Matsyapurana 122
English (machine translation) 122
- Language
- English
122.1
Sūta said: / I shall declare here accurately the determination of Śākadvīpa. / Listen to the continent of Śāka being described, O best of the twice-born!
122.2
Its breadth is double the extent of Jambūdvīpa, / and its circumference all around is three times its breadth.
122.3
By that continent this ocean, the salt ocean, is encircled. / There are holy regions, and people die after a long time.
122.4
Whence could there be famine among those endowed with forbearance and energy? / There also are seven bright mountains adorned with gems.
122.5
In these three [continents] beginning with Śākadvīpa are seven mountains each; / straight and extended in every direction, the boundary mountains are situated,
122.6
bearing names such as Ratnākara, having peaks, highly elevated, / equal in every direction according to the extent of the continent,
122.7
and plunging on both sides into the salt and milk oceans. / Now I will declare the seven divine great mountains in Śākadvīpa.
122.8
The first, endowed with divine seers and Gandharvas, is called Meru; / extending eastwards, it is golden, the mountain named Udaya.
122.9
There the clouds arise for rain and disperse. / To the west of it is a very great mountain, Jaladhāra.
122.10
It is celebrated as Candra, endowed with all medicinal herbs; / from it Indra constantly draws excellent water.
122.11
And Nārada is said to be an inaccessible, highly elevated mountain; / there two mountains arose previously, the Nārada mountains.
122.12
To the west of it is a very large mountain named Śyāma, / where these creatures formerly became dark-complexioned.
122.13
It is also named Dundubhi, resembling the Śyāma mountain; / on it in ancient times a death-drum was beaten by the Suras.
122.14
Consisting of rows of gems is Śālmala, forming an interval; / to the west of it, made of silver, is remembered the great mountain Asta.
122.15
It is called Somaka, where formerly the nectar was collected / by the gods, and also carried away by Garuḍa for the sake of his mother.
122.16
West of it is remembered [the mountain] Āmbikeya, also called Sumanas; / on that mountain, Hiraṇyākṣa was slain by the Boar.
122.17
Beyond Āmbikeya is the delightful great mountain Vibhrāja, / rich in all medicinal herbs and composed of crystal.
122.18
Because fire blazes from it, it is known as Vibhrāja; / it is also called Keśavā here, from which the wind blows forth.
122.19
I shall describe the regions belonging to those mountains, O best of the twice-born; / hear them by name, properly in succession.
122.20
The regions have two names, just like the mountains: / the region of Udaya is Udaya, also renowned as Jaladhāra.
122.21
The first region is named Gatabhaya by name; / the second [region], of Jaladhāra, is remembered as Sukumāra.
122.22
That very same region is proclaimed by the name Śaiśira; / and that of Nārada is Kaumāra, also called Sukhodaya.
122.23
The region of the Śyāma mountain is remembered as Anīcaka; / the same auspicious [region] is called Ānandaka by the sages.
122.24
The auspicious region of Somaka is to be known as Kusumotkara; / that very same region named after Somaka is also called Asita.
122.25
The region of Āmbikeya is Maināka, also made [known as] Kṣemaka; / and that of the Kesara mountain is remembered as Mahādruma; / that very region, designated Vibhrāja, is also called Dhava.
122.26
The circumference of the continent, as well as its breadth and length, / is calculated in comparison with Jambūdvīpa; in its center is a lord of the forest,
122.27
a great tree named Śāka, whose subjects are its great attendants. / Upon these [mountains] the gods and Gandharvas, and Siddhas together with Cāraṇas,
122.28
sport and take delight, visible along with them. / There are holy inhabited lands there, endowed with the four social classes.
122.29
In them are seven rivers flowing to the ocean in each region; / having two names, they are all remembered as sevenfold Gaṅgās:
122.30
the first Gaṅgā is Sukumārī, auspicious, with beneficial waters; / this river is also proclaimed by the name Munitaptā;
122.31
the second, pure [river] is named Sukumārī, perfected by ascetic austerities; / the third is proclaimed as Nandā and Pāvanī;
122.32
the fourth is Śibikā, and it is remembered by a second name; / the fifth is known as Ikṣu, and also as Kuhū;
122.33
the sixth is proclaimed as Veṇukā and Amṛtā; / and the seventh is proclaimed as Sukṛtā and Gabhastī.
122.34
These seven most glorious rivers of auspicious water in each region / invigorate all the people dwelling in Śākadvīpa.
122.35
Other rivers, streams, and lakes flow toward them / with abundant discharges of water, wherever Indra pours rain.
