SECTION II.Maitreya said:—"O Brāhmana, you have related to me the progeny of Swayartbhuva. I wish to hear from you an account of the earth. It behoveth thee, O Muni to relate to how many oceans there are, how many islands, how many kingdoms, how many mountains, forests, rivers, cities of the gods's; its size, its contents, its nature and its form". Parāçara said:—Do thou hear from me, O Maitreya, a brief account: I cannot give you a detailed account even in a century.O twice-born one, the earth consists of seven islands namely Jambu, Plaksha, Sālmali, Kusa, Krauncha, Saku and Puskara: and they are severally girt by seven great seas: the sea of salt water (Lavana), of sugar-cane juice (Ikshu), of wine (Sura) of clarified butter (Sarpi), of curds (Dadhi), of milk (Dugdha) and of fresh water (Jala).Jambudwipa is situated in the centre of all these and in the centre of that island is situate the golden mount Meru, which is eighty-four thousandyojanasin height and sixteen thousand deep into the earth. The diameter, at its top, is thirty-two thousandyojanasand at the base sixteen thousand. And this mountain is like the seed-cup of the lotus of the earth.On the south Sumeru are the mountains Himavat, Hemakuta and Nishadha and on its north are the boundary mountains Neela, Sweta and Sringhee. The two mountain ranges situate in the centre are a hundred thousandyojanasin extent. And others are ten thousandyojanaslesser in extent. They are two thousandyojanasin height and breadth.O twice-born one, the first country on the south of Sumeru is Bhārata, then Kimpurusha and then Harivarsha. North of Meru is Ramyaka, next to that is Hiranmaya and beyond the latter is Uttarakuru following the same direction as Bhirata. And each of these Varshas, O foremost of the twice-born ones, is extended over a nine thousandyojanas. Ilābrita is also of the same size and the golden mount Meru is situate in the centre, and the country extends nine thousandyojanasin each direction from the four sides of the mountain. For fortifying the mount Meru four mountains were created as buttresses, each ten thousandyojanasin elevation. The one situate on the east is called Mandara, the one on the south is called Gandhamādana, that on the west is called Vipula and that on the south Suparswa. And on each of these stands severally a Kadamba tree, a Jāmbu tree, a Pipal and a Vata. And all these trees were eleven thousandyojanasin height, standing as if like the banners of the mountains. O great Muni, because a Jāmbu-tree stands on that mountain that insular continent is called Jāmbu-dwipa. And that tree produces Jāmbu-fruits like so many huge elephants. And those huge fruits are crushed into pieces as soon as they fall on the mountain. And out of the juice of those fruits has come out the river Jāmbu. And the inhabitants, who drink the water of that river, do not experience perspiration, bad smell and are not subject to infirmities of age and organic decay. The soil, on the banks of that river, receiving the juice of these fruits and dried up by pleasant breeze, is turned into gold called Jāmbunada out of which the ornament of the Siddhas are made. Vadraswa is situate on the east of Meru and Ketumdlā on the west. And in the middle of these two Varshas, O foremost of Munis, is situate Ilābrita, oh the east is the Chaitrarath forest on the south Gandhamādana, on the west Baibhraju and on the north the forest called Nandana. On the four sides of Meru there are four tanks the water of which is partaken of by the celestials namely Atunoda, Mahabhadra, Sitoda and Manasa. There are some mountain ranges like the filaments from the root of a lotus on the coast of Meru—namely Sitānta Mukunda, Kurāri, Mālayavān and Vaikanta.And on the south Trikuta, Sisirā, Patanga, Ruchaka and Nishadha, on the west Sikhivasasi Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamidana and Jārudho, and on the north Sankhakuta, Rishabha, Nāga, Hansa and Kālanjara. These and others extend from the heart of the Meru.On the top of mount Meru, O Maitreya, there is a vast city, named after Brahmā, extending for fourteen thousandyojanas, and celebrated in the region of the celestials. And around it in the various quarters and intermediate quarters are situate the magnificent cities of Indra and other deities presiding over various quarters. Originating from the foot of Vishnu, and watering the region of the moon, the Ganges falls from the heaven into the city of Brahmā. Falling there she has divided herself into four branches namely Sitā, Alakakandā, Chakshu and Vadrā. Taking her course towards the east and going from one mountain to another, in the welkin Sitā, watering Vadrawshwa has fallen into the ocean. The Alakakandā flows southwards to the country of Bhārata and dividing herself into seven branches on the way, falls into the ocean, O great Muni. And Chakshu crossing over all the western mountains and passing through the country of Ketumāla falls into the ocean. And Vadrā, traversing the northern mountains and passing through the country of