108 - Cosmographical account

Agni said: 

1. The seven continents are Jambu, Plaksha, Śälmali, Kuša, Krauncha, Saka and Pushkara. 

2. These continents are surrounded by seven oceans namely, Lavaņa (salt), Ikshu (sugarcane juice), Surå (nectar), Sarpis (clarified butter), Dadhi (curd), Dugdha (milk) and Jala (water) of even proportions. 

3. The Jambūdvipa (continent of Jambū) is situated at the centre of continents. The Meru mountain which is the kind of sixteen mountains towers majestically extending to eightyfour (yojanas). 

4. The mountain rises to thirtytwo thousand (yojanas) above (the earth) and spreads to sixteen thousand (yojanas) under the earth. Its peaks are in theshape of a pericarp of a lotus. 

5. Himavån, Hemakūta and Nishadha are in the southern part. Nila, Sveta and Srungi are the varsaparvatas (boundary mountains) in the northern part. 

6. 'Two of the above (mountains) extend to two lakhs (yojanas )at their middle, while the others are ten thousand (yojanas) less. Their altitude is two thousand yojanas and they have an equal breadth at the base. 

7. O Twice-born one! Bhārata is the first mountain. Kimpurusha is known as the next one. Harivarsha is the next one to the south of Meru. 

8. Ramyaka, Hiranyaka and Uttara Kuru are in the north just as the Bharata (in the south). 

9. O Excellent sage! Each one of them is nine thousand (yojanas) in their extent. Ilávruta is at the middle. Meru rises up from the centre with its golden peak. 

10. O Fortunate one! Ilavruta spreads to nine thousand (yojanas) all around Meru. There are four mountains here. 

11. They are beams of support for the Meru, each one extending to one lakh (yojanas). (Among these) the Mandara (mountain) is in the east and the Gandhamädana is in the south. 

12-13. The Vipula (mountain) is in the west and the Supārśva (mountain) is in the north. The Kadamba, Jambū, Pippala and Vața are the trees in these extending to eleven hundred (yojanas) (serving as) their banners. Jambūdvipa gets its appellation on account of the Jambū fruit of the size of an elephant. 

14. The waters of the river Jambû deposit the golden ores. 

The Supärśva (mountain lies) on the east of Meru and the Ketumäla (mountain) on the west. 

15. The forest of Chaitraratha (lies) on the east, Gandhamådana on the south, Vaibhrāja on the west and Nandana on the north. (Ishall describe) the lakes herein. 

16. (They are) Aruņoda, Mahabhadra, Sitoda, Månasa, Sitambha, Chakra and Muñja. The mountains known as Keśaracala¹ are in the east. 

1. They are Sitambha, Kumuda, Kurari, Mālyavån and Vaikanka. See Vi.P. II.ii.26. 

17-18. The mountains (called) Trikūța² (group) lie on the south. The Sikhivāsas³ (group) (lie) on the west. The Sankhakūta⁴ (group) lie on the north. The abode of lord Brahma is on the Meru (mountain) extending to fourteen thousand yojanas above. (The abodes) of Indra and other guardian deities are around the abode of Brahma. 

2. They are Trikūta, Sisira, Patanga, Rucaka and Nishada. See Vi. P. II.ii.27. 

3. They arc Sikhivasa, Vaidūrya, Kapila, Gandhamådana and Jarudhi. See Vi.P. II.ii.28. 

4. They are Sankhakūta, Rushabha, Hamisa, Någa and Kalañjara. Sec ib. 29. 

19. The river Sītā, after falling from the feet of (lord) Vishnu, washes the lunar region and falls from heavens on the east (on the Bhadrāśva mountain). It falls from Bhadrāśva on the hills below successively and reaches the ocean. 

20-21. Similarly, (the river) Alakananda flows in Bharata through the south and reaches the ocean after dividing itself into seven branches. 

(The river) Chakshu reaches the ocean on the west. So also (the river) Bhadrå (passes through) the Uttara Kuru (country) and reaches the northern occan. (The mountains) Mälyavat and Gandhamadana extend upto the Nila and Nishadha (mountains in the north and south respectively). 

22-27. The Meru (mountain) lies in between them in theshape of a lotus. (The countries) Bharata, Ketumala, Bhadråśva, and Kurus siluated outside these boundary mountains are the petals of this lotus of the world. The two boundary mountains Jathara and Devakūța extend upto the Nila and Nishadha mountains on the north and south. The Gandhamadana and Kailasa (mountains) spreading in the east and west to eighty yojanas lie in the ocean. The two boundary mountains Nishadha and Pariyatra are situated on the west as in the east. (Similarly), the boundary mountains Jathara and others (are situated) around Meru in four directions. 

28. O Excellent sage! Abodes of (goddess) Lakshmi, (lords) Vishnu, Agni and Surya and other gods are situated in the caves in the mountains Keśara and others. 

29-30. They are the abodes of gods on the earth. Sinners do not go there. Lord Vishņu resides in Bhadrāśva as Hayagriva, in Ketumäla as Varäha, in Bhårata in the form of Kūrma (tortoise) and in Kurus in the form of Matsya (fish). Lord Hari is worshipped everywhere in his universal form. 

31. In the eight countries Kimpurusha and others, there is no (misery such as) hunger, fear, grief and others. The twentyfour thousand inhabitants live without diseases. 

32. There is no imaginary division of time such as the Kruta (yuga) etc., the division of worlds, waters and clouds. There are seven principal mountains in each one of these countries. 

33. Hundreds of rivers rise from them giving rise to sacred waters. Ishall describe the sacred spots situated in Bharata.