06.008
Library: Description of the six jewel mountains stretching out and submerged between the eastern and western oceans; four islands: Bhadrashva, Ketumala, Jambudvipa, and Bharata.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
मेरोरथोत्तरं पार्श्वं पूर्वं चाचक्ष्व सञ्जय। निखिलेन महाबुद्धे माल्यवन्तं च पर्वतम् ॥६-८-१॥
O wise Sanjaya, please describe in detail the northern and eastern sides of Mount Meru and the Malyavan mountain.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said:
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य मेरोः पार्श्वे तथोत्तरे। उत्तराः कुरवो राजन्पुण्याः सिद्धनिषेविताः ॥६-८-२॥
O king, to the south of the Nila mountain and to the north of the Meru mountain lie the northern Kurus, a sacred region inhabited by perfected beings.
तत्र वृक्षा मधुफला नित्यपुष्पफलोपगाः। पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि रसवन्ति फलानि च ॥६-८-३॥
In that place, the trees bear honey-sweet fruits and are always adorned with flowers and fruits. The flowers are fragrant, and the fruits are full of juice.
सर्वकामफलास्तत्र केचिद्वृक्षा जनाधिप। अपरे क्षीरिणो नाम वृक्षास्तत्र नराधिप ॥६-८-४॥
In that place, O ruler of people, there are trees that fulfill all desires, and others known as milky trees, O lord of men.
ये क्षरन्ति सदा क्षीरं षड्रसं ह्यमृतोपमम्। वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयन्ते फलेष्वाभरणानि च ॥६-८-५॥
Those who always produce milk that is rich in six flavors and akin to nectar, and also produce garments and ornaments within fruits.
सर्वा मणिमयी भूमिः सूक्ष्मकाञ्चनवालुका। सर्वत्र सुखसंस्पर्शा निष्पङ्का च जनाधिप ॥६-८-६॥
The entire land is adorned with jewels and fine golden sand, offering a pleasant touch and being spotless, O ruler of people.
देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः। तुल्यरूपगुणोपेताः समेषु विषमेषु च ॥६-८-७॥
All humans who have fallen from the heavenly world are born there with similar forms and qualities, existing among both equals and unequals.
मिथुनानि च जायन्ते स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः। तेषां ते क्षीरिणां क्षीरं पिबन्त्यमृतसंनिभम् ॥६-८-८॥
Couples are born, and the women resemble celestial nymphs. They drink milk from those who provide it, which is akin to nectar.
मिथुनं जायमानं वै समं तच्च प्रवर्धते। तुल्यरूपगुणोपेतं समवेषं तथैव च ॥ एकैकमनुरक्तं च चक्रवाकसमं विभो ॥६-८-९॥
The pair, when born, grows together, endowed with similar form and qualities, and equally dressed. Each is attached to the other like chakravaka birds, O lord.
निरामया वीतशोका नित्यं मुदितमानसाः। दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च ॥ जीवन्ति ते महाराज न चान्योन्यं जहत्युत ॥६-८-१०॥
O great king, they live free from disease and sorrow, always joyful, for ten thousand and ten hundred years, never abandoning each other.
भारुण्डा नाम शकुनास्तीक्ष्णतुण्डा महाबलाः। ते निर्हरन्ति हि मृतान्दरीषु प्रक्षिपन्ति च ॥६-८-११॥
The Bhāruṇḍa birds, known for their sharp beaks and great strength, carry away the dead and dispose of them in caves.
उत्तराः कुरवो राजन्व्याख्यातास्ते समासतः। मेरोः पार्श्वमहं पूर्वं वक्ष्याम्यथ यथातथम् ॥६-८-१२॥
O King, the northern Kurus have been briefly explained. Now, I shall first describe the side of Mount Meru, exactly as it is.
तस्य पूर्वाभिषेकस्तु भद्राश्वस्य विशां पते। भद्रसालवनं यत्र कालाम्रश्च महाद्रुमः ॥६-८-१३॥
Before his consecration, Bhadrashva, the lord of the people, was in the Bhadrasala forest where there was a great black mango tree.
कालाम्रश्च महाराज नित्यपुष्पफलः शुभः। द्वीपश्च योजनोत्सेधः सिद्धचारणसेवितः ॥६-८-१४॥
O great king, the black mango tree is ever-flowering and fruitful, and is considered auspicious. The island, a yojana in height, is inhabited by siddhas and charanas.
तत्र ते पुरुषाः श्वेतास्तेजोयुक्ता महाबलाः। स्त्रियः कुमुदवर्णाश्च सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः ॥६-८-१५॥
There, those men are fair and powerful, full of energy. The women are as beautiful as lotus flowers and are pleasing to look at.