Uttarakuru, falls into the northern ocean, O great Muni.Meru is thus situated between the mountains Nila and Nishada (on the north and south) and between Mālyavān and Gandhamādana (on the west and east) and it lies there like the peri-carp of a lotus. And the countries of Bhārata, Ketumāla, Vadrāshwa and Kuru, lying outside the mountains, are like petals of the lotus of the world. Jathara and Devakuta are two mountainous ranges extending northward and southward and connecting the mountain Nila and Nishada. The two mountains Gandhamādana and Kailāsha extend towards the east and west for eightyyojanasfrom sea to sea. Like the two mountains on the east the two ranges Nishahad and Paripātra are situated on the western side of Meru. The two mountains Trisringa and Jārudhi are situated on the north of Meru and they extend east and west from one sea to another. Thus I have described to you the eight mountains, mentioned by the ascetics as bounding the mount Meru, and situate in pairs on four sides. Sitānta and others which have been described to you as filament mountains are extremely charming. The vallies situate in the bosom of those mountains are frequented by Siddhas and Charanas and there are many picturesque cities and forests, containing the palaces of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Agni, Surya and other deities and inhabited by the celestials. And in those pleasant vales Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, Daityas and Dānavas sport day and night. These are the abodes of the pious, O Muni and are called the regions of paradise on earth where the vicious, even after a hundred births, do not arrive.In the country of Vadraswa, O twice-born one, Vishnu resides in his horse-headed form, in Ketumala as the boar and in Bhārata as the tortoise. And in Kuru Janārddana resides as the fish and Hari, the lord of all and everything, resides everywhere in his universal form. And, O Maitreya, he, the soul of the world, is the supporter of all things.O great Muni, in the eight countries of Kimpurusha and others there is neither grief, exhaustion, anxiety nor hunger. All the subjects are healthy devoid of any fear, freed from all afflictions and live for ten or twelve thousand years. Indra does not send rain there and people live upon the water of the earth and there is no distinction of Satya, Treta and other successive cycles. In each of these countries there are seven principal mountainous ranges from which hundreds of river take their rise, O foremost of twice-born ones.
SECTION II.Maitreya said:—"O Brāhmana, you have related to me the progeny of Swayartbhuva. I wish to hear from you an account of the earth. It behoveth thee, O Muni to relate to how many oceans there are, how many islands, how many kingdoms, how many mountains, forests, rivers, cities of the gods's; its size, its contents, its nature and its form". Parāçara said:—Do thou hear from me, O Maitreya, a brief account: I cannot give you a detailed account even in a century.O twice-born one, the earth consists of seven islands namely Jambu, Plaksha, Sālmali, Kusa, Krauncha, Saku and Puskara: and they are severally girt by seven great seas: the sea of salt water (Lavana), of sugar-cane juice (Ikshu), of wine (Sura) of clarified butter (Sarpi), of curds (Dadhi), of milk (Dugdha) and of fresh water (Jala).Jambudwipa is situated in the centre of all these and in the centre of that island is situate the golden mount Meru, which is eighty-four thousandyojanasin height and sixteen thousand deep into the earth. The diameter, at its top, is thirty-two thousandyojanasand at the base sixteen thousand. And this mountain is like the seed-cup of the lotus of the earth.On the south Sumeru are the mountains Himavat, Hemakuta and Nishadha and on its north are the boundary mountains Neela, Sweta and Sringhee. The two mountain ranges situate in the centre are a hundred thousandyojanasin extent. And others are ten thousandyojanaslesser in extent. They are two thousandyojanasin height and breadth.O twice-born one, the first country on the south of Sumeru is Bhārata, then Kimpurusha and then Harivarsha. North of Meru is Ramyaka, next to that is Hiranmaya and beyond the latter is Uttarakuru following the same direction as Bhirata. And each of these Varshas, O foremost of the twice-born ones, is extended over a nine thousandyojanas. Ilābrita is also of the same size and the golden mount Meru is situate in the centre, and the country extends nine thousandyojanasin each direction from the four sides of the mountain. For fortifying the mount Meru four mountains were created as buttresses, each ten thousandyojanasin elevation. The one situate on the east is called Mandara, the one on the south is called Gandhamādana, that on the west is called Vipula and that on the south Suparswa. And on each of these stands severally a Kadamba tree, a Jāmbu tree, a Pipal and a Vata. And all these trees were eleven thousandyojanasin height, standing as if like the banners of the mountains. O great Muni, because a Jāmbu-tree stands on that