SECTION V.Parāçara said:—The extent of the earth has been related to you by me. I have also said, O twice-born one, that the depth below the surface is seventy thousandyojanas. O foremost of Munis, each of the seven regions of Pātāla, extends over ten thousandyojanas. They are seven in number—namely Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gavastimat, Malmtala, Sutala and Pātāla. Thus soil is severally white, black, purple, yellow, sandy, stony and of gold. They are adorned with numberless palaces in which reside Dānavas, Daityas, Yakshas and serpents by hundreds, O great Muni. Once on a time Nārada, after coming back to heaven from these regions, declared amongst the gods that Pātāla was much more charming than heaven. He exclaimed "What can be compared with Pātāla where Nāgas are adorned with beautiful and brilliant and pleasure-diffusing gems? This region is embellished with the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas. Who does not find delight in Pātāla? Even those who have retired from the world find delight therein. By day, the rays of the sun diffuse joy and not heat; by night the moon diffuses illumination and not cold. There the sons of Danu, always happy in the enjoyment of sweet foods and good wines, do not know how the time glides away. There are many charming forests, rivers and ponds abounding in lotuses and the skies are resonant with the Koil's song. Charming ornaments, fragrant perfumes, unguents, the sweet music of the lute, pipe and tabor are always enjoyed by the Daityas, Dānavas and serpents who dwell in the regions of Pātāla".Below the regions of Patala there is a form of Vishnu called Sesha[234]which is the outcome of the quality of darkness. The Daityas and Dānavas are incapable of counting the glories of this Deity. This is called Ananta by the ascetics of accomplished piety and is worshipped by the celestials and great sages. He has a thousand heads which are adorned with mystic lines. For the behoof of the world he illuminates all the quarters with the jewels on his thousand fangs and all the Asuras are disabled thereby. His eye rolls perpetually in consequence of inebriation; he has an excellent Kundala, a diadem on his head and a wreath upon each brow. He shined brilliantly like a white mountain topped with flame. He always wears a purple raiment, is always drunk, and adorned with a white necklace and appears like another Kailasha with sable clouds and the Ganges flowing. In one hand he holds a plough and in the other a mace. And he is being worshipped by the Goddess of wealth incarnate and Vāruni (the goodness of wine). At the time of great dissolution proceeds from his mouth the venomed fire in the form of Rudra, which devours the three Worlds. This Sesha form of the great God worshipped by celestials, is in Pātāla, bearing the entire world on his head like a diadem. Even the celestials are not capable of describing or knowing his strength, prowess, form and nature. Who can describe his prowess who holds the entire earth like a garland of flowers tinged with purple dye by the brilliance of jems on his crests?[234]He is the great serpent upon which Vishnu rests during the intervals of divine creations. And the world is supported on his thousand heads.When this Ananta, with his eyes rolling with intoxication, yawns the entire earth with its oceans, rivers and forests trembles; the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents and Charanas have not been able to find out the end of the qualities of his Being without end and hence he is called Ananta. The sandal paste, which is ground by the wives of the Nagas, is spread around by his breath and scatters fragrance all over the quarters.Having worshipped him the ancient sage Garga obtained from him a knowledge of astronomy, of the planets and of the good and evil presaged by the aspects of the heavens.The earth is supported by that Great Serpent, upon his head; and the earth again holds the garland of spheres along with men, celestials and Asuras.
