Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa
55 - Bhuvana - Kosha
Hari said:
1. The Ilavruta-Varsha is situated in the middle. Bhadraśhva is in the East. The Hiranvän-Varşha is in the South-East.
2. Then Kimpuruşha-Varsha is to the South of Meru. Bharata is also in the South. Harivarsha is in the South-West.
3. Ketumála-Varşha is in the West and Ramyaka in the North-West. Kuruvarsha is in the North. It is covered with Kalpa trees.
4-5. Except in Bhårata Varsha siddhi (achievement) is natural everywhere. The nine islands surrounded by ocean are - Indradvipa, Kašheruman, Tamravarna, Gabhastiman Någadvipa, Kaţäha, Simhala,1 Vårunā2 and this the ninth one.
1.Modern Ceylon
2.Modern Borneo
6. In its Eastern parts are the Kiråtas, the Yavanas3 are in the West, the Andhras4 live in the South and the Turushkas5 in the North.
3. Represents Greeks and other Europeans.
4. Modern Andhras, perhaps here they represent the Dravidians.
5. The inhabitants of Central and South-Western Asia.
7. Brāhmaṇas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras live in the middle. Mahendra6 , Malava7 , Sahya8 , Śūktiman9, Ruksha10 .
6. Modern Mahendra mountain in eastern coast of India and allied mountains.
7. Modern Nilgiri Hills in the South India.
8. The Western Ghats on the western sea-coast of India.
9. Not identifiable.
10. It is situated on the bank of Narmada, according to Mallinatha (Raghuvamsha, 5.44). Most probably it represents the modern Satpura mountain in Central India.
8. Vindhya and Pariyâtra11 are the seven Kulaparvatas. The sacred rivers are Veda-smruti12, Narmada13 Varadã14 Surasa15 Shiva.16
11. The modern Vindhya-ranges.
12. Not identifiable.
13. Not identifiable.
14. Modern Narmada.
15. Modern Wardha river in Vidarbha.
16. Not identifable.
9. Täpi17, Payoşhni18, Sarayū19 Kaveri20, Gomati21, Godāvari22, Bhimarathi23, Krișhņavarna24, Mahanadi,25.
17. Modern Shivanatha river in Chhattisgarh in Madhya Pradesh.
18. Modern Tapti river in Central India. It falls in the Arabian Sea.
19. Not identifiable.
20. Modern Sarayu in Uttara Pradesh.
21. Modern Káveri.
22. Modern Gomati in Uttara Pradesh.
23. Modern Godåvari.
24. Modern Bhima.
25. Modern Krishnå.
26. Modern Mahănadi in Central Eastern India.
10. Ketumala1, Tamraparni2, Chandrabhågå3, Sarasvati, Rușhikulya4, Kaveri, Mattaganga5, Payasvini6.
1. Not identifiable.
2. Modern Tambervari in South India.
3. Modern Chenab in the Punjab.
4. Modern Ruşhikulyä in Orissa.
5. Not identifiable.
6. Modern Payasvini, a tributary of the Yamuna.
11. Vidarbha7, and Shatadrü8. They are auspicious and they destroy sins. People in the central states drink the waters of these rivers.
7. Not identifiable.
8. Modern Sutlaj in the Punjab.
12. The races that inhabit the central states are – Pånchālas9, Kurus10, Matsyas11, Yaudheyas12, Pataccharas13, Kuntis14, and Sūrasenas15.
9. Pånchălas were the people who inhabited a region which roughly corresponds to the modern Rohilkhanda-division of Uttara Pradesh and also the region south of it. Later on, the region north of the Gangå was called North Panchala and its capital was Ahicchatra. The one to the South of the Ganga was South Panchala and its capital was Kämpilya.
10. The Kurus inhabited roughly the region around Delhi on the west of the Yamunā, generally covered by the modern province of Haryana. Their two capitals Hastinapura and Indraprastha are well known.
