Vayu Purana

नानावर्णेषु पार्श्वेषु पूर्वतः श्वेत उच्यते। पीतन्तु दक्षिणं तस्य शृङ्गं कृष्णं तथापरम् ।। ३४.

On its various sides, of different colors, to the east is Śveta; to the south is the yellow peak, and another, black, lies elsewhere.

उत्तरं तस्य रक्तं वै शोभिवर्णसमन्वितम्। मेरुस्तु शोभते शुभ्रो राजवत्स तु धिष्ठितः ।। ३४.

To its north lies a red region, endowed with a splendid hue; Meru shines brilliantly, white and established like a royal calf.

तरुणादित्यवर्णाभो विधूम इव पावकः। चतुरशीतिसाहस्र उत्सेधेन प्रकीर्त्तितः ।। ३४.

Its appearance resembles the color of the rising sun, like fire without smoke; its height is described as eighty-four thousand.

प्रविष्टः षोडशाधस्ताद्विस्तृतस्तावदेव तु । स शरावस्थितः पूर्वं द्वात्रिंशन्मूर्ध्नि विस्तृतः ।। ३४.

It extends sixteen units below and equally above; formerly, it was situated like a dish, and its breadth at the summit is thirty-two.

विस्तारात् त्रिगुणश्चास्य परिणाहः समन्ततः। मण्डलेन प्रमाणेन त्र्यस्रेऽर्द्धन्तु तदिष्यते ।। ३४.

Its circumference is three times its breadth on all sides; by the measure of a circle, half of the triangular form is considered.

चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि योजनानां समन्ततः। अष्टाभिरधिकानि स्युस्त्र्यस्रे माने प्रकीर्त्तितम् ।। ३४.

Forty thousand yojanas is its extent all around; eight more are added, according to the measure of the triangle.

चतुरस्रेण मानेन परिणाहः समन्ततः। चतुःषष्टिसहस्राणि योजनानां विधीयते ।। ३४.

By the measure of a quadrangle, its circumference on all sides is prescribed as sixty-four thousand yojanas.

स पर्वतो महादिव्यो दिव्यौषधिसमन्वितः। भुवनैरावृतः सर्वो जातरूपमयैः शुभैः ।। ३४.

That mountain is supremely divine, endowed with celestial herbs; it is entirely surrounded by worlds, adorned with pure gold.

तत्र देवगणाः सर्वे गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः । शैलराजैः प्रदृश्यन्ते शुभाश्चाप्सरसाङ्गणाः ।। ३४.

There, all the hosts of gods, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Rakshasas are seen with the kings of mountains, and the beautiful groups of Apsaras.

स तुमेरुः परिवृतो भुवनैर्भूतभावनः। चत्वारो यस्य देशा वै नानापार्श्वेष्वधिष्ठिताः ।। ३४.

That Meru is encircled by worlds, the origin of beings; four regions are established on its various sides.

भद्राश्वो भरतश्चैव केतुमालश्च पश्चिमः। उत्तराः कुरवश्चैव कृतपुण्यप्रतिश्रयाः ।। ३४.

Bhadrāśva, Bharata, Ketumāla in the west, and the northern Kurus, all are refuges for those who have performed virtuous deeds.

कर्णिका तस्य पद्मस्य समन्तात्परिमण्डला। योजनानां सहस्राणि नवतिः षट् प्रकीर्त्तिताः। चत्वारश्चाप्यशीतिश्च अन्तरान्तर धिष्ठिताः ।। ३४.

The pericarp of that lotus is circular all around; ninety-six thousand yojanas are described, and four plus eighty are established in each interval.

त्रिशतञ्च सहस्राणि योजनानां प्रमाणतः। तस्य केशरजालानि विस्तीर्णानि समन्ततः ।। ३४.

Three hundred thousand yojanas is the measure; its filaments are spread out on all sides.

शतसाहस्रिकायामा साशीतिपृथुलायता। चत्वारि तस्य पत्राणि योजनानां चतुर्द्दिशम् ।। ३४.

Its petals are a hundred thousand yojanas long, eighty in breadth; four petals extend in the four directions.

तत्र यासौ मया पूर्वं कर्णिकेत्यभिशब्दिता। तां वर्ण्यमानामेकाग्राः समासेन निबोधत ।। ३४.

There, what I previously called the pericarp, listen briefly to its description, focused and concise.

