17 - Jambüdvipa 

Lomaharşhana said: 

1. To the north of ocean and to the South of Himalayas is the sub-continent Bhārata. The subjects are called Bhåratis. 

2. O leading sages, its extent is nine thousand Yojanas. This is the land of holy rites to those who opt for heavenly pleasure and absolution. 

3. The seven Kulaparvatas are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Sūktimän, Rukşa, Vindhya and Păriyatra 

4. It is from here, O brahmins, that the heaven is attained; one attains absolution too from here, men attain the state of different species of animals or fall in hell from here alone. 

5. It is from here alone that men go to heaven or realize absolution at the end of their series of birth. Nowhere else on the earth are holy rites prescribed for men. 

6-8. Listen to the nine divisions of this sub-continent.² The are Indradvipa, Kaseruman, Tāmraparna, Gabhastiman, Nāgadvipa, Saumya, Gandharva and Varuņa. 

2. Bhärata itself is a group of nine islands each separated from the other by oceans and not made easily accessible between each other. They are (1) Indradvipa (2) Kaśerumān (3) Tamraparna (4) Gabhasti (5) Saumya (6) Gāndharva (7) Vāruna (8) Naga (9) Bhārata. In some of the Puranas, Saumya is replaced by Simhala; in others Simhala is substituted for Gandharva. 

S. M. Ali identifies the nine islands as follows:

(1) Aindra—the Trans-Brahmaputra region. 

(2) Kaserumat--the coastal plain between the deltas of Godāvari and Mahanadi.

(3) Tamravarna or Tāmraparna (associated with the river Tamraparņi) the sector of the Indian peninsula south of Kaveri river.

(4) Gabhastiman—the hilly belt between Narmada and Godavari rivers. 

(5) Naga-colonies and kingdoms extended all over the mountainous belt between Narmadā ranges upto Chhota Nagpur. 

(6) Katāha-Kathiawad region.

(7) Simhala-Ceylon, not mentioned in this Purana, 

(8) Väruņa-the western coast of India. The Arabian Sea has long been known as the abode of Varuna. 

(9) Bhārata is the ninth division. According to Cunningham Greater India was divided into nine Khandas. 

Bharata, the ninth among them, is an island encircled by the ocean. This island extends from South to North a thousand Yojanas. 

Kirātas stay in the East, Yavanas stay in the West. 

9. Brahmins, Kșhatriyas and Vaiśyas stay in the centre. Sūdras stay everywhere. These people have their means of subsistence in sacrifice, battle, trade and service. 

10. O sage, the Satadrū, Chandrabhaga and other rivers have their source at the foot of the Himavān. The Vedasmrti and other rivers originate from the Pariyatra. 

11-14. The Narmadā, Surasa and other rivers flow from the Vindhya. The Tāpī, Payosni, Nirvindhyā, Kāverī and other rivers flow from the foot of the Rukṣa mountain and as it is well known they dispel sin. 

The Godavari, Bhimarathi, Krišhņaveņi and other rivers originate from the foot of Sahya. As it is said they dispel the fear of sins. The Krutamälä, Tämraparņi and other rivers start from Malaya. The Trisandhyā, Ruşikuly, and other rivers have their source in Mahendra. The Rușikulya, Kumāra and other rivers flow from the foot of Sūktiman. 

15-19. There are thousands of tributaries and branches of these rivers. The people of this land bathe in and drink their waters. They are the Kurus, Panchālas, the people of middle land, eastern lands, residents of Kämarūpa; people of southern territories such as Paundras, Kalingas and others. The Parantyas westerners) Saurāṣtras, Sūdras, Ābhīras, Arbudas, Murukas, Mālavas, residents of Päriyātra, Sauviras, Saindhavāpannas, Sälvas, residents of Sakala territory, Madrārāmas, Ambaşthas, Pärasīkas and others. They drink waters of these rivers and stay on their banks. They are highly blessed, hale and hearty. 

20. Ogreat sage, the four Yugas, viz. Kruta, Treta. Dvåpara and Kali are reckoned only in Bhārata and nowhere else.

21. The ascetics perform penance here; the Yajvins perform sacrifices; people give charitable gifts with devotion to obtain heaven. 

22. Here, in the Jambūdvīpa the Supreme Being is worshipped through sacrifices. It is Vişhņu who is identificd with sacrifice that is worshipped. In other Dvīpas he is worshipped otherwise. 

23. O great sage, in the Jambūdvīpa, it is the subcontinent Bhārata which is most excellent since it is the land of holy rites and activities. Others are the regions of enjoyment. 

24. Here, O excellent one, after thousands and thousands of birth alone does a creature attain human birth sometimes through the accumulation of merits. 

25-29. It is said that Devas sing (its praise thus) :-- "Blessed are they who are born (again and again) as men in Bharata which is the source of heavenly pleasures as well as liberation. 

Holy rites should be performed in utter disregard of their benefits. They must be dedicated to Vişhņu identical with the Ātman. Those who are pure attain birth in the land of holy rites (i.e. Bhärata) and get merged into that infinite Being (after death)'. We do know that when the merit that had originally yielded heavenly pleasures subsides, those who are blessed will be re-born in the land of Bharata and not those who are devoid of intelligence. 

O brahmins, this Jambūdvipa, which consists of nine subcontinents and which extends to a hundred thousand Yojanas has been mentioned by me. 

O brahmins, the briny sea that extends to a hundred thousand Yojanas and that is like a bangle in shape encircles the Jambūdvīpa externally.