Canto 5 - Chapter 16: A description of the terrestrial world ...

Discourse XVI

A description of the terrestrial world

The king (Parikṣit) said : You have described the extent of the terrestrial globe as covering the whole range where the sun shines and where, on the other hand, the yonder moon with the host of (other) heavenly bodies is visible. (1)
Within that very extent are comprised the seven oceans formed by the seven furrows dug by the (revolving) wheels of the chariot of Emperor Priyavrata; and it is to these (oceans) indeed that you have ascribed, O glorious sage, the division of the earth into seven distinct Dvīpas (subdivisions). I have a desire to know all this in detail with the extent and characteristic features (of the various divisions, the oceans and so on). (2)
For, (when) focussed on the Lord's gross material form (in the shape of this universe) the mind becomes (gradually) fit to be concentrated on the immaterial, most subtle (hard to perceive), self-effulgent and transcendent Brahma (the Infinite), known by the name of Lord Vāsudeva. Therefore, be pleased to describe the same, O (my) preceptor ! (3)

The sage (Śrī Śuka) replied : No man, O great king, can ever succeed in ascertaining with his mind, much less (describing) in words, the full extent of the vast display (in the form of the universe) set up by the Guṇas of the Lord's Māyā (deluding potency) even if he strives for a whole lifetime of the gods. Therefore, we propose to discuss at length only the salient features of the terrestrial globe with the names, position, extent and characteristics of the various subdivisions. (4)
As for this (particular) Dwipa (the one inhabited by us), it represents the innermost of the (seven) sheaths of the lotus-like terrestrial globe, with a diameter of one lakh Yojanas (8,00,000 miles) and round (in shape) like the corolla of a lotus. (5)
In this Dwipa are comprised nine Varṣas (subdivisions of a Dwipa)—each nine thousand Yojanas (72,000 miles) in extent—clearly divided by eight mountain ranges which form their (natural) boundaries. (6)
In the middle of these continents stands the inner Varṣa, called Ilāvṛta, at the centre of which is situated the king of (all principal) mountain ranges, Meru (Sumeru), entirely consisting of gold and possessing a height equal to the extent of the Dwipa (viz., one lakh Yojanas). It forms the pericarp of the lotus-like terrestrial globe and has a diameter of thirty-two thousand Yojanas (2,56,000 miles) at the top and (only) sixteen thousand Yojanas (1,28,000 miles) at the foot, with its root lying under the earth's surface to a depth of sixteen thousand Yojanas. (That is to say, the mountain is only eighty-four thousand Yojanas high above the earth's surface). (7)
To the north of Ilāvṛta are situated one after another the three mountain ranges called Nila, Śweta and Śṛṅgavān, severally forming the boundaries of the Varṣas bearing the names of Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya and Kuru and extending east and west as far as the salt ocean, each two thousand Yojanas (16,000 miles) wide and every exterior range being shorter in length alone by a little over one-tenth of the next interior range (but equal in height and breadth). (8)

Likewise to the south of Ilāvṛta, and extending from east to west, stand the (three mountain ranges called) Niṣadha, Hemakūṭa and Himālaya—each possessing a height of ten thousand Yojanas (80,000 miles) and severally marking the boundaries of Harivarṣa, Kimpuruṣavarṣa and Bhāratavarṣa. (9)
Even so to the west and east of Ilāvṛta stand the (mountain ranges of) Mālyavān and Gandhamādana respectively, severally extending as far as the Nīla mountain (on the north) and the Niṣadha mountain (on the south) and covering a breadth of two thousand Yojanas (16,000 miles) each. They mark the boundaries of (the Varṣas called) Ketumāla and Bhadrāśwa (respectively). (10)
On the four sides of Mount Meru stand the Mandara, Merumandara, Supārśwa and Kumuda mountains, forming its buttresses (as it were), and having a length and height of ten thousand Yojanas (80,000 miles). (11)
On these four (mountains) stand four big trees of mango, Jambū (rose-apple), Kadamba and banyan (respectively) looking like their flags, each possessing a height of one thousand and one hundred Yojanas (8,800 miles) and a diameter of a hundred Yojanas (800 miles) (at its trunk), and its branches extending within a diameter equal to its height. (12)
(Besides these trees) there are four lakes (as well) of milk, honey, sugar-cane juice and fresh water (respectively). The demigods (the Yakṣas, Kinnaras and so on) who drink of these, O Parīkṣit (the foremost of the Bharatas), enjoy mystic powers as a natural consequence. (13)
There are also four celestial gardens, called Nandana, Caitraratha, Vaibhrājaka and Sarvatobhadra. (14)
In these gardens the foremost of gods, leading a bevy of most charming celestial beauties with them, carry on (their) sports, their glories being sung by hosts of demigods. (15)

