03.160
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, at sunrise, Dhaumya, having performed the daily rites together with Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, approached the Pāṇḍavas, O subduer of enemies. (3-160-1)
After saluting the feet of Arṣṭiṣeṇa and also Dhaumya, they all, with joined palms, honored those Brāhmaṇas. (03-160-2)
Then Dhaumya, taking Yudhishthira by the right hand and looking toward the east, the great sage spoke these words. (03-160-3)
That, covering the land extending to the ocean, stands there. The king of mountains, the great Mandara, shines brilliantly. (03-160-4)
O Pāṇḍava, Indra and Vaiśravaṇa protect this region, which is adorned with mountains, forest interiors, and groves. (03-160-5)
Dear one, the wise say that this is the abode of Mahendra, of the king, of Vaiśravaṇa, and of the seers who know all dharmas. (03-160-6)
Therefore, all creatures indeed worship the rising Sun; sages, knowers of dharma, perfected beings, sādhyas, and the gods also do so. (03-160-7)
But Yama, the king who is righteous and lord of all living beings, having taken up this path of the dead, dwells in the southern direction. (03-160-8)
This regulation is auspicious and exceedingly marvelous to behold, being the abode of the king of the departed (Yama), endowed with supreme grandeur. (03-160-9)
O king, having reached whom, the sun abides by truth. The wise say that this (place) is called the king of mountains at sunset. (03-160-10)
Varuṇa the king, inhabiting this mountain lord and the great ocean, protects all beings. (03-160-11)
This great, renowned Meru Mountain, illuminating the northern direction, is most fortunate, auspicious, and is the goal of those who know Brahman. (03-160-12)
That wherein abide the assembly of Brahma and indeed Prajapati, the soul of beings, sending forth all things, whatever is moving or unmoving. (03-160-13)
Those whom people say are the mind-born sons of Brahmā, with Dakṣa as the seventh, for them as well, Mahāmeru is the auspicious and flawless abode. (03-160-14)
Right here the seven divine sages, always headed by Vasiṣṭha, stand established, and here again they reappear, O dear. (3-160-15)
Behold the dustless realm, the highest peak of Meru, where the Grandfather dwells with the self-satisfied gods. (03-160-16)
He whom (they) call the nature of all beings, the unchanging origin of nature, the beginningless, endless, divine lord Nārāyaṇa, the supreme. (03-160-17)
From the abode of Brahman, his supreme place becomes revealed. The gods, through effort, perceive the divine and radiant auspicious one. (03-160-18)
O king, that blazing place of the great-souled Viṣṇu, surpassing the sun and fire, is by its very brilliance difficult for the gods and dānavas to behold. (03-160-19)
That indeed is what all lights receive their brilliance from and shine; but even so, by itself, the all-pervading, undepressed Self alone shines forth there. (03-160-20)
The ascetics, endowed with supreme austerity and purified by auspicious deeds, go there to Nārāyaṇa Hari with devotion. (03-160-21)
O Bhārata, those perfected in yoga, the great-souled ones devoid of darkness and delusion, having gone there, do not return to this world. (03-160-22)
This place, O greatly fortunate Yudhiṣṭhira, is eternal, imperishable, and unchanging; it always belongs to the Lord, and (is attained) merely by your salutation. (03-160-23)
The Sun, the Lord, who dispels all darkness, draws forth all these lights and makes a sacred circumambulation as well. (3-160-24)
After reaching the west and passing over the evening, the sun—the shining one—turns toward the northern direction. (03-160-25)
He, following the path of Mount Meru, again moves forward, O Pāṇḍava. Facing east, the god Savitṛ is devoted to the welfare of all beings. (03-160-26)
He divides the month and time in many ways at the junctures of lunar days; likewise, the blessed Soma (Moon) moves together with the stars. (3-160-27)
Thus, after circling Mount Meru tirelessly and fostering all beings, he again returns to Mandara. (03-160-28)
Thus, the Sun, the god who destroys darkness, illumining the world with his rays, travels along this unobstructed path. (03-160-29)
Desiring to bring forth the cold seasons, this Time moves toward the southern direction. Then, Time brings all creatures into the cold season. (03-160-30)
The fire, being withdrawn, completely absorbs the energies of both immovable and movable beings along with their brilliance. (03-160-31)
After that, sweat, fatigue, lassitude, and weakness affect men. Among living beings, sleep is always and repeatedly experienced. (03-160-32)
Thus, having covered this indescribable path, the Sun, the Lord, again produces rains, nourishing the creatures. (03-160-33)
He, of exceedingly great brilliance, having nourished the immobile and the mobile beings with rain, wind, heat and comfort, returns again. (03-160-34)
Thus, O Pārtha, this Sun, moving untiringly and carrying along all beings, revolves the wheel of time. (03-160-35)
O Pāṇḍava, the movement of this (entity) is constant; it never stands still. Having taken the energy of beings, it again emits it. (03-160-36)
O Bhārata, always dividing the lifespan and actions of all beings, this all-pervading Lord creates days, nights, kalā units, and kāṣṭhā time divisions. (03-160-37)
