Vayu Purana

चन्द्रकान्ता नरवराः श्यामाङ्काः पूर्वकूलजाः। श्यामावदाताः सुखिनः सूर्यकान्ता वराः प्रजाः ।। ४५.

The noble men are radiant like moonstones, dark-marked, born on the eastern shore; the women are dark and fair, happy, and the excellent people are radiant like sunstones.

तस्मिन् देशे नराः श्रेष्ठा देवसत्त्वपराक्रमाः। सदा विहारिणः सर्वे कामवृत्त्या सुवर्चसः ।। ४५.

In that land, the men are foremost, possessing divine strength and valor; all are always at leisure, endowed with splendor, fulfilling their desires.

वलयाङ्गदकेयूरहारकुण्डलभूषिताः । स्रग्विणश्चित्र मुकुटाश्चित्राच्छादनवाससः ।। ४५.

Adorned with bracelets, armlets, anklets, necklaces, and earrings; wearing garlands, splendid crowns, and garments of varied and beautiful colors.

अजीर्णयौवनधराः सुप्रियाः प्रियदर्शनाः। प्रजा वर्षसहस्राणि जीवन्ति सुबहून्युत ।। ४५.

Bearing undiminished youth, exceedingly dear and pleasant to behold; the people live for many thousands of years.

न ताः प्रसवधर्मिण्यो न वंशप्रक्षयो विधिः। मिथुनं जायते वृक्षादुपक्षममनीदृशम् ।। ४५.

They do not follow the law of birth, nor is there extinction of lineage; offspring arise from trees, in a manner unseen and wondrous.

सामान्यविभवाः सर्वे ममत्वपरिवर्जिताः। न तत्र विद्यते धर्मो नाधर्मः सम्प्रवर्त्तते ।। ४५.

All possess equal wealth, free from any sense of ownership; neither dharma nor adharma is found or arises there.

न व्यधिर्न जरा तत्र न दुर्मेधा न च क्लमः। पूर्णे काले विनश्यन्ति जलबुद्बुदवच्च ते ।। ४५.

There is no disease, no old age, no dullness of mind, nor fatigue; when their time is complete, they vanish like bubbles in water.

एवमत्यन्तसुखिनः सर्वदुःखविवर्जिताः। रक्ता धर्मं न पश्यन्ति दुःखाद्धर्मोऽभिजायते ।। ४५.

Thus, they are supremely happy, entirely free from suffering; being attached to pleasure, they do not perceive dharma, for dharma arises from suffering.

उत्तराणां कुरूणान्तु पार्श्वे ज्ञेयन्तु दक्षिणे। समुद्रमूर्मिमालाढ्यं नानास्वरविभूषितम् ।। ४५.

To the south of the northern Kurus, one should know, lies the ocean, rich with waves, adorned with various sounds.

पञ्चयोजनसाहस्रमतिक्रम्य सुरालयम्। चन्द्रद्वीपमिति ख्यातं चद्रमण्डलसंस्थितम् ।। ४५.

Beyond five thousand yojanas lies the abode of the gods; it is known as Candradvīpa, situated within the lunar orb.

सहस्रयोजनानान्तु सर्वतः परिमण्डलम्। नाना पुष्पफलोपेतं समृद्ध्या परया युतम्। शतयोजनविस्तीर्णमुच्छ्रितं तावदेव तु ।। ४५.

It is circular, measuring a thousand yojanas in every direction; endowed with various flowers and fruits, possessing supreme prosperity; it is a hundred yojanas wide and rises just as high.

तस्य मध्ये गिरिवरः सिद्धचारणसेवितः। चन्द्र तुल्यप्रभैः कान्तैश्चन्द्राकारैः सुलक्षणैः ।। ४५.

In its center stands a great mountain, attended by siddhas and cāraṇas; beautiful, with a radiance like the moon, and bearing the form and auspicious marks of the moon.

श्वेतवैढूर्यकुमुदैश्चित्रोऽसौ कुमुदप्रभः। अनेकचित्रकोद्यानो नैकनिर्झरकन्दरः। महासानुदरीकुञ्जैर्विविधैः समलंकृतः ।। ४५.

It is adorned with white beryl and lotuses, shining with the radiance of lotuses; with many splendid gardens, numerous waterfalls and caves, decorated with various peaks, valleys, and groves.

तस्माच्छैलान्महापुण्या चन्द्रांशुविमलोदका। प्रवहत्युत्तमनदी चन्द्रावर्त्ता तरङ्गिणी ।। ४५.