SECTION V.Parāçara said:—The extent of the earth has been related to you by me. I have also said, O twice-born one, that the depth below the surface is seventy thousandyojanas. O foremost of Munis, each of the seven regions of Pātāla, extends over ten thousandyojanas. They are seven in number—namely Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gavastimat, Malmtala, Sutala and Pātāla. Thus soil is severally white, black, purple, yellow, sandy, stony and of gold. They are adorned with numberless palaces in which reside Dānavas, Daityas, Yakshas and serpents by hundreds, O great Muni. Once on a time Nārada, after coming back to heaven from these regions, declared amongst the gods that Pātāla was much more charming than heaven. He exclaimed "What can be compared with Pātāla where Nāgas are adorned with beautiful and brilliant and pleasure-diffusing gems? This region is embellished with the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas. Who does not find delight in Pātāla? Even those who have retired from the world find delight therein. By day, the rays of the sun diffuse joy and not heat; by night the moon diffuses illumination and not cold. There the sons of Danu, always happy in the enjoyment of sweet foods and good wines, do not know how the time glides away. There are many charming forests, rivers and ponds abounding in lotuses and the skies are resonant with the Koil's song. Charming ornaments, fragrant perfumes, unguents, the sweet music of the lute, pipe and tabor are always enjoyed by the Daityas, Dānavas and serpents who dwell in the regions of Pātāla".Below the regions of Patala there is a form of Vishnu called Sesha[234]which is the outcome of the quality of darkness. The Daityas and Dānavas are incapable of counting the glories of this Deity. This is called Ananta by the ascetics of accomplished piety and is worshipped by the celestials and great sages. He has a thousand heads which are adorned with mystic lines. For the behoof of the world he illuminates all the quarters with the jewels on his thousand fangs and all the Asuras are disabled thereby. His eye rolls perpetually in consequence of inebriation; he has an excellent Kundala, a diadem on his head and a wreath upon each brow. He shined brilliantly like a white mountain topped with flame. He always wears a purple raiment, is always drunk, and adorned with a white necklace and appears like another Kailasha with sable clouds and the Ganges flowing. In one hand he holds a plough and in the other a mace. And he is being worshipped by the Goddess of wealth incarnate and Vāruni (the goodness of wine). At the time of great dissolution proceeds from his mouth the venomed fire in the form of Rudra, which devours the three Worlds. This Sesha form of the great God worshipped by celestials, is in Pātāla, bearing the entire world on his head like a diadem. Even the celestials are not capable of describing or knowing his strength, prowess, form and nature. Who can describe his prowess who holds the entire earth like a garland of flowers tinged with purple dye by the brilliance of jems on his crests?[234]He is the great serpent upon which Vishnu rests during the intervals of divine creations. And the world is supported on his thousand heads.When this Ananta, with his eyes rolling with intoxication, yawns the entire earth with its oceans, rivers and forests trembles; the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents and Charanas have not been able to find out the end of the qualities of his Being without end and hence he is called Ananta. The sandal paste, which is ground by the wives of the Nagas, is spread around by his breath and scatters fragrance all over the quarters.Having worshipped him the ancient sage Garga obtained from him a knowledge of astronomy, of the planets and of the good and evil presaged by the aspects of the heavens.The earth is supported by that Great Serpent, upon his head; and the earth again holds the garland of spheres along with men, celestials and Asuras.
SECTION V.Parāçara said:—The extent of the earth has been related to you by me. I have also said, O twice-born one, that the depth below the surface is seventy thousandyojanas. O foremost of Munis, each of the seven regions of Pātāla, extends over ten thousandyojanas. They are seven in number—namely Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gavastimat, Malmtala, Sutala and Pātāla. Thus soil is severally white, black, purple, yellow, sandy, stony and of gold. They are adorned with numberless palaces in which reside Dānavas, Daityas, Yakshas and serpents by hundreds, O great Muni. Once on a time Nārada, after coming back to heaven from these regions, declared amongst the gods that Pātāla was much more charming than heaven. He exclaimed "What can be compared with Pātāla where Nāgas are adorned with beautiful and brilliant and pleasure-diffusing gems? This region is embellished with the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas. Who does not find delight in Pātāla? Even those who have retired from the world find delight therein. By day, the rays of the sun diffuse joy and not heat; by night the moon diffuses illumination and not cold. There the sons of Danu, always happy in the enjoyment of sweet foods and good wines, do not know how the time glides away. There are many charming forests, rivers and ponds abounding in lotuses and the skies are resonant with the Koil's song. Charming ornaments, fragrant perfumes, unguents, the sweet music of the lute, pipe and tabor are always enjoyed by the Daityas, Dānavas and serpents who dwell in the regions of Pātāla".Below the regions of Patala there is a form of Vishnu called Sesha[234]which is the outcome of the quality of darkness. The Daityas and Dānavas are incapable of counting the glories of this Deity. This is called Ananta by the ascetics of accomplished piety and is worshipped by the celestials and great sages. He has a thousand heads which are adorned with mystic lines. For the behoof of the world he illuminates all the quarters with the jewels on his thousand fangs and all the Asuras are disabled thereby. His eye rolls perpetually in consequence of inebriation; he has an excellent Kundala, a diadem on his head and a wreath upon each brow. He shined brilliantly like a white mountain topped with flame. He always wears a purple raiment, is always drunk, and adorned with a white necklace and appears like another Kailasha with sable clouds and the Ganges flowing. In one hand he holds a plough and in the other a mace. And he is being worshipped by the Goddess of wealth incarnate and Vāruni (the goodness of wine). At the time of great dissolution proceeds from his mouth the venomed fire in the form of Rudra, which devours the three Worlds. This Sesha form of the great God worshipped by celestials, is in Pātāla, bearing the entire world on his head like a diadem. Even the celestials are not capable of describing or knowing his strength, prowess, form and nature. Who can describe his prowess who holds the entire earth like a garland of flowers tinged with purple dye by the brilliance of jems on his crests?[234]He is the great serpent upon which Vishnu rests during the intervals of divine creations. And the world is supported on his thousand heads.When this Ananta, with his eyes rolling with intoxication, yawns the entire earth with its oceans, rivers and forests trembles; the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents and Charanas have not been able to find out the end of the qualities of his Being without end and hence he is called Ananta. The sandal paste, which is ground by the wives of the Nagas, is spread around by his breath and scatters fragrance all over the quarters.Having worshipped him the ancient sage Garga obtained from him a knowledge of astronomy, of the planets and of the good and evil presaged by the aspects of the heavens.The earth is supported by that Great Serpent, upon his head; and the earth again holds the garland of spheres along with men, celestials and Asuras.
