Listen, O noble one, to the account of the islands and their peoples as revealed by the wise Parāśara. The ninth island, encircled by the ocean, is known as Nāgadvīpa, along with Sāmyaka, Gandharva, and Cāruṇa. This island stretches a thousand yojanas from south to north. At its eastern end reside the Kirātas, while the Yavanas dwell at the western end. In the central regions, the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras live each in their own areas, engaged in their respective duties—worship, warfare, trade, and other occupations. From the foot of the mighty Himalayas arise the rivers Śatadrū and Candrabhāgā, among others. From the Pāriyātra mountains, rivers such as Vedasmṛti and Mukhā begin their flow. The Narmadā and Murasā rivers spring from the Vindhya mountains, while the Tāpi, Payoṣṇī, Nirvindhyā, and Prasūkhā rivers emerge from the Ṛkṣa range. The Godāvarī, Bhīmarathī, and Kṛṣṇaveṇī, among other rivers, are born at the foot of the Sahya mountains, and these sacred waters are said to remove the fear of sin. From the Malaya mountains flow the Kṛtamālā, Tāmraparṇī, and Prasūkhā rivers; the Trisāmā, Carṣikulyā, and others arise from the Mahendra range. At the foot of Śuktimān, the Ṛṣikulyā, Kumārā, and other rivers have their source. All these rivers, with their countless tributaries, nourish the land, and there are thousands more besides. Upon these lands dwell many peoples: the Kurus, the Panchalas, and those of the Madhyadeśa, as well as the folk of the eastern regions and beyond, each settling wherever they wish and in whatever forms they please. The Pundras, Kalingas, Magadhas, and those of the southern regions live here too, along with the Aparantas, Saurashtras, Shuras, Abhiras, and Arbudas. The Karushas, Malavas, and those who reside in the Paripatra mountains, as well as the Sauvira, Saindhava, Huna, Salva, and the people of Kosala, make this land their home. The Madrakas, Ramas, Ambasthas, Parasikas, and others also dwell here, drinking the waters and living together in regions filled with joy and prosperity. In this land of Bharata, O great sage, four yugas unfold: Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali. Nowhere else do these ages exist. Here, ascetics perform austerities, and sacrificers offer oblations; here, gifts are given with reverence for the sake of the next world. In Jambudvīpa, men worship the Purusha of sacrifice through sacrifices, while in other dvīpas, the sacrificial Vishnu is honored in different ways. Yet even among all these, Bharata stands foremost in Jambudvīpa, for it is the land of action, while the others are lands of enjoyment. O best of beings, only after thousands upon thousands of births does a soul, by the accumulation of merit, attain human birth in Bharata. The gods themselves sing in praise: "Blessed are those born in Bharata, 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 who, having attained the greatness of action, merge into Him—these pure ones truly reach the highest. We do not know where we will go when the karma that leads to heaven is exhausted and the body falls away; truly blessed are those humans in Bharata who remain in possession of their senses. Thus, O Maitreya, I have briefly described Jambudvīpa to you, with its nine regions, stretching a hundred thousand yojanas. Encircling Jambudvīpa, itself a hundred thousand yojanas wide, lies the ocean of salt water, forming a great ring. Just as Jambudvīpa is surrounded by the salt ocean, so too, encircling that ocean, lies Plakṣadvīpa. The extent of Jambudvīpa is one hundred thousand yojanas, but Plakṣadvīpa is twice that size. The lord of Plakṣadvīpa, Medhātithi, had seven sons who became its rulers: the eldest, Śāntahaya, followed by Śiśira, Sukhodaya, Ānanda, Śiva, Kṣemaka, and the seventh, Dhruva. These seven reign over the seven regions of Plakṣadvīpa, each marked by boundaries of mountains. The principal mountains are Gomada, Candra, Nārada, Dundubhi, Somaka, Mumanā, and Vaibhrāja. In these delightful mountain regions and lands, sinless people dwell together with gods and gandharvas. There, holy communities flourish, and people live long lives, free from sorrow and disease, with happiness prevailing always. Seven sacred rivers flow through these lands to the ocean: Anutaptā, Śikhī, Vipāśā, Tridivāklama, Amṛtā, Sukṛtā, and the seventh, yet unnamed here. These rivers, when merely heard of, are said to remove sin. Besides these, there are thousands of lesser rivers and mountains, and the people joyfully drink from their waters. In these regions there is neither the Apasarpiṇī nor the Utsarpiṇī cycle, nor any division of ages as found elsewhere. Time there is always as in the Tretā Yuga, O wise one, both in Plakṣa and the other islands, and in the regions near Śāka Island. People live for five thousand years without illness, and dharma is followed according to the divisions of class and stage of life. There are four classes, known as Āryaka, Kurāra, Vidiśya, and Bhāvina, corresponding to Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras. At the center of Plakṣadvīpa stands a great tree, immense beyond measure by earthly standards, called Plakṣa. From this tree, the island takes its name, O best of the twice-born. Thus is described the wondrous land and its people, as revealed by the wise.