Vayu Purana

क्षीरोदमथने वृत्ते दैत्यपक्षे पराजिते। महासमरसम्मर्दवृक्षक्षोभविमर्दिता ।। ३५.

When the churning of the ocean of milk occurred and the demons were defeated, the tree was shaken and battered in the great battle.

सहस्राक्षेण विहिता माला तस्य सुतानिता। तस्य स्कन्धे समासक्त्या ह्यश्वत्थस्य वनस्पतेः ।। ३५.

Indra, the thousand-eyed, made a garland from its offspring, and by attaching it to the trunk of the Ashvattha tree, adorned the tree.

सा तथैव महागन्धा ह्यम्लाना सर्वकामिकी। इज्यते सुमहाभागा विविधैः सिद्धचारणैः ।। ३५.

That garland, possessing a great fragrance, never withers and fulfills all desires; it is worshipped by the highly fortunate, by various accomplished beings and celestial wanderers.

तस्य केतोः सदा माला देवदत्ता विराजते। पवनेनेरिता दिव्यं वाति गन्धं मनोरमम् ।। ३५.

The garland of that banner, always shining, is given by the gods; stirred by the wind, it emits a divine and delightful fragrance.

ताभ्यां नामाङ्कितो द्वीपः पश्चिमे बहुविस्तरः। केतुमाल इति ख्यातो दिवि चेह च सर्वशः ।। ३५.

Marked by those two names, the continent in the west, vast in extent, is known everywhere in heaven and here as Ketumāla.

स्वपार्श्वस्योत्तरे चापि श्रृङ्गे जातो महाद्रुमः । न्यग्रोधो विपुलस्कन्धोऽनेकयोजनमण्डलः ।। ३५.

On the northern summit of its own side, a great tree has grown—a banyan with a vast trunk and a circumference of many yojanas.

माल्यदामकलापैश्च विविधैर्गन्धशालिभिः। शाकाविलम्बी शुशुभे सिद्धचारणसेवितः ।। ३५.

Adorned with garlands, wreaths, and various fragrant grains, its branches hang down beautifully, and it is served by accomplished beings and celestial wanderers.

प्रवालकुम्भसदृशैर्मधुपूर्णैः फलैः सदा। स ह्युत्तर कुरूणान्तु केतुवृक्षः प्रकाशते ।। ३५.

With fruits always filled with honey, resembling coral jars, that Ketuvṛkṣa shines forth among the northern Kurus.

सनत्कुमारावरजा मानसा ब्रह्मणः सुताः। सप्त तत्र महाभागाः कुरवो नाम विश्रुताः ।। ३५.

The sons of Brahma, born from the mind and younger brothers of Sanatkumāra, seven in number and highly fortunate, are renowned there as the Kurus.

तत्र तैरागतज्ञानैः सत्त्वस्थैः पुण्यकीर्तिभिः। अक्षयं क्षेममपरं लोकं प्राप्तं सनातनम् ।। ३५.

There, those Kurus, possessing knowledge, virtue, and fame, have attained an eternal, inexhaustible, and supreme world.

तेषां नामाङ्कितो द्वीपः सप्तानां वै महात्मनाम् । दिवि चेह च विख्याता उत्तराः कुरवः सदा ।। ३५.

The continent is named after those seven great souls; in heaven and here, the northern Kurus are always renowned.

तेषां चतुर्णां वक्ष्यामि शैलेन्द्राणां यथाक्रमम्। अनुबन्धानि रम्याणि सर्वकालर्त्तुकानि च ।। ३६.

I will describe, in order, the delightful regions and the perennial beauties of those four lordly mountains.

सारिकाभिर्मयूरैश्च चकोरैश्च मदोत्कटैः। शुकैश्च भृङ्गराजैश्च चित्रकैश्च समन्ततः ।। ३६.

They are surrounded on all sides by sarika birds, peacocks, chakoras in passionate display, parrots, king birds, and vividly colored birds.

जीवञ्जीवकनादैश्च हेमकानाञ्च नादितैः। मत्तकोकिलनादैश्च वल्गूनाञ्च निनादितैः ।। ३६.

Their surroundings resound with the calls of jivanjivaka birds, the cries of hemaka birds, the songs of intoxicated cuckoos, and the melodious voices of charming birds.

सुग्रीवकाञ्चनरवैः कलविङ्करुतैस्तथा। कूजितान्तरशब्दैश्च सुरम्याणि च सर्वशः ।। ३६.

