Vayu Purana

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—

तदेषा सान्तरद्वीपा सशैलवनकानना। पद्मेत्यभिहिता कृत्स्ना पृथिवी बहुविस्तरा ।। ४१.

Thus, with its inner islands, mountains, forests, and groves, this vast earth is called the Lotus—

सब्रह्मसदनं लोकं सदेवासुरमानुषम्। त्रिलोकमिति विख्यातं यत्सत्त्वैर्व्यवहार्यते ।। ४१.

The world with the abode of Brahmā, with gods, asuras, and humans, is known as the three worlds, which are engaged with by living beings—

चन्द्रादित्यावतप्तं यत्तज्जगत् परिगीयते। गन्धवर्णरसोपेतं शब्दस्पर्शगुणान्वितम् ।। ४१.

That world, heated by the moon and sun, is celebrated as the universe, endowed with fragrance, color, and taste, and possessing the qualities of sound and touch—

तं लोकपद्मं श्रुतिभिः पद्ममित्यभिधीयते। एष सर्वपुराणेषु क्रमः सुपरिनिश्चितः ।। ४१.

That world-lotus is called 'lotus' in the Vedas; this order is firmly established in all the Purāṇas—

सरोवरेभ्यः पुण्योदा देव नद्यो विनिर्गताः। महौघतोया नद्यश्च ताः श्रृणुध्वं यथाक्रमम् ।। ४२.

From the sacred lakes, holy rivers arise, and from the divine rivers, great streams flow forth; listen as I recount them in order—

आकाशाम्भोनिधेर्योऽसौ सोम इत्यभिधीयते। आधारः सर्वभूतानां देवानाममृताकरः ।। ४२.

That which is called Soma, arising from the ocean of the sky, is the support of all beings, the source of nectar for the gods—

तस्मात् प्रवृत्ता पुण्योदा नदी ह्याकाशगामिनी। सप्तमेनानिलपथा प्रयाता विमलोदका ।। ४२.

Therefore, that meritorious river, flowing through the sky, set forth on the seventh path of the wind, with pure waters.

सा ज्योतिषि निवर्तन्ती ज्योतिर्गणनिषेविता। ताराकोजिसहस्राणां नभसश्च समायता ।। ४२.

Attended by hosts of luminaries, she returns among the stars, mingling with thousands of shining stars in the sky.

माहेन्द्रेण गजेन्द्रेण आकाशपथयायिना। क्रीडिता ह्यन्तरतले या सा विक्षोभितोदका ।। ४२.

Played with by Airāvata, the lord of elephants, who travels the path of the sky, her waters are agitated in the inner region.

नैकैर्विमानसङ्घातैः प्रक्रामद्भिर्नभस्तलम्। सिद्धैरुपस्पृष्टजला महापुण्यजला शिवा ।। ४२.

Touched by the Siddhas, as they proceed in groups of aerial chariots through the sky, her waters are supremely meritorious and auspicious.

वायुना प्रेर्यमाणा च अनेकाभोगगामिनी। परिवर्त्तत्यहरहर्यथा सूर्यस्तथैव सा ।। ४२.

Driven by the wind, she moves along many courses, revolving day after day just as the sun does.

चत्वार्यशीतिः प्रतता योजनानां समन्ततः। वेगेन कुर्वती मेरुं सा प्रयाता प्रदक्षिणम् ।। ४२.

Extending eighty-four yojanas on all sides, she swiftly circles Mount Meru to the right.

विभिद्यमाना सलिलैस्तैजसेनानिलेन च। मेरोरुत्तरकूटेषु पतिताथ चतुर्ष्वपि ।। ४२.

Split by the waters and by the fiery wind, she fell upon the four northern peaks of Meru.

मेरुकूटतटान्तेभ्य उत्कृष्टेभ्यो निवर्तिता। विकीर्यमाण सलिला चतुर्द्धासंसृतोदका ।। ४२.

From the lofty edges of Meru's peaks, she turned back, her waters scattered and divided into four streams.

षष्टियोजनसाहस्रं निरालम्बनमम्बरम्। निपपात महाभाग मेरोस्तस्य चतुर्द्दिशम् ।। ४२.

Falling through the unsupported sky for sixty thousand yojanas, she descended to the four directions of mighty Meru.

सा चतुर्ष्वभितश्चैव महापादेषु शोभना। पुण्या मन्दरपूर्वेण पतिता हि महानदी ।। ४२.

That splendid and meritorious great river fell to the four beautiful bases, east of Mandara.

पूर्वेणांशेन देवानां सर्वसिद्धगणालयम्। सुवर्णचित्रकटकं नैकनिर्झरकन्दरम् ।। ४२.

To the east, she reached the abode of all the gods and hosts of Siddhas, adorned with golden peaks and many cascading caves.

प्लावयन्ती सशैलेन्द्रं मन्दरञ्चारुकन्दरम्। वप्रप्रतापशमनैरनेकैः स्फाटिकोदकैः ।। ४२.

Flooding Mandara with its lovely caves and the lord of mountains, she soothes the slopes with her many crystal-clear waters.

तथा चैत्ररथं रम्यं प्लावयन्ती प्रदक्षिणम्। प्रविष्टा ह्यम्बरनदी ह्यरुणोदसरोवरम् ।। ४२.

Thus, encircling the delightful Caitraratha, the river of the sky entered the beautiful lake Aruṇoda.

अरुणोदान्निवृत्ताऽथ शीतान्ते रम्यनिर्झरे। शैले सिद्धगणावासे निपपात सुगामिनी ।। ४२.

Departing from Aruṇoda, at the end of the cool region, in a lovely waterfall, she descended on the mountain, the abode of Siddhas, flowing smoothly.