Vayu Purana

सुस्वादैर्विद्रुमनिभैः फलैर्बिल्वैर्महोपमैः। शीर्यमाणैर्विशीर्णैश्च प्रक्लिन्नतलमृत्तिकाः ।। ३८.

The ground is moistened by the falling and scattered bilva fruits, which are delicious, coral-like, and of great size.

तां स्थलीमुपजीवन्ति यक्षगन्धर्वकिन्नराः। सिद्धा नागाश्च बहुशो नित्यं बिल्वफलाशिनः ।। ३८.

That region is inhabited by Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Siddhas, and Nagas, who always subsist on bilva fruits in abundance.

अन्तरे वसुधारस्य रत्नधारस्य चान्तरे। त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णमायतं शतयोजनम् ।। ३८.

Between the earth-current and the stream of jewels, there lies a stretch thirty yojanas wide and one hundred yojanas long.

सुगन्धं किंशुकवनं नित्यं पुष्पितपादपम्। पुष्पलक्ष्म्यावृतं भाति प्रदीप्तमिव सर्वतः ।। ३८.

There shines a fragrant forest of kimshuka trees, ever blossoming, adorned with the splendor of flowers, appearing radiant on all sides.

यस्य गन्धेन दिव्येन वास्यते परिमण्डलम्। समग्रं योजनशतं काननानि समन्ततः ।। ३८.

By whose divine fragrance the entire region, a hundred yojanas of forests all around, is perfumed.

तत् सिद्धचारणगणैरप्सरोभिश्च सेवितम् । रम्यं तत् किंशुक वनं जलाशयविभूषितम् ।। ३८.

That beautiful kimshuka forest, adorned with lakes, is frequented by hosts of Siddhas, Charanas, and Apsaras.

तत्रादित्यस्य देवस्य दीप्तमायतनं महत् । मासे मासेऽनतरति तत्र सूर्यः प्रजापतिः ।। ३८.

There is the great and radiant abode of the god Sun; every month, the Sun, the lord of creatures, traverses there.

तत्र कालस्य कर्त्तारं सहस्रांशुं सुरोत्तमम्। सिद्धसङ्घा नमस्यन्ति सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् ।। ३८.

There, the assembly of Siddhas worships the thousand-rayed, supreme god, the maker of time, honored by all worlds.

पञ्चकूटस्य शैलस्य कैलासस्यान्तरेण तु। षट्‌त्रिंशद्योजनायामं विस्तीर्णं शतयोजनम् ।। ३८.

Between the five-peaked mountain and Kailasa lies a region thirty-six yojanas long and one hundred yojanas wide.

क्षुद्रसत्त्वैरनाधृष्यं सर्वतो हंसपाण्डुरम्। दुष्पारं सर्वसत्वानां दुर्गमं लोमहर्षणम् ।। ३८.

Inaccessible to lesser beings, white as a swan on all sides, impassable for all creatures, difficult to cross, and terrifying to behold.

इत्येता ह्यन्तरद्रोण्यो दक्षिणे परिकीर्तिताः। यथानुपूर्वमखिलाः सिद्धसङ्घनिषेविताः ।। ३८.

Thus these inner valleys to the south have been described, all in order, frequented by assemblies of Siddhas.

पश्विमायां दिशितथा येऽन्तरद्रोणिविस्तराः। तान् वर्ण्यमानांस्तत्वेन श्रृणुतेमान् द्विजोत्तमाः ।। ३८.

Now, O best of twice-born, listen as I accurately describe the inner valleys and their extent in the western direction.

अन्तराले गिरौ तस्मिन् सुवक्षः शिखिशैलयोः। समन्ताद्योजनशतमेकभूमं शिलातलम् ।। ३८.

Between those mountains, Suvaksha and Shikhishaila, there is a single rocky plateau, a hundred yojanas all around.

नित्यतप्तं महाघोरं दुःस्पर्शं रोमहर्षणम्। अगम्यं सर्वसत्त्वानामीश्वराणां सुदारुणम् ।। ३८.

Ever heated, exceedingly dreadful, painful to the touch, terrifying, inaccessible to all beings, and extremely fearsome even to the gods.

मध्ये तस्यां शिलास्थल्यां त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डलम्। ज्वालासहस्रकलिलं वह्निस्थानं सुदारुणम् ।। ३८.

