The Purana Index v2.c7.s6.2078

v2.c7.s6.2078

Meru (I)—(Mt) the hill that stands in the middle of Ilāvṛta, equal in height to the length of Jambūdvīpa surrounded on four sides by Mandara, Merumandara Supārśva and Kumuda In these four ranges are four great trees—Mango, Jambu, Kadamba and Banyan, four pools of milk, honey, sugarcane and fresh water, four celestial gardens—Nandana Caitraratha, Vaibhrājaka, and Sarvatobhadra Encircling the base of Meru, stand two hills On the east are Jathara and Devakūṭa, on the west Pavana and Pāriyātra, on the south Kailāsa and Karavīra and on the north Triśṛṅga and Makara In the central part of its summit is Brahmā's square city of gold Surrounding the outskirts of that city, are the eight cities of the eight guardians ¹ There is a forest at its foot where Rudra sports with Pārvatī, Bhāgavan identified with,³ one of the six Varṣaparvatas of Jambūdvīpa occupying the middle portion The dwellingplace of Deva ganas; on its four sides are four countries, Bhādrāśva, Bharata, Ketumālā, and Uttarakuru ⁴ The relation of Dhruva to ⁵ Here the sages met to consider a certain question and it was announced that he, who did not arrive in time would have to submit himself to the prāyaścitta of brahmicide Vaiśampāyana unable to go, undertook to do so ⁶ Acted as milkman of hills in milking the cow-earth.⁷ Sāvarṇi Manu's penance at ⁸ North of it were ruling 15 sons of Vikuksi and south of it 114 sons of Ikṣvāku of whom Kakuṣtha was the eldest ⁹