122.36
Their names and their dimensions / cannot be enumerated; they are holy, excellent rivers.
122.37
Ever joyful, the peoples of those lands drink from those rivers. / These [lands] are declared as Śāntabhaya, Pramoda, and auspicious Śiva,
122.38
Ānanda, Sukha, and Kṣemaka, along with the nine; / these seven renowned lands are endowed with the conduct of the social classes and stages of life.
122.39
They are healthy and strong, and all of them are free from death; / among them there is no descending cycle of time, nor any ascending cycle.
122.40
The condition of the ages brought about by the four cosmic ages does not exist there anywhere; / a time equal to the Tretā Yuga prevails there always.
122.41
In all five of these, beginning with Śākadvīpa, it should be known: / considering the land, time is remembered as natural.
122.42
Among them there is no mixture caused by social classes and stages of life anywhere; / and because of the non-deviation from righteousness, the subjects are exceedingly happy.
122.43
Among them there is neither deceit nor greed, jealousy nor envy; whence could fear arise? / There is no adversity among them; that is remembered as natural [to them].
122.44
Among them there is no destructive time, no punishment, and no punisher; / knowing righteousness, they protect one another by their own duty.
122.45
Very large and circular is the continent named Kuśa, / surrounded by the waters of rivers and mountains resembling clouds,
122.46
variegated with all ores, adorned with jewels and coral, / and with other delightful inhabited lands of diverse forms,
122.47
rich in wealth and grain on all sides, with trees bearing flowers and fruits, / constantly endowed with flowers and fruits, surrounded by all gems,
122.48
covered everywhere with all kinds of animals, domestic and wild. / Hear now, in summary and in due order, about Kuśadvīpa.
122.49
Now I shall describe Kuśadvīpa, the third [continent], in its entirety; / the Ocean of Milk is surrounded on all sides by Kuśadvīpa,
122.50
which possesses twice the extent of Śākadvīpa. / There also seven mountains are to be known, the sources of gems,
122.51
and likewise rivers that are mines of jewels; hear their names from me. / They all have two names, just as in Śākadvīpa.
122.52
The first mountain, resembling the sun, is named Kumuda; / that very mountain is also called Vidrumoccaya,
122.53
with peaks made of all ores, accompanied by networks of rocks. / The second mountain there is renowned as Unnata;
122.54
that very mountain is called Hemaparvata, / encompassing the continent on all sides with peaks of yellow orpiment.
122.55
The third is Balāhaka, a mountain made of genuine collyrium; / that very mountain is also called Dyutimant by name.
122.56
The fourth mountain is Droṇa; on that great mountain are the medicinal herbs / Viśalyakaraṇī as well as Mṛtasaṃjīvanī;
122.57
that very mountain, very massive, is called Puṣpavant. / The fifth of these mountains is Kaṅka, full of strength,
122.58
and that mountain is further declared as Kuśeśaya, / endowed with divine flowers and fruits, and possessed of celestial creeping plants.
122.59
The sixth mountain there is Mahiṣa, resembling a cloud; / that very [mountain] is further proclaimed as renowned by the name Hari.
122.60
On it dwells that water-born fire named Mahiṣa; / the seventh mountain there is spoken of as Kakudmant;
122.61
that very auspicious [mountain], made of all ores, is to be known as Mandara. / That root *mand-* expresses the meaning of water;
122.62
and from its tearing apart the waters it is called Mandara. / There Indra himself guards many jewels,
122.63
having received them from the lord of progeny, bestowing them himself upon the creatures. / The breadth of the intervals between them is stated to be double.
122.64
Thus these seven mountains in Kuśadvīpa have been declared. / I shall speak of their seven regions of the earth in order, according to their division.
122.65
Śveta is remembered as the region of Kumuda, and Unnata is remembered as his; / the region of Unnata is known by the name Lohita.
122.66
And likewise Veṇumaṇḍalaka is celebrated; / Jimūta belongs to Balāhaka, and Svairathākāra also.
122.67
Droṇa's [region of the earth] is called Harika, and it is also remembered as Lavaṇa; / Kaṅka's is named Kakud, and it is also known as Dhṛtimant.
122.68
Mahiṣa's [region] is Mahiṣa, and again Prabhākara; / and the region of Kakudmin is well known by the name Kapila.
122.69
These are the seven distinct regions of the earth, / and their seven mountains individually; learn now of the rivers among them.
122.70
There also are seven rivers, remembered for each region of the earth; / all of them bear two names, and all are known for holy waters.
122.71
The river named Dhūtapāpā is also known as Yoni; / Sītā is to be known as the second, and it is also known as Niśā.
