Vayu Purana

तस्यैव दक्षिणे पार्श्वे हिमवत्यचलोत्तमे। निकुञ्जनिर्झरगुहानैकसानुदरीतटे ।। ४१.

On its southern side, upon the supreme Himavat mountain, at the slopes marked by groves, waterfalls, caves, and many peaks—

अर्णवादर्णवं यावत् पूर्वपश्चायतेऽचले। किन्नराणां पुरशतं निविष्टं वै व्कचित् व्कचित् ।। ४१.

From ocean to ocean, stretching east to west along the mountain, a hundred cities of the Kinnaras are settled here and there.

नैकश्रृङ्गकलापस्य शैलराजस्य कुक्षिषु। नरनारीप्रमुदितं हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलम् ।। ४१.

Within the hollows of the many-crested king of mountains, filled with joyful men and women, and thronged with delighted and prosperous people.

द्रुमसुग्रीवसैन्याद्या भगदत्तपुरःसराः । यत्र राजशतं तेषां दीप्तानां बलशालिनाम् ।। ४१.

There, led by Druma, Sugriva, and Bhagadatta, a hundred radiant and mighty kings command their armies.

विवाहो यत्र रुद्रस्य महादेव्योमया सह। तपस्तप्तवती चैव यत्र देवी वराङ्गना ।। ४१.

There took place the marriage of Rudra with the great goddess Uma, and there too the blessed goddess performed her austerities.

किरातरूपिणा चैव यत्र रुद्रेण क्रीडितम्। यत्र चैव कृतं ताभ्यां जम्बूद्वीपावलोकनम् ।। ४१.

There Rudra, in the form of a hunter, sported; and there, together, they beheld the expanse of Jambudvipa.

यत्र ताः सम्मुदा युक्ता नानाभूतगणैर्युताः। चित्रपुष्पफलोपेता रुद्रस्याक्रीडभूमयः ।। ४१.

There, filled with joy and accompanied by hosts of various beings, are the delightful playgrounds of Rudra, adorned with wondrous flowers and fruits.

हृष्टा गिरिदरीवासाः कृशोदर्य्यो मनोरमाः। कुन्दर्यो यत्र किन्नर्य्यो रमन्ते स्म सुलोचनाः ।। ४१.

There, the lovely Kinnaris with slender waists and beautiful eyes, dwelling happily among the mountain valleys, delight together.

विशालाक्षास्तथा यक्षा अन्याश्चाप्सरसाङ्गणाः। गन्धर्वाश्चाङ्गशालिन्यो यत्र तत्र मुदा युताः ।। ४१.

There, broad-eyed Yakshas, other attendants of the Apsarases, and Gandharvis endowed with beauty, all rejoice together.

तत्रैवोमावनं नाम सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्। अर्धनारीनरं रुपं धृतवान् यत्र शंकरः ।। ४१.

There too is the forest of Uma, renowned in all worlds, where Shankara assumed the form of Ardhanarishvara.

तथा शरवणं नाम यत्र जातः षडाननः । यत्र चैव कृतोत्साहः क्रौञ्चशैलवनं प्रति ।। ४१.

Likewise, there is the place called Sharavana, where the six-faced one was born, and where he eagerly set out for the Krauncha mountain forest.

ध्वजापताकिनञ्चैव किङ्किणीजालमालिनम्। यत्र सिंहरथं युक्तं कार्तिकेयस्य धीमतः ।। ४१.

Where the lion-chariot of the wise Kārtikeya is adorned with banners, flags, and garlands of tinkling bells.

चित्रपुष्पनिकुञ्जस्य क्रौञ्चस्य च गिरेस्तटे। देवारिस्कन्दनः स्कन्दो यत्र शक्तिं विमुक्तवान् ।। ४१.

Where, on the slope of Mount Krauncha, in a grove of varied flowers, Skanda, the destroyer of the gods’ enemies, released his spear.

यत्राभिषिक्तश्च गुहः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्रैः सुरोत्तमैः। सेनापत्ये च दैत्यारिर्द्वादशार्कप्रतापवान् ।। ४१.

Where Guha was anointed, together with Indra, Upendra, and the best of the gods, as commander of the army, the foe of the demons, radiant as twelve suns.

भूतसङ्घावकीर्णानि एतान्यन्यानि च द्विजाः। तत्र तत्र कुमारस्य स्थानान्यायतनानि च ।। ४१.

O twice-born, there and elsewhere are the places and shrines of Kumāra, crowded with hosts of spirits.