11. The people who inhabited the modern territory around Alwar Jaipur and Bharatpur.
12. Not identifiable.
13. Not identifiable.
14. Perhaps the people who inhabited the territory north of Chambala.
15. The people who lived in the region around Mathura.
13. O Vrushadhvaja (Shiva) the people living in the east are Padmas16, Sūtas17, Magadhas18, Chedis19, Kåşhayas20, Videhas,21 and Kosalas22.
16. Perhaps those who lived around Padma-river in the East-Bengal.
17. Not identifiable.
18. Modern South Bihar.
19. The people inhabiting the central or the eastern Vindhya-ranges.
20. The people inhabiting the region around Käshi, modern Váránasi.
21. Modern North Bihar.
22. The people living around Ayodhya.
14. People living in the South-East are Kalingas1, Vangas2, Pundras3, Angas4, Vaidarbhas5 Mülakas6, and those who stay in the Vindhya ranges.
1. Modern Orissa.
2. Modern Bengal.
3. Not identifiable.
4. Modern North Bengal.
5. Modern Vidarbha (Berar).
6. Not identifiable.
15. The people living in Dakşhiņa-patha are those of Pulinda7, Aśmaka8, and Jimuta9, Naya10, ráşhțra regions as well as Karņāțas11, Kambojas12 and Ghäțas.13
7. Modern Chhatisgarh in Madhya Pradesh.
8. The region around modern Aurangabad-Hyderabad.
9. Not identifiable.
10. Not identifiable.
11. Modern Mysore.
12. Not identifiable.
13. The people inhabiting the sea-coast.
16. The people in the South-West are Ambaşhthas,14 Dravidas15, Latas16, Kambojas17, Strimukhas18, Shakas19 and the people of Anarta.20
14. Not identifiable.
15. In modern days, the people believed to be of non-Aryan origin inhabiting the South India are called Dravidas. The specific reference is perhaps to the modern Tamilnadu.
16. Modern Khandesh area of Maharaşhtra.
17. Not identifiable.
18. Not identifiable.
19. Not identifiable.
20. Modern Eastern Gujrata.
17. The people in the West are Strirajyasa21 (governed by women) Saindhavas22, Mlecchas23, Atheists24, Yavanas25 Mathuras26 and Naişhadhas.27
21. Not identifiable.
22. Modern Sindh.
23. Non-Hindus of the Western India.
24. Non-Hindus of the Western India.
25. Non-Hindus of the Western India.
26. The people inhabiting the region West of Mathură. Sürasenas bave been mentioned before.
27. The region around modern Gwalior.
18. The regions in the North-West are Mandavyas1 Tuşháras2, Mūlikas3, Aśhvamukhas4, Khaśhas5, Mahakeśhas6, and Mahánásas.7
1. Not identifiable.
2. The people of Central Asia adjoining North-Western India.
3. Not identifiable.
4. Not identifiable.
5. The region North of Kashmir.
6. Not identifiable.
7. Not identifiable.
19. The people occupying the Northern region are Lambakas8 & Stananagas9, Madras10, Gandháras11, Båhlikas12, and the Mlecchas occupying the Himalayan ranges.
8. The modern Lamgan.
9. Not identifiable.
10. The region around modern Peshawar.
11. The region around modern Kandhar.
12. The region around modern Balakh.
20. The people living in the North East are Trigartas13 Nīlakola14 Brahmaputras15, Satankaņas16, Abhishähas17 and Kaśhmiras.18
13. Not identifiable.
14. Not identifiable.
15. The valley of the Brahmaputra.
16. Not identifiable.
17. Not identifiable.
18. Modern Kashmir.
Summary of chapter 55 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Achara Khaṇḍa is as follows:
Bhagavān Vishṇu describes the observance of Narsiṁha Chaturdaśī, commemorating the appearance of the half-lion half-human Avatāra who protected Prahlāda Mahārāja. Fasting and worshiping Narsiṁha with intense faith shatters all fear, destroys formidable enemies, and shields the devotee from all forms of danger.