Listen, O noble one, to the wondrous description of the regions and mountains surrounding the golden Meru, the heart of Jambūdvīpa. In the midst of Jambūdvīpa, there are seven great regions, each vast and majestic. Two of these central regions measure a hundred thousand yojanas across, while the others are each ten thousand yojanas less in width. Their towering heights reach three thousand yojanas, and their expanse matches their breadth. The foremost of these regions is Bhārata, followed by the land known as Kimpuruṣa. South of the radiant Meru lies Harivarṣa. In the north is Ramyaka, and beside it is Hiraṇmaya; the Uttarakurus are also found there, just as Bhārata is. Each of these regions extends nine thousand yojanas, and at their very center stands Ilāvṛta, crowned by the golden summit of Meru. To the east of Meru lies Ilāvṛta, stretching nine thousand yojanas, and here rise four magnificent mountains, which serve as buttresses to Meru itself. These are Mandara to the east, Gandhamādana to the south, Vipula to the west, and Supārśva to the north. Each mountain soars ten thousand yojanas into the sky. Upon these mountains grow extraordinary trees—kadamba, jambū, pippala, and banyan—each as tall as the mountain peaks themselves, reaching a height of eleven hundred yojanas. Among them, the great jambū tree gives its name to the entire land, Jambūdvīpa. Its fruits are immense, the size of great elephants, and when they fall and shatter upon the mountain slopes, their juice flows in abundance, forming the celebrated river Jambūnadī. The people who dwell there drink of this river, and by its virtue, they are free from sweat, foul odors, old age, and the decline of the senses. Those pure of mind are born there, and when the river’s foam, dried by gentle breezes, settles upon the banks, it becomes the gold known as Jāmbūnada, fit for the ornaments of the perfected beings. To the east of Meru lies the region of Bhadrāśva, and to the west, Ketumāla; Ilāvṛta stretches between them. In these lands, to the east is the celebrated forest Caitraratha, to the south is Gandhamādana, to the west is Vaibhrāja, and to the north lies the renowned Nandana grove. Four sacred lakes—Aruṇoda, Mahābhadra, Asitoda, and Śamāna—are ever enjoyed by the gods. To the east of Meru stand the Kesarācala mountains: Śītānta, Śvakramuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavān, Vaikaṅka, and others, along with Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, and Rucaka. To the south, beginning with Niṣadha, are Śikhivāsa, Savaidūrya, Kapila, and Gandhamādana. To the west, starting with Jārudhi, are more Kesarācala peaks. In regions such as Jaṭhara, adjacent to Meru, rise Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, and others; to the north, beginning with Kālañjara, are further Kesarācala mountains. Atop the summit of Meru stands the great city of Brahmā, famed in all the heavens, measuring fourteen thousand yojanas. Around it, in all eight directions and their intermediate quarters, are the splendid cities of Indra and the other guardians of the worlds. From the very feet of Viṣṇu, the Gaṅgā emerges, flooding the lunar orb and cascading from heaven to encircle the city of Brahmā. There, she divides into four mighty streams: Sītā, Alakanandā, Cakṣurbhadā, and Bhadrā. Sītā flows eastward through the sky, reaching the mountain and then, by the eastern course, enters the ocean at Bhadrāśva. Alakanandā flows south into Bhārata, where it divides into seven branches before entering the sea. Cakṣu crosses the western mountains, reaches Ketumālā, and enters the western ocean. Bhadrā passes over the northern mountains and the land of the northern Kurus, finally reaching the northern ocean. Meru itself is encircled by the mountains Ānīla and Niṣadha, with Mālyavat and Gandhamādana as well, standing like the pericarp of a great lotus. The regions of Bhāratas, Ketumālās, Bhadrāśvas, and Kurus are the petals of this world-lotus, each marked by their bounding mountains. Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa are the southern and northern boundary mountains, lying between Ānīla and Niṣadha. Gandhamādana and Kailāsa stand to the east and west, each eighty yojanas in length. Niṣadha and Pāriśātra are boundary mountains on the flanks of Meru, while Triśṛṅga and Jārudhi are the northern boundary mountains, situated to the east and west. Thus, O best of sages, these boundary mountains beginning with Jaṭhara are arranged around Meru in every direction. The Kesarācala mountains, beginning with Śītānta, adorn all four sides of Meru, each exceedingly beautiful. In the valleys among these mountains, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, are ancient and delightful forests. Within these regions are the sacred abodes of Lakṣmī, Viṣṇu, Agni, Sūrya, and other gods, enjoyed by noble Kinnaras. Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Daityas, and Dānavas all sport in these charming valleys, day and night. These places are considered the earthly heavens, the abodes of the virtuous; those who perform evil deeds cannot reach them, not even in hundreds of births. In Bhadrāśva, the blessed Viṣṇu abides as Hayagrīva; in Ketumāla as Varāha; and in Bhārata as Kūrma. In Kuru, Govinda dwells in the form of a fish, O Janārdana. Yet Hari, in his universal form, pervades everywhere, present in all things and in all places.