06.007
Library: Description of the five elements and their manifestation. Then the Sudarshana island, visible in the moon's sphere.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
The summary of the island has been mentioned; now, Sanjaya, describe it in detail as far as the earth's expanse is visible, marked by the hare. Explain its dimensions, and then you will speak of Pippala.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
Upon being addressed by the king, Sanjaya spoke: 'O great king, these six jewel mountains stretch out and are submerged between the eastern and western oceans.'
The mountains Himavan, Hemakuta, and Nishadha are considered the best. Nila is known for its beryl composition, while Shveta is renowned for its silver-like shine. Shringavan is a mountain rich in various minerals.
These are the mountains, O king, revered by siddhas and charanas. The distance between them spans thousands of yojanas.
In those holy regions, O Bhārata, various kinds of beings dwell everywhere for years.
This region is known as Bharata, beyond which lies the Himavat. Beyond Hemakuta, it is indeed called Harivarsa.
O great king, the mountain named Mālyavān stretches to the east, lying to the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha.
Then, beyond the Mālyavat mountain lies Gandhamādana. Between these two stands Meru, the golden mountain.
The sun, appearing youthful and like a smokeless fire, is said to be situated sixteen thousand leagues below.
O King, it stands high, covering eighty-four yojanas upwards, within, and across the worlds.
Beside him, there are four islands: Bhadrashva, Ketumala, Jambudvipa, and Bharata. To the north are the Kurus, known as the abode of the virtuous.
The beautiful-faced bird, who was indeed the son of Suparna, contemplated upon seeing the golden crows.
Meru, being indiscriminate among the best, middling, and lowest of birds, is abandoned by me for this reason.
The Sun, as the lord of all luminaries, constantly follows its path. The Moon, along with the stars and the wind, indeed perform their circumambulation.
O great king, that mountain is adorned with divine flowers and fruits and is surrounded by all auspicious buildings made of gold.
In that place, O king, the divine beings, including gandharvas, demons, and rākṣasas, along with the apsaras, are always engaged in playful activities on the mountain.
In that place, Brahma, Rudra, and Indra, the lord of the gods, gather together to perform various sacrifices, offering numerous gifts.
Tumburu, Nārada, Viśvāvasu, Hahā, and Huhūḥ, the best among the immortals, approach and praise you, O Lord, with their hymns.
The seven great sages, including Kaśyapa, the lord of creatures, always go there on every occasion. May you be blessed always.
O king, Ushanas Kavi was placed on the head by the demons; these are indeed his gems, these are his mountains of gems.
Therefore, the divine Kubera enjoys a fourth of the wealth and then distributes a portion of it to humans.
On the northern side of him, there is a divine and auspicious karṇikāra forest, blooming with flowers in all seasons, beautifully emerging from a network of rocks.
There, Lord Shiva, the creator of all beings, enjoys in the company of Uma, surrounded by divine beings.
He wore a garland made of karṇikāra flowers that hung down to his feet, and his three eyes shone like three rising suns.
The great Lord Shiva is visible to those who have perfected themselves through intense austerities, uphold good vows, and speak the truth; he cannot be seen by the wicked.
O King, from the peak of that mountain flows a stream of milk, spanning thirty arms, resonating with the sound of thunder.
The sacred and auspicious Ganga, known as Bhagirathi, flows continuously into the moon-like lake. This lake, created by her, is as vast as an ocean.
Long ago, Lord Shiva held her on his head for a hundred thousand years, even though she was difficult to hold even by the mountains.
O king, on the western side is Ketumala, and there is the very great Jambuṣaṇḍa, comparable to Nandana.
O Bhārata, in that place, people live for ten thousand years. The men are golden-colored, and the women are like celestial nymphs (Apsaras).
In that place, humans are born free from disease and sorrow, always with joyful minds, and they shine like refined gold.
Kubera, the lord of the Guhyakas, enjoys his time on the peaks of Gandhamādana, surrounded by groups of celestial nymphs and demons.
In the regions of Gandhamādana and other places, the other Gaṇḍikas have a supreme lifespan of eleven thousand years.
There, O king, the men were dark, endowed with brilliance and very strong, while the women were all very pleasing to look at, resembling lotus petals.
Beyond the blue region lies the white, and beyond the white is the golden region. This region is known as Airavata, and beyond it is Shringavata.
O great king, when the sun is in the position of Sagittarius, it takes two years to traverse the southern and northern paths. However, the middle region, Ilavrita, takes five years.
The year is progressively enhanced by qualities compared to these: life span, health, through righteousness, desire, and wealth.
O Bharata, in those years, the beings were endowed. Thus, O great king, this earth is adorned with mountains.
There is a very great mountain named Kailasa, known as Hemakuta, where King Vaishravana enjoys with the Guhyakas.
To the north of Kailasa and Mainaka mountains, there is a magnificent and divine mountain with golden peaks, made of jewels.
Beside him was a great divine and auspicious golden sand. There was a beautiful lake called Bindu where King Bhagīratha, after seeing the Bhāgīrathī Ganges, lived for many years.
In that place, the sacrificial posts were made of jewels and the altars were made of gold. After worshipping there, the thousand-eyed Indra, renowned for his great fame, achieved success.
After creating all beings, the eternal lord is worshipped in all worlds. He is of fierce energy, surrounded by assembled beings, including Nara and Narayana, Brahma, Manu, and Sthanu as the fifth.
There, the goddess Ganga, known as the three-path-flowing, is first established. Having departed from Brahmaloka, she proceeds in seven streams.
The essence of wealth, the lotus, the purifying Sarasvati; the Jambu river, Sita, Ganga, and Sindhu are the seven sacred rivers.
The divine intentions of the Lord are beyond comprehension; this is indeed the arrangement where the assembly is worshipped at the end of a thousand ages.
Sarasvati, both visible and invisible, is present everywhere. These seven divine rivers, known as the Ganges, are renowned across the three worlds.
In the Himalayas reside demons, while in Hemakuta there are secretive beings. Serpents and nagas are found in Nishadha, and ascetics in Gokarna.
The white mountain is known as the abode of both gods and demons. The Gandharvas reside in the blue mountain of Nishadha, while the Brahmarshis are in the blue mountain, O king. Shringavan is the place where the ancestors return, O great king.
Thus, O great king, these seven years are divided into parts, and the beings are settled, both moving and fixed.
Their prosperity appears in various forms, both divine and human. It is impossible to count, but should be believed by those who desire it.
O king, you ask me about this divine form resembling a hare. There are two years beside the hare, one to the south and one to the north.
The ears, however, are indeed in Nagadwipa and Kashyapadwipa.
The Malaya mountain, with its copper-colored peak, is a magnificent sight, O king. It appears as the second island, resembling the moon.
