Vayu Purana

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.

विहङ्गशतसंजुष्टैः कुञ्जैरनुपमैरपि। सिहशार्दूलशरभैर्नैकैश्चामरवारणैः। नानावर्णाकृतिधरैः सेविता विविधैर्नगैः ।। ३५.

Filled with hundreds of birds, with incomparable groves, frequented by lions, tigers, sharabhas, and many noble elephants, attended by various trees of diverse colors and forms.

सप्ताश्च हरिकृष्णाङ्गमेकैकं दशपर्वतम्। बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरा ये तु त्रिवाहास्तु समाः स्मृताः ।। ३५.

There are seven, each with golden and dark limbs, each with ten outer and inner mountains; the three intermediate ones are considered equal.

जठरो देवकूटश्च पूर्वस्यां दिशि पर्वतौ। तौ दक्षिणोत्तरायामावानीलनिषधायतौ ।। ३५.

Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa are the mountains in the eastern direction; to the south and north are Niṣadha and Nīla.

कैलासो हिमवांश्चैव दक्षिणोत्तरपर्वतौ। पूर्वपश्चायतावेतावर्णवान्तव्यवस्थितौ ।। ३५.

Kailāsa and Himavat are the southern and northern mountains; these are situated stretching east and west, possessing various colors.

योऽसौ मेरुर्द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रांशुः कनकपर्वतः। विष्कम्भं तस्य वक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ।। ३५.

That Meru, O best of twice-born, is the lofty golden mountain; I will describe its breadth—listen as I recount it.

महापादास्तु चत्वारो मेरोरथ चतुर्द्दिशम्। यैर्धृतत्वान्न चलति सप्तद्वीपवती मही ।। ३५.

There are four great bases of Meru, one in each direction; because they support it, the earth with its seven continents does not move.

दशयोजनसाहस्र आयामस्तेषु पठ्यते। देवगन्धर्वयक्षाणां नानारत्नोपशोभिताः। नैकनिर्झरवप्राढ्या रम्यकन्दरनिर्मिताः ।। ३५.

A length of ten thousand yojanas is described for them; adorned with various jewels for gods, gandharvas, and yakshas; rich with many waterfalls and slopes, and fashioned with delightful caves.

नितम्बपुष्पकादम्बैः शोभिताश्चित्रसानवः। मनःशिलादरीभिश्च हरितालतलैस्तथा ।। ३५.

Their colorful peaks are beautified by clusters of kadamba and blossoming flowers, as well as by stones of mica and green emerald bases.

सुवर्णमणिचित्राभिर्गुहाभिश्च समन्ततः। शुद्धहिङ्गुलकप्रख्यैः काञ्चनैर्धातुमण्डितैः ।। ३५.

All around, the caves are decorated with gold and gems, and with ores resembling pure cinnabar, embellished with golden minerals.

वरकाञ्चनचित्रैश्च प्रवालैः समलंकृताः। रुचिराः शतपर्वाणः सिद्धावासा मुदान्विताः। महाविमानैः श्रीमद्भिः समन्तात्परिदीपिताः ।। ३५.

They are adorned with splendid gold and coral, beautiful and multi-ridged, joyful abodes of siddhas, illuminated everywhere by magnificent, resplendent palaces.