20 - Tha Description of the Netherworlds 

The Cosmic Egg consists of fourteen worlds arranged vertically as follows:

I.The Upper Regions:

Satya Loka

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Tapo-Loka

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Jana Loka

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Mahar Loka

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Savar Loka

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Bhuvar Loka

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II.The Middle Region:

                                                                        The Earth

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III.The Lower Regions

Or Nether-worlds:

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      Atala

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      Vitala

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      Sutala

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                                                                           Talatala

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    Rasatala

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    Maha-tala

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                                                                             Patala

All these are supported by Lord Shesha, the Serpent-King.

These lower regions are not dark or devoid of sunlight. They are full of light andhave the affluence and comforts of the world of gods. Cf.Bh. P.V. 24. VP. V.2. Va. P. 50.1-54.

Baladeva Upadhyaya makes out of plausible case for identifying the Nether-worlds with the continent of America. (vide: Purana-Vimarsha, pp.43-49)

Suta said: 

1-2a. Understand the details of the earth, the wind, the ether, the water and the fire which is the fifth one--that are being recounted later on, that had been recounted earlier along with the proofs thereof. 

These elements are proclaimed as constituted of infinite ingredients and they are all-pervading. 

2b-4a. The earth is the mother of all living beings. It sustains all animals and living beings. It is full of many kinds of rural regions and territories. It consists of many towns and places of shelter. It possesses many rivers, streams and mountains. It is crowded with many species of living beings. 

The earth, the divine goddess, is sung about as infinite and extremely extensive. 

4b. The waters also should be understood as infinite the waters contained in the rivers, streams, oceans and small receptacles such as ponds and puddles, those situated on the mountains and in the firmament and those within the bowels of the earth. 

5. Similarly, the element of fire pervades all the worlds. It is cited as infinite, all-pervasive and originating from everything. 

6. Similarly, the Ether is remembered as unscrapable, beautiful, and accommodating all or various objects, endless and infinite. 

7. The Våyu (wind) originated from the Ether. The waters are stationed within and above the earth. The earth is established on the water. 

8. The Ether or the sky is that which has nothing else greater than it. Then the earth and then the water. This is the opinion that there is no state of being endless in regard to the Bhautika (objects evolved of the elements) * 

* The text is a bit obscure V3.P.50.9 (corresponding verse) reads: evam anto hyanantasya bhautikasya na vidyate. ‘In this way, there is no end to the objects evolved from bhutas- as they are infinite.’

9-10a. Understand that the earth becomes developed due to the interaction (of the elements), The sequence-the earth, the water and the Ether is well known. In the seventh (Netherworld) Rasåtala this is the situation (?) 

10b-11a. The netherworld called Rasåtala has the land portion extending to ten thousand Yojanas. It has been reckoned by noble-souled persons that each of the netherlands is more extensive than the former. 

11b-13a. The first one is Atala by name. Thereafter is Sutala. The next one, one should know, is Talatala. Atala (? or Vitala) is very extensive. Beneath that is the world named Tala (should be Mahatala?) and beyond that is Rasätala. Beneath all these, it is remembered, is the seventh world, the Påtala. 

13b-15a. The first portion of the ground is glorified as one with black soil. 

The second world has pale white coloured ground. The third one has blue soil. The fourth one has yellow soil and the fifth one has a gravel-covered soil. 

The sixth world should be known as (consisting of) rocky grounds and the seventh one is remembered as one with golden ground. 

15b-20a. The well-known palace of the lord of the Asuras Namuchi, the enemy of Indra is in the first netherworld. The following abodes too are in the first nether world, viz. the abode of Mahanada, the city of Shankukarna, the palace of Kabandha, Nişhkuláda's town fully inhabited by delighted (jolly) people, the abode of the demon Bhima, the abode of Shūladanta, the city of Lohitakşhas and Kalingas, the town of Shvāpada, the city of Dhananjaya and of the noble-souled Nagendra (Lord of serpents), the city of Kaliya the serpent and that of Kaushika. Thus, it should be known that there are thousands of cities (and abodes) of the serpents, Dånavas and Räkshasas in the first Netherworld with black soil. 

20b-25a. In the second nether-world Sutala, O Bråhmaņas, are the abodes of the following, viz. the city of the first lord of the Daityas and Råkşhasas i.e. of Mahājambha, the palace of Hayagriva, Krişhņa and Nikumbha, the city of the Daitya named Shankha and that of Gomukha, the abode of the demons Nila, Megha and Kathana, the abode of Kukupäda and that of Mahoşhņīsha, the city of Kambala the serpent and that of Aśhvatara and the city of Takşhaka the noble-soaled son of Kadru. Thus, there are, O Brāhmaṇa, thousands of cities belonging to the serpents, Dänavas and the Räkshasas in the second nether world of pale white coloured soil. 

