Vayu Purana

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.

दक्षिणेन पुनर्मेरोर्मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। वैवस्वतो निवसति यमः संयमने पुरे ॥ ५०.

Again, to the south of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, Vaivasvata Yama resides in the city of restraint.

प्रतीच्यान्तु पुनर्मेरोर्मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। सुखा नाम पुरी रम्या वरुणस्याथ धीमतः ॥ ५०.

Again, to the west of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, is the delightful city called Sukhā, belonging to the wise Varuṇa.

दिश्युत्तरस्यां मेरोस्तु मानसस्यैव मूर्द्धनि। तुल्या माहेन्द्रपुर्य्या तु सोमस्यापि विभावरी ॥ ५०.

On the northern side of Meru, on the summit of Lake Mānas, is the city of Soma, called Vibhāvarī, equal to Indra's city.

मानसोत्तरपृष्ठे तु लोकपालाश्चतुर्द्दिशम्। स्थिता धर्म्मव्यवस्थायै लोकसंरक्षणाय च ॥ ५०.

On the northern slope of Mānas, the guardians of the worlds are stationed in the four directions, for the establishment of righteousness and the protection of the worlds.

लोकपालोपरिष्टात्तु सर्व्वतो दक्षिणायने। काष्ठागतस्य सूर्य्यस्य गतिर्या तां निबोधत ॥ ५०.

Above the guardians of the worlds, throughout the southern course, listen to the movement of the sun as it travels along its path.

दक्षिणे प्रक्रमे सूर्य्यः क्षिप्तेषुरिव सर्पति। ज्योतिषाञ्चक्रमादाय सततं परिगच्छति ॥ ५०.

In its southern journey, the sun moves swiftly like a released arrow, continually traversing the circle of the luminaries.

मध्यगश्चामरावत्यां यदा भवति भास्करः। वैवस्वते संयमने उदयस्तत्र उच्यते ॥ ५०.

When the Sun is at its midpoint in Amaravati, that is called sunrise in the realm of Vaivasvata, the place of restraint.

सुखायामर्द्धरात्रञ्च मध्यगः स्याद्रविर्यदा। सुखायामथ वारुण्यामुत्तिष्ठन् स तु दृश्यते ॥ ५०.

When the Sun is at its midpoint in Sukhā, it is midnight; when it rises in Sukhā or in Varuṇī, it becomes visible.

विभायामर्द्धरात्रं स्यान्माहेन्द्य्रामस्तमेति च। तदा दक्षिणपूर्व्वेषामपराह्नो विधीयते ॥ ५०.

When it is midnight in Vibhā, the Sun sets in Mahendra; at that time, it is afternoon for those in the southeastern regions.

दक्षिणापर देश्यानां पूर्व्वाह्नः परिकीर्त्त्यते। तेषामपररात्रञ्च ये जना उत्तरापथे ॥ ५०.

For those in the southwestern lands, it is morning; for those in the northern regions, it is midnight.