Matsyapurana 114
English (machine translation) 114
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114.1
*The ṛṣis said: / Regarding this Bhārata region of the earth, in which the fourteen / Manus, beginning with Svāyambhuva, created the creation of living beings:
114.2
We wish to learn of this from you, O keeper of noble vows; / speak further, O best among speakers, for our further hearing.
114.3
Hearing this from the ṛṣis, the purāṇic Sūta, / the son of Lomaharṣaṇa, then spoke to the ṛṣis of purified souls.
114.4
Deliberating extensively in his intellect and reflecting again and again, / he then related [it] to them for their further hearing.
114.5
*Sūta said: / Now I shall describe the subjects in this Bhārata region of the earth; / because of sustaining and generating, Manu is called Bharata.
114.6
And according to etymological statements, that region of the earth is known as Bhārata, / whence heaven, liberation, and also the middle [state] are taught.
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Nowhere else on earth is the performance of ritual action taught for mortals; / learn the nine divisions of this Bhārata region of the earth:
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Indradvīpa, Kaśeru, Tāmraparṇa, Gabhastimant, / Nāgadvīpa, Saumya, Gandharva, and Vāruṇa.
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And this ninth among them is a continent surrounded by the ocean; / this continent measures a thousand yojanas from south to north,
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extending from Kumārī up to the source of the Gaṅgā; / and across it extends to ten thousand [yojanas].
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This continent is inhabited on all its borders by barbarians; / on its eastern and western borders are Yavanas and Kirātas.
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In the middle dwell brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras in their divisions, / conducting sacrifices, warfare, commerce, and the rest.
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Such is their customary conduct and mutual livelihood, / conjoined with righteousness, wealth, and pleasure, of the social classes in their own duties.
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For the stages of life, with resolution as the fifth, according to rule, / human activity here is for the sake of heaven and final liberation.
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Now, this human continent is described as extending transversely; / he who conquers it entirely is proclaimed a universal sovereign.
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This world [belongs to] the universal sovereign, but for those who conquer the intermediate space, / that world is known as the independent sovereign's; I shall explain it again in detail.
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Seven celebrated principal mountain ranges are in this great region of the earth: / Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Śuktimant, and Ṛkṣavant,
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Vindhya, and Pāriyātra: these are the principal mountain ranges; / near them are thousands of other mountains,
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known beyond them, large and with variegated peaks; / others known beside them are low, inhabited by low-statured people.
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Intermingled with them, the inhabitants of the country, Āryas and barbarians, on all sides / drink from abundant rivers: the Gaṅgā, the Sindhu, the Sarasvatī,
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the Śatadru, the Candrabhāgā, the Yamunā, the Sarayū, / the Airāvatī, the Vitastā, the Viśālā, the Devikā, the Kuhū,
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the Gomatī, the Dhautapāpā, the Bāhudā, the Dṛṣadvatī, / the Kauśikī as the third, the Niścalā, and the Gaṇḍakī,
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the Ikṣu, and the Lauhita—these have issued from the slopes of the Himavat; / the Vedasmṛti, the Vetravatī, the Vṛtraghni, the Sindhu, / the Parṇāśā, the Narmadā, the great Kāverī,
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the Pārā, the Dhanvatīrūpā, the Viduṣā, the Veṇumatī, / the Śiprā, the Avantī, and the Kuntī are recorded as dependent on Pāriyātra.
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The Śoṇa, the great river, the Nandanā, the Sukṛśā, the Kṣamā, / the Mandākinī, the Daśārṇā, and Citrakūṭā, / the Tamasā, the Pippalī, the Śyenī, and Citrotpalā,
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the Vimalā, the Cañcalā, and the Dhūtavāhinī, / the Śuktimantī, the Śunī, the Lajjā, the Mukuṭā, and the Hrādikā: / these auspicious rivers with clear waters are born of Ṛṣyavant.
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The Tāpī, the Payoṣṇī, the Nirvindhyā, the Kṣiprā, the Ṛṣabhā river, / the Veṇā, the Vaitaraṇī, the Viśvamālā, the Kumudvatī,
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the Toyā, the Mahāgaurī, the Durgamā, and the Śilā: / these all have cool waters, are auspicious, and are born of the foothills of the Vindhya.
