50 - The abodes of Devas 

Suta said: 

1a. Indra stays in the auspicious forest of Pärijāta302 (wish yielding tree) on the peak called Shitânta 303 

302. Pärijāta-vana-forest of coral trees (Erythrina Indica) which lose their leaves in June and are then covered with large crimson flowers.

303. Shitánta:  It means 'end of cold'. i.e., "a range which marks the dividing line between the cold and hot regions. If the river Kizil-Su represents the head waters of the Purāņic river Sită, Šhitānta is obviously the Kashghar range, i.e., the last longitudinal range of the Pāmir region facing the Tarim basin, on the east. It is a range which, to a traveller coming from the east across the hot and sandy Tarim Basin, stands athwart the route towards the west and promises a cool climate beyond. It is an effective climatic barrier which separates a hot and dry desert on the east from the cold plateau on the west. Coming from the west it literally marks the ‘end of cold’ and is therefore rightly qualified for its name, Shitānta". GP. pp. 100-101. 

1b-2a. To the east of it is the extensive peak of Kumuda304 mountain. O excellent brahmins, on it are the eight cities of Dänavas.

304. Kumuda: Peak Barzengi (16, 456 feet) beyond the Pakshif Pass. 

2b-3a. In the holy Suvarņakoțara, O excellent brahmins, they say, are the sixty-eight cities of the noble-souled Räkshasas called Nilakas. 

3b-4a. There are fifteen cities on the leading mountain Mahānila which are the abodes of the horse faced Kinnaras. 

4b. O men of good holy rites, there are three cities of the Vidyadharas on Venusaudha, the great mountain. 

5. The glorious Garuda stays in Vaikuntha. The prosperous Nilalohita stays in Karanja.305 The Vasus live in Vasudhāra. 

305. Most of the mountains mentioned in this chapter are not Identifiable. 

6. There are seven holy spots on the mountain Ratnadhāra, belonging to the noble seven sages. They contain the abodes of the Siddhas as well. 

7. The great abode of Prajāpati is on the mountain ekaśhrunga. Durga and others stay on the Gajaśhaila and the Vasus on the Sumedha. 

8. The Adityas, Rudras and Ashvins have their abodes in eighty divine cities on the mountain Hemakakșha. 

9. There are five hundred crores of abodes of the Rākșhasas on the Sunila mountain which has five peaks with five crores of cities in each. 

10. The hundred cities of the Yakshas of unmeasured prowess are on the Shataśhrunga; the cities of Kädraveyas are on the mountain Tāmrābha; the city of Guha is on the Viśhākha hill. 

11. O excellent sages, the abode of Suparņa is on the Shvetodara; the abode of Kubera is on the Piśhāchaka and that of Vișhņu is on the Harikūţa. 

12-14a. The residence of the Kinnaras is on the Kumuda, that of Chāraņas is on the Anjana; Krishna has the abode in the mansions of the Gandharvas; there are seven cities of Vidyadharas on the Pandura and they contain all the means of pleasures, O Brahmins. There are seven thousand cities of the Daityas of terrible activities, the enemies of Indra, on the mountain Sahasraśhikhara. 

14b-16. The residence of the Pannagas (serpents) O Leading sages, is on the Mukuta, full of flowers. The residences of Vaivasvata, Soma, Vāyu and the overlord of serpents are in four abodes on the Takșhaka mountain. The abodes of Brahmă, Indra, Vișhņu, Rudra, Guha, Kubera, Soma and other noble persons are on the Boundary mountains. 

17-19. The residence of lord Shiva 306 along with Umā is in the cave of mountain Srikantha. Srikantha is the overlord of all the chiefs of Devas. Undoubtedly the Cosmic Egg functions by the grace of Srikantha. Ananta, Isha and others are severally the protectors of the Cosmic Egg. They are called Vidyeśhvaras as well as Chakravartins (Emperors). 

306. Sarvävāsah-i.e., Shiva. sarvam vishvam āvāso yasya sah. ST. 

20-21. Now, I shall briefly describe all the abodes presided over by Shrikantha on the border mountains. The universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings is presided over by Shrikantha. How can I recount all in detail upto Kālāgni-Shiva?