Parāçara said:—The extent of the earth has been related to you by me. I have also said, O twice-born one, that the depth below the surface is seventy thousandyojanas. O foremost of Munis, each of the seven regions of Pātāla, extends over ten thousandyojanas. They are seven in number—namely Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gavastimat, Malmtala, Sutala and Pātāla. Thus soil is severally white, black, purple, yellow, sandy, stony and of gold. They are adorned with numberless palaces in which reside Dānavas, Daityas, Yakshas and serpents by hundreds, O great Muni. Once on a time Nārada, after coming back to heaven from these regions, declared amongst the gods that Pātāla was much more charming than heaven. He exclaimed "What can be compared with Pātāla where Nāgas are adorned with beautiful and brilliant and pleasure-diffusing gems? This region is embellished with the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas. Who does not find delight in Pātāla? Even those who have retired from the world find delight therein. By day, the rays of the sun diffuse joy and not heat; by night the moon diffuses illumination and not cold. There the sons of Danu, always happy in the enjoyment of sweet foods and good wines, do not know how the time glides away. There are many charming forests, rivers and ponds abounding in lotuses and the skies are resonant with the Koil's song. Charming ornaments, fragrant perfumes, unguents, the sweet music of the lute, pipe and tabor are always enjoyed by the Daityas, Dānavas and serpents who dwell in the regions of Pātāla".
Below the regions of Patala there is a form of Vishnu called Sesha[234]which is the outcome of the quality of darkness. The Daityas and Dānavas are incapable of counting the glories of this Deity. This is called Ananta by the ascetics of accomplished piety and is worshipped by the celestials and great sages. He has a thousand heads which are adorned with mystic lines. For the behoof of the world he illuminates all the quarters with the jewels on his thousand fangs and all the Asuras are disabled thereby. His eye rolls perpetually in consequence of inebriation; he has an excellent Kundala, a diadem on his head and a wreath upon each brow. He shined brilliantly like a white mountain topped with flame. He always wears a purple raiment, is always drunk, and adorned with a white necklace and appears like another Kailasha with sable clouds and the Ganges flowing. In one hand he holds a plough and in the other a mace. And he is being worshipped by the Goddess of wealth incarnate and Vāruni (the goodness of wine). At the time of great dissolution proceeds from his mouth the venomed fire in the form of Rudra, which devours the three Worlds. This Sesha form of the great God worshipped by celestials, is in Pātāla, bearing the entire world on his head like a diadem. Even the celestials are not capable of describing or knowing his strength, prowess, form and nature. Who can describe his prowess who holds the entire earth like a garland of flowers tinged with purple dye by the brilliance of jems on his crests?
When this Ananta, with his eyes rolling with intoxication, yawns the entire earth with its oceans, rivers and forests trembles; the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents and Charanas have not been able to find out the end of the qualities of his Being without end and hence he is called Ananta. The sandal paste, which is ground by the wives of the Nagas, is spread around by his breath and scatters fragrance all over the quarters.
Having worshipped him the ancient sage Garga obtained from him a knowledge of astronomy, of the planets and of the good and evil presaged by the aspects of the heavens.
The earth is supported by that Great Serpent, upon his head; and the earth again holds the garland of spheres along with men, celestials and Asuras.