Vayu Purana

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—

शुद्धैर्मनः शिलाजालैर्भास्वरैररुणप्रभैः । नानाधातुविचित्रैश्च नैकैश्च मणिपर्वतैः ।। ४१.

With pure and splendid ranges of crystal, gleaming with a reddish glow, adorned with various metals and many mountains of jewels—

पूर्णा वसुमती सर्वा गिरिभिर्नैकविस्तरैः। नदीकन्दरशैलाद्यैरनेकैश्चित्रसानुभिः ।। ४१.

The entire earth is filled with mountains of countless breadths, with rivers, valleys, and peaks, and with many slopes of wondrous form—

इत्येवमचलैर्युक्तैर्दैत्यराक्षससाधुभिः। किन्नरोरगगन्धर्वैर्विचित्रैः सिद्धचारणैः ।। ४१.

Thus, with such mountains inhabited by Daityas, Rākṣasas, and sages, by Kinnaras, serpents, Gandharvas, and by wondrous Siddhas and Cāraṇas—

गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सेविता नैक विस्तराः। पुण्यकृद्भिः समाकीर्णा केसराकृतयो नगाः ।। ४१.

Attended by Gandharvas and Apsarases, vast in extent, crowded with the virtuous, the mountains take the form of lion's manes—

गिरिजालन्तु तन्मेरोः सिद्धलोकमिति स्मृतम्। चित्रं नानाश्रयोपेतं प्रचारं सुकृतात्मनाम् ।। ४१.

This network of mountains of Meru is known as the world of the Siddhas, wondrous, adorned with many abodes, a realm traversed by those of virtuous soul—

नात्युग्रकर्मसिद्धानां प्रतिमा मध्यमाः स्मृताः। स हि स्वर्ग इति ख्यातः क्रमस्त्वेष प्रकीर्तितः ।। ४१.

For those not accomplished in exceedingly severe deeds, the forms are considered middling; this is renowned as heaven, and this order is declared—

चतुर्महाद्वीपवती सेयमुर्वी प्रकीर्तिता ४१.

This earth is described as possessing four great continents—

नानाभक्ष्यान्नपानैश्च नानाच्छादनभूषणैः। प्रजाविकारैर्विविधैश्चित्रैरध्युषितैः सह।। ४१.

With various foods and drinks, with diverse garments and ornaments, inhabited by beings of many forms and wondrous transformations—

चत्वारो नैकवर्णाद्या महाद्वीपाः परिश्रुताः। भद्राश्च भरताश्चैव केतुमालाश्च पश्चिमाः। उत्तराः कुरवश्चैव कृतपुण्यप्रतिश्रयाः ।। ४१.

The four great continents, of many colors and kinds, are well-known: Bhadrā, Bharata, Ketumāla in the west, and Uttara Kuru, abodes of those who have performed merit—

सैषा चतुर्महाद्वीपा नानाद्वीपसमाकुला। पृथिवी कीर्तिता कृत्स्ना पद्माकारा मया द्विजाः ।। ४१.

This earth, with its four great continents and many islands, is described by me, O twice-born, as entirely shaped like a lotus—