44 - Arrangement of the Universe: Descriptions of the Upper worlds and the nether worlds 

Sūta said: 

1. Maharloka is above the Pole Star. It extends to a crore of Yojanas. O leading Brāhmaṇas, the persons inhabiting there are entitled to the life span of a Kalpa. 

2. Janaloka is above Maharloka. Its spatial magnitude is two crores of Yojanas. Sanaka and other sons of Brahmă are stationed there. 

3. Tapoloka is above Janaloka. It extends to three crores of Yojanas. Devas called Virajas who live there are immune from consumption by fire. 

4. Satyaloka is above the world of Prajapatis. It extends to six crores of Yojanas. It is a region where there is no death again. It is also named as Brahmaloka. 

5. Here in the Satyaloka god Brahma, the preceptor of the world, the soul and the efficient cause of the Universe ever abides in the company of Yogis by drinking the Supreme nectar of Yoga. 

6. Quiescent recluses, the perpetual Brahmacharins (celibates), Yogins, Siddhas, ascetics and performers of the Japa of Parameşhthin reside there. 

7. It is the sole entrance of Yogins while they attain the greatest region. After going there, they are free from grief. He (the entrant) is verily Vişhnu and Shankara. 

8. His (Brahma's) city which is very difficult to attain resembles one crore of Suns in brilliance and is emblazoned with clusters of fiery flames and as such it is impossible for me to describe it. 

9. There in the city of Brahma is the abode of Nārāyana also. The glorious Hari, the wielder of Māyā lies down there. 

10. It is called Vişhnuloka. There is no return from there to Samsāra. The noble-souled people who have resorted to Janārdana can go there. 

11. There is an auspicious refulgent city above the abode of Brahma. It is encircled by fire. Lord Hara stays there. 

12. The great lord is accompanied by the goddess. He is being meditated upon by the learned men. He is surrounded by hundreds and thousands of Bhūtas, Yogins and Rudras. 

13. Those who are devoted to Mahadeva, the quiescent, truthful ascetics who observe celibacy, go there. 

14. Only those who are devoid of Mamatva (the feeling of my-ness), those who are not egotistic, those who are devoid of passion and fury will see the lord. It is verily named as Rudraloka. 

15-16. Thus, the seven great worlds above the earth have been glorified. O Brāhmaṇa, the lower Pätālas (nether worlds) beginning with Mahātala and others do also exist. The nether world called Mahātala is bedecked in all jewels, endowed with palaces and splendid shrines of deities. 

17. That Pätāla is associated with Shesha and the intelligent Mucakunda as well as inhabited by king Balin, resident of heavenly region (in that Pātāla). 

18. O Brāhmaṇas, the Rasatala is full of rocks, Talatala is full of gravel, Sutala is yellow and Vitala has the lustre of oral. 

19. Vitala is white. Tala is black. O excellent sages, it is auspicious, thanks to Vasuki of good colour.  

20. What is known as Rasätala is resorted to by Virocana, Hiraṇyākşha, and Tāraka. It is inhabited by others as well. 

21-23. What is known as Talătala is endowed with beauty. Sutala is resided by Garuda, the son of Vinata and others as well as the enemies of gods (Asuras), the chief of whom is Kälanemi. Vitala is resorted to by Yavanas and others and by demons such as Tāraka, Agnimukha, etc., by serpents the foremost of whom is Jambhaka and by Prahlada, the Asura, Vitala is famous as being inhabited by Kambala, the chief of serpents. 

24. It is inhabited by the heroic Mahājambha, the intelligent Hayagriva, Shankukarņa, Namuci and others. 

25. Tala is beautiful through the residence of other serpents. Below Pātālas are the hells, Kūrma and others, which are oft mentioned. 

26. The sinners are 'cooked' there which cannot be described adequately. The form of Vişhnu, called Seşha is lying beneath Patāla. 

27. He is Rudra, the fire of world destruction, the Yogic Ātman, Narasimha and Madhava. He is Janārdana in the form of a serpent who is said to be lord Ananta. All this has him for support and he has the fire of destruction for support. 

28. Having entered him (Vişhnu), the great Yogin, Kāla who resides in his mouth (v.l. who comes out of his mouth at the time of world-destruction) and who is the Ruler becomes full of poisonous flames and annihilates the whole universe. 

29. Kāla, comparable to a thousand destructive forces, (v.l. who is incomparable and is the master of a thousand māyās), the annihilator, Shankara and Bhava, the Tāmasa form of god Shambhu is the reckoner of the world.