51 - Various Continents 

Sūta said: 

1-7. The beautiful forest Bhūtavana, the residence of the different groups of Bhūtas (goblins), is on the highly splendid mountain Devakūța. This mountain has great peaks. It is splendid and devoid of impurities. It is made up by gold, Lapis Lazuli, rubies, emeralds, lustrous Gomeda (onyx) and other precious stones. It ranges in a number of branches on all sides. It is adorned with all kinds of trees such as Champaka, Ashoka, Punnāga, Bakula, Asana and Parijāta. It contains many flocks of birds and herds of elephants. It is variegated in colour with hundreds of minerals. It abounds in wonderful specimens of flowers. Its ridges are covered with bunches of flowers hanging down. Various kinds of animals live therein. It contains many springs and fountains with pure and sweet water. It is adorned with many waterfalls and cascades strewn with flowers. It is beautified by running streams with rafts of flowers floating on them. This Bhūtavana³⁰⁷ has pleasing colours. It contains many trees with great roots and stems. The thick shade of these trees spreads to ten yojanas all-round. 

307. Bhütavana: Bhūta is a name of Shiva; Bhūta-vana--Shiva's forest. 

8. The bright and well-lit abode of lord Mahādeva, the noble-souled Shankara, is there. It is beautified by means of great jewels. 

9-10. It has ornamental gateways made of crystal and shaped in different wonderful forms. It has golden rampart walls. It is well adorned with festoons of jewels. There are many splendid gem-set thrones covered with five cloths placed here and there on the ground and occupied by Lord Shiva now and then. 

11-16. In that mansion of Shiva there are many apartments decorated with garlands of never-fading flowers of different colours. There are many raised platforms (Mandapas) of different shapes and sizes with crystal columns. The leading goblins (Bhūtas) adored by Brahma, Indra and Upendra stay there. There are many Pramathas with their faces resembling those of boars, elephants, lions, bears, tigers, camels, vultures, owls, deer, humped bulls and goats. They are stout and huge like great mountain peaks. They are terrible with having huge arms. Some have green hairs on their heads. They are of different shapes and sizes. They are seated in all possible postures and positions. There are splendid Ganas such as Nandīśhvara, with bright beaming faces and spotless character. They possess supernatural qualities, and they resemble Brahmã, Indra and Vișhnu. The place is never devoid of crowds of immortal beings, (i.e., Devas) who worship the lord of Bhūtas (i.e., Shiva) there, always. 

17-19. Shankara, Mahadeva, the lord of Pramhathas is worshipped by the Siddhas, Devas, Gandharvas, Brahmã, and others such as Upendra. They use these musical instruments (drums, etc.) in the course of their worship-Jharjharas (cymbals) conches, Patahas, Bheris, Dindimas, Gomukhas. During their worship they sing in low, middle and high pitches; they also jump, dance and shout in joy. Shankara when being worshipped thus appears as though he has divided into two the beautiful peak (Kailāsa) having the lustre of the conch. 

20. Kailasa³⁰⁸ is the abode of Kubera, the king of Yakshas as well as other noble beings. 

         308. Kailāsa: p. 100 note 133 

21. There too, Shiva the lord of Devas has a great abode. He stays there always accompanied by Umā and the chiefs of Gaņas. 

22-25. The holy river Mandākini with plenty of water and abounding in lotuses flows over the splendid peak Kubera Shikhara; the steps leading to its waters are built of gold and set with gems. There are golden lotuses with fragrance, very soft to the touch. There are great lilies with sweet smells and leaves resembling blue lapis lazuli. The river is beautifully adorned with big lotuses and lilies. It is frequented by the womenfolk of the Yakșhas and Gandharvas. The waters of the holy and splendid river Mandakini³⁰⁹ are used by Devas, Dänavas, Gandharvas, Yakșhas, Rākșhasas and Kinnaras for bathing and drinking purposes.

309. Mandākini: identical with Svarganga. For detail, see Gangavatāra-varnana (Väyu, ch.47; Matsya ch. 124). According to this description ''cold and fresh water from the springs of the Kailasa mountain flows into a lake from which issues river Mandakini around which stands the picturesque Nandana forest of vast dimensions." S.M. Ali holds that the river Mandakini probably refers to the river Uma and the Zhong Chhu, which flow through Gauri Kunda (lying on thc eastern flank of Mount Kailasa) in the Räkshasa Tal (the twin lake of Mānasarovar)". 

26. On its northern bank is the splendid abode of Lord Shiva, finished with lapis lazuli and other gems. He, the unchanging lord, stays there. 

27. O brahmins, on the eastern and southern banks of the river Kanakanandā there is a forest with thousands of Brahmins³¹⁰, animals and birds. 

         310. dvija here means 'ascetic brāhmaṇas'. 

28-31. There also the lord sports in a mansion similar to the one on the mountain (Kailasa) along with Umā and chief Ganas. On the western bank of the Nandā³¹¹, a little towards the South there is the city Rudrapurī. It is full of many mansions. In these also Lord Shiva assuming hundreds of forms sports about along with Umã and the Ganas. It is called Shivālaya (abode of Shiva). Thus, there are hundreds and thousands of shrines of Shiva in every Dvipa, O excellent sages, on the mountains, in the forests, on the banks of rivers, lakes and on the junctions of waters. 

311. Nandã: Nandā, Alakananda and Bhagirathi are three famous branches of Ganga in the upper course in the Pauri-Garhwal region. According to Pargiter (Mark. p. 383), the nrivers andã and Apara-nandā are often mentioned as situated in the north between the Ganges and Kaushiki or Kosi, and near the river Bahudā and mount Hemakūta.