mountain that insular continent is called Jāmbu-dwipa. And that tree produces Jāmbu-fruits like so many huge elephants. And those huge fruits are crushed into pieces as soon as they fall on the mountain. And out of the juice of those fruits has come out the river Jāmbu. And the inhabitants, who drink the water of that river, do not experience perspiration, bad smell and are not subject to infirmities of age and organic decay. The soil, on the banks of that river, receiving the juice of these fruits and dried up by pleasant breeze, is turned into gold called Jāmbunada out of which the ornament of the Siddhas are made. Vadraswa is situate on the east of Meru and Ketumdlā on the west. And in the middle of these two Varshas, O foremost of Munis, is situate Ilābrita, oh the east is the Chaitrarath forest on the south Gandhamādana, on the west Baibhraju and on the north the forest called Nandana. On the four sides of Meru there are four tanks the water of which is partaken of by the celestials namely Atunoda, Mahabhadra, Sitoda and Manasa. There are some mountain ranges like the filaments from the root of a lotus on the coast of Meru—namely Sitānta Mukunda, Kurāri, Mālayavān and Vaikanta.And on the south Trikuta, Sisirā, Patanga, Ruchaka and Nishadha, on the west Sikhivasasi Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamidana and Jārudho, and on the north Sankhakuta, Rishabha, Nāga, Hansa and Kālanjara. These and others extend from the heart of the Meru.On the top of mount Meru, O Maitreya, there is a vast city, named after Brahmā, extending for fourteen thousandyojanas, and celebrated in the region of the celestials. And around it in the various quarters and intermediate quarters are situate the magnificent cities of Indra and other deities presiding over various quarters. Originating from the foot of Vishnu, and watering the region of the moon, the Ganges falls from the heaven into the city of Brahmā. Falling there she has divided herself into four branches namely Sitā, Alakakandā, Chakshu and Vadrā. Taking her course towards the east and going from one mountain to another, in the welkin Sitā, watering Vadrawshwa has fallen into the ocean. The Alakakandā flows southwards to the country of Bhārata and dividing herself into seven branches on the way, falls into the ocean, O great Muni. And Chakshu crossing over all the western mountains and passing through the country of Ketumāla falls into the ocean. And Vadrā, traversing the northern mountains and passing through the country of Uttarakuru, falls into the northern ocean, O great Muni.Meru is thus situated between the mountains Nila and Nishada (on the north and south) and between Mālyavān and Gandhamādana (on the west and east) and it lies there like the peri-carp of a lotus. And the countries of Bhārata, Ketumāla, Vadrāshwa and Kuru, lying outside the mountains, are like petals of the lotus of the world. Jathara and Devakuta are two mountainous ranges extending northward and southward and connecting the mountain Nila and Nishada. The two mountains Gandhamādana and Kailāsha extend towards the east and west for eightyyojanasfrom sea to sea. Like the two mountains on the east the two ranges Nishahad and Paripātra are situated on the western side of Meru. The two mountains Trisringa and Jārudhi are situated on the north of Meru and they extend east and west from one sea to another. Thus I have described to you the eight mountains, mentioned by the ascetics as bounding the mount Meru, and situate in pairs on four sides. Sitānta and others which have been described to you as filament mountains are extremely charming. The vallies situate in the bosom of those mountains are frequented by Siddhas and Charanas and there are many picturesque cities and forests, containing the palaces of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Agni, Surya and other deities and inhabited by the celestials. And in those pleasant vales Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, Daityas and Dānavas sport day and night. These are the abodes of the pious, O Muni and are called the regions of paradise on earth where the vicious, even after a hundred births, do not arrive.In the country of Vadraswa, O twice-born one, Vishnu resides in his horse-headed form, in Ketumala as the boar and in Bhārata as the tortoise. And in Kuru Janārddana resides as the fish and Hari, the lord of all and everything, resides everywhere in his universal form. And, O Maitreya, he, the soul of the world, is the supporter of all things.O great Muni, in the eight countries of Kimpurusha and others there is neither grief, exhaustion, anxiety nor hunger. All the subjects are healthy devoid of any fear, freed from all afflictions and live for ten or twelve thousand years. Indra does not send rain there and people live upon the water of the earth and there is no distinction of Satya, Treta and other successive cycles. In each of these countries there are seven principal mountainous ranges from which hundreds of river take their rise, O foremost of twice-born ones.
