Vayu Purana

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.

निसर्ग एष विख्यातः कुरूणान्तु यथार्थवत्। भारतस्य तु वक्ष्यामि निसर्गं तं निबोधत ।। ४५.

This nature of the Kurus has been described as it truly is; now I shall tell you of the nature of Bhārata—listen to it.

पुण्यतीर्थे हिमवतो दक्षिणस्याचलस्य हि। पूर्वपश्चायतस्यास्य दक्षिणेन द्विजोत्तमाः ।। ४५.

At the sacred ford on the southern slope of the Himālaya, O best of twice-born, to the south of this mountain, extending east and west—

तथा जनपदानां च विस्तरं श्रोतुमर्हथ। अत्र वो वर्णयिष्यामि वर्षेऽस्मिन् भारते प्रजाः ।। ४५.

You should also listen to the description of the regions; here I will narrate to you about the peoples in this land of Bhārata.

इदं तु मध्यमं चित्रं शुभाशुभफलोदयम्। उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य हिमवद्दक्षिणं च यत् ।। ४५.

This central region is remarkable, producing both auspicious and inauspicious results; it lies north of the ocean and south of the Himalaya.

वर्षं यद्भारतं नाम यत्रेयं भारती प्रजा। भरणाञ्च प्रजानां वै मनुर्भरत उच्यते। निरुक्तवचनाच्चैव वर्षं तद्भारतं स्मृतम् ।। ४५.

This land is called Bhārata, where the Bhārata people dwell; Manu, called Bharata, is the sustainer of the peoples; because of this etymology, the land is remembered as Bhārata.

ततः स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च मध्यश्रान्तश्च गम्यते। न खल्वन्यत्र मर्त्त्यानां भूमौ कर्म विधीयते ।। ४५.

From here, heaven and liberation, as well as the intermediate state, are attained; nowhere else on earth is action prescribed for mortals.

भारतस्यास्य वर्षस्य नव भेदाः प्रकीर्तिताः। समुद्रान्तरिता ज्ञेयास्ते त्वगम्याः परस्परम् ।। ४५.

Nine divisions of this Bhārata land are proclaimed; separated by oceans, they are to be known, and they are mutually inaccessible.

इन्द्रद्वीपः कसेरुश्च ताम्रवर्णो गभस्तिमान्। नागद्वीपस्तथा सौम्यो गन्धर्वस्त्वथ वारुणः ।। ४५.

Indradvīpa, Kaseru, Tāmravarṇa, Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gandharva, and Vāruṇa are named.

अयन्तु नवमस्तेषां द्वीपः सागरसंवृतः। योजनांनां सहस्रं तु द्वीपोऽयं दक्षिणोत्तरम् ।। ४५.

And the ninth among them is this island, surrounded by the ocean; this island extends a thousand yojanas from south to north.

आयतो ह्याकुमारिक्यादाङ्गाप्रभवाच्च वै। तिर्यगुत्तरविस्तीर्णः सहस्राणि नवैव तु ।। ४५.

It stretches from Kumārika and from the source of the Anga; its breadth across the north is exactly nine thousand.

द्वीपो ह्युपनिविष्टोऽयं म्लेच्छैरन्तेषु नित्यशः। पूर्वे किराता ह्यस्यान्ते पश्चिमे यवनाः स्मृताः ।। ४५.

This island is always inhabited at its ends by foreigners; Kirātas are at its eastern end, and Yavanas are remembered at its western end.

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या मध्ये शूद्राश्च भागशः। इज्यायुद्धवणिज्याभिर्वर्त्तयन्तो व्यवस्थिताः ।। ४५.

Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas are in the middle, and Śūdras are in portions; engaged in worship, warfare, and trade, they are established.

तेषां संव्यवहारोऽयं वर्त्तते तु परस्परम्। धर्मार्थकामसंयुक्तो वर्णानां तु स्वकर्मसु ।। ४५.

Their mutual dealings proceed among themselves, joined with righteousness, wealth, and desire, each according to their own duties.

सङ्कल्पपञ्चमानां तु आश्रमाणां यथाविधि। इह स्वर्गापवर्गार्थं प्रवृत्तिर्येषु मानुषी ।। ४५.

According to the prescribed order of the five resolutions and the stages of life, human activity here is undertaken for heaven and liberation.

यस्त्वयं नवमो द्वीपस्तिर्यगायत उच्यते। कृत्स्नं जयति यो ह्येनं स सम्राडिह कीर्त्त्यते ।। ४५.

This ninth island, which is said to extend across, whoever conquers it entirely is called the emperor here.

अयं लोकस्तु वै सम्राडन्तरिक्षो विराट् स्मृतः। स्वराडन्यः स्मृतो लोकः पुनर्वक्ष्यामि विस्तरम् ।। ४५.

This world is called the emperor, the vast intermediate space; another world is called the sovereign, and I will again describe its extent.

सप्त चास्मिन् सुपर्वाणो विश्रुताः कुलपर्वताः। महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यः शुक्तिमानृक्षपर्वतः। विन्ध्यश्च पारियात्रश्च सप्तैते कुलपर्वताः ।। ४५.

And in this land, seven renowned clan mountains are known: Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra—these are the seven clan mountains.

तेषां सहस्रशश्चान्ये पर्वतास्तु समीपगाः। अभिजाताः सर्वगुणा विपुलाश्चित्रसानवः ।। ४५.

Thousands of other mountains, born nearby, possessing all virtues, vast and with varied peaks, are also present.

मन्दरः पर्वत श्रेष्ठो वैहारो दर्दुरस्तथा। कोलाहलः ससुरसः मैनाको वैद्युतस्तथा ।। ४५.

Mandara, the foremost mountain, Vaihāra, Dardura, Kolāhala, Sasurasa, Maināka, and Vaidyuta are also named.

पातन्धमो नाम गिरिस्तथा पाण्डुरपर्वतः। गन्तुप्रस्थः कृष्णगिरिर्गोधनो गिरिरेव च ।। ४५.

Pātandhama, a mountain by name, and also Pāṇḍura mountain; Gantuprastha, Kṛṣṇagiri, Godhana, and another mountain as well.