Vayu Purana

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.

महानीलोऽथ रुचकः सबिन्दुर्मन्दरस्तथा। वेणुमांश्च सुमेधश्च निषधो देवपर्वतः ।। ३६.

Mahānīla, then Rucaka, Sabindu, Mandara as well; Veṇumāṃ, Sumedha, Niṣadha, and Devaparvata.

इत्येते पर्वतवरा अन्ये च गिरयस्तथा। पूर्वेण मन्दरस्यैते सिद्धवासा उदाहृताः ।। ३६.

These are the foremost mountains, and likewise other hills; east of Mandara, these are named as the abodes of the Siddhas.

सरसो मानसस्येह दक्षिणा ये महाचलाः। ये कीर्तिता मया ते वै नामतस्तान्निबोधत ।। ३६.

To the south of Lake Mānas, those great mountains which I have mentioned—listen to their names.

शैलस्त्रिशिखरश्चापि शिशिरश्चाचलोत्तमः। कलिङ्गश्च पतङ्गश्च रुचकश्चैव सानुमान् ।। ३६.

Śaila with three peaks, Śiśira, the excellent mountain; Kaliṅga, Pataṅga, Rucaka, and Sānumān.

ताम्राभश्च विशाखश्च तथा श्वेतोदरो गिरिः। समूलो विषधारश्च रत्नधारश्च पर्वतः ।। ३६.

Tāmrābha, Viśākha, and also the mountain Śvetodara; Samūla, Viṣadhāra, and Ratnadhāra, the mountain.

एकश्रृङ्गो महामूलो गजशैलः पिशाचकः। पञ्चशैलोऽथ कैलासो हिमवंश्चाचलोत्तमः ।। ३६.

Ekaśṛṅga, Mahāmūla, Gajaśaila, Piśācaka; Pañcaśaila, Kailāsa, and Himavat, the excellent mountain.

इत्येते देवचरिता ह्युत्कृष्टाः पर्वतोत्तमाः। दिग्भागो दक्षिणे प्रोक्ता मेरोरमरवर्च्चसः ।। ३६.

These are the divine and distinguished mountains, the best; their southern division is spoken of, shining with the glory of Meru.

अपरेण सितोदस्य सरसो द्विजसत्तमाः। उत्तमा ये महाशैलास्तान् प्रवक्ष्ये यथाक्रमम् ।। ३६.

Beyond the lake Sitoda, O best of twice-born, I will now describe in order those excellent great mountains.

सुवक्षाः शिखिशैलश्च कालो वैढूर्यपर्वतः। कपिलः पिङ्गलो रुद्रः सुरसश्च महाचलः ।। ३६.

Suvakṣa, Śikhiśaila, Kāla, Vaiḍhūrya mountain; Kapila, Piṅgala, Rudra, and Surasa, the great mountain.

कुमुदो मधुमांश्चैव अञ्जनीमुकुटस्तथा। कृष्णश्च पाण्डरश्चैव सहस्रशिखरश्चह ।। ३६.

Kumuda, Madhumāṃ, Añjanīmukuṭa; Kṛṣṇa, Pāṇḍara, and Sahasraśikhara.