Cosmography and Geography in Early Indian Literature c6.s4.56

c6.s4.56

The central continent called Jambu-dvīpa is surrounded by the Lavaṇoda ocean (200,000 yojanas in breadth). Around the said ocean is the second continent called Dhātakī-khaṇḍa (400,000 yojanas in breadth) which is encircled by the Kāloda ocean (800,000 yojanas in breadth). Surrounding the Kāloda ocean stands the third continent called Puṣkara-dvīpa (1600,000 yojanas in breadth) which is surrounded by the Puṣkaroda ocean (3200,000 yojanas in breadth). This ocean is surrounded by the fourth continent called Vāruṇivara encircled by the Vāruṇyoda ocean with waters smelling rum (cf. the Surā-samudra of the Purāṇas). The above is surrounded by the Kṣīravara, the fifth continent, which is itself encircled by the ocean called Kṣīroda (cf. the Dugdha-samudra of the Purāṇas). Next follow the Ghṛtavara, the sixth continent, and the Ghṛtoda ocean (cf. the Puranic Sarpiḥ-samudra) as also Kṣaudravara, the seventh continent, and encircling it the Kṣaudroda ocean (cf. the Puranic Ikṣu-samudra).