From the top of the celestial mango tree, eleven hundred Yojanas high, standing on the bosom of Mount Mandara, drop down fruits as colossal as a mountain-peak and luscious as nectar. (16)
A river, Aruṇodā (lit., having red water) by name—so-called because of its carrying as water the most delicious, (naturally) fragrant and highly perfumed (with other scents), abundant and scarlet juice of these fruits bursting open (with the fall) flows from the summit of Mount Mandara and irrigates the eastern part of Ilāvṛta. (17)
The breeze perfumed by contact with the person of Yakṣa ladies forming the retinue of Goddess Pārvatī (the divine Consort of Lord Śiva) surcharges with fragrance the whole area about them as far as ten Yojanas (80 miles), (which is possible only) because of their drinking this water. (18)
Similarly a river, Jambū by name, emanating from the juice of rose-apples of the size of elephants and having very small seeds, burst open as a result of their fall from an exceedingly high level, falls from the summit of Mount Merumandara, ten thousand Yojanas high, on the earth (below) and waters the whole of (the southern part of) Ilāvṛta, standing to the south of that river. (19)
The clay on both the banks (of this river), getting saturated all over with that juice, and undergoing a chemical change under the joint action of the wind and the sun, is transmuted into (high-class) gold, known by the name of Jāmbūnada, which ever serves to adorn the person of immortals. (20)
Indeed, as the tradition unmistakably points out, the gods and other heavenly beings (such as the Gandharvas) with their spouses wear this (on their person) in the shape of diadems, bangles, girdles and other ornaments. (21)

Five torrents of honey, each measuring five fathoms in diameter—that stream forth from the hollows of that great Kadamba tree which stands firmly rooted on Mount Supārśwa—when falling from the summit of Supārśwa, delight with their aroma (the region of) Ilāvṛta, lying to the west of those torrents. (22)
The breeze surcharged with the odour issuing from the mouth (breath) of (celestial) damsels drinking of those torrents perfumes an area of one hundred Yojanas (800 miles) all round. (23)

In the same way from the boughs of that banyan tree, Śatavalśa by name (so-called because it has hundreds of boughs), which stands firmly rooted on Mount Kumuda, issue (a number of) streams—all flowing downward and capable of yielding the objects of one's desire, such as milk, curds, honey, clarified butter, jaggery, cereals and other edibles as well as raiment, beds, seats and ornaments—and, falling from the summit of Mount Kumuda, benefit the region of Ilāvṛta lying to the north of the said mountain. (24)
Afflictions of various kinds—such as wrinkles, grey hairs, fatigue, perspiration, foul smell, old age, disease, (untimely) death, (sensations of) cold and heat, pallor and (other) troubles are never experienced by those created beings that make use of these rivers; nay, they enjoy the greatest happiness throughout their life. (25)

Like filaments surrounding the pericarp (of a lotus), there are twenty mountains—Kuraṅga, Kurara, Kusumbha, Vaikanka, Trikūṭa, Śiśira, Pataṅga, Rucaka, Niṣadha, Śinivāsa, Kapīta, Śaṅkha, Vaidūrya, Jārudhi, Haṃsa, Rṣabha, Nāga, Kālañjara, Nārada and so on—situated round about Meru near its foot. (26)
(Again,) to the east of Meru stand the Jāṭhara and Devakūṭa mountains, extending north to south to a length of eighteen thousand Yojanas (1,44,000 miles) and possessing a high and width of two thousand Yojanas (16,000 miles). Similarly to the west (of the same mountain) are situated the Pavana and Pāriyātra; to the south (of Meru) stand the Kailāsa and Karavīra extending east to west—and to the north are situated the Triśṛṅga and Makara. Enclosed on all sides by these eight mountains, Mount Sumeru (the mountain of gold) shines as a sacred fire surrounded by blades of Kuśa grass (marking its boundaries as it were). (27)
On the summit of Mount Meru, at the very centre, they say, is situated the city of Brahmā (the self-born), built (entirely) of gold, with an area of fourteen* thousand Yojanas (1,12,000 square miles) and rectangular in shape. (28)
After this model and round above the same have been built the eight cities of the eight Lokapālas (guardians of the spheres—Indra and others) in a style befitting their master and in the direction allotted to him, each city being one-fourth (in extent) of Brahmā's city. (29)

Thus ends the sixteenth discourse entitled "A description of the terrestrial world" in Book Five of the great and glorious Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Sarhhitā.