Vayu Purana

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.

तत्र लोकपतेः स्थानमादित्यसमवर्चसः। महेन्द्रस्य महाराज्ञः सर्व्वसिद्धैर्नमस्कृतम् ।। ३४.

There is the abode of the lord of the worlds, Mahendra, radiant as the sun, the great king, honored by all the perfected beings.

तमिन्द्रलोकं लोकस्य ऋद्ध्या परमया युतम्। दीप्यते त्वमरश्रेष्ठैस्त्रिदशैर्नित्यसेवितम् ।। ३४.

That world of Indra, endowed with supreme prosperity, shines, always attended by the best of immortals and the gods.

द्वितीयेऽप्यन्तरतटे वैदिश्ये पूर्व्वदक्षिणे। नानाधातुशतश्चित्रैः सुरम्यमतितेजसम् ।। ३४.

On the second inner slope, in the southeast, is a place exceedingly beautiful and radiant, adorned with hundreds of various metals.

नैकरत्नार्थिततलमनेकस्तम्भसंयुतम्। जाम्बूनदकृतोद्यानं नानारत्नसुवेदिकम् ।। ३४.

Its floor is sought after for its many gems, joined with numerous pillars, with gardens made of gold, and platforms of various jewels.

कूटागारैर्विनिक्षिप्तमनेकैर्भवनोत्तमैः । महाविमानं प्रथितं भास्करं जातवेदसम् ।। ३४.

It is set with many mansions and excellent houses, with a renowned great aerial palace, shining like the sun, belonging to Jātavedas (Agni).

सा हि तेजोवती नाम हुताशस्य महासभा। साक्षात्तत्र सुरश्रेष्ठः सर्वदेवमुखोऽनलः ।। ३४.

That is the great assembly hall of Agni, called Tejovatī, where the best of gods, the foremost among all deities, Fire himself, is present.

शिखाशतसहस्राढ्यो ज्वालामाली विभा वसुः। स्तूयते हूयते चैव तत्र सर्षिगणैः सुरैः ।। ३४.

He, rich with hundreds of thousands of flames, adorned with garlands of fire, shines there as Vasu, praised and offered oblations by the groups of sages and gods.

अधिदैवकृतं विप्रैर्विशेषः स तु उच्यते। स विभागञ्च तेजश्च सर्व एव न संशयः ।। ३४.

This distinction, made by the sages concerning the deities, is thus declared; all this division and brilliance, without doubt.

भोगान्तरमनुप्राप्त एकतेजो विभुः स्मृतः। पृथक्‌त्वञ्च हि युक्त्या तु कार्यकारणमिश्रितम् ।। ३४.

When it attains another enjoyment, it is regarded as a single, all-pervading radiance; but by reasoning, separateness is recognized as the mixture of cause and effect.

तमग्निं लोकलोकज्ञैस्तद्वीर्यैंस्तत्परा क्रमैः । महात्मभिर्महासिद्धैर्महाभागैर्नमस्कृतम् ।। ३४.

That fire, by those who know the worlds, is honored for its powers, step by step, by great souls, accomplished beings, and those of great fortune.

तृतीयेऽप्यन्तरतटे एवमेव महासभा। वैवस्वतस्य विज्ञेया लोके ख्याता सुसंयमा ।। ३४.

In the third inner region as well, there is likewise a great assembly hall, known in the world as Vaivasvata's, famed for its excellent order.

तथा चतुर्थदिग्देशे नैर्ऋत्याधिपतेः सभा। नाम्ना कृष्णाङ्गना नाम विरूपाक्षस्य धीमतः ।। ३४.

Similarly, in the fourth direction, is the assembly hall of the lord of the southwest, called Kṛṣṇāṅganā, belonging to the wise Virūpākṣa.

पञ्चमेऽप्यन्तरतटे एवमेव महासभा। वैवस्वतस्य विज्ञेया नाम्ना शुभवती सती। उदकाधिपतेः ख्याता वरुणस्य महात्मनः ।। ३४.

In the fifth inner region too, likewise, is a great assembly hall, known as Śubhavatī, belonging to Vaivasvata, and famed as that of the great-souled Varuṇa, lord of the waters.

परोत्तरे तथा देशे षष्ठेऽन्तरतटे शिवे। वायोर्गन्धवती नाम सभा सर्वगुणोत्तरा ।। ३४.

In the far northern region, in the sixth inner area, is the assembly hall of Vāyu called Gandhavatī, surpassing all in virtues.

सप्त मेऽप्यन्तरतटे नक्षत्राधिपतेः सभा। नाम्ना महोदया नाम शुद्धवैढूर्य्यवेदिका ।। ३४.

In the seventh inner region as well, is the assembly hall of the lord of the stars, called Mahodayā, with a platform of pure beryl.

यत्तद्वै कर्णिकामूलमिति वै सम्प्रकीर्तितम्। तद्योजनसहस्राणां सप्ततीनामधः स्मृतम् ।। ३५.

That which is called the root of the pericarp is said to be seventy thousand yojanas below.

चत्वरिंशत्तथाष्टौ च सहस्राण्यत्र मण्डलम्। शैलराजावृतं रम्यं मेरुमूलमिति श्रुतिः ।। ३५.

And there, forty-eight thousand yojanas is the circle, delightful and encircled by the king of mountains, known as the root of Meru, according to tradition.

तेषां गिरिसहस्राणामनेकेषु महोच्छ्रिताः। दिक्षु सर्वासु पर्य्यन्तैर्मर्य्यादाः पर्वताः स्मृताः ।। ३५.

Among those thousands of mountains, many are very lofty; on all sides, at the boundaries, mountains are regarded as the limits.

निकुञ्जकन्दरनदीगुहानिर्झरशोभिताः। बहुप्रासादकटकै स्तटैश्च कुसुमोज्ज्वलैः ।। ३५.

Adorned with groves, caves, rivers, mountain streams, and waterfalls, with many palatial fortresses and slopes bright with flowers.

नितम्बपुष्पमालौघैः सानुभिर्धातुमण्डितैः । शिखरैर्हेमकपिलैर्नैकप्रस्रवणावृतैः। शोभिता गिरयः सर्व्वे पुष्टै रत्न समर्पितैः ।। ३५.

The mountains are all splendid, adorned with garlands of flowers on their slopes, decorated with ores, with golden and tawny peaks, covered with many springs, and enriched with precious gems.