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The Godāvarī, the Bhīmarathī, the Kṛṣṇaveṇī, the Vañjulā, / the Tuṅgabhadrā, the Suprayogā, the Bāhyā, and the Kāverī: / these rivers of the southern region have issued from the foothills of the Sahya.
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The Kṛtamālā, the Tāmraparṇī, the Puṣpajā, and the Utpalāvatī: / all these rivers, born of the Malaya, have cool waters and are auspicious.
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The Tribhāgā, the Ṛṣikulyā, the Ikṣudā, the Tridivācalā, / the Tāmraparṇī, the Mūlī, the Śaravā, and the Vimalā: / all are celebrated daughters of Mahendra, flowing auspiciously.
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The Kāśikā, the Sukumārī, the Mandagā, the Mandavāhinī, / the Kṛpā, and the Pāśinī are daughters of Śuktimant.
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All possess sacred waters, are holy, reach everywhere, and go to the ocean; / they are mothers of the world, remove all sins, and are auspicious.
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Their rivers and tributaries number in the hundreds and thousands; / along them are these Kuru-Pāñcālas and Śālvas together with the Jāṅgalas,
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the Śūrasenas, the Bhadrakāras, the Bāhyas together with the Paṭaccaras, / the Matsyas, the Kirātas, the Kulyas, the Kuntalas, the Kāśis, the Kośalas,
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the Āvantas, the Kaliṅgas, and the Mūkas together with the Andhakas: / these are proclaimed mostly as the countries of the Middle Region.
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And adjacent to the Sahya, there is the Godāvarī river; / that region is charming above all on the entire earth.
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Where there are Govardhana, Mandara, and Gandhamādana, / heavenly trees and divine medicinal plants were brought down
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by the sage Bharadvāja to please Rāma; / hence, that region became delightful, the foremost in flowers.
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The Vāhlīkas, Vāṭadhānas, Ābhīras, Kālatoyakas, / Puraṃdhras, Śūdras, Pallavas, Attakhaṇḍikas,
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Gāndhāras, Yavanas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, Madrakas, / Śakas, Druhyas, Pulindas, Pāradas, Hāramūrtikas,
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Rāmaṭhas, Kaṇṭakāras, Kaikeyas, Daśanāmakas, / Kṣatriya colonies, and settlements of Vaiśyas and Śūdras,
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the Atris, then the Bharadvājas, Prasthalas, Sadaserakas, / Lampākas, Talagānas, Sainikas along with the Jāṅgalas: / these are the northern realms; now hear of the eastern realms:
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The Aṅgas, Vaṅgas, Madgurakas, Antargiris, Bahirgiris, / then the Plavaṃgas, Mātaṅgas, Yamakas, Mallavarṇakas, / Suhmottaras, Pravijayas, Mārgavas, Geyamālavas,
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Prāgjyotiṣas, Puṇḍras, Videhas, Tāmraliptakas, / Śālvas, Māgadhas, and Gonardas are recorded as the eastern realms.
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Beyond them are the realms of the dwellers in the south: / the Pāṇḍyas, Keralas, Colas, and likewise the Kulyas,
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the Setukas, Sūtikas, Kupathas, Vājivāsikas, / Navarāṣṭras, Māhiṣikas, and the Kaliṅgas throughout;
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the Kārūṣas together with the Aiṣīkas, the Āṭavyas, the Śabaras, / the Pulindas, Vindhyapuṣikas, Vaidarbhas with the Daṇḍakas,
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the Kulīyas, Sirālas, Rūpasas with the Tāpasas, / likewise the Taittirikas, and all the Kāraskaras;
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the Vāsikyas and whatever others there are, and those within the Narmadā, / the Bhārukacchas, Samāheyas along with the Sārasvatas,
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the Kācchīkas, Saurāṣṭras, Ānartas along with the Arbudas: / these are the western realms. Now hear of those who dwell in the Vindhya:
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The Mālavas, Karūṣas, Mekalas together with the Utkalas, / Auṇḍras, Māṣas, Daśārṇas, Bhojas together with the Kiṣkindhakas,
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Tośalas, Kosalas, Traipuras, and Vaidiśas, / Tumuras, Tumbaras, and Padgamas together with the Naiṣadhas,
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Arūpas, Śauṇḍikeras, Vītihotras, and Avantīs— / these are renowned as the realms dwelling on the slopes of the Vindhya.