चन्द्रप्रभाश्चन्द्रवर्णाः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाः। चन्द्रशीतलगात्र्यश्च नृत्तगीतविशारदाः ॥६-८-१६॥
They possess a radiance like the moon, are moon-colored, have faces like the full moon, bodies cool as the moon, and are experts in dance and music.
दश वर्षसहस्राणि तत्रायुर्भरतर्षभ। कालाम्ररसपीतास्ते नित्यं संस्थितयौवनाः ॥६-८-१७॥
In that place, O best of the Bharatas, the lifespan extends to ten thousand years. Those who have tasted the juice of black mangoes remain eternally youthful.
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु। सुदर्शनो नाम महाञ्जम्बूवृक्षः सनातनः ॥६-८-१८॥
There is a great and eternal Jambu tree named Sudarśana, located to the south of the Nīla mountain and to the north of the Niṣadha mountain.
सर्वकामफलः पुण्यः सिद्धचारणसेवितः। तस्य नाम्ना समाख्यातो जम्बूद्वीपः सनातनः ॥६-८-१९॥
Jambudvipa, known eternally, is auspicious and fulfills all desires, served by siddhas and charanas.
योजनानां सहस्रं च शतं च भरतर्षभ। उत्सेधो वृक्षराजस्य दिवस्पृङ्मनुजेश्वर ॥६-८-२०॥
O best of Bharatas, the king of trees stands a thousand and a hundred yojanas tall, reaching up to the sky, O lord of men.
अरत्नीनां सहस्रं च शतानि दश पञ्च च। परिणाहस्तु वृक्षस्य फलानां रसभेदिनाम् ॥६-८-२१॥
The tree has a circumference of a thousand cubits, plus ten hundreds and five, with fruits that break the juice.
पतमानानि तान्युर्व्यां कुर्वन्ति विपुलं स्वनम्। मुञ्चन्ति च रसं राजंस्तस्मिन्रजतसंनिभम् ॥६-८-२२॥
As they fall to the ground, they create a loud noise and release a silver-like juice, O king.
तस्या जम्ब्वाः फलरसो नदी भूत्वा जनाधिप। मेरुं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा सम्प्रयात्युत्तरान्कुरून् ॥६-८-२३॥
The juice of the Jambu tree's fruit transforms into a river, encircles Mount Meru, and then flows towards the northern region of the Kurus, O king.
पिबन्ति तद्रसं हृष्टा जना नित्यं जनाधिप। तस्मिन्फलरसे पीते न जरा बाधते च तान् ॥६-८-२४॥
O ruler of people, the people always drink that juice with pleasure. Once they have drunk that fruit juice, they are not afflicted by old age.
तत्र जाम्बूनदं नाम कनकं देवभूषणम्। तरुणादित्यवर्णाश्च जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ॥६-८-२५॥
In that place, the gold known as Jāmbūnada serves as an ornament for the gods. There, humans are born with the radiant color of the young sun.
तथा माल्यवतः शृङ्गे दीप्यते तत्र हव्यवाट्। नाम्ना संवर्तको नाम कालाग्निर्भरतर्षभ ॥६-८-२६॥
On the peak of Mālyavat, there is a fire called Saṁvartaka, known as Kālāgni, which shines brightly, O best of the Bharatas.
तथा माल्यवतः शृङ्गे पूर्वे पूर्वान्तगण्डिका। योजनानां सहस्राणि पञ्चाशन्माल्यवान्स्थितः ॥६-८-२७॥
Thus, Mālyavān is situated at the eastern end of the peak of Mālyavat, fifty thousand yojanas away.
महारजतसङ्काशा जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः। ब्रह्मलोकाच्च्युताः सर्वे सर्वे च ब्रह्मवादिनः ॥६-८-२८॥
In that place, humans with a great silver-like appearance are born, all of whom have fallen from Brahmaloka, and they are all speakers of Brahman.
तपस्तु तप्यमानास्ते भवन्ति ह्यूर्ध्वरेतसः। रक्षणार्थं तु भूतानां प्रविशन्ति दिवाकरम् ॥६-८-२९॥
Those who practice austerity become celibate and enter the sun for the protection of all beings.
षष्टिस्तानि सहस्राणि षष्टिरेव शतानि च। अरुणस्याग्रतो यान्ति परिवार्य दिवाकरम् ॥६-८-३०॥
Sixty thousand and sixty hundred chariots of Aruna go ahead, encircling the sun.
षष्टिं वर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिमेव शतानि च। आदित्यतापतप्तास्ते विशन्ति शशिमण्डलम् ॥६-८-३१॥
For sixty thousand years and six hundred more, they, scorched by the sun, enter the moon's sphere.