122.72
Pavitrā is to be known as the third, which is also Vitṛṣṇā; / the fourth is declared as Hlādinī and is also remembered as Candrabhā.
122.73
Vidyut is spoken of as the fifth, and is regarded as Śuklā; / Puṇḍrā is to be known as the sixth, and again as Vibhāvarī.
122.74
Mahatī is spoken of as the seventh, and again it is remembered as Dhṛti. / There are hundreds and thousands of others that arise from them;
122.75
those rivers flow to wherever Vāsava rains down. / In this way, the arrangement of Kuśadvīpa has been described to you.
122.76
Its eternal expanse is declared to be [equal to that of] Śākadvīpa. / Kuśadvīpa is surrounded by the ocean of clarified butter whey,
122.77
a very great continent enclosed on every side like a halo around the moon; / in extent and circular dimension it is considered twice the Ocean of Milk.
122.78
Next I shall explain Krauñcadvīpa just as it is: / its breadth is twice the breadth of Kuśadvīpa.
122.79
The ocean of clarified butter is indeed surrounded by Krauñcadvīpa; / it is enclosed on every side by the circular measure of a chariot wheel's rim.
122.80
On that continent are excellent mountains: the mountain Devana is named; / and beyond Devana is the mountain named Govinda;
122.81
beyond Govinda is Krauñca, the first mountain; / beyond Krauñca is Pāvanaka; beyond Pāvana is Andhakāraka;
122.82
and beyond Andhakāra is the mountain named Devāvṛt; / beyond Devāvṛta is the great mountain Puṇḍarīka.
122.83
These seven jewel-filled mountains belong to Krauñcadvīpa; / each regional boundary mountain has twice the diameter of the previous one.
122.84
I shall declare its regions of the earth; learn them by name: / the region of Krauñca is Kuśala; of Vāmana it is Manonuga;
122.85
beyond Manonuga is Uṣṇa, which is also called the third; / beyond Uṣṇa is Pāvanaka; beyond Pāvana is Andhakāraka;
122.86
beyond the region of Andhakāraka is the region of the Munis; / and beyond the region of the Munis, Dundubhisvana is proclaimed.
122.87
It is thronged with Siddhas and Cāraṇas; the people are generally fair and pure. / Auspicious rivers are known to run there through each region of the earth:
122.88
Gaurī, Kumudvatī, Saṃdhyā, Rātri, Manojavā, / Khyātī, and Puṇḍarīkā—this Gaṅgā is remembered as sevenfold.
122.89
Thousands of other rivers flow along their flanks and nearby; / those abundant rivers with copious waters run onward.
122.90
The entire layout of those regions, in order, / cannot be described in detail even in hundreds of years,
122.91
nor the creation of the creatures and their dissolution therein. / Beyond this, I shall speak of Śālmala; listen!
122.92
Śālmala is a continent twice the extent of Krauñcadvīpa; / it stands surrounding the ocean of curd-whey.
122.93
In that place are virtuous lands, and people die only after a long time. / Whence indeed could there be famine? For they are endowed with forbearance and vitality.
122.94
The first is the mountain named Sumanas, resembling the sun; / the middle one was yellow, and then there is the jar-shaped mountain,
122.95
named Sarvasukha by name, endowed with divine medicinal herbs; / and the third mountain is golden, resembling a bee's wing,
122.96
the very great mountain named Rohita, an excellent divine mountain. / Sumanas is a prosperous region, bringing future happiness, an arising of bliss.
122.97
The third, which is Rohita, is renowned by the name Rohiṇa; / there Vāsava himself protects many gems.
122.98
He, having taken up the role of Prajāpati, gracious, arranges things himself. / Clouds do not rain there, and cold and heat are not of that [ordinary] kind.
122.99
Nor is there any occupation of social classes and stages of life across the three continents; / there is no planet and no moon, nor envy, malice, or fear.
122.100
There are spring waters and mountain torrents; / food of the six tastes is spontaneously present there for them.
122.101
Among them there is neither low nor high, neither greed nor possessiveness; / men are healthy, strong, and exclusively happy.
122.102
For thirty thousand years they abide in mental perfection, / endowed with happiness, longevity, beauty, and likewise with righteousness and sovereignty.
122.103
This should be understood everywhere in the three continents up to Śālmala. / Thus has been explained the auspicious condition of the continents up to Śālmala.
122.104
The perimeter of the continent, enclosed like a circle, / is accompanied by the Ocean of Wine of twice its size.
Translations (1)
- The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English
Linked texts (1)
- Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit