On that vast battlefield, warriors stood arrayed in all their might and diversity. Some bore daggers, their hands skilled in the art of close combat, while others wielded slings, sending stones whirling through the air. There were those whose fists struck like thunderbolts, and others who brandished goads, guiding their steeds or intimidating their foes. Among them, some gripped ploughs, demonstrating their mastery in tilling the earth even amidst war, while others held tridents, fierce and resolute. Some adorned themselves with chains and nets, ready to ensnare, while others wore garlands woven from gentle creepers, a touch of nature amidst the chaos. Spearmen, adept in their craft, clashed with those wielding lances, the tumult of their combat surging like waves in an ocean stirred at the end of an age. The whirling eddies of discus-weapons and the gusts from showers of arrows disturbed the sky, making it appear as a single vast ocean, its surface roiling with crocodiles formed from spinning missiles. Weapons surged like waves, armies crowded together like waters, and the battlefield transformed into a river-ocean, so formidable that even immortals would find it difficult to cross. The host of kings stood on either side, forming the two wings of the army, each occupying half the field, facing one another with resolve. Now, behold the peoples gathered from every region and direction, starting with those who dwell in the eastern quarter, upon the side of the lotus of Lila’s Lord. In the east, there are the Kāśis, Magadhas, Kosalas, Mithilas, Utkalas, Mekalas, Kavaṭas, Puṇḍras, as well as the Auṇḍras and the united Gauḍakas. There are the Drimayas, Madras, Suhmas, and the Tāmraliptas; also the Prāgjyotiṣas, Vājimukhas, Ambaṣṭhas, and Puruṣādas. Here too are the Karṇākṣas, Aviśrotras, those who eat raw fish, the Vyāghravaktras, Kirātas, Śavaras, and Ekapādas. In this region stand mountains: Mālyavān, Śibivān, and Jñāna; Vṛṣabhadhvaja, Padma, and the mountain called Udaya. Turning southeast, we see the dwellers on Mount Vindhya: the Cedayas, Vatsas, Dāśārṇas, Aṅgas, Vaṅgas, and the subordinate Vaṅgas. The Kaliṅgas, Puṇḍras, Jaṭharas, Vidarbhas, and Mekalas are there; also the Śavaras, Nagnaparṇas, and the Kaṇṭhatripurapūrikas. Here are the Kaṇṭakasthalas, the gentle ones of Pṛthudvīpaka, the Kaṇṭhadrās, the Śoṇikas, and those of Carmaṇvat. Kokakas, Hemakudyas, and Shmashrudharas; Baligrivas, Mahagrivas, Kishkindhas, and Nārikelinas also dwell here. On the southern side of the Lord’s play are mountains: Vindhya, Kusumapida, Mahendra, and Dundura. There are Malaya and Suryavansh, Ganarajya and Nrirajyaka; Avanti and Sambavati, Dashapurya, Ekakaccha, Rishikas, Turushkas, Shakas; Vanavasa, the mountain-dwellers, and the Bhadragiri people. Nagaras and Dandakas, Ganarajya and Nrirajyaka; Saharas, Rishyamukas, Karkotas, and Vanatimbilas. Padmas, Chaurakas, Karkaviras; Vairikas, Pashikas, and the people of Dharmapattana and Pamsikas. Shakikas, Krishnacheluras, Narmadas, Tamraparnakas; Gonandas, Kanakas, and the people of China-pattana. Talikatakas, those living along the rivers, Rahakas, Vennakarhanas; Vaivundakas, Tumbavanas, Lajinadvipa, and Karnakas. There are Karṇikāras, Śivayas, Kuṅkuṇas, Citrakūṭakas, Karṇāṭas, Mañcakaṭakas, and Mahākaṭavikas. Also the Āndhras, Kollas, Śinayas, Śivātakas, Cavairikās, Baladevas, Pattanakas, Krauñcas, and Ṭīvās. Śilākṣās, Radatas, Nandanandas, and Amalayas inhabit the peaks of Citrakūṭa, abodes of the hosts of Laṅkā’s guardians. In the southwestern direction are the Mahārāṣṭras, Surāṣṭras, Sindhus, Sauvīras, Śūdras, Ābhīras, and Dramiḍas. There are Koṭakas, Ṣaṇḍas and Sindhus, as well as Kaliruhas; the mountains Hemagiri and Raivataka rise here. In Mayavana, known as Nabhuka, dwell the Yavanas; the Pahlavas, Mārgaṇāvartas, and Dhūmrāmbaṣṭhakas. Lājakaṇas and those on Amragiri are found here, and beyond lies the ocean, with the fires of Aurva—these are the people of the Lord of Play. Turning to the regions opposite, in the west, prominent mountains appear: Matiman, Kshurarpana, Vanaukaha, Meghavan, Chakravan, and Astaparvata. The people here are Panchanada, Kasha, Brahmavasataka, Tarakshata, Parava, and Shantika. Beside Vatakapokra are Girivana and Avama; those who have forsaken the boundaries of righteousness are the low-born Mlecchas. A region of land stretches for two hundred yojanas, and then rises the peak of Mahendra, adorned with pearls and gems. Surrounded by hundreds of mountains is Astona, and on the shore of Pariyatra mountain are vast and terrible oceans. In the western and northern directions lies Girimati, then Venumati, followed by Turamati land. Also are Phalgunaka, Mandavya, Ekanetraka, Purukunda, Tukhara, Talamalla, and Lahavaha. Vandila, Navila, Vala, those with long hair and strong limbs; Ranga, Khamunika, Kampa, Guruha, and Aruhas as well. Then appears the kingdom of women, unmatched, a place for the offspring of cows and bulls. In the north, the Himalaya rises, along with the Kān̄ja mountain and Madhumān mountain. Kailāsa, Vasumān, and Meru stand tall; along these paths dwell the Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Mālavas, and Śūrasenas. Thus, the vast assembly of peoples and kingdoms, the mighty mountains and rivers, all gathered on the field of battle, each bearing their own traditions and strengths, forming the tapestry of the Lord’s play.