O wise Maitreya, listen as the wondrous geography and sacred mysteries of the world unfold. There exists a river whose waters are so pure and divine that, when drunk by the inhabitants of its realm, it grants them remarkable blessings: their bodies never sweat, nor emit foul odors; they are untouched by old age or decline of the senses. Those who partake of this river, endowed with pure minds, are born anew in that land. Even the river’s foam, when dried by gentle winds and carried to its banks, transforms into gold known as Jāmbūnada, a precious metal fit for the ornaments of perfected beings. To the east of the great mountain Meru lies the region of Bhadrāśva, and to its west is Ketumāla; between these two rests Ilāvṛta, the central land. In the east stands the forest Caitraratha, to the south Gandhamādana, to the west Vaibhrāja, and to the north the renowned Nandana forest. Four lakes—Aruṇoda, Mahābhadra, Asitoda, and Śamāna—are always enjoyed by the gods. To the east of Meru rise the beautiful Kesarācala mountains: Śītānta, Śvakramuñja, Kurarī, Mālyavān, Vaikaṅka, Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, and Rucaka. To the south, beginning with Niṣadha, are more Kesarācala peaks: Śikhivāsa, Savaidūrya, Kapila, and Gandhamādana. To the west, starting with Jārudhi, and to the north, beginning with Kālañjara, these sacred mountains surround Meru. Adjacent to Meru, in regions like Jaṭhara, are mountains such as Śaṅkhakūṭa, Ṛṣabha, Haṃsa, Nāga, and others. Atop Meru stands the magnificent city of Brahmā, renowned throughout the heavens, spanning fourteen thousand yojanas. Surrounding it in all eight directions and their intermediates are the splendid cities of Indra and the other guardians of the worlds. From the feet of Viṣṇu, the celestial Gaṅgā emerges, flooding the lunar orb, and then descends from heaven, encircling the city of Brahmā. There, she divides into four streams flowing in different directions: Sītā, Alakanandā, Cakṣurbhadā, and Bhadrā. Sītā flows from the eastern mountain through the sky to another peak, then follows the eastern course to Bhadrāśva and finally reaches the ocean. Similarly, Alakanandā flows southward into Bhārata, divides into seven branches, and enters the sea. Cakṣu, crossing the western mountains, reaches Ketumālā and enters the ocean. Bhadrā, crossing the northern mountains and Kurus, proceeds to the northern ocean. Meru itself stands in the midst of the mountains Ānīla, Niṣadha, Mālyavat, and Gandhamādana, shaped like the pericarp of a lotus. The regions of Bhārata, Ketumāla, Bhadrāśva, and Kuru are like the petals of this world-lotus, each marked by mountain boundaries. Jaṭhara and Devakūṭa are boundary mountains to the south and north, lying between Ānīla and Niṣadha. Gandhamādana and Kailāsa are situated to the east and west, each eighty yojanas long. Niṣadha and Pāriśātra are boundary mountains on either side of Meru, while Triśṛṅga and Jārudhi are the northern boundaries, placed to the east and west. Thus, O best of sages, these boundary mountains beginning with Jaṭhara are established around Meru in all four directions. The Kesara mountains, beginning with Śītānta, adorn all sides of Meru, their beauty unmatched. In the valleys among these mountains, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, lie delightful ancient 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 mountain valleys, day and night. These regions are considered earthly heavens, abodes of the righteous. Those who perform evil deeds cannot reach them, even in hundreds of births. In Bhadrāśva, blessed Viṣṇu dwells as Hayagrīva; in Ketumāla, as Varāha; in Bhārata, as Kūrma; and in Kuru, Govinda abides in the form of a fish. Hari, in his universal form, pervades all, present everywhere. O Maitreya, that One who is the foundation of all, who pervades everything, supports the eight regions such as Kimpurusha and others. In these regions, there is no sorrow, no toil, nor disturbance from hunger, fear, or the like. The people there are healthy, free from trouble, untouched by suffering, their lives steady and lasting ten or twelve thousand years. In those regions, the gods do not send rain, nor is there water on the earth as elsewhere; there is no conception of the ages such as Krita or Treta. In each of these regions, seven great mountain ranges rise, and from them, hundreds of rivers flow. Now, O sage, hear of Bhārata: the land lying north of the ocean and south of the Himalayas, where the descendants of Bharata dwell. Its breadth is nine thousand yojanas. This is the land of action, where people attain heaven or liberation. Here are the seven principal mountain ranges: Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra. From this land, people attain heaven by merit, or, departing from righteousness, fall to animal birth or hell. Here alone are heaven, liberation, the intermediate, and final states reached; for mortals, the land of action is not established elsewhere. O best of sages, within Bhārata are nine regions: Indradvīpa, Kaseru, Tāmraparṇī, Gabhastimān… Thus is the sacred geography and divine order of the world revealed.