शोभते । तत्र च पुण्यो ह्रदः सिद्धैरुपेतः। बृहस्पतेस्तद्वनम्।। तथा च शैलयोः पिञ्जरगौरयोरन्तरेण सरोद्रोणी ह्यनेकशतयोजनायता महद्भिश्च षट्पदोद्घुष्टैः कुमुदैरुपशोभिता

Now, the mountain valleys situated in the western direction are described. Between the mountains Supārśva and Śikhi, there is a stretch of land, a hundred yojanas all around, 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. There, the divine Samvartaka fire, which destroys the worlds, blazes eternally without fuel. Between the mountains Kumuda and Añjana, there 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. Likewise, between the yellow and white mountains, there is a great valley, many hundreds of yojanas long, adorned with lotuses and filled with the humming of bees.

तत्र च भगवतो विष्णोः परमेश्वरस्यायतनम् । तथा च शुक्लपाण्डुरयोरपि महागिर्योरन्तरे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णो नवत्यायत एकः शिलोद्देशोवृक्षविवर्जितः । तत्र निष्पङ्का दीर्घिका सवृक्षा च स्थलपद्मिनी अनेकजातीयैश्च पद्मैः शोभिता । तस्याश्च मध्ये पञ्चयोजनप्रमाणो महान्यग्रोधवृक्षः । तस्मिंश्चन्द्रशेखरोमापतिर्नीलवासाश्च देवो निवसति यक्षादिभिरीड्यमानः । सहस्त्रशिखरस्य गिरेः कुमुदस्य चान्तरे पञ्चाशद्योजनायामं विंशद्योजनविस्तृतमिक्षुक्षेपोच्चशिखरमनेकपक्षिसेवितम् । अनेकवृक्षफलैर्मधुरस्त्रवैरुपशोभितम् । तत्र चेन्द्रस्य महानाश्रमो दिव्याभिप्रायनिर्मितः । तथा च शङ्खकूटऋषभयोर्मध्ये पुरुषस्थलीरम्याऽनेकगुणानेकयोजनायता बिल्वप्रमाणैः कङ्कोलकैः सुगन्धिभिरुपेता । तत्र पुरुषकरसोन्मत्ता नागाद्याः प्रतिवसन्ति

There is the supreme abode of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord. Likewise, between the great white and pale mountains, there 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. There, the god Maheśvara, clad in blue garments, resides, worshipped by yakṣas and others. Between the mountain Sahasraśikhara and Kumuda, there is a peak fifty yojanas long and twenty yojanas wide, as high as Ikṣukṣepa, frequented by many birds, adorned with various fruits and sweet saps. There is the great hermitage of Indra, built by divine intention. Likewise, between Śaṅkhakūṭa and Ṛṣabha, there is the delightful land called Puruṣasthalī, many yojanas long, endowed with fragrant kaṅkolaka fruits the size of bilva fruits. There, intoxicated elephants and others dwell.