85 - The nine divisions of Bhärata

Rudra said:

1. Thus has been described the arrangement in the world-lotus. Now listen to the ninefold division of Bhärata. These (divisions) are Indra, Kaseru, Tämravarna, Gabhasti, Nägadvipa, Saumya, Gandharva, and Bhärata (proper). Each is surrounded by an ocean and is one thousand yojanas in extent. There are seven major mountains.

2. These major mountains are Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimän, Ruksha, Vindhya and Päriyätra.

3. There are minor mountains like Mandara, Shara, Dardura, Kailåsa, Mainäka, Vaidyuta, Värandhama, Pändura, Tuñgaprastha, Krishnaagiri, Jayanta, Airävata, Rushyamüka, Gomanta, Chitraküta, Shriparvata, Chakorakuta, Shrišhaila and Krutasthala. There are smaller mountains also. In the settlements in these dwell Äryas and Mlecchas. They drink water in the rivers flowing there.

4. The rivers are Gañgä, Sindhu, Sarasvati, Shatadru, Vitastà, Vipäšha, Chandrabhägä, Sarayü, Yamunä, Irävati, Devikä, Kuhü, Gomati, Dhütapäpä, Bähudä, Drushadvati, Kaušhiki, Nisvirä, Gandaki, Chakshushmati and Lohitä, all rising from the foot of the Himälayas. Vedasmruti, Vedavati, Sindhuparnä, Chandanäbhá, Näšhadächärä, Rohipärä, Charmapvati, Vidišhä, Vedatrayi and Vapanti arise from Päriyätra.

5. Shona, Jyotirathä, Narmadä, Surasá, Mandäkini, Dasharna, Chitrakütä, Tamasä, Pippalä, Karatoyä, Pišhächikä, Chitrotpalå, Višhälä, Vañjukä, Bähuvähini, Shuktimàti, Virajä, Pañkini and Rätri arise from Ruksha. Manijälä, Shubhä, Täpi, Payoshni, Shighrodä, Veshnä, Päšhä, Vaitarani, Vaidipälá, Kumudvati, Toyä, Durgä, Antyä and Girä arise from the base of the Vindhya. Godävari, Bhimarathi, Krishna, Veni, Vañjulä, Tuñgabhadrä, Suprayoga and Bähyakäveri arise from the foot of Sahya.

6. Shatamälä, Tämraparni, Pushpavati and Utpalävati arise from Malaya. Triyämä, Rushikulyä’, Ikshulä, Trivindâlä, Mülini and Vamšhavarä have their origin in Mahendra. Rushika, Lüsati, Mandagäminï and Paläšhini have their source in Shuktimán. These are the main rivers arising from the major mountains.

The others are minor rivers. This Jambüdvipa is one lakh yojanas in extent.

Summary of chapter 85 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:

Moved by King Kuru's selfless penance and supreme sacrifice, Pitāmaha Brahmā, Bhagavān Vishṇu, and Indra manifested in their radiant divine forms before the noble monarch. The devas solemnly granted his heart's desire, decreeing that Kurukshetra would eternally remain a supreme Dharma-kshetra across all yugas. They declared that any living entity who departs its mortal frame within the sacred boundaries of Kurukshetra or while meditating on its holy name attains immediate liberation from the cycle of rebirth.