Vayu Purana

पर्यासपारिमाण्यन्तु चान्द्रादित्यौ प्रकाशतः। पर्यासपारिमाण्येन भूमेस्तुल्यं दिवं स्मृतम् ॥ ५०.

The measures of circumference of the moon and the sun are made clear; by their circumference, the sky is said to be equal to the earth.

अवति त्रीनिमान् लोकान् यस्मात् सूर्यः परिभ्रमन्। अवधातुः प्रकाशाख्यो ह्यवनात्स रविः स्मृतः ॥ ५०.

Because the sun, moving around, protects these three worlds, he is called 'Avadhātu', known as the illuminator, and 'Ravi', as he shines upon the earth.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं चन्द्रसूर्ययोः। महितत्वान्महीशब्दो ह्यस्मिन् वर्षे निपात्यते ॥ ५०.

Now I shall explain the measurement of the moon and the sun; due to their greatness, the term 'Mahī' (earth) is applied in this context.

अस्य भारतवर्षस्य विष्कम्भन्तु सुविस्तरम्। मण्डलं भास्करस्याथ योजनानां निबोधत ॥ ५०.

Hear now the great breadth of this land of Bhārata, and the circle of the sun, measured in yojanas.

नवयोजनसाहस्रो विस्तारो भास्करस्य तु। विस्तारात्र्रिगुणश्चास्य परिणाहोऽथ मण्डलम्। विष्कम्बो मण्जलस्यैव भास्कराद् द्विगुणः शशी ॥ ५०.

The sun's breadth is said to be nine thousand yojanas; its circumference is three times that, forming a circle; the moon's diameter is twice that of the sun.

अतः पृथिव्यां वक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं योजनैः सह। सप्तद्वीपसमुद्राया विस्तारो मण्जलञ्च यत् ॥ ५०.

Now I shall state the measurement of the earth in yojanas, including the extent and the circle of the seven continents and oceans.

इत्येतदिह सङ्ख्यातं पुराणं परिमाणतः। तद्वक्ष्यामि प्रसङ्ख्याय साम्प्रतैरभिमानिभिः ॥ ५०.

Thus, the ancient Purāṇa has enumerated these measurements; now I shall recount them according to the calculations of the present authorities.

अभिमानिव्यतीता ये तुल्यास्ते साम्प्रतैरिह। देवा ये वै ह्यतीतास्ते रूपैर्नामभिरेव च ॥ ५०.

Those who have transcended pride are considered equal to the present ones here; the gods who have passed are known only by their forms and names.

तस्मात्तु साम्प्रतैर्देवैर्वक्ष्यामि वसुधातलम्। दिवस्तु सन्निवेशो वै साम्प्रतैरेव कृत्स्नशः ॥ ५०.

Therefore, I shall describe the surface of the earth as told by the present gods; likewise, the arrangement of the heavens is given in full by the present ones.

शतार्द्ध कोटिविस्तारा पृथिवी कृत्स्नतः स्मृता। तस्या वार्धप्रमाणेन मेरोर्वै चातुरन्तरम् ॥ ५०.

The earth in its entirety is said to have a breadth of one and a half hundred crores; at half that measure lies the region surrounding Meru.

पृथिव्या वार्धविस्तारो योजनाग्रात्प्रकीर्त्तितः । मेरुमध्यात् प्रति दिशं कोटिरेकादश स्मृताः ॥ ५०.

The half-breadth of the earth is reckoned from the summit of Meru; from the center of Meru to each direction, eleven crores are counted.

तथा शतसहस्राणि एकोननवतिः पुनः। पञ्चाशच्च सहस्राणि पृथिव्या वार्धविस्तरः ॥ ५०.

Likewise, there are ninety-nine hundred thousand, and fifty thousand more; thus is the half-breadth of the earth.

पृथिव्या विस्तरं कृत्स्नं योजनैस्तन्निबोधत। तिस्रः कोट्यस्तु विस्तारः संख्यातः स चतुर्दिशम् ॥ ५०.

Now hear the total breadth of the earth in yojanas; the breadth is reckoned as three crores, measured in all four directions.

तथा शतसहस्राणामेकोनाशीतिरुच्यते। सप्तद्वीपसमुद्रायाः पृथिव्यास्त्वेष विस्तरः ॥ ५०.

Likewise, it is said to be seventy-nine hundred thousand; this is the breadth of the earth with its seven continents and oceans.

विस्तारात् त्रिगुण़ञ्चैव पृथिव्यन्तस्य मण्डलम्। गणितं योजनाग्रन्तु कोट्यस्त्वेकादश स्मृताः ॥ ५०.

The circumference of the earth is three times its breadth; calculated in yojanas, it is said to be eleven crores.

तथा शतसहस्रन्तु सप्त त्रिंशाधिकानि तु। इत्येतद्वै प्रसङ्ख्यातं पृथिव्यन्तस्य मण्डलम् ॥ ५०.

Likewise, there are seven million and thirty thousand hundred thousand; thus is the circumference of the earth calculated.

तारकासन्निवेशस्य दिवि यावद्धि मण्डलम्। पर्यासः सन्निवेशस्य भूमस्तावत्तु मण्डलम् ॥ ५०.

As far as the circle of the stars is arranged in the sky, so is the circle of the earth's arrangement measured.

पर्यासपारिमाण्डेन भूमेस्तुल्यं दिवं स्मृतम्। सप्तानामपि लोकानामेतन्मानं प्रकीर्तितम् ॥ ५०.

The expanse of the heavens is considered equal to the circumference of the earth; this measurement is declared for all seven worlds.

पर्यासपारिमाण्डेन मण्डलानुगतेन च। उपर्युपरि लोकानां छत्रवत्परिमण्डलम् ॥ ५०.

By the same circumference, following the circular form, the worlds above are arranged one upon another like the shape of a parasol.

संस्थितिर्विहिता सर्वा येषु तिष्ठन्ति जन्तवः। एतदण्डकटाहस्य प्रमाणं परिकीर्त्तितम् ॥ ५०.

All beings reside in these, and the arrangement of the egg-shaped vessel is thus described.

अण्डस्यान्तस्त्विमे लोकाः सप्तद्वीपा च मेदिनी। भूर्लोकस्व भुवश्चैव तृतीयः स्वरिति स्मृतः । महर्लोको जनश्चैव तपः सत्यश्च सप्तमः ॥ ५०.

Within this cosmic egg are these worlds and the earth with its seven continents: Bhūrloka, Bhuvarloka, the third called Svarga, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and the seventh, Satyaloka.

एते सप्त कृता लोकाश्छत्राकारा व्यवस्थिताः। स्वकैरावरणैः सूक्ष्मैर्धार्यमाणाः पृथक् पृथक् ॥ ५०.

These seven worlds are established in the form of a parasol, each supported separately by its own subtle coverings.

दशभागाधिकाभिश्च ताभिः प्रकृतिभिर्बहिः। धार्यमाणा विशेषैश्च समुत्पन्नैः परस्परम् ॥ ५०.

Each is sustained externally by its respective elements, which are ten parts greater, and by distinctive properties arising mutually.

अस्याण्डस्य समन्ताच्च सन्निविष्टो घनोदधिः। पृथिवीमण्डलं कृत्स्नं घनतोयेन धार्यते ॥ ५०.

All around this cosmic egg is a dense ocean, and the entire sphere of the earth is upheld by its solid waters.

घनोदधिपरेणाथ धार्य्यते घनतेजसा। बाह्यतो घनतेजस्तु तिर्य्यगूर्द्ध्वन्तु मण्डलम् ॥ ५०.

Beyond the dense ocean, it is supported by dense fire; externally, the dense fire forms a sphere horizontally and vertically.

समन्ताद्वनवातेन धार्य्यमाणं प्रतिष्ठितम्। घनवातात्तथाकाशमाकाशञ्च महात्मना ॥ ५०.

All around, it is upheld and established by dense wind; from dense wind comes ether, and from ether, the great soul.

भूतादिना वृतं सर्व्वं भूताधिर्महता वृतः । वृतो महाननन्तेन प्रधानेनाव्ययात्मना ॥ ५०.

Everything is enveloped by the principle of the elements, and the great element is enveloped by the infinite, imperishable Pradhāna.

पुराणि लोकपालानां प्रवक्ष्यामि यथाक्रमम् । ज्योतिर्गणप्रचारस्य प्रमाणं परिवक्ष्यते ॥ ५०.

I will now describe, in order, the ancient cities of the guardians of the worlds, and the measure of the movement of the luminaries.

मेरोः प्राच्यां दिशि तथा मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। वस्वोकसारा माहेन्द्री पुण्या हेमपरिष्कृता । ५०.

On the eastern side of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, lies the sacred city of Vasvokasāra, adorned with gold, belonging to Indra.