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.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
O wise Sanjaya, please describe in detail the northern and eastern sides of Mount Meru and the Malyavan mountain.
Sanjaya said:
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.
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.
In that place, O ruler of people, there are trees that fulfill all desires, and others known as milky trees, O lord of men.
Those who always produce milk that is rich in six flavors and akin to nectar, and also produce garments and ornaments within fruits.
The entire land is adorned with jewels and fine golden sand, offering a pleasant touch and being spotless, O ruler of people.
All humans who have fallen from the heavenly world are born there with similar forms and qualities, existing among both equals and unequals.
Couples are born, and the women resemble celestial nymphs. They drink milk from those who provide it, which is akin to nectar.
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.
O great king, they live free from disease and sorrow, always joyful, for ten thousand and ten hundred years, never abandoning each other.
The Bhāruṇḍa birds, known for their sharp beaks and great strength, carry away the dead and dispose of them in caves.
O King, the northern Kurus have been briefly explained. Now, I shall first describe the side of Mount Meru, exactly as it is.
Before his consecration, Bhadrashva, the lord of the people, was in the Bhadrasala forest where there was a great black mango tree.
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.
There, those men are fair and powerful, full of energy. The women are as beautiful as lotus flowers and are pleasing to look at.
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.
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.
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.
Jambudvipa, known eternally, is auspicious and fulfills all desires, served by siddhas and charanas.
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.
The tree has a circumference of a thousand cubits, plus ten hundreds and five, with fruits that break the juice.
As they fall to the ground, they create a loud noise and release a silver-like juice, O king.
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.
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.
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.
On the peak of Mālyavat, there is a fire called Saṁvartaka, known as Kālāgni, which shines brightly, O best of the Bharatas.
Thus, Mālyavān is situated at the eastern end of the peak of Mālyavat, fifty thousand yojanas away.
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.
Those who practice austerity become celibate and enter the sun for the protection of all beings.
Sixty thousand and sixty hundred chariots of Aruna go ahead, encircling the sun.
For sixty thousand years and six hundred more, they, scorched by the sun, enter the moon's sphere.