शताश्रिमेनं मेनेऽत्रिः सहस्राश्रिमृषिर्भृगुः। अष्टाश्रिमेनं सावर्णिश्चतुरस्रन्तु भागुरिः ।। ३४.

Atri considered it as having a hundred rays, Bhrigu as a thousand; Sāvarṇi as eight rays, and Bhāguri as four.

वार्षायणिस्तु सामुद्रं शरावञ्चैव गालवः। ऊर्द्ध्ववेणीकृतं गार्ग्यः क्रोष्टकिः परिमण्डलम् ।। ३४.

Vārṣāyaṇa regarded it as oceanic, Gālava as dish-shaped; Gārgya as vertically braided, Kroṣṭaki as circular.

यद्यद्यस्य हि यत्पार्श्च पर्वताधिपतेर्ऋषिः। तत्तदेवास्य वेदासौ ब्रह्मैनं वेद कृत्स्नशः ।। ३४.

Whatever aspect belongs to whichever side, the sage of that mountain lord knows; thus, he knows the Vedas and Brahman in their entirety.

मणिरत्नमयं चित्रं नानावर्णप्रभायुतम्। अनेकवर्णनिचयं सौवर्णमरुणप्रभम् ।। ३४.

It is adorned with gems and jewels, radiant with various colors; it possesses a multitude of hues, golden and with a reddish glow.

कान्तं सहस्रपर्वाणं सहस्रोदककन्दरम्। सहस्र शतपत्रन्तं विद्धि मेरुं नगोत्तमम् ।। ३४.

Know Mount Meru, the foremost of mountains, as lovely, with a thousand peaks, a thousand water-filled caves, and ending in a thousand lotus petals.

मणिरत्नार्पितस्तम्भैर्मणिचित्रितवेदिकैः। सुवर्णमणिचित्राङ्गं तथा विद्रुमतोरणैः ।। ३४.

Its pillars are adorned with jewels and gems, its platforms are decorated with precious stones, its form is embellished with gold and gems, and its gateways are made of coral.

विमानयानैः श्रीमद्भिः शतसङ्ख्यैर्दिवौकसाम्। प्रभादीपितपर्यन्तं मेरुं पर्वणि पर्वणि ।। ३४.

On each of its peaks, Meru is surrounded by hundreds of splendid aerial chariots of the gods, shining brilliantly at its edges.

तस्य पर्वसहस्रेऽस्मिन् नानाश्रयविभूषिते। सर्वदेव निकायानि सन्निविष्टान्यनेकशः ।। ३४.

On these thousand peaks, adorned with various abodes, the assemblies of all the gods are established in many forms.

तमावसच्चोर्द्ध्वतले देवदेवश्चतुर्मुखः। ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो वरिष्ठस्त्रिदिवौकसाम् ।। ३४.

There, on the uppermost level, resides the god of gods, the four-faced Brahmā, the best among knowers of Brahman, the foremost among the gods.

महाभुवनसम्पूर्णैः सर्व्वैः कामफलप्रदैः । महासुरसहस्रैस्तं दिक्ष्वनेकसमाकुलम् ।। ३४.

That place is filled in all directions with great asuras by the thousands, with all the worlds complete, and with all wish-fulfilling rewards.

तत्र ब्रह्मसभा रम्या ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेविता । नाम्ना मनोवती नाम सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुता ।। ३४.

There is the delightful assembly hall of Brahmā, attended by groups of brahmarṣis, known by name as Manovatī, renowned in all the worlds.

तत्रेशानस्य देवस्य सहस्रादित्यवर्चसम्। महाविमानं संस्थाप्य महिम्ना वर्तते सदा ।। ३४.

There, the god Īśāna, possessing the radiance of a thousand suns, has established a great aerial palace, which always stands in its majesty.

तत्र सर्षिगणा देवाश्चतुर्वक्त्रस्य ते तदा। तदेव तेजसां राशिर्देवानां तत्र कीर्त्त्यते ।। ३४.

There, the groups of sages and gods serve the four-faced one; there, the assembly of the gods' brilliance is celebrated.

तत्रास्ते श्रीपतिः श्रीमान् सहस्राक्षः पुरन्दरः। उपास्यमानस्त्रिदशैर्महायोगैः सुरर्षिभिः ।। ३४.

There dwells the illustrious Lord of Fortune, the thousand-eyed Purandara, worshipped by the gods, the great yogis, and the sage-gods.