Even Bhavya, the noble and great-souled lord of Śākadvīpa, had seven sons. To each son, he entrusted a region of that vast land, dividing Śākadvīpa into seven parts. The sons were named Jalada, Kumāra, Mukumāra, Marīcaka, Kusumoda, Maudāki, and Mahādruma, and the regions themselves came to bear their names in succession. Seven majestic mountains, too, rise there, marking the boundaries between these lands: Udaya in the east, Jalādhāra, Raivataka, Śyāma, Astagiri, Āmbikeya, and, most splendid of all, Kesari. At the heart of Śākadvīpa stands the great Śāka tree, venerated by Siddhas and Gandharvas alike. The very wind stirred by its branches brings supreme delight to all who dwell nearby. The people of this dvīpa are virtuous, organized into the four classes, and their land is blessed with sacred rivers that wash away all fear of sin. Seven principal rivers flow through Śākadvīpa: Sukumārī, Kumārī, Nalinī, Dhenukā, Ikṣu, Veṇukā, and Gabhastī. Countless other smaller rivers and innumerable mountains grace the land as well. The inhabitants of regions such as Jalada drink joyfully from these rivers. These people, it is said, have descended from heaven to dwell upon the earth. Among them, righteousness never wanes; there is no conflict, nor do they ever transgress the boundaries of their regions. The peoples of Śākadvīpa include the Vaṅgas, Māgadhas, Mānasas, and Mandagas. Among these, the Vaṅgas are chiefly Brāhmaṇas, the Māgadhas are Kṣatriyas, the Mānasas are Vaiśyas, and the Mandagas are Śūdras. Here, Viṣṇu is worshipped in the form of the radiant Sun. Those of disciplined mind perform the prescribed rites with devotion. Śākadvīpa itself is encircled by the ocean of milk, which forms a perfect ring around it, equal in extent to the dvīpa it surrounds. Beyond the ocean of milk lies the island of Puṣkara, which is twice the size of Śākadvīpa in every direction. On Puṣkara, the mighty Savanā had a son named Mahāvīra. This island is divided into two great regions: Mahāvīra and Dhātukī, also called Dhātukīkhanda. A single renowned mountain, Mānasa, stands at the center, perfectly circular and rising fifty thousand yojanas both in height and width. This mountain divides Puṣkara into its two regions, each of which is itself encircled by a ring-shaped mountain. The people of Puṣkara enjoy lives of ten thousand years, untouched by disease or sorrow, and free from attachment or aversion. Among them, there are no distinctions of high or low, no violence, no envy or fear, no hatred or greed—none of the faults that trouble other lands. The outermost region, called Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, is honored by gods, demons, and other beings, and lies to the north of Lake Mānasa. In Puṣkara, truth and falsehood dwell side by side, yet there are no rivers or mountains apart from the central Mānasa. The humans and gods who live there are equal in appearance. There are no divisions by caste or stage of life, no ritual duties, no recitation of the Vedas, no legal punishments or service. These two regions—Dhātakīkhaṇḍa and Mahāvīra—are considered the highest of earthly heavens, ever pleasant in every season, free from old age, disease, and all such afflictions. At the heart of Puṣkara stands the great Nyagrodha tree, the supreme abode of Brahmā. Here, Brahmā himself resides, worshipped by gods and demons alike. Puṣkara is surrounded by an ocean of sweet water, which is perfectly circular and matches the island in size. Thus, the islands and oceans of the world are arranged in seven concentric rings, each pair—dvīpa and ocean—equal in size, with each successive set double the size of the previous. The waters of all the oceans remain always equal, never lacking or overflowing. As water in a pot rises when heated, so too does the ocean swell with the waxing of the moon. The waters increase and decrease with the moon’s cycles, rising and falling during the bright and dark fortnights. The increase in the ocean’s waters is measured as five hundred and ten finger-breadths. On Puṣkara, food of every flavor appears spontaneously, and the people partake of six kinds of tastes, never lacking nourishment. Beyond the sweet-water ocean lies the region called Lokasaṃsthiti, golden and twice as large, but devoid of all living beings. Beyond that stands the mighty mountain Lokāloka, ten thousand yojanas wide and as many high. Beyond Lokāloka, darkness envelops all, forming the boundary of the world-egg, and this darkness is itself encased by the fierce shell of the cosmic egg. The earth, together with its shell, continents, oceans, and great mountains, extends for five hundred million leagues. This earth is the supporter and sustainer of all, surpassing every being in its qualities, and forms the very foundation of all worlds. Having thus described the lands above, Parāśara continued, “Now, O sage, listen as I tell you of the hells beneath the earth and waters, into which sinners are cast.