Vayu Purana

सरसाञ्च वनानाञ्च सा स्थली च प्रजापतेः। क्षुद्राणां सरसाञ्चैव सङ्ख्या तत्र न विद्यते ।। ३८.

That plain of Prajāpati contains lakes and forests, and the number of small lakes there is beyond reckoning.

दश द्वादश सप्ताष्टौ विंशत्र्रिंशच्च योजनाः। स्थल्यो द्रोण्यश्च विख्याताः सरांसि च वनानि च ।। ३८.

There are famous plains, valleys, lakes, and forests, measuring ten, twelve, seven, eight, twenty, and thirty yojanas.

केचित् सन्ति महाघोराः श्यामाः पर्वतकुक्षयः। सूर्यांशुजालैरस्पृष्टा नित्यं शीता दुरासदाः ।। ३८.

Some mountain hollows are extremely terrifying and dark, untouched by sunlight, always cold and difficult to approach.

तथा ह्यनलतप्तानि सरांसि द्विजसत्तमाः। शैलकुक्ष्यन्तरस्थानि सहस्राणि शतानि च ।। ३८.

Likewise, O best of twice-born, there are lakes heated by fire, thousands and hundreds, situated within mountain hollows.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि यस्मिन् यस्मिन् शिलोच्चये। ये सन्निविष्टा देवानां विविधानां गृहोत्तमाः ।। ३९.

Now I shall describe, in each mountain peak, the various splendid dwellings of the gods that are established there.

तत्र योऽसौ महाशैलः शीतान्तो नैक विस्तरः। नैकधातुशतैश्चित्रैर्नैकरत्नाकराकरः ।। ३९.

There stands that great mountain, cold at its summit, vast in its expanse, adorned with hundreds of varied minerals and filled with many wondrous treasures of gems.

नितम्बैः पुष्पसालम्बैर्नैकसत्त्वगुणालयः। महार्हमणिचित्राभिर्हेमवंशैरलंकृतः ।। ३९.

Its slopes are hung with flowering creepers, abodes of countless living beings and qualities, decorated with splendid golden bamboos and precious, variegated jewels.

नितम्बैः षट्पदोद्गीतैः प्रवालैर्हेमचित्रकैः। तटैः कुसुमसङ्कीर्णैर्मत्तभ्रमरनादितैः ।। ३९.

Its slopes resound with the songs of bees, adorned with coral and golden-hued branches, its banks thick with flowers and the buzzing of intoxicated bees.

लतालम्बैश्चित्रवद्भिश्चित्रैर्धातुशतार्चितैः। सानुभी रत्नचित्रैश्च पुष्पाढ्यैश्च विभूषितः ।। ३९.

It is embellished with hanging vines of many forms, adorned with hundreds of brilliant minerals, its plateaus shining with jewels and abundant with flowers.

विमलस्वादुपानीयैर्नैकप्रस्रवमैर्युतः। निकुञ्जैः कुसुमोत्कीर्णैरनेकैश्च विभूषितः ।। ३९.

It is endowed with pure, sweet water from many springs, and beautified by groves thick with flowers and many other adornments.

पुष्मौडुपवहाभिश्च स्रवन्तीभिरलंकृतः। किन्नराचरिताभिश्च दरीभिः सर्वतस्ततः ।। ३९.

It is graced by streams flowing with clusters of flowers, and by caves throughout, frequented by Kinnaras.

यक्षगन्धर्वचरितैरनेकैः कन्दरोदरैः। शोभितश्च सुखासेव्यैश्चित्रैर्गहनसङ्कटैः ।। ३९.

It shines with many caves and hollows inhabited by Yakṣas and Gandharvas, and is delightful with wondrous, dense thickets that are pleasant to enjoy.

नानासत्वगणाकीर्णैः सुपानीयैः सुखाश्रयैः। नानापुष्पफलोपेतैः पादपैः समलंकृतः ।। ३९.९ . तस्मिन् गुहाश्रयाकीर्णे अनेकोदरकन्दरे। क्रीडावनं महेन्द्रस्य सर्वकामगुणैर्युतम् ।। ३९.

It is adorned with trees of many kinds, bearing pure water and pleasant shade, and with various flowers and fruits; there, amidst caves and many hollows, lies Mahendra's pleasure-grove, endowed with every desirable quality.

तत्र तद्देवराजस्य पारिजातवनं महत्। प्रकाशं त्रिषु लोकेषु गीयते श्रुतिनिश्चयात् ।। ३९.

There is that great Pārijāta grove of the king of the gods, renowned in all three worlds, as is well known from the sacred tradition.

तरुणादित्यसंकाशै र्महागन्धैर्मनोहरैः। पुष्पैर्भाति नगश्रेष्ठः सुदीप्त इव सर्वशः ।। ३९.