तथा पाण्डुशिला नाम ह्याक्रीडा क्रौञ्चघातिनः। नानाभूतगणाकीर्णे पृष्ठे हिमवतः शुभे ।। ४१.

Likewise, there is the place called Pāṇḍuśilā, the playground of the slayer of Krauncha, on the auspicious slope of Himavat, thronged with various groups of spirits.

तस्य पूर्वे तटे रम्ये सिद्धावासमुदाहृतम्। कलापग्राममित्येवं नाम्ना ख्यातं मनीषिभिः ।। ४१.

On its beautiful eastern slope is the dwelling of the perfected beings, known by the wise as the village of Kalāpa.

मृकण्डस्य वसिष्ठस्य भरतस्य नलस्य च। विश्वामित्रस्य विप्रर्षेस्तथैवोद्दालकस्य च ।। ४१.

There are the hermitages of Mṛkaṇḍa, Vasiṣṭha, Bharata, Nala, Viśvāmitra the sage, and also Uddālaka.

अन्येषाञ्चोग्रतपसामृषीणां भावितात्मनाम्। हिमवत्याश्रमाणाञ्च सहस्राणि शतानि च ।। ४१.

And of other seers of fierce austerities and purified minds, there are hundreds and thousands of hermitages on Himavat.

नैकसिध्दगणावासं स्थानायतनमण्डितम्। यक्षगन्धर्वचरितं नानाम्लेच्छगणैर्युतम् ।। ४१.

It is inhabited by many accomplished beings, adorned with sacred places and shrines, frequented by Yakṣas and Gandharvas, and filled with various groups of foreigners.

नानारत्नाकरापूर्णं नानासत्त्वनिषेवितम्। नानानदीसहस्राणां सम्भवं वरपर्वतम् ।। ४१.

That excellent mountain is filled with many kinds of jewels, served by various beings, and is the source of thousands of different rivers.

पश्चिमस्याचलेन्द्रस्य निषधस्य यथार्थवत्। कीर्त्त्यमानमशेषेण विशेषं श्रृणुत द्विजाः ।। ४१.

Now, O twice-born, listen in detail to the special features of Niṣadha, the western lord of mountains, as it is rightly praised.

विस्तीर्णे मध्यमे कूटे हेमधा तुविबूषिते। दीप्तमायतनं विष्णोः सिद्धर्षिगणसेवितम्। यक्षाप्सरःसमाकीर्णं गन्धर्वगणसेवितम् ।। ४१.

On the broad central peak, splendid with gold, is the radiant abode of Viṣṇu, attended by hosts of perfected sages, crowded with Yakṣas, Apsarases, and Gandharvas.

तत्र साक्षान्महादेवः पीताम्बरधरो हरिः। वरदः सेव्यते सिर्द्धैर्लोककर्त्ता सनातनः ।। ४१.

There, the great god himself, Hari, wearing yellow garments, the eternal creator of the worlds, bestower of boons, is worshipped by the perfected ones.

तस्यैवाब्यन्तरे कूटे नानाधातुविभूषिते। तटे निषधकूटस्य श्लक्ष्णचारुशिलातले ।। ४१.

Within that very peak, adorned with various metals, on the smooth and beautiful slope of Niṣadha, is a terrace.

रुक्मकाञ्चननिर्यूहं तप्तकाञ्चनतोरणम्। अनेकवलभीकूटप्रलोलीशतसङ्कटम् ।। ४१.

There are golden ramparts, gateways of molten gold, and many rows of balconies, crowded and intricate.

हर्म्यप्रासादमतुलं तप्तकाञ्चनभूषितम्। हर्म्यप्रासादबद्धञ्च मुदितञ्चातिविस्तरम् ।। ४१.

There is an incomparable palace-mansion, adorned with molten gold, built with palace towers, delightful and very spacious.

उद्यानमालाकलितं त्रिंशद्योजनमायतम्। दुःप्रसह्यममित्रैस्तत् पूर्णमाशीविषोपमैः। उलङ्घीनां प्रमुदितं रक्षसां राक्षसं पुरम् ।। ४१.

It is surrounded by garlands of gardens, extending thirty yojanas, filled with serpents like deadly poison, unconquerable by enemies, and is the joyous city of the leaping Rākṣasas.

तस्यैव दक्षिणे पार्श्वे नैकदैत्यगणालये। गुहाप्रवेशं नगरं शैलकुक्षौ दुरासदम् ।। ४१.

On its southern side is the abode of many groups of Daityas, a city with a cave entrance, difficult to approach, within the mountain’s womb.