SECTION II.Maitreya said:—"O Brāhmana, you have related to me the progeny of Swayartbhuva. I wish to hear from you an account of the earth. It behoveth thee, O Muni to relate to how many oceans there are, how many islands, how many kingdoms, how many mountains, forests, rivers, cities of the gods's; its size, its contents, its nature and its form". Parāçara said:—Do thou hear from me, O Maitreya, a brief account: I cannot give you a detailed account even in a century.O twice-born one, the earth consists of seven islands namely Jambu, Plaksha, Sālmali, Kusa, Krauncha, Saku and Puskara: and they are severally girt by seven great seas: the sea of salt water (Lavana), of sugar-cane juice (Ikshu), of wine (Sura) of clarified butter (Sarpi), of curds (Dadhi), of milk (Dugdha) and of fresh water (Jala).Jambudwipa is situated in the centre of all these and in the centre of that island is situate the golden mount Meru, which is eighty-four thousandyojanasin height and sixteen thousand deep into the earth. The diameter, at its top, is thirty-two thousandyojanasand at the base sixteen thousand. And this mountain is like the seed-cup of the lotus of the earth.On the south Sumeru are the mountains Himavat, Hemakuta and Nishadha and on its north are the boundary mountains Neela, Sweta and Sringhee. The two mountain ranges situate in the centre are a hundred thousandyojanasin extent. And others are ten thousandyojanaslesser in extent. They are two thousandyojanasin height and breadth.O twice-born one, the first country on the south of Sumeru is Bhārata, then Kimpurusha and then Harivarsha. North of Meru is Ramyaka, next to that is Hiranmaya and beyond the latter is Uttarakuru following the same direction as Bhirata. And each of these Varshas, O foremost of the twice-born ones, is extended over a nine thousandyojanas. Ilābrita is also of the same size and the golden mount Meru is situate in the centre, and the country extends nine thousandyojanasin each direction from the four sides of the mountain. For fortifying the mount Meru four mountains were created as buttresses, each ten thousandyojanasin elevation. The one situate on the east is called Mandara, the one on the south is called Gandhamādana, that on the west is called Vipula and that on the south Suparswa. And on each of these stands severally a Kadamba tree, a Jāmbu tree, a Pipal and a Vata. And all these trees were eleven thousandyojanasin height, standing as if like the banners of the mountains. O great Muni, because a Jāmbu-tree stands on that mountain that insular continent is called Jāmbu-dwipa. And that tree produces Jāmbu-fruits like so many huge elephants. And those huge fruits are crushed into pieces as soon as they fall on the mountain. And out of the juice of those fruits has come out the river Jāmbu. And the inhabitants, who drink the water of that river, do not experience perspiration, bad smell and are not subject to infirmities of age and organic decay. The soil, on the banks of that river, receiving the juice of these fruits and dried up by pleasant breeze, is turned into gold called Jāmbunada out of which the ornament of the Siddhas are made. Vadraswa is situate on the east of Meru and Ketumdlā on the west. And in the middle of these two Varshas, O foremost of Munis, is situate Ilābrita, oh the east is the Chaitrarath forest on the south Gandhamādana, on the west Baibhraju and on the north the forest called Nandana. On the four sides of Meru there are four tanks the water of which is partaken of by the celestials namely Atunoda, Mahabhadra, Sitoda and Manasa. There are some mountain ranges like the filaments from the root of a lotus on the coast of Meru—namely Sitānta Mukunda, Kurāri, Mālayavān and Vaikanta.And on the south Trikuta, Sisirā, Patanga, Ruchaka and Nishadha, on the west Sikhivasasi Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamidana and Jārudho, and on the north Sankhakuta, Rishabha, Nāga, Hansa and Kālanjara. These and others extend from the heart of the Meru.On the top of mount Meru, O Maitreya, there is a vast city, named after Brahmā, extending for fourteen thousandyojanas, and celebrated in the region of the celestials. And around it in the various quarters and intermediate quarters are situate the magnificent cities of Indra and other deities presiding over various quarters. Originating from the foot of Vishnu, and watering the region of the moon, the Ganges falls from the heaven into the city of Brahmā. Falling there she has divided herself into four branches namely