The best of mountains shines everywhere with flowers like young suns, possessing great fragrance and charm, as if blazing brilliantly.

समग्रं योजनशतं तं गन्धमनिलो ववौ। पारिजातकपुष्माणां माहेन्द्र वननिर्गतः ।। ३९.

The wind, carrying the fragrance of the Pārijāta flowers from Mahendra's forest, blew for a full hundred yojanas.

वैढूर्यनीलैः कमलैः सौवर्णैर्वज्रकेसरैः। सर्वगन्धबलोपेतैर्मत्तषट्पदनादितैः ।। ३९.

There are blue lotuses like beryl, golden lotuses with diamond filaments, all endowed with every fragrance and strength, and resounding with the hum of intoxicated bees.

व्याकोशौर्विकचैश्चापि शतपत्रैर्मनोहरैः। सपङ्कजैर्महा पत्रैर्वाप्यस्तत्र विभूषिताः ।। ३९.

The ponds there are adorned with fully blossomed and opening hundred-petaled lotuses, charming and large-leaved, together with lotuses.

विरेजुरन्तरम्बुस्थाः सौवर्णमणिभूषिताः। परिप्सन्देक्षणा नित्यं मीनयूथाः सहस्रशः ।। ३९.

Within the water, golden-jewelled fish shine, always moving in thousands of shoals, their eyes glancing all around.

कूर्मैश्चानेकसंस्थानैर्हेमरत्नपरिष्कृतैः। चञ्चूर्यमाणैः सलिलैर्भाति चित्रं समन्ततः ।। ३९.

There are turtles of many forms, adorned with gold and jewels, stirring the water with their movements, making the scene wondrous in every direction.

नानावर्णैश्च शखुनैर्नानारत्नतनूरुहैः। सुवर्णपुष्पैश्चानेकैर्मणितुण्डैर्द्विजातिभिः ।। ३९.

There are birds of various colors, their bodies adorned with many kinds of gems, and many golden-flowered, jewel-beaked twice-born birds.

वल्गुस्वरैः सदोन्मत्तैः सम्पतद्भिः समन्ततः। शुशुभे तद्वनं रम्यं सहस्राक्षस्य धीमतः ।। ३९.

That delightful forest of the wise thousand-eyed one shone all around with the sweet voices of ever-excited, flying birds.

मत्तभ्रमरसन्नादैर्विहङ्गानाञ्च कूजितैः। नित्यमा नन्दितवनं तस्मात् क्रीडावनं महत् ।। ३९.

The great pleasure-grove is ever gladdened by the deep humming of intoxicated bees and the cooing of birds.

सुवर्णपार्श्वैश्च नगैर्मणिमुक्तापुरस्कृतैः। मणिश्रृङ्गकलापन्नैः पतद्भिश्च समन्ततः ।। ३९.

With mountains whose sides are of gold, adorned with jewels and pearls at the forefront, their peaks crowned with clusters of gems, and gems falling all around.

शाखामृगैश्च चित्राङ्गैर्नानारत्नतनूरुहैः। नानावर्णप्रकारैश्च सत्वैरन्यैः समाकुलम् ।। ३९.

Filled with branch-dwelling deer of varied markings, whose bodies are adorned with many kinds of gems, and crowded with other animals of many colors and forms.

मुञ्चन्ति पुष्पवर्षञ्च तत्र बाललता द्रुमाः। पारिजातकपुष्पाणां मन्दमारुत कम्पिताः ।। ३९.

There, young creepers and trees, gently stirred by a soft breeze, release showers of flowers—especially the blossoms of the Pārijāta tree.

शयनासननिर्व्यूहैः स्तीर्णै रत्नविभूषितैः। विहारभूमयस्तत्र द्विजाः शक्रवने शुभाः। न च शीतो न चाप्युष्णो रविस्तत्र समः सदा ।। ३९.

In that Śakra grove, O twice-born, the pleasure grounds are spread with couches and seats adorned with jewels; there, neither cold nor heat is felt, for the sun is always mild.

नित्यमुन्मादजननो मधुमाधवसम्भवः। वाति चाप्यनिलस्तत्र नानापुष्पाधिवासितः। नित्यं सङ्गसुखाह्लादी श्रमक्लमविनाशनः ।। ३९.

There, a wind always blows, born of honey and spring, ever intoxicating, fragrant with many flowers, always bringing the joy of companionship and dispelling fatigue and weariness.

तस्मिन्निन्द्रवने शुभ्रे देवदानवपन्नगाः। यक्षराक्षसगुह्याश्च गन्धर्वाश्चामितौजसः ।। ३९.

In that pure Indra grove dwell gods, Dānavas, serpents, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Guhyakas, and Gandharvas of immense might.