Vayu Purana

खे तस्योत्तरतश्चैव श्रृङ्गवान्नाम पर्वतः। त्रीणि तस्य तु श्रृङ्गाणि स्पृशन्तीव नभस्तलम् ॥ ५०.

In the sky, to its north, is the mountain named Śṛṅgavān; it has three peaks that seem to touch the vault of heaven.

तैश्चापि श्रृङ्गवान्नाम सर्वतश्चैव विश्रुतः। एकमार्गश्च विस्तारो विष्कम्भश्चापि कीर्तितः ॥ ५०.

Because of these peaks, it is known everywhere as Śṛṅgavān; it is described as having a single path, breadth, and expanse.

तस्य वै सर्वतः श्रृङ्गं मध्यमन्तद्धिरण्मयम्। दक्षिणं राजतञ्चैव श्रृङ्गं तु स्फटिकप्रभम् ॥ ५०.

Of all its peaks, the central one is golden; the southern is of silver, and the peak shines with the brilliance of crystal.

सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं श्रृङ्गमुत्तरमुत्तमम्। एवं कूटैस्रिभिः शैलैः श्रृङ्गवानिति विश्रुतः ॥ ५०.

The northernmost and highest peak is made of all precious gems; thus, with such summits and mountains, it is renowned as Śṛṅgavān.

यत्तद्विषुवतं श्रृङ्गन्तदर्कः प्रतिपद्यते। शरद्वसन्तयोर्मध्ये मध्यमां गतिमास्थितः। अहस्तुल्यामथो रात्रिं करोति तिमिरापहः ॥ ५०.

That peak which is at the equator is reached by the Sun, who, in the midst of autumn and spring, takes up the middle course, making day and night equal and dispelling darkness.

हरिताश्च हया दिव्यास्ते नियुक्ता महारथे। अनुलिप्ता इवाभान्ति पझरक्तैर्गभस्तिभिः ॥ ५०.

The divine horses, green in color, are yoked to the great chariot; they appear as if smeared with red, by the Sun's rays.

मेषान्ते च तुलान्ते च भास्करोदयतः स्मृताः । मुहूर्त्ता दश पञ्चैव अहोरात्रिश्च तावती ॥ ५०.

At the end of Aries and at the end of Libra, from the Sun's rising, there are counted exactly fifteen muhūrtas, and the day and night are of equal length.

कृत्तिकानां यदा सूर्यः प्रथमांशगतो भवेत् । विशाखानां तथा ज्ञेयश्चतुर्थांशे निशाकरः॥ ५०.

When the Sun enters the first degree of Kṛttikā, and likewise, the Moon is to be known as being in the fourth degree of Viśākhā.

विशाखायां यदा सूर्य श्च्रतेंऽशं तृतीयकम्। तदा चन्द्रं विजानीयात् कृत्तिकाशिरसि स्थितम् ॥ ५०.

When the Sun is in the third degree of Viśākhā, then know that the Moon is stationed at the head of Kṛttikā.

विषुवन्तं तदा विद्यादेवमाहुर्महर्षयः। सूर्येण विषुवं विद्यात् कालं सोमेन लक्षयेत् ॥ ५०.

At that time, the equinox is to be known, so say the great sages; the equinox is to be determined by the Sun, and the time by the Moon.

समा रात्रिरहश्चैव यदा तद्विषुवद्भवेत्। तदा दानानि देयानि पितृभ्यो विषुवत्यपि। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषेण मुखमेतत्तु दैवतम् ॥ ५०.

When day and night are equal, that is the equinox; then gifts should be given to the ancestors at the equinox, and especially to Brāhmaṇas—this is the foremost time for offerings to the gods.

ऊनरात्राधिमासौ च कलाकाष्ठामुहूर्त्तकाः। पौर्णमासी तथा ज्ञेया अमावास्या तथैव च। सिनीवाली कुहूश्चैव राका चानुमति स्तथा ॥ ५०.

The months with shorter nights, intercalary months, kalās, kāṣṭhās, muhūrtas, the full moon, and likewise the new moon, Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Rākā, and Anumati are to be known.

तपस्तपस्यौ मधुमाधवौ च शुक्रः शुचिश्चायनमुत्तरं स्यात्। नभो नभश्योऽथ इषुः सहोर्जः सहःसहस्याविति दक्षिणं स्यात् ॥ ५०.

Tapas and Tapasyā, Madhū and Mādhava, Śukra and Śuci are the names of the northern ayana; Nabhas, Nabhasya, Iṣu, Sahas, Sahasya, and Aviti are the names of the southern ayana.

संवत्सरास्ततो ज्ञेयाः पञ्चाब्दा ब्रब्मणः सुताः। तस्मात्तु ऋतवो ज्ञेया ऋतवो ह्यन्तराः स्मृताः ॥ ५०.

From that, the years are to be understood, and five years are said to be the children of Brahma; from them, the seasons are to be known, for the seasons are considered as intervals.

तस्मादनुमुखा ज्ञेया अमावास्यास्य पर्वणः. तस्मात्तु विषुवं ज्ञेयं पितृदैवहितं सदा ॥ ५०.