Therefore, from those highly meritorious mountains, the excellent river Candravarttā flows, with pure waters like moonbeams, and full of waves.

तत्र चन्द्रमसः स्थानं नक्षत्राधिपतेर्वरम्। सदाऽवतरते तत्र चन्द्रमा ग्रहनायकः ।। ४५.

There is the supreme abode of the Moon, lord of the stars; there, the Moon, leader of the planets, always descends.

तत्र चन्द्रमसो नाम्ना शैलः स तु परिश्रुतः। चन्द्रद्वीपं महाद्वीपं प्रकाशं दिवि चेह च ।। ४५.

There, a mountain is renowned by the name of the Moon; Candradvīpa, the great and illustrious island, shines both in heaven and here.

तत्र चन्द्रप्रतीकाशाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः। चन्द्रकान्ताः प्रजाः सर्वा विमलाश्चन्द्रदैवताः ।। ४५.

There, all the inhabitants resemble the moon, their faces full like the full moon; they are radiant as moonstone, pure, and devoted to the lunar deity.

अत्यन्तधार्मिकाः सौम्याः सत्यसन्धाः सुतेजसः। प्रजास्तत्र सदाचारा दशवर्षशतायुषः ।। ४५.

There, the people are supremely righteous, gentle, steadfast in truth, and of great brilliance; they always practice good conduct and live for a hundred years.

पश्चिमेन तु द्वीपस्य पश्चिमस्य प्रकीर्त्तितम्। चतुर्योजनसाहस्रं समतीत्य महोदधिम् ।। ४५.

To the west of that island, known as the westernmost, after crossing four thousand yojanas and the great ocean—

दशयोजनसाहस्रं समन्तात् परिमण्डलम्। द्वीपं भद्राकरं नाम नानापुष्पोपशोभितम् ।। ४५.

There is an island named Bhadrākara, ten thousand yojanas in circumference, adorned with various flowers.

प्रभूतधनधान्याढ्यमनेकनृपपालितम् । नित्यं प्रमुदितं स्फीतं महाशैलैश्च शोभितम् ।। ४५.

It is abundant in wealth and grain, ruled by many kings, always prosperous and joyful, and beautified by great mountains.

तत्र भद्रासनं वायोर्नानारत्नैश्च मण्डितम्। तत्र विग्रहवान् वायुः सदा पर्वसु पूज्यते ।। ४५.

There is the auspicious seat of Vāyu, adorned with various jewels; there, Vāyu, in embodied form, is always worshipped during festivals.

तपनीयसुवर्णाभास्तपनीयविभूषिताः। विराजन्तेऽमर प्रख्यास्तत्र चित्राम्बरस्रजः ।। ४५.

There, those renowned as immortals shine, adorned with garments and garlands of wondrous colors, and decorated with ornaments of golden brilliance.

वीर्यवन्तो महाभागाः पञ्चवर्षशतायुषः। सत्यसन्धा मुदा युक्ताः प्रजास्ता वायुदैवताः ।। ४५.

The people there are mighty and greatly fortunate, living for five hundred years, steadfast in truth, and filled with joy, devoted to the deity Vāyu.

एवमेव निसर्गोऽयं वर्षाणां भारते युगे। दृष्टः परमतत्त्वज्ञैर्भूयः किं कीर्त्तयामि ते ।। ४५.

In this way, such is the nature of the regions in the Bhārata age, as seen by those who know the highest truth; what more shall I recount to you?

आख्याते त्वेवमृषयः सूतपुत्रेण धीमता। उत्तरश्रवणे भूयः पप्रच्छुस्तदनन्तरम् ।। ४५.

Thus, when this was narrated, the sages questioned the wise son of Sūta again at the time of the northern hearing.

ऋषय ऊचुः। यदिदं भारतं वर्ष यस्मिन् स्वायम्भुवादयः। चतुर्दशैते मनवः प्रजासर्गे भवन्त्युत ।। ४५.

The sages said: In this Bhārata region, where the fourteen Manus beginning with Svāyambhuva appear in the creation of beings—

एतद्वेदितुमिच्छामस्तन्नो निगद सत्तम। एतत् श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषामब्रवील्लोमहर्षणः ।। ४५.

We wish to know this; tell us, O best of men. Hearing their words, Lomaharṣaṇa replied.

पौराणिकस्तदा सूत ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । एत द्विस्तरतो भूयस्तानुवाच समाहितः ।। ४५.

Then the Sūta, versed in the Purāṇas, addressed those sages of purified minds, and, being attentive, spoke to them further in detail.