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Henceforth I shall proclaim those realms that rely upon the mountains: / the Nirāhāras, Sarvagas, Kupathas, and Apathas,
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the Kuthaprāvaraṇas, Ūrṇādavas, Samudgakas, / Trigartas, Maṇḍalas, and Kirātas along with the Amaras.
114.57
The sages have declared four ages in the region of the earth called Bhārata: / Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali—such is the cycle of four ages. / I shall describe their nature completely later on.
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Matsya said: / Having heard this, the sages, wishing to hear more, / addressed their further question eagerly to Lomaharṣaṇa's son:
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The sages said: / Just as the realm of Bhārata was described by you in truth, / tell us about the realm of Kimpuruṣa and Harivarṣa!
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O best of the knowledgeable, tell us the extent of the Jambū region, / and about the trees, the inhabitants, and the other continents!
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Questioned thus by the Brahmins, he spoke in detail according to the inquiry / what had been seen by the sages and accepted in the Purāṇas.
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Sūta said: / Since you wish to hear, O Brahmins, listen attentively! / The Kimpuruṣa realm of Jambūdvīpa is exceedingly great, like the Nandana grove.
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The lifespan in Kimpuruṣa is stated to be ten thousand years; / human beings are born there with the luster of well-refined gold.
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In the sacred realm of Kimpuruṣa, a plakṣa tree is recorded that flows with honey; / all the Kimpuruṣas, drinking its excellent juice,
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are free from disease and grief, their minds perpetually rejoicing; / the men are gold-colored, and the women are considered apsarases.
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Beyond Kimpuruṣa, they speak of Harivarṣa, / where humans are born resembling pure silver.
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Having fallen from the world of the gods, diverse in form in every way, / all the men in Harivarṣa drink delightful sugarcane juice.
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Old age does not afflict them there; therefore they live a long time. / Their lifespan is declared to be eleven thousand [years].
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The middle one has been declared by me, called the realm of Ilāvṛta; / there the sun does not burn, nor do humans perceive it.
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The moon and sun along with the constellations do not shine in Ilāvṛta. / With the radiance of a lotus, lotus-colored, with eyes resembling lotus petals,
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and fragrant like a lotus, all the humans are born there, / nourished by the juice of jambū fruit, unblinking, and sweet-smelling.
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All fallen from the world of the gods, wearing silver garments, / those best of men live for thirteen thousand years;
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[such is] the span of life they live who dwell in the realm of Ilāvṛta. / On the southern side of Meru, or to the north of Niṣadha,
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stands an immense and eternal jambū tree named Sudarśana, / perpetually endowed with flowers and fruits, frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas.
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From the name of that king of trees, Jambūdvīpa is designated; / it is a thousand yojanas [in extent] and again a hundredfold great.
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The height of that king of trees stands covering the sky; / the juice of its jambū fruit flows forth, having become a river.
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Circumambulating Meru, it reaches the base of the jambū tree again; / ever delighted, they drink that jambū juice in Ilāvṛta.
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Having drunk the juice of the jambū fruit, old age does not afflict them, / nor hunger, nor fatigue, nor any sorrow of that kind.
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There, the gold named Jāmbūnada, an ornament for the gods, / radiant and resembling an indragopaka beetle, is produced.
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That auspicious fruit juice belongs to all the trees of the realm; / when fallen, it becomes bright gold, an ornament for the gods.
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Their urine or feces in all eight directions, / and those who have died, the earth swallows up by the grace of the Lord.
114.82
The rākṣasas, piśācas, and yakṣas are all dwellers of the Himālaya; / on Hemakūṭa, the gandharvas together with flocks of apsarases are known [to dwell].
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All the nāgas—Śeṣa, Vāsuki, and Takṣaka—abide [there]; / on Great Meru, the auspicious thirty-three [gods] entitled to sacrifice disport.
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On this [mountain] endowed with blue lapis lazuli, the Siddhas and brahmin seers resided; / Mount Śveta is declared to belong to the Daityas and Dānavas.
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Śṛṅgavān is the foremost of mountains, the resort of the ancestors. / Thus have I spoken of these nine regions of the earth in Bhārata.
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Inhabited by beings, moving and stationary; / their manifold growth is witnessed by gods and humans. / It is impossible to enumerate, yet it must be believed by one who wishes to thrive.
Translations (1)
- The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English
Linked texts (1)
- Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit