Vayu Purana

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.

देशा उत्तरपूर्व्वा ये पूर्व्वरात्रन्तु तान् प्रति। एवमेवोत्तरेष्वर्को भवनेषु विराजते ॥ ५०.

For those in the northeastern lands, it is early night; likewise, in the northern regions, the Sun shines in their dwellings.

सुखायामथ वारुण्यां मध्याह्ने चार्य्यमा यदा। विभावर्य्यां सोमपुर्य्यामुत्तिष्ठति विभावसुः ॥ ५०.

When Aryaman is at midday in Sukhā or Varuṇī, the Sun rises in Vibhā or in Soma's city.

रात्र्यर्द्धं चामरावत्यामस्तमेति यमस्य च। सोमपुर्यां विभायान्तु मध्याह्ने स्याद्धिवाकरः ॥ ५०.

At midnight in Amaravati, the Sun sets in Yama's realm; in Soma's city, at dawn, it is midday for the Sun.

महेन्द्रस्यामरावत्यामुत्तिष्ठति यदा रविः। अर्द्धरात्रं संयमने वारुण्यामस्तमेति च ॥ ५०.

When the Sun rises in Mahendra's Amaravati, it is midnight in the realm of restraint, and it sets in Varuṇī.

स शीग्रमेति पर्य्येति भास्करोऽलातचक्रवत्। भ्रमन् वै भ्रममाणानि ऋक्षाणि गगने रविः ॥ ५०.

The Sun moves swiftly and circles like a wheel of fire, revolving among the stars in the sky.

एवं चतुर्षु द्वीपेषु दक्षिणान्तेन सर्पति। उदयास्तमनेनासावुत्तिष्ठति पुनः पुनः ॥ ५०.

Thus, in the four continents, it travels along the southern path, rising and setting again and again.

पूर्व्वाह्ने चापराह्ने तु द्वौ द्वौ देवालयौ तु सः। तपत्येकन्तु मध्याह्ने तैरेव तु सरश्मिभिः ॥ ५०.

In the morning and afternoon, the Sun shines upon two temples each; at midday, it heats them with its rays.

उदितो वर्द्धमानाभिरामध्याह्नं तपन् रविः। अतः परं ह्रसन्तीभिर्गोभिरस्तं स गच्छति ॥ ५०.

Rising, the Sun increases its heat until midday; after that, its rays diminish and it goes to set.

उदयास्तमयाभ्यां हिस्मृते पूर्वापरे दिशो। यावत्पुरस्तात्तपति तावत् पृष्ठे तु पार्श्वयोः ॥ ५०.

By sunrise and sunset, the eastern and western directions are known; as long as it shines in front, it is behind and to the sides.

यत्रोद्यन् दृश्यते सूर्यस्तेषां स उदयः स्मृतः। यत्र प्रणाशमायाति तेषामस्तः स उच्यते ॥ ५०.

Wherever the Sun is seen rising, that is called sunrise for them; wherever it disappears, that is called sunset.