O Maitreya, listen as I recount the wonders of creation, for all rests upon that One—the Supreme Foundation—who pervades and supports the eight regions, such as Kimpurusha and others. In these regions, peace reigns; there is no sorrow, no toil, nor any disturbance from hunger, fear, or suffering. The people who dwell there are ever healthy and free from trouble, untouched by any form of pain. Their lives are steady and long, lasting ten or even twelve thousand years. In those blessed lands, there is no rainfall sent by the gods, nor water flowing as it does elsewhere on earth. There is no knowledge or experience of the changing ages—no Krita, Treta, or any other yuga. Each region is adorned with seven great mountain ranges, from which hundreds of rivers arise, nourishing the lands and their people. Now, hear of the land called Bhārata, O wise one. This land lies north of the ocean and south of the mighty Himalayas, and is famed as the dwelling place of the descendants of Bharata. Bhārata stretches nine thousand yojanas across and is renowned as the land of action, where mortals strive and, by their actions, attain either heaven or liberation. Within Bhārata, seven principal mountain ranges stand tall: Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimān, Ṛkṣa, Vindhya, and Pāriyātra. Here, by virtue, people ascend to heaven, or, turning from righteousness, fall into animal birth or hell. Indeed, it is only in this land of action that mortals can reach heaven, liberation, the intermediate, or the final states—nowhere else is this possible. Bhārata itself is divided into nine regions: Indradvīpa, Kaseru, Tāmraparṇī, Gabhastimān, Nāgadvīpa, Sāmyaka, Gandharva, Cāruṇa, and the ninth, a great island surrounded by the ocean. This island stretches a thousand yojanas from south to north. At its eastern end dwell the Kirātas, and at the western end, the Yavanas. In the middle, the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras live in their respective regions, each engaged in their own duties—worship, warfare, trade, and other occupations. From the foot of the Himalayas flow the rivers Śatadrū, Candrabhāgā, and many others. From the Pāriyātra mountains arise rivers such as Vedasmṛti and Mukhā. The Vindhya mountains give birth to the Narmadā, Murasā, and others, while the Ṛkṣa range is the source of Tāpi, Payoṣṇī, Nirvindhyā, and Prasūkhā. The Sahya mountains send forth the Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, Kṛṣṇaveṇī, and more—rivers known to remove the fear of sin. From the Malaya mountains spring the Kṛtamālā, Tāmraparṇī, and Prasūkhā, while Mahendra gives rise to the Trisāmā, Carṣikulyā, and others. The Śuktimān mountains are the source of Ṛṣikulyā, Kumārā, and many more. Each river is fed by countless tributaries, and indeed there are thousands of rivers in this land. In Bhārata dwell peoples of many kinds: the Kurus, Panchalas, those of Madhyadesha, and others, as well as those from the east and south—the Pundras, Kalingas, Magadhas, Aparantas, Saurashtras, Shuras, Abhiras, Arbudas, Karushas, Malavas, Paripatra dwellers, Sauvira, Saindhava, Huna, Salva, and the people of Kosala. There are also the Madrakas, Ramas, Ambasthas, Parasikas, and many more. All these peoples drink the waters of the rivers and live together in regions filled with joy and prosperity. Only in Bhārata are the four yugas—Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali—known; elsewhere, they are not. Here, ascetics practice austerities, sacrificers offer oblations, and gifts are given with reverence for the sake of the next world. In Jambudvipa, men worship the Purusha of sacrifice through offerings, while in other dvipas, the sacrificial Vishnu is worshipped in different ways. Even among all these regions, Bhārata is foremost in Jambudvipa, for it is the land of action, while the others are lands of enjoyment. Here, only after thousands upon thousands of births does a being, by the accumulation of merit, obtain the rare blessing of human birth. The gods themselves sing, "Blessed are those born in the land of Bhārata, the path to heaven and liberation, for there, by virtue, men are born again and again." Those who renounce actions and their fruits to Vishnu, the Supreme Self, and, having attained the greatness of action, merge into Him—such pure souls truly attain the highest. When the karma that leads to heaven is exhausted and the body falls away, none know where they will go; truly blessed are those humans in Bhārata who are not deprived of their senses. Thus, O Maitreya, I have briefly described Jambudvipa with its nine regions, stretching a hundred thousand yojanas. Encircling Jambudvipa, like a ring, lies the ocean of salt water. Just as Jambudvipa is surrounded by the salt ocean, so too is the salt ocean encircled by Plakshadvipa. Jambudvipa extends a hundred thousand yojanas; Plakshadvipa, O Brahman, is twice as vast. Medhatithi is the lord of Plakshadvipa, and his seven sons—Shantahaya, Shishira, Sukhodaya, Ananda, Shiva, Kshemaka, and Dhruva—rule its seven regions. These regions are marked by seven great mountains: Gomada, Candra, Nārada, Dundubhi, Somaka, Mumanā, and Vaibhrāja. In these delightful mountain lands, the sinless people dwell always together with gods and gandharvas, living in harmony and joy.