Bhagavatapurana 5.16: ṣoḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ

5.16.1

/0 rājovāca
uktas tvayā bhū-maṇḍalāyāma-viśeṣo yāvad ādityas tapati yatra cāsau jyotiṣāṃ gaṇaiś candramā vā saha dṛśyate //

1. The King said:—Thou hast been pleased to describe that extent of the globe of Earth which is warmed by the Sun, and where the moon is visible with the hosts of stars.

5.16.2

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tatrāpi priyavrata-ratha-caraṇa-parikhātaiḥ saptabhiḥ sapta sindhava upakḷptā yata etasyāḥ sapta-dvīpa-viśeṣa-vikalpas tvayā bhagavan khalu sūcita etad evākhilam ahaṃ mānato lakṣaṇataś ca sarvaṃ vi-jijñāsāmi //

2. It has also been pointed out that there the seven seas were formed by the seven moats caused by the wheels of Priyavrata's chariot, as well as the distinction of the Seven Dwipas or divisions of the Earth. I desire to know all this in detail with their dimensions and characteristics.

5.16.3

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bhagavato guṇamaye sthūla-rūpa āveśitaṃ mano hy aguṇe 'pi sūkṣmatama ātma-jyotiṣi pare brahmaṇi bhagavati vāsudevākhye kṣamam āveśituṃ tad u haitad guro 'rhasy anuvarṇayitum iti //

3. For, the mind first centred on the Lord's gross form

associated with the three gunas becomes gradually fit also to be devoted to the subtle light of Atman not approached by gunas (without the association of gunas)— the glorious Atman who is the supreme Brahman known also as the glorious Vasudeva; therefore, O preceptor, mayest thou be pleased to describe to me (the same in detail)!

5.16.4

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/0 ṛṣir uvāca
na vai mahārāja bhagavato māyā-guṇa-vibhūteḥ kāṣṭhāṃ manasā vacasā vādhigantum alaṃ vibudhāyuṣāpi puruṣas tasmāt prādhān-yenaiva bhū-golaka-viśeṣaṃ nāma-rūpa-māna-lakṣaṇato vyākhyāsyāmaḥ //

4. The sage said:—O great king, no man can, even if blessed with long life like the gods, exhaustively deal, in thought or word, with the full extent of the Lord's great glories (exhibited) through the three gunas of His Maya; therefore we shall only touch on typical points and describe the globe by name, position, extent and characteristics.

5.16.5

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yo vāyaṃ dvīpaḥ kuvalaya-kamala-kośābhyantara-kośo niyuta-yojana-viśālaḥ samavartulo yathā puṣkara-patram //

5. And this well known Dwipa (Jambu Dwipa), *Laksha yojanas* in extent, is situated like the seed-vessel at the centre of the lotus-like globe, a perfect circle in form, just as a lotus leaf is.

5.16.6

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yasmin nava varṣāṇi nava-yojana-sahasrāyāmāny aṣṭabhir maryādā-giribhiḥ suvibhaktāni bhavanti //

6. In this Dwipa there are nine continents, each nine thousand yojanas in extent and well demarcated by eight ranges of mountains which form their boundaries.

5.16.7

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eṣāṃ madhye ilāvṛtaṃ nāmābhyantara-varṣaṃ yasya nābhyām avasthitaḥ sarvataḥ sauvarṇaḥ kula-giri-rājo merur dvīpāyāma-samunnāhaḥ karṇikā-bhūtaḥ kuvalaya-kamalasya mūrdhani dvā-triṃśat sahasra-yojana-vitato mūle ṣoḍaśa-sahasraṃ tāvat āntar-bhūmyāṃ praviṣṭaḥ //

7. At the centre of these continents is situated the inner continent of Ilavrita, at the centre of which stands the all-gold mount of Meru, lord of all mountains, equal in height to the length of the Dwipa (Jambu Dwipa) and in shape like unto the seed-vessel of the lotus of the globe, 32 thousand yojanas broad at the bottom, (where it touches the surface of the earth), its root lying under the earth to the depth of the same extent (16 thousand yojanas).

5.16.8

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uttarottareṇelāvṛtaṃ nīlaḥ śvetaḥ śṛṅgavān iti trayo ramyaka-hiraṇmaya-kurūṇāṃ varṣāṇāṃ maryādā-girayaḥ prāg-āyatā ubhayataḥ kṣārodāvadhayo dvi-sahasra-pṛthava ekaikaśaḥ pūrvasmāt pūrvasmād uttara uttaro daśāṃśādhikāṃśena dairghya eva hrasanti //

8. On the northern side adjoining Ilavrita are three mountain ranges, called Neela, Sweta and Sringavan, the boundary mountains between the Varshas of Ramyaka, Hiranmaya and Kuru, running east and west both ways, terminated by the salt sea, each two thousand yojanas in extent, and every exterior range being shorter in length by a little over a tenth of the next interior range.

5.16.9

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evaṃ dakṣiṇenelāvṛtaṃ niṣadho hemakūṭo himālaya iti prāg-āyatā yathā nīlādayo 'yuta-yojanotsedhā hari-varṣa-kimpuruṣa-bhāratānāṃ yathā-saṅkhyam //

9. Similarly, on the south of Ilavrita are three ranges, Nishadha, Hemakuta and the Himalayas, running towards the east, each ten thousand yojanas high, like Nila and other ranges and they form the boundaries of Harivarsha, Kimpurusha and Bharata.

5.16.10

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tathaivelāvṛtam apareṇa pūrveṇa ca mālyavad-gandhamādanāv ānīla-niṣadhāyatau dvi-sahasraṃ paprathatuḥ ketumāla-bhadrāśvayoḥ sīmānaṃ vidadhāte //

10. So also on the east and west of Ilavrita are two ranges, Malyavat and Gandhamadana, each 2000 yojanas in length, reaching to the Nila and the Nishadha and forming the boundaries of Ketumala and Bhadraswa Varshas.

5.16.11

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mandaro merumandaraḥ supārśvaḥ kumuda ity ayuta-yojana-vistāronnāhā meroś catur-diśam avaṣṭambha-giraya upakḷptāḥ //

11. Mandara, Merumandara, Suparswa, and Kumuda, four ranges, each ten thousand yojanas in length and height are placed on the four sides of Meru as its side-supports.

5.16.12

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caturṣv eteṣu cūta-jambū-kadamba-nyagrodhāś catvāraḥ pādapa-pravarāḥ parvata-ketava ivādhi-sahasra-yojanonnāhās tāvad viṭapa-vitatayaḥ śata-yojana-pariṇāhāḥ //

12. On these four ranges stand four great trees, the Mango, the Jamboo, the Kadamba and the Banian, looking like mountain flags, each tree more than a thousand yojanas in height and covering an equal area with its branches, the trunk of each being a hundred yojanas in circumference.

5.16.13

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hradāś catvāraḥ payo-madhv-ikṣurasa-mṛṣṭa-jalā yad-upasparśina upadeva-gaṇā yogaiśvaryāṇi svābhāvikāni bharatarṣabha dhārayanti //

13. There are also four pools, of Milk, Honey, Sugarcane juice and Fresh water; the celestials of the second order who drink of these naturally come to possess great powers of Yoga, O Bull among Bharatas.

5.16.14

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devodyānāni ca bhavanti catvāri nandanaṃ caitrarathaṃ vaibhrājakaṃ sarvatobhadram iti //

14. There are also four gardens of the celestials, viz, Nandana, Chaitratha, Vaibhrajaka and Sarvatobhadra.

5.16.15

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yeṣv amara-parivṛḍhāḥ saha sura-lalanā-lalāma-yūtha-pataya upadeva-gaṇair upagīyamāna-mahimānaḥ kila viharanti //

15. In those gardens do sport the great gods leading galaxies of the celestial beauties; and listening to their glories sung by the minor celestials (Gandharvas).

5.16.16

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mandarotsaṅga ekādaśa-śata-yojanottuṅga-devacūta-śiraso giri-śikhara-sthūlāni phalāny amṛta-kalpāni patanti //

16. On the sides of the mount Mandara fall, from the top of the celestial mango tree, eleven hundred yojanas high, fruits which are as big as the crest of a mountain, and sweet as ambrosia.

5.16.17

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teṣāṃ viśīryamāṇānām ati-madhura-surabhi-sugandhi-bahulāruṇa-rasodenāruṇodā nāma nadī mandara-giri-śikharān nipatantī pūr-veṇelāvṛtam upaplāvayati //

17. As those fruits break, an abundant flood of their juice, very sweet and charming by its sweet smell, forms into a river called Arunoda on account of its deep red waters, which running down the tops of the mount Mandara, irrigates the Ilavrita Khanda on the east.

5.16.18

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yad-upajoṣaṇād bhavānyā anucarīṇāṃ puṇya-jana-vadhūnām avayava-sparśa-sugandha-vāto daśa-yojanaṃ samantād anuvāsayati //

18. To a distance of ten yojanas on all sides, fragrant odour is diffused by the wind that gets charged with perfumes as it comes into contact with the person of the Yaksha damsels, the attendants of the goddess Parvati, who bathe in, drink of and enjoy in various ways in the Arunoda.

5.16.19

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evaṃ jambū-phalānām atyucca-nipāta-viśīrṇānām anasthi-prāyāṇām ibha-kāya-nibhānāṃ rasena jambū nāma nadī meru-mandara-śikharād ayuta-yojanād avani-tale nipatantī dakṣiṇenātmānaṃ yāvad ilāvṛtam upasyandayati //

19. Thus also from the juice of the Jambu as big as the elephants mostly containing very fine seeds that break into pieces by their falling from a great height, the river called Jambu is formed and it falls down from the tops of Meru Mandara to a depth of ten thousand yojanas; and then flowing towards the south, moistens that portion of Ilavrita.

5.16.20

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tāvad ubhayor api rodhasor yā mṛttikā tad-rasenānuvidhyamānā vāyv-arka-saṃyoga-vipākena sadāmara-lokābharaṇaṃ jāmbū-nadaṃ nāma suvarṇaṃ bhavati //

20. Now, on both the banks (of this river) the clay permeated by that juice, and undergoing chemical change under the action of the wind and the sun turns into gold so fine that it is always used for ornaments by the celestial inhabitants.

5.16.21

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yad u ha vāva vibudhādayaḥ saha yuvatibhir mukuṭa-kaṭaka-kaṭi-sūtrādy-ābharaṇa-rūpeṇa khalu dhārayanti //

21. Indeed the gods and other celestials and their consorts wear this gold in the form of various ornaments such as crowns and coronets, bracelets and bangles, zones and belts.

5.16.22

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yas tu mahā-kadambaḥ supārśva-nirūḍho yās tasya koṭarebhyo viniḥsṛtāḥ pañcāyāma-pariṇāhāḥ pañca madhu-dhārāḥ supārśva-śikharāt patantyo 'pareṇātmānam ilāvṛtam anumodayanti //

22. It has been said that a great Kadamba tree grows on mount Suparsva;--from its hollows flow five currents of honey, each in volume measuring five times the two arms stretched out and they running down the tops of Suparsva, they spread joy.

5.16.23

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yā hy upayuñjānānāṃ mukha-nirvāsito vāyuḥ samantāc chata-yojanam anuvāsayati //

23. The wind that is perfumed with the fragrant breaths of those who drink of those currents wafts the fragrance over a hundred yojanas all round.

5.16.24

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evaṃ kumuda-nirūḍho yaḥ śatavalśo nāma vaṭas tasya skandhebhyo nīcīnāḥ payo-dadhi-madhu-ghṛta-guḍānnādy-ambara-śayyāsanābharaṇādayaḥ sarva eva kāma-dughā nadāḥ kumudāgrāt patantas tam uttareṇelāvṛtam upayojayanti //

24. Similarly, from the arms (main branches) of the banian tree called Shatavalsya, that stands on mount Kumuda—flow downwards streams, all capable of yielding whatever is desired such as milk, curds, honey, ghee, sugarcandy, food, raiment, beds, seats, ornaments—all running down the northern slopes of Kumuda become useful to the continent of Ilavrita.

5.16.25

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yān upajuṣāṇānāṃ na kadācid api prajānāṃ valī-palita-klama-sveda-daurgandhya-jarāmaya-mṛtyu-śītoṣṇa-vaivarṇyopasargādayas tāpa-viśeṣā bhavanti yāvaj jīvaṃ sukhaṃ niratiśayam eva //

25. Those who make use of these supplies are not harassed by wrinkles, grey hairs, fatigue, sweating, bad odours, old age, diseases, and death, or by cold and heat, paleness and calamities and other various troubles, and so they enjoy the greatest pleasure throughout their life.

5.16.26

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kuraṅga-kurara-kusumbha-vaikaṅka-trikūṭa-śiśira-pataṅga-rucaka-niṣadha-śinīvāsa-kapila-śaṅkha-vaidūrya-jārudhi-haṃsa-ṛṣabha-nāga-kālañjara-nāradādayo viṃśati-girayo meroḥ karṇikāyā iva kesara-bhūtā mūla-deśe parita upakḷptāḥ //

26. Surrounding the base of Meru on all sides are situated, like filaments on the seed-vessel in a lotus, twenty mountains, *viz.*, Kuranga, Kurara, Kushumba, Vaikanka, Trikuta, Sisira, Patanga, Ruchaka, Nishadha, Sitivasa, Kapila, Sankha, Vaidwija, Jarudhi, Hansa, Rishabha, (Nira), Naga, Kalanjara, and Narada.

5.16.27

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jaṭhara-devakūṭau meruṃ pūrveṇāṣṭādaśa-yojana-sahasram udagāyatau dvi-sahasraṃ pṛthu-tuṅgau bhavataḥ evam apareṇa pavana-pāriyātrau dakṣiṇena kailāsa-karavīrau prāg-āyatāv evam uttaratas triśṛṅga-makarāv aṣṭabhir etaiḥ parisṛto 'gnir iva paritaś cakāsti kāñcana-giriḥ //

27. On the east of Meru are Jathara and Devakuta, eighteen thousand yojanas long, extending towards the north, two thousand yojanas in breadth as well as in height; similarly on the west are situate the two ranges of Pavana and Pariyatra; on the south Kailasa and Karavira extending towards the east and on the north are the two Trisringa and Makara, surrounded by these eight ranges like the sacred fire with Paridhis, on all sides, the mountain of gold shines highly picturesque.

5.16.28

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meror mūrdhani bhagavata ātma-yoner madhyata upakḷptāṃ purīm ayuta-yojana-sāhasrīṃ sama-caturasrāṃ śātakaumbhīṃ vadanti //

28. On the summit of Meru, at the very centre is situated the city of the glorious Brahma, the son of Atman, occupying an area covering ten thousands of thousand yojanas, in the form of a square; and the learned call it *Satakumbhi* (the golden city).

5.16.29

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tām anuparito loka-pālānām aṣṭānāṃ yathā-diśaṃ yathā-rūpaṃ turīya-mānena puro 'ṣṭāv upakḷptāḥ //

29. Next to that city surrounding the out-skirts of that city, there are eight cities of the eight guardians of the world posted at the cardinal points severally alloted to them, built in a befitting style, each city being one-fourth in dimensions (of that of Brahma).