25b-31. In the third nether-world is the well known city of the noble-souled Prahlada, Anuhráda and Agnimukha, the city of the Daitya) named Tåraka, the city of Triśhiras, the city of Siśhumāra the city of Tripura, the demon Purañjana's city full of commotion, due to the gay, well-nourished people, the palace of Chyavana the Räkşhasa, the city of Kumbhila and Khara the leading Räkşhasas, the city of the ruthless Viradha with fire-emitting mouth, the city of Hemaka the serpent as well as that of Paunduraka, the city of Maninaga, the palace of Kapila, the palace of Nandaka the lord of the serpents, and that of Višhalaksha. Thus, there are thousands of cities of the serpents, Dånavas and Räkşhasas, O Brahmaņas in the third netherworld with blue soil. 

32-34. In the fourth netherworld is the city of Kälanemi the lion among Daityas, that of the noble-soulcd Gajakarna, the city of Kunjara, the vast and extensive city of Sumali the leading Rakshasa, the abode of Muñja, Lokanatha and Vruka-vaktra and the city of Vainateya, that extends to many Yojanas and that is crowded with many birds. All these are in the fourth netherworld. 

35-38. In the fifth netherworld that is covered with sand and full of gravel is the intelligent Virochana, the lion among Daityas, the abodes of Vaidyuta, Agni-Jihva and that of Hiranyåkşha, the city of the intelligent Vidyujjihva, the lord of Rakshasa, the city of Sahamegha, that of Mälin, the leading Rakşhasa, the city of the serpent Kirmira and those of Svastika and Jaya, Thus there are thousands of cities of the serpents, Dänavas and the Räkshasas in the fifth netherworld full of gravel. This should be known (as the situation) for ever. 

39-42a. In the sixth netherworld is the excellent city of Kesari, the lord of the Daityas, the cities of Suparvan, Puloman and Mahişha, and the city of the noble-souled Sureşha, the leading Rákşhasa. It is there that Shatasirsha the son of Suramå lives joyfully. The king of serpents named Väsuki, the affluent and glorious friend of Mahendra (stays there). Thus, there are thousands of cities of the serpents, Dänavas and the Rakşhasas in the famous sixth netherworld, Rasätala with rocky ground. 

42b-46a. It should be known that the city of Bali is in the seventh and the last netherworld Påtala. It is beyond every world. It is gay and full of men and women. It is full of Asuras, serpents and the happy and joyous enemies of the Devas. There itself is the great city of Muchukunda, the Daitya. It is teeming with innumerable great cities of Daityas full of bustle and commotion, thousands of the brilliant cities of the serpents, the great rising (flourishing) cities of the Daityas and the Dänavas and the many flourishing abodes of the Rakshasas. 

46b-47. O leading Brähmaņas, at the extreme end of Pätåla that extends to many Yojanas resides Shesha the noble-souled (king of serpents). His eyes are like the red lotus. He is devoid of death and old age. His body is as white as the inner part of well-washed Shankha (conchshell). He wears blue clothes. He is very powerful. 

48-49. His physical body is huge. He is lustrous and mighty. He wears garlands of variegated colours. He has a thousand faces (hoods) with mouths shining and brilliant and resembling the golden-peaked (mountain) in purity (lustre). He has single Kundala (Earring). He appears splendid with his thousand faces. He is refulgent, due to a series of tongues emitting sparks of waving flames of fire. 

50-54. With his two thousand eyes that have the reddish splendour of the rising sun and with his body that is white and glossy, he appears like the mountain Kailasa surrounded by clusters of flames. He has the white complexion like the Moon as well as the Kunda flowers. Hence the cluster of his eyes shines like the cluster of midday suns on the peak of the white Mountain (Shveta Parvata). 

He has a huge terrible body. With it (resting) in his reclining pose on his couch, he appears like a thousand-peaked mountain of vast dimensions (resting) over the earth. 

This (enormously) huge lord of serpents, himself of great splendour, is being attended upon by extremely wise and noble souled great serpents of huge physique. He is the king of all serpents. He is Ananta, Shesha, of excessive brilliance. 

55. That is the commandment (or act) of Vişhnu. That is the final established boundary (of the Netherworld). Thus, the seven netherworlds that could be discussed have been recounted. 

56-58. They are always inhabited by the Devas, the Asuras, the great serpents and the Rākşhasas. Beyond this is total absence of light. It cannot be traversed by the Siddhas and the Sådhus (good people). It is unknown even to the Devas. With a desire to expatiate on the general position, excellent Brähmaņas, the greatness of the earth, water, fire, wind and the ether is undoubtedly narrated thus. Hereafter, I shall recount the movement of the sun and the Moon.