In the middle of that rocky expanse is a region thirty yojanas in diameter, filled with thousands of blazing flames, a most terrible abode of fire.

अनिन्धनस्तत्र सदा ज्वालामाली विभावसुः। ज्वलत्येष सदा देवः शश्वत्तत्र हुताशनः ।। ३८.

There, Agni, the fire god, ever burns without fuel, his flames encircling; he, the eternal fire, blazes there perpetually.

अधिदेवकृते योऽसावग्नेर्भागो विधीयते। स तत्र ज्वलते नित्यं लोकसंवर्त्तकोऽनलः ।। ३८.

That portion of Agni which is ordained for the gods burns there eternally, the fire that brings about the dissolution of the worlds.

अन्तरे शैलवरयोर्देवा वापि तयोः शुभाः । मातुलुङ्गस्थली तत्र ह्यायामाद्दशयोजना ।। ३८.

Between those two excellent mountains, or perhaps among the gods, there lies the region of the citron, ten yojanas in length.

मधुव्यञ्जनसंस्थानैः सुरसैः कनकप्रभैः। फलैः परिणतैः सर्वा शोभिता सा महास्थली ।। ३८.

That great region is adorned everywhere with ripe fruits, sweet, fragrant, and golden-hued, with the taste and form of honey.

तत्राश्रमं महा पुण्यं सिद्धसङ्घनिषेवितम्। बृहस्पतेः प्रमुदितं सर्वकामगुणैर्युतम् ।। ३८.

There is a most holy hermitage there, frequented by assemblies of perfected beings, joyful as the abode of Bṛhaspati, endowed with all desirable virtues.

तथैव शैलवरयोः कुमुदाञ्जनयोरपि। अन्तरे केसरद्रोणी ह्यनेकायाम योजना ।। ३८.

Likewise, between the two best mountains, Kumuda and Añjana, lies the Kesaradroṇī, a valley stretching many yojanas in length.

द्विबाहुपरिणाहैस्तैस्त्रिहस्तायतविस्तृतैः। चन्द्रांशुवर्णैर्व्याकोशैर्मत्तषट्पदनादितैः ।। ३८.

There, trees have trunks two arms in circumference, and are three hastas in height and breadth, with spreading crowns shining like moonbeams, resounding with the humming of intoxicated bees.

मधुसर्पीरजः पृक्तैर्महागन्धैर्मनोहरैः। शबलं तद्वनं भाति कुसुमैः सर्वकालजैः ।। ३८.

That forest shines, variegated with flowers that bloom in every season, fragrant and delightful, sprinkled with honey, clarified butter, and pollen.

तत्र विष्णोः सुरगुरोर्दीप्तमायतनं महत्। प्रकाशन्त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् ।। ३८.

There stands the great and radiant temple of Viṣṇu, the guru of the gods, illustrious in the three worlds and revered by all beings.

अन्तरे शैलवरयोः कृष्णपाण्डुरयोरपि। त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णं नवत्यायतयोजनम् ।। ३८.

Between the two great mountains, Kṛṣṇa and Pāṇḍura, lies a region thirty yojanas wide and ninety yojanas long.

श्लक्ष्णमेकशिलं देशं वृक्षवीरुद्विवर्जितम् । सुखपादप्रचा रञ्च निम्नोन्नतविवर्जितम् ।। ३८.

That land is smooth, formed of a single stone, devoid of trees and shrubs, pleasant for walking, and free from depressions or elevations.

मध्ये तु सरसस्तस्य रम्या तु स्थलपद्मिनी। सहस्रपत्रैर्व्याकोशैः छत्रमात्रैरलङ्कृता ।। ३८.

In the middle of that lake is a beautiful land of lotuses, adorned with a thousand-petaled blossoms, each as large as a parasol.

पुण्डरीकैर्महापद्मै रुचिरैर्गन्धशालिभिः । शतपत्रैश्च विकचैरुत्पलैर्नीलपत्रकैः ।। ३८.

There are white lotuses, great red lotuses, charming and fragrant, with fully opened hundred-petaled flowers and blue-leaved water lilies.

मदोत्कटैर्मधुकरैर्भ्रमरैश्च मदोत्कटैः। मृदुगद्घदकण्ठानां किन्नराणाञ्च निस्वनैः ।। ३८.

It is filled with intoxicated bees and bumblebees, and the gentle, melodious songs of Kinnaras with sweet voices.