Vayu Purana

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.

तथैव पश्चिमे कूटे पारिजातशिलोच्चये। देवदानवभागानां समृद्धानि पुराणि तु ।। ४१.

Likewise, in the western peak, in the lofty mass of Parijata stone, the ancient cities of the gods and demons are abundant.

तत्र सोमशिला नाम गिरेस्तस्य महातटे। सोमो यत्रावतरति सदा पर्वसु पर्वसु ।। ४१.

There, on the great slope of that mountain, is the stone called Soma, where Soma descends continually at every festival.

उपासतेऽत्र श्रीमन्तं तारा पतिमनिन्दितम्। ऋषिकिन्नरगन्धर्वाः साक्षाद्देवं तमोनुदम् ।। ४१.

There, the sages, kinnaras, and gandharvas worship the illustrious, faultless lord of Tara, the god who dispels darkness, directly.

तत्रैव चोत्तरे कूटे ब्रह्मपार्श्वमिति स्मृतम्। स्थानं तत्र सुरेशस्य ब्रह्मणः प्रथितं दिवि ।। ४१.

Also, on the northern peak, known as the side of Brahma, is the place of the lord of the gods, Brahma, renowned in heaven.

इज्यापूजानमस्कारैस्तत्र सिद्धाः स्वयम्भुवम्। उपासते महात्मानं यक्षगन्धर्वदानवाः ।। ४१.

There, with offerings, worship, and salutations, the accomplished yakshas, gandharvas, and demons worship the great-souled, self-born one.

तथैवायतनं वह्नेः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतम्। तत्र विग्रहवान् वाह्निः सेव्यते सिद्धचारणैः ।। ४१.

Likewise, the abode of Fire, famed in all worlds, is there; the embodied Fire is served by accomplished charanas.

तथैव चोत्तरे रम्ये त्रिश्रृङ्गे वरपर्वते। ऋषिसिद्धानुचरिते नानाभूतगणालये। पुरं तत् त्रिषु लोकेषु हेमचित्रन्तु विश्रुतम् ।। ४१.

Similarly, on the beautiful northern slope of the excellent mountain, frequented by sages and siddhas, and home to various beings, is the city, famed in the three worlds, adorned with gold.

त्रयाणां देवमुख्यानां त्रीण्येवायतनानि च। नारायणस्यायतनं पूर्वकूटे द्विजोत्तमाः । मध्यमे ब्रह्मणः स्थानं शङ्करस्य तु पश्चिमे ।। ४१.

There are three shrines for the three chief gods: the shrine of Narayana is on the eastern peak, O best of twice-born; in the middle is Brahma's place, and in the west is Shankara's.

दैत्यदानवगन्धर्वैर्यक्षराक्षसपन्नगैः। इजाना अभिपूज्यन्ते देवदेवा महाबलाः ।। ४१.

The gods of gods, mighty in strength, are worshipped with offerings by demons, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, and serpents.

तथा पुराणि रम्याणि देशे चैव व्कचित् व्कचित्। यक्षगन्धर्वनागानां त्रिश्रृङ्गे वरपर्वते ।। ४१.

Likewise, the delightful ancient cities are found here and there in the region, belonging to yakshas, gandharvas, and nagas, on the excellent mountain with three peaks.

तथैव चोत्तरे देशे चारुधौ देवपर्वते। अनेकश्रृङ्गकलिते सिद्धसाधु निषेविते ।। ४१.

Similarly, in the northern region, on the charming divine mountain, adorned with many peaks, and frequented by accomplished sages and holy men.

यक्षाणां किन्नराणाञ्च गन्धर्वाणां सहस्रशः। नागानां राक्षसानाञ्च दैत्यानाञ्च महाबले ।। ४१.

Thousands of yakshas, kinnaras, gandharvas, nagas, rakshasas, and powerful daityas dwell there.

कूटे तु मध्यमे तस्य सिद्धसङ्घ निषेविते। रम्ये देवर्षिचरिते रत्नधातुविभूषिते ।। ४१.

On its central peak, frequented by groups of siddhas, in the delightful region visited by divine sages, adorned with gems and minerals.

पझोत्पलवनैः फुल्लैः सौगन्धिकवनैस्तथा। तथा कुमुदखण्डैश्च विकचैरुपशोभिते ।। ४१.

It is beautified by blooming lotus ponds, fragrant groves, and clusters of kumuda flowers in full blossom.

विहङ्गसङ्घसंघुष्टं नानासत्वनिषेवितम्। हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं मत्तषट्‌पदसेवितम् ।। ४१.

Filled with the sounds of flocks of birds, inhabited by various creatures, crowded with swans and waterfowl, and frequented by intoxicated bees.

नानासत्वगणाकीर्णं विहङ्गैरुपशोभितम्। चारुतीर्थसुसम्बाधं त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डलम् ।। ४१.

Adorned with groups of various creatures, beautified by birds, densely packed with charming sacred places, it covers a circle of thirty yojanas.

सिद्धैरुपस्पृष्टजलं जलदोषविवर्जितम्। तत्रानन्दजलन्नाम महापुण्यजलं सरः ।। ४१.

Its waters are touched by siddhas, free from any impurity; there is the lake called Anandajala, a lake of great merit.

तत्र नागपति श्चण्ड श्चण्डो नाम दुरासदः। शतशीर्षा महाभागो विष्णुचक्राङ्कचिह्नितः। इत्येवमष्टौ विज्ञेया विचित्रा देवपर्वताः ।। ४१.

There is the lord of the nagas, named Chanda, fierce and hard to approach, with a hundred heads, greatly fortunate, marked with the sign of Vishnu's discus; thus, eight wondrous divine mountains are to be known.

पुरैरायतनैः पुण्यैः पुण्योदैश्च सरोवरैः। सुवर्णपर्वतैर्नैकैस्तथा रजतपर्वतैः ।। ४१.

With cities, sacred shrines, holy rivers, and lakes of merit, with many golden mountains and likewise mountains of silver—

नानारत्नप्रभासैश्च नैकैश्च मणिपर्वतैः। हरितालपर्वतैर्नैकैस्तथा हिङ्गुलकाञ्चनैः ।। ४१.

With mountains shining with the radiance of various gems, with many jewel-studded peaks, with numerous mountains of green stone and also of cinnabar and gold—