50 - The description of Pushkaradvipa

Suta said: 

1. The milk ocean extending to twice the size of Shakadvipa encircles it. The continent Pushkaradvipa¹ rests in it.

1. The description of Pushkaradvipa in the KP. and other Puranas indicates that it is the tract of land including Japan, Manchuria and the South-eastern Siberia (M. Ali-The Geography. of the Puranas, pp. 43-44).

2. O leading Brahmanas, there is only one mountain viz. Manasottara. It rises up to fifty thousand Yojanas in height. 

3. Its girth is also that much. It is globular all round. The mountain Manasottara is stationed exactly in the middle of the continent (v.l. samjnita-Half of the continent is called Manasottara). 

4. The same blessed tract of land is divided into two. In that continent, two holy and splendid territories are situated. 

5. They are on either side of the mountain Manasa. They are as Mahavita Varsha and Dhataki khanda. 

6. The island continent Pushkara is encircled by the ocean of sweet water. There is a great tree in that island (continent. It is the Nyagrodha (Holy Banyan) tree worshipped by the immortal.

7. O tiger of a sage, i.e., leading sage), Brahma, the Atman of the universe, the creator of the universe stays on it. At that very spot are the abodes of Shiva and Narayana. 

8-9. Mahadeva, Hara, resides in one half of this continent. The unchanging Hari resides in the other half. They are worshipped by Brahma and others as well as by Kumara and other Yogins. Ishvara who is Krishna (black) and Pingala (brown) is worshipped by Gandharvas, Kinnaras and Yakshas. The subjects are healthy and normal and the Brahmanas are hundred times more brilliant. (v.l. lustrous like god Brahma.) 

10. They are devoid of ailments and sorrow; they are free from passion and hatred; neither truth nor falsehood finds a place there, there is neither excellent, nor base nor middling there. 

11-12. They do not follow the rules and rites of the different castes and stages of life; there is no river, no mountain. The ocean of sweet water encircles the great Pushkara continent all round. O excellent Brahmanas, its situation in the world is beyond (everything and every world). 

13. The ground, comparable to a single golden rock, and twice its size, extends everywhere. Beyond that, is the mountain, the line of demarcation of the sphere of the sun. 

14. It is partly illuminated and partly dark. It is called the Lokaloka mountain. Its height is ten thousand Yojanas. 

15-16. The extent of the great mountain Lokaloka is also that much. Enveloping that mountain beyond on its other side) is eternal darkness which in its turn is encircled by the shell of the Cosmic Egg. Thus, the seven great worlds and the Patalas have been recounted. 

17-18a. The detailed description of the entire Cosmic Egg has been succinctly narrated by me. It should be known that there are thousands of crores of Cosmic Eggs like this. The Pradhana¹ is present everywhere since it is the primary cause and is of unchanging nature. 

1. The remaining portion of this chapter tries to synthesize the Sankhya theory with the Puranic theory of creation.

18b-19a. There are fourteen worlds in all these Cosmic Eggs. There are four faced deities, Rudras, Narayanas and others in their respective places. 

19b-20a. Each Cosmic Egg has seven out-sheaths enveloping it, each sheath being ten times in extent than the former, It is only the spiritually wise who can go there. 

20b-21a. Transcending this all exists the source (Prakrti) of the universe which is great (mahal), infinite, unmanifest, without beginning and without end. 

21b-22a. It is infinite and endless as it is beyond calculation. It should be known as this unmanifest, eternal, Supreme Brahman. 

22b-23a. It is said to be infinite everywhere in all places. Its excellent majesty and greatness have been formerly glorified by me. 

23b-24. It is present everywhere and it has been in all places on the earth, in the nether worlds, in the firmament, in the wind, in the fire, in the oceans and in the heaven. There is no doubt about it. 

25. This highly resplendent deity himself is even in the principle called tamas (v.l. in both tamas and Sattva gunas). This Supreme Person dividing himself in various bodies sports in them. 

26. Lord Maheshvara is beyond that unmanifest from which this Cosmic Egg has been produced. God Brahma has spring from the Cosmic world. This Universe is created by him.