They are made exceedingly beautiful by the cries of sugrivaka birds, the calls of kalavinka birds, and the varied sounds of cooing birds.

मदात्कटैर्मधुरैश्च भ्रमरैश्च महालसैः। उपगीतवनान्तानि किन्नरैश्च व्कचित् व्कचित् ।। ३६.

The forest groves are sung to by intoxicated, sweet-voiced bees and by kinnaras, sometimes here and there.

पुष्पवृष्टिं विमुञ्चन्ति मन्दमारुतकम्पिताः। तरवो यत्र दृश्यन्ते चारुपल्लवशोभिताः ।। ३६.

There, trees are seen, adorned with lovely shoots, gently swaying in the breeze, releasing showers of flowers.

स्तबकैर्मञ्जरीभिश्च ताम्रैः किसलयैस्तथा। मन्दवातवशाल्लोलैर्दोलयद्भिर्युतानि च ।। ३६.

They are decorated with clusters and blossoms, with reddish young leaves, and with gently swaying branches moved by the soft wind.

नानाधातुविचित्रैश्च कान्तरूपैः शिलाशतैः। शल्लैः व्कचिद्द्विजश्रेष्ठा विन्यस्तैः शोभितानि च ।। ३६.

They are adorned with hundreds of stones of various minerals and beautiful forms, and with nests of excellent birds placed here and there.

देवदानवगन्धर्वैर्यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः। सिद्धाप्सरोगणैश्चैव सेवितानि ततस्ततः ।। ३६.

They are frequented here and there by gods, demons, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, serpents, siddhas, and groups of apsaras.

मनोहराणि चत्वारि देवाक्रीडनकान्यथ। चतुर्दिशमुदाराणि नाम्ना श्रृणुत तानि मे ।। ३६.

There are four enchanting playgrounds of the gods, noble in all directions; listen to their names from me.

पूर्वञ्चैत्ररथं नाम दक्षिणं नन्दनं वनम्। वैभ्राजं पश्चिमं विद्यादुत्तरं सवितुर्वनम् ।। ३६.

The eastern is called Caitraratha, the southern is the Nandana forest, the western is Vaibhraja, and the northern is the Savitṛ forest.

महावनेषु चैतेषु निविष्टानि यथाक्रमम्। अनुबन्धानि रम्याणि विहङ्गैः कूजितानि च ।। ३६.

In these great forests, situated in order, are delightful regions, resounding with the songs of birds.

वनैर्विस्तीर्णतीर्थानि महापुण्यावनानि च। महानागाधिवासानि सेवितानि महात्मभिः ।। ३६.

These forests have vast holy places, are highly sacred, inhabited by great serpents, and frequented by noble souls.

सुरसामललोयानि शिवानि सुसुखानि च। सिद्धदेवासुरवरैरुपस्पृष्टजलानि च ।। ३६.

They are pleasant, pure, and blissful, with waters touched by siddhas, gods, and eminent asuras.

छत्रप्रमाणैर्विकचैर्महागन्धैर्मनोहरैः। पुण्डरीकैर्महापत्रैरुत्पलैः शोभितानि च। महासरांसि चत्वारि तानि वक्ष्यामि नामतः ।। ३६.

They are adorned with lotuses of umbrella-like size, fully blossomed, fragrant and captivating, with large leaves and utpalas; I will name those four great lakes.

अरुणोदं सरः पूर्वं दक्षिणं मानसं स्मृतम्। सितोदं पश्चिमसरो महाभद्रन्तथोत्तरम् ।। ३६.

The eastern lake is called Aruṇoda, the southern is known as Mānasa, the western is Sitoda, and the northern is Mahābhadra.

अरुणोदञ्च पूर्वेण ये च शैलास्ततः स्मृताः। तान् कीर्त्यमानांस्तत्त्वेन श्रृणुध्वं विस्तरान्मम ।। ३६.

Now hear in detail from me about the mountains situated east of Aruṇoda, and those remembered thereafter.

शीतान्तश्च कुमुञ्जश्च सुवीरश्चाचलोत्तमः। विकङ्को मणिशीलश्च वृषभश्चाचलोत्तमः ।। ३६.

Śītānta, Kumuñja, Suvīra, the excellent mountain, Vikaṅka, Maṇiśīla, and Vṛṣabha, the foremost mountain.