59 - Description of the Earth continued.

Márkandeya tells of the continents Bhadráśhva and Ketumála, and the country of the Northern Kurus, and describes their mountains, rivers and people. 

Márkandeya spoke

1 Thus then have I declared this continent Bhárata accurately, O muni, and the Krita, Tretá, and Dvápara, and Kali ages

2 which are the four ages.§ And now indeed there is a fourfold classification* in these ages, O bráhman. Four, three and

§ For tatha-tishya-chatushthayam read tatha tishya-ch'atushtayam. 

* Ch'atur-varnyo, a masc. abstract

3 two hundreds and one hundred of autumns men live here in the Krita, Tretá and two other ages respoctively, O bráhmen. 

Hear from me of the continent Bhadráśhya, which is situated 4 east of the magnificent eastern mountain Deva-kúta. 

Both Shveta-parna, and Nila, and the lofty mountain Shaivála 5 Kaurañja, Parna-shálágra -these indeed are the five mountain ranges. There are many small mountains besides, which are

6 offshoots of These ranges; the countrios there are distingnished. by them, they are of various shapes and occur in Thousands. Moreover, they are like white water-lilies and are anspicious

7 with their pure summits. Such-like and diverse also are other hills by hundreds and Thousands. The Shítá, the

8 Shaukhávatí, the Bhadrá, and The Ch'akrávartá and many other rivers spread abroad thero, bearing down volumes of cold water. In this country mankind are lustrous as shells and

9 like pure gold;† they associate with the celestials; they are holy; their lives last a Thousand years; neither inferior nor

†Shankha-shuddha-hema-sama-prabháh. 

10 superior exists among them; they are all of equal appearsance; they are endowed naturally with patience and the seven other good qualitios. 

And there the god Janárdana has a horse's head and four

11 Arms; with head, chest, penis, feet and forearms resembling a horse's, and he has three eyes. And thus the objects of sense are porceptible by him, the lord of the world. 

12 Now hear from me about the continent Ketumála which is on the west. 

13 Vishála, Kambala, Krishna, Jayanta, Hari-parvata, Vishoka, and Vardhamána- these seven are the mountain ranges. 

There are other hills by Thousanda, among which a multitude 14 of people dwell. These people dwell there in hundreds, the Maulis†† huge in staturo, the Shákas, Potas and Karambhakas,§.

††This and the following words seem to be the names of peoplo; mountains and rivers in these continents are named, and it seems most natural and reasonable to take these words as names. 

§ Shakapotakarambhakáh; or perhaps “Shakas, Potakas and Ramabhakas.” 

15 and These who are distinguished by their thumbs,* who drink of the great rivers, the Vankshu, the Shyámá, the Svakambalá, the Amoghá, the Káminí, the Syámá, and of others in

* Angula-pramukhásh.

16Thousands. And here life is equal to the above-mentioned lives in Bhadrášhva. And here The adorable Hari wears a boar's shape and resembles a boar in feet, face, chest, back and

17 flanks. And the lunar constellations are beautiful in that country which enjoys three constellations only. Such is this continent of Ketumála, which I havo described to thee, O best of munis.

18     Next I will tell thee of the Northern Kurus; hearken to me now. 

There The treos yield sweet fruit, they bear blossoms and

19 fruit in constant succession; and they produce garments and ornaments inside their fruits; verily they bestow all one's

20 desire; they yield fruit according to all one's desire. The ground abounds with precious stones; the air is fragrant and always delightful. Mankind are born there, whon they quit

21 the world of the gods. They are born in pairs; the pairs abide an equal time, and are as fond of each other as ch'akravákas.

22 Their stay there is fourteen and a half Thousands of years indeed. And Ch'andra-kánta is the chief of the mountains,

23 and Súrya-kánta is the next; they are the two mountain ranges in that continent. And in The midst thereof the great river Bhadra-somá flows through the earth with a volumo of

24 sacred and pure water. And There are other rivers by thousands in that northern continent; and some flow with milk

25 and others flow with ghee. And there are lakes of curdled milk there, and others lie among the various hills, And fruits

26 of various kinds, which taste rather like amrita, are produced by hundreds and Thousands in the woods in These continents. And there the adorable Vishnu has his head turned to the

27 cast and wears a fish's shape. And the lunar constellations are divided † into nine parts, three and three, and the regions of the sky are divided into nine parts, O best of munis.

† For vibhakto read vibhaktir? 

28 And in the ocean are the islands Ch'andra-dvípa, and next Bhadra-dvípa; and there also within the ocean is the famous island Puņya, O great muni. 

29 Thus I have described this northern continent of Kuru O bráhman. Hearken while I tell thee of Kim-parusha and the other continents.