O Maitreya, listen as I recount the wondrous and fearful arrangements of the universe as revealed by Parāśara. Just as water in a pot rises when placed over a fire, so too does the water in the vast ocean swell and rise with the waxing of the moon. The ocean’s waters neither fall short nor overflow their bounds, but faithfully increase and decrease with the rising and setting of the moon, following the rhythms of the bright and dark fortnights. O best of sages, it is observed that the moment of increase in the ocean’s waters measures five hundred and ten finger-breadths. Now, in the island of Puṣkara, food appears of its own accord. All who dwell there, O brāhmaṇa, partake always of food that delights the senses with all six tastes. Beyond the sweet-water ocean lies a region known as Lokasaṃsthiti, golden and radiant, twice as large as the ocean itself, but entirely devoid of living beings. Further still stands the mighty mountain Lokāloka, stretching ten thousand yojanas in width and rising just as many thousands in height. Beyond this, darkness envelops the shell of the world, surrounding it on all sides. And this darkness itself is encircled by the fierce shell of the cosmic egg. The earth, O great sage, together with this cosmic shell, the continents, oceans, and great mountains, extends for five hundred million leagues. This earth is the supporter and sustainer of all, surpassing all beings in its qualities, and forms the very foundation of all worlds. Now, O sage, listen further as Parāśara describes the hells that lie beneath the earth and waters—dreadful places into which sinners are cast. There are many such hells: Raurava, Sūkara, Rodha, Tāla, Viśasana, Mahājvāla, Taptakumbha, Lavaṇa, and Vilohita; also Rudhirāmbha, Vaitaraṇī, Krimiśa, Krimibhojana, Asipatravana, Kṛṣṇa, and the dreadful Lālābhakṣa; Pūyavaha, Pāpa, Vahnijvāla, Adhaḥśirā, Saṃdaṃśa, Kālasūtra, Tamaḥ, and Avīci; Śvabhojana, Athāpratiṣṭha, Āpraci, and many others—each exceedingly terrible. In the realm of Yama, these fearsome places, filled with threats of weapons and fire, await those devoted to sinful acts. The man who gives false testimony, who speaks with partiality, or utters lies, falls into Raurava. He who kills a fetus, destroys a city, slays a herd of cows, or restrains another’s breath, is cast into the hell called Rodha. One who drinks liquor, kills a Brāhmaṇa, steals gold, or associates with such offenders, finds himself in Sūkara hell. He who kills a Kṣatriya or Vaiśya, violates his teacher’s bed, sheds blood in heated vessels, or slays royal guards, is condemned to hell. Those who sell a virtuous wife, jailers, sellers of lion’s manes, or those who abandon their devotees—all are cast into heated iron. He who approaches his own daughter-in-law or daughter is thrown into the great flame. One who insults teachers or abuses others, who corrupts or sells the Veda, or goes to forbidden women, is sent to Lavaṇa hell. Thieves and those who violate boundaries fall into molten iron. He who hates the gods, Brāhmaṇas, or ancestors, or corrupts gems, is cast into the hells of worms, Krimibhakṣa or Krimīśa. The lowest of men, who eats without first honoring ancestors, gods, and guests, is condemned to eat only saliva and endures torment in a place pierced by arrows and stakes. Those who cut off ears, or kill with swords, are sent to a hell of torture. One who accepts improper gifts hangs head down in hell, as does the priest who performs sacrifices for the unworthy and the astrologer who points out stars for omens. He who eats black gram with pus, or eats alone and with haste, goes to hell. A Brahmin who sells lac, meat, liquids, sesame seeds, or salt, as well as one who keeps cats, cocks, goats, dogs, pigs, or birds for livelihood, all suffer the same fate. Gamblers, fishermen, those who eat from earthen pots, poisoners, needle-makers, buffalo-keepers, and Brahmins who work on festival days are likewise condemned. Arsonists, friend-slayers, soothsayers, village priests, those blinded by blood, and sellers of Soma—all fall into hell. One who destroys a sacrifice or a village is cast into the river Vaitaraṇī. Those who commit seminal loss, violate boundaries, remain impure, or live by deceit, descend into the dark hell. He who cuts down forests without cause is sent to the forest of sword-leaves, while sheep-stealers and hunters fall into flames. Those who set fire to houses or fields share this fate. He who breaks vows or abandons his own order falls, along with accomplices, into the midst of iron-pincer torments. Men who, as celibates, emit semen in sleep or by day, and those who teach their sons the Veda, are consigned to be food for dogs. These and countless other hells, by the hundreds and thousands, await those who have committed evil deeds, where they must suffer torments. Just as these sins exist, so too do thousands of others, and men experience the consequences of their actions in the various regions of hell. Thus, O Maitreya, is the order of the world and the fates that await souls as described by the wise Parāśara.