Sitā, Alakakandā, Chakshu and Vadrā. Taking her course towards the east and going from one mountain to another, in the welkin Sitā, watering Vadrawshwa has fallen into the ocean. The Alakakandā flows southwards to the country of Bhārata and dividing herself into seven branches on the way, falls into the ocean, O great Muni. And Chakshu crossing over all the western mountains and passing through the country of Ketumāla falls into the ocean. And Vadrā, traversing the northern mountains and passing through the country of Uttarakuru, falls into the northern ocean, O great Muni.Meru is thus situated between the mountains Nila and Nishada (on the north and south) and between Mālyavān and Gandhamādana (on the west and east) and it lies there like the peri-carp of a lotus. And the countries of Bhārata, Ketumāla, Vadrāshwa and Kuru, lying outside the mountains, are like petals of the lotus of the world. Jathara and Devakuta are two mountainous ranges extending northward and southward and connecting the mountain Nila and Nishada. The two mountains Gandhamādana and Kailāsha extend towards the east and west for eightyyojanasfrom sea to sea. Like the two mountains on the east the two ranges Nishahad and Paripātra are situated on the western side of Meru. The two mountains Trisringa and Jārudhi are situated on the north of Meru and they extend east and west from one sea to another. Thus I have described to you the eight mountains, mentioned by the ascetics as bounding the mount Meru, and situate in pairs on four sides. Sitānta and others which have been described to you as filament mountains are extremely charming. The vallies situate in the bosom of those mountains are frequented by Siddhas and Charanas and there are many picturesque cities and forests, containing the palaces of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Agni, Surya and other deities and inhabited by the celestials. And in those pleasant vales Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, Daityas and Dānavas sport day and night. These are the abodes of the pious, O Muni and are called the regions of paradise on earth where the vicious, even after a hundred births, do not arrive.In the country of Vadraswa, O twice-born one, Vishnu resides in his horse-headed form, in Ketumala as the boar and in Bhārata as the tortoise. And in Kuru Janārddana resides as the fish and Hari, the lord of all and everything, resides everywhere in his universal form. And, O Maitreya, he, the soul of the world, is the supporter of all things.O great Muni, in the eight countries of Kimpurusha and others there is neither grief, exhaustion, anxiety nor hunger. All the subjects are healthy devoid of any fear, freed from all afflictions and live for ten or twelve thousand years. Indra does not send rain there and people live upon the water of the earth and there is no distinction of Satya, Treta and other successive cycles. In each of these countries there are seven principal mountainous ranges from which hundreds of river take their rise, O foremost of twice-born ones.
Maitreya said:—"O Brāhmana, you have related to me the progeny of Swayartbhuva. I wish to hear from you an account of the earth. It behoveth thee, O Muni to relate to how many oceans there are, how many islands, how many kingdoms, how many mountains, forests, rivers, cities of the gods's; its size, its contents, its nature and its form". Parāçara said:—Do thou hear from me, O Maitreya, a brief account: I cannot give you a detailed account even in a century.
O twice-born one, the earth consists of seven islands namely Jambu, Plaksha, Sālmali, Kusa, Krauncha, Saku and Puskara: and they are severally girt by seven great seas: the sea of salt water (Lavana), of sugar-cane juice (Ikshu), of wine (Sura) of clarified butter (Sarpi), of curds (Dadhi), of milk (Dugdha) and of fresh water (Jala).
Jambudwipa is situated in the centre of all these and in the centre of that island is situate the golden mount Meru, which is eighty-four thousandyojanasin height and sixteen thousand deep into the earth. The diameter, at its top, is thirty-two thousandyojanasand at the base sixteen thousand. And this mountain is like the seed-cup of the lotus of the earth.
On the south Sumeru are the mountains Himavat, Hemakuta and Nishadha and on its north are the boundary mountains Neela, Sweta and Sringhee. The two mountain ranges situate in the centre are a hundred thousandyojanasin extent. And others are ten thousandyojanaslesser in extent. They are two thousandyojanasin height and breadth.