From that, the new moons are to be known as the faces of the lunar phases; and from that, the equinox is to be understood, which is always beneficial to ancestors and gods.

एवं ज्ञात्वा न मुह्येत दैवे पित्र्ये च मानवः। तस्मात् स्मृतं प्रजानां वै विषुवत्सर्वगं सदा ॥ ५०.

Knowing thus, a person does not become confused regarding the rites for gods and ancestors; therefore, the equinox is always remembered as common to all beings.

आलोकान्तः स्मृतो लोको लोकान्तो लोक उच्यते। लोकपालाः स्थितास्तत्र लोकालोकस्य मध्यतः ॥ ५०.

The world is said to be up to the end of light; beyond the world is called 'lokānta'; the guardians of the worlds are established there, in the midst of the world and the beyond.

चत्वारस्ते महात्मानस्तिष्ठन्त्याभूतसम्प्लवात्। सुधामा चैव वैराजः कर्द्दमः शङ्‌कृपस्तथा। हिरण्यलोमा पर्ज्जन्यः केतुमान् जातनिश्चयः ॥ ५०.

There stand four great souls from before the dissolution of beings: Sudhāmā, Vairāja, Kardama, and Śaṅkṛpa; Hiraṇyalomā, Parjanya, Ketumān, and Jātaniścaya.

निर्द्वन्द्वा निरभीमाना निस्तन्त्रा निष्परिग्रहाः। लोकपालाः स्थिता ह्येते लोकालोके चतुर्दिशम् ॥ ५०.

These guardians of the worlds, free from duality, pride, bondage, and possession, are established in the four directions between the world and the beyond.

उत्तरं यदगस्त्यस्य अजवीथ्याश्च दक्षिणम्। पितृयाणः स वै पन्था वैश्वानरपथाद्बहिः ॥ ५०.

North of Agastya and south of the Ajavīthī is the path of the ancestors, which lies outside the Vaiśvānarapatha.

तत्रासते प्रजावन्तो मुनयो ह्यग्निहोत्रिणः । लोकस्य सन्तानकराः पितृयाणे पथि स्थिताः ॥ ५०.

There dwell sages who perform the Agnihotra, endowed with offspring, who are established on the path of the ancestors, as sustainers of the world.

भूतारम्भ कृतं कर्म आशिषा ऋत्विगुच्यते । प्रारभन्ते लोककामास्तेषां पन्थाः स दक्षिणः ॥ ५०.

The ritual action performed for the beginning of beings is called by the priests 'āśiṣā'; those who desire worlds undertake it, and for them, that southern path exists.

चलितन्ते पुनर्द्धर्मं स्थापयन्ति युगे युगे। सन्तत्या तपसा चैव मर्यादाभिः श्रुतेन च ॥ ५०.

When they deviate, they restore righteousness in every age, through progeny, austerity, boundaries, and the Veda.

जायमानास्तु पूर्वे वै पश्चिमानां गृहेषु च। पश्चिमाश्चैव जायन्ते पूर्वेषां निधनेष्वपि। एव मावर्त्तमानास्ते तिष्ठन्त्याभूतसम्प्लवात् ॥ ५०.

Those born earlier are in the houses of the later-born, and the later-born are born even at the deaths of the former; thus, revolving, they remain from before the dissolution of beings.

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनां गृहमेधिनाम्। सवितुर्द्दक्षिणं मार्गं श्रिता ह्याचन्द्रतारकम्। क्रियावतां प्रसङ्ख्येया ये श्मशानानि भेजिरे ॥ ५०.

Eighty-four thousand householders among the sages, who have taken the southern path of the sun up to the moon and stars, are to be counted among those who, being active in rites, have entered the cremation grounds.

लोकशंव्यवहारेण भूतारम्भकृतेन च। इच्छाद्वेषप्रकृत्या च मैथुनोपगमेन च ॥ ५०.

Through worldly dealings, actions for the beginning of beings, the nature of desire and aversion, and sexual union,

तथा कायकृतेनेह सेवनाद्विषयस्य च। एतैस्तैः कारणैः सिद्धाः श्मशानानि हि भेजिरे। प्रजैषिणस्ते मुनयो द्वापरेष्विह जज्ञिरे ॥ ५०.

And likewise through bodily actions here, and enjoyment of sense objects, by these various causes, those who have attained success have entered the cremation grounds; those sages desiring progeny were born here in the Dvāpara ages.

नागवीथ्युत्तरे यच्च सप्तर्षिभ्यश्च दक्षिणम् । उत्तरः सवितुः पन्था देवयानस्तु स स्मृतः ॥ ५०.

North of the Nāgavīthī and south of the Saptarṣis, the northern path of the sun is remembered as the way of the gods.

यत्र ते वासिनः सिद्धा विमला ब्रह्मचारिणः। सततन्ते जुगुप्सन्ते तस्मान्मृत्युर्ज्जितस्तु तैः ॥ ५०.

There reside perfected ones, pure and celibate; they are always restrained and averse, and by them, death is conquered.