O twice-born one, the first country on the south of Sumeru is Bhārata, then Kimpurusha and then Harivarsha. North of Meru is Ramyaka, next to that is Hiranmaya and beyond the latter is Uttarakuru following the same direction as Bhirata. And each of these Varshas, O foremost of the twice-born ones, is extended over a nine thousandyojanas. Ilābrita is also of the same size and the golden mount Meru is situate in the centre, and the country extends nine thousandyojanasin each direction from the four sides of the mountain. For fortifying the mount Meru four mountains were created as buttresses, each ten thousandyojanasin elevation. The one situate on the east is called Mandara, the one on the south is called Gandhamādana, that on the west is called Vipula and that on the south Suparswa. And on each of these stands severally a Kadamba tree, a Jāmbu tree, a Pipal and a Vata. And all these trees were eleven thousandyojanasin height, standing as if like the banners of the mountains. O great Muni, because a Jāmbu-tree stands on that mountain that insular continent is called Jāmbu-dwipa. And that tree produces Jāmbu-fruits like so many huge elephants. And those huge fruits are crushed into pieces as soon as they fall on the mountain. And out of the juice of those fruits has come out the river Jāmbu. And the inhabitants, who drink the water of that river, do not experience perspiration, bad smell and are not subject to infirmities of age and organic decay. The soil, on the banks of that river, receiving the juice of these fruits and dried up by pleasant breeze, is turned into gold called Jāmbunada out of which the ornament of the Siddhas are made. Vadraswa is situate on the east of Meru and Ketumdlā on the west. And in the middle of these two Varshas, O foremost of Munis, is situate Ilābrita, oh the east is the Chaitrarath forest on the south Gandhamādana, on the west Baibhraju and on the north the forest called Nandana. On the four sides of Meru there are four tanks the water of which is partaken of by the celestials namely Atunoda, Mahabhadra, Sitoda and Manasa. There are some mountain ranges like the filaments from the root of a lotus on the coast of Meru—namely Sitānta Mukunda, Kurāri, Mālayavān and Vaikanta.
And on the south Trikuta, Sisirā, Patanga, Ruchaka and Nishadha, on the west Sikhivasasi Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamidana and Jārudho, and on the north Sankhakuta, Rishabha, Nāga, Hansa and Kālanjara. These and others extend from the heart of the Meru.
On the top of mount Meru, O Maitreya, there is a vast city, named after Brahmā, extending for fourteen thousandyojanas, and celebrated in the region of the celestials. And around it in the various quarters and intermediate quarters are situate the magnificent cities of Indra and other deities presiding over various quarters. Originating from the foot of Vishnu, and watering the region of the moon, the Ganges falls from the heaven into the city of Brahmā. Falling there she has divided herself into four branches namely Sitā, Alakakandā, Chakshu and Vadrā. Taking her course towards the east and going from one mountain to another, in the welkin Sitā, watering Vadrawshwa has fallen into the ocean. The Alakakandā flows southwards to the country of Bhārata and dividing herself into seven branches on the way, falls into the ocean, O great Muni. And Chakshu crossing over all the western mountains and passing through the country of Ketumāla falls into the ocean. And Vadrā, traversing the northern mountains and passing through the country of Uttarakuru, falls into the northern ocean, O great Muni.
Meru is thus situated between the mountains Nila and Nishada (on the north and south) and between Mālyavān and Gandhamādana (on the west and east) and it lies there like the peri-carp of a lotus. And the countries of Bhārata, Ketumāla, Vadrāshwa and Kuru, lying outside the mountains, are like petals of the lotus of the world. Jathara and Devakuta are two mountainous ranges extending northward and southward and connecting the mountain Nila and Nishada. The two mountains Gandhamādana and Kailāsha extend towards the east and west for eightyyojanasfrom sea to sea. Like the two mountains on the east the two ranges Nishahad and Paripātra are situated on the western side of Meru. The two mountains Trisringa and Jārudhi are situated on the north of Meru and they extend east and west from one sea to another. Thus I have described to you the eight mountains, mentioned by the ascetics as bounding the mount Meru, and situate in pairs on four sides. Sitānta and others which have been described to you as filament mountains are extremely charming. The vallies situate in the bosom of those mountains are frequented by Siddhas and Charanas and there are many picturesque cities and forests, containing the palaces of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Agni, Surya and other deities and inhabited by the celestials. And in those pleasant vales Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rākshasas, Daityas and Dānavas sport day and night. These are the abodes of the pious, O Muni and are called the regions of paradise on earth where the vicious, even after a hundred births, do not arrive.
In the country of Vadraswa, O twice-born one, Vishnu resides in his horse-headed form, in Ketumala as the boar and in Bhārata as the tortoise. And in Kuru Janārddana resides as the fish and Hari, the lord of all and everything, resides everywhere in his universal form. And, O Maitreya, he, the soul of the world, is the supporter of all things.
O great Muni, in the eight countries of Kimpurusha and others there is neither grief, exhaustion, anxiety nor hunger. All the subjects are healthy devoid of any fear, freed from all afflictions and live for ten or twelve thousand years. Indra does not send rain there and people live upon the water of the earth and there is no distinction of Satya, Treta and other successive cycles. In each of these countries there are seven principal mountainous ranges from which hundreds of river take their rise, O foremost of twice-born ones.