06.009
Library: Description of the northern and eastern sides of Mount Meru and the Malyavan mountain.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
वर्षाणां चैव नामानि पर्वतानां च सञ्जय। आचक्ष्व मे यथातत्त्वं ये च पर्वतवासिनः ॥६-९-१॥
Sanjaya, please tell me the names of the years and the mountains, and truthfully, who are the inhabitants of the mountains.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya spoke:
दक्षिणेन तु श्वेतस्य नीलस्यैवोत्तरेण तु। वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ॥६-९-२॥
To the south of the white and to the north of the blue, there is a region called Ramaṇaka where humans are born.
शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे सुप्रियदर्शनाः। रतिप्रधानाश्च तथा जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ॥६-९-३॥
All humans born in that place are of noble birth, attractive in appearance, and primarily focused on enjoyment.
दश वर्षसहस्राणि शतानि दश पञ्च च। जीवन्ति ते महाराज नित्यं मुदितमानसाः ॥६-९-४॥
O great king, they live for ten thousand years, hundreds, ten and five, always with joyful minds.
दक्षिणे शृङ्गिणश्चैव श्वेतस्याथोत्तरेण च। वर्षं हैरण्वतं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी ॥६-९-५॥
To the south of the Śṛṅgin mountain and to the north of the Śveta mountain, there is a region called Hairaṇvata, where the river Hairaṇvatī flows.
यक्षानुगा महाराज धनिनः प्रियदर्शनाः। महाबलास्तत्र सदा राजन्मुदितमानसाः ॥६-९-६॥
O great king, those accompanied by Yakshas, who are wealthy, pleasant in appearance, and very strong, are always there with joyful hearts.
एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप। आयुष्प्रमाणं जीवन्ति शतानि दश पञ्च च ॥६-९-७॥
O ruler of people, their lifespan extends to eleven thousand years, living for a hundred and fifteen.
शृङ्गाणि वै शृङ्गवतस्त्रीण्येव मनुजाधिप। एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रौक्ममद्भुतम् ॥६-९-८॥
O king of men, indeed there are three horns belonging to the horned creature; one is made of jewels, and another is golden and marvelous.
सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भवनैरुपशोभितम्। तत्र स्वयम्प्रभा देवी नित्यं वसति शाण्डिली ॥६-९-९॥
The place, adorned with buildings and filled with all kinds of gems, is where the goddess Svayamprabha, known as Shandili, always resides.
उत्तरेण तु शृङ्गस्य समुद्रान्ते जनाधिप। वर्षमैरावतं नाम तस्माच्छृङ्गवतः परम् ॥६-९-१०॥
To the north of the peak, at the ocean's end, lies the region called Airavata, beyond Śṛṅgavata, O ruler of people.
न तत्र सूर्यस्तपति न ते जीर्यन्ति मानवाः। चन्द्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो ज्योतिर्भूत इवावृतः ॥६-९-११॥
In that place, the sun does not shine, nor do humans age. The moon and stars seem to be enveloped in light.
पद्मप्रभाः पद्मवर्णाः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणाः। पद्मपत्रसुगन्धाश्च जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ॥६-९-१२॥
In that place, humans are born who possess the luster and color of a lotus, eyes like lotus petals, and the fragrance of lotus petals.
अनिष्पन्दाः सुगन्धाश्च निराहारा जितेन्द्रियाः। देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे तथा विरजसो नृप ॥६-९-१३॥
O king, all are motionless, fragrant, without food, having conquered the senses, and have fallen from the world of gods, thus they are free from passion.
त्रयोदश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप। आयुष्प्रमाणं जीवन्ति नरा भरतसत्तम ॥६-९-१४॥
O ruler of people, O best of the Bharatas, the men live for a lifespan of thirteen thousand years.
क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य तथैवोत्तरतः प्रभुः। हरिर्वसति वैकुण्ठः शकटे कनकात्मके ॥६-९-१५॥
Lord Hari resides in Vaikuntha, situated to the north of the ocean of milk, in a golden chariot.
अष्टचक्रं हि तद्यानं भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम्। अग्निवर्णं महावेगं जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम् ॥६-९-१६॥
The vehicle, indeed, has eight wheels and is endowed with mystical beings. It moves with the speed of the mind, is colored like fire, and is adorned with gold, showcasing great speed.
स प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां विभुश्च भरतर्षभ। सङ्क्षेपो विस्तरश्चैव कर्ता कारयिता च सः ॥६-९-१७॥
He is the supreme lord of all beings and is omnipresent, O best of the Bharatas. He encompasses both the essence and the entirety, being both the doer and the one who enables actions.
पृथिव्यापस्तथाकाशं वायुस्तेजश्च पार्थिव। स यज्ञः सर्वभूतानामास्यं तस्य हुताशनः ॥६-९-१८॥
The elements earth, water, sky, air, and fire are considered earthly. The sacrifice is regarded as the mouth of all beings, with fire as its consuming force.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
एवमुक्तः सञ्जयेन धृतराष्ट्रो महामनाः। ध्यानमन्वगमद्राजा पुत्रान्प्रति जनाधिप ॥६-९-१९॥
Upon hearing these words from Sañjaya, the wise King Dhritarashtra began to meditate on his sons, contemplating their fate as the ruler of the people.
स विचिन्त्य महाराज पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः। असंशयं सूतपुत्र कालः सङ्क्षिपते जगत् ॥ सृजते च पुनः सर्वं नेह विद्यति शाश्वतम् ॥६-९-२०॥
Reflecting deeply, the great king spoke again: "Undoubtedly, O son of a charioteer, time compresses the world and recreates everything; nothing here is eternal."
नरो नारायणश्चैव सर्वज्ञः सर्वभूतभृत्। देवा वैकुण्ठ इत्याहुर्वेदा विष्णुरिति प्रभुम् ॥६-९-२१॥
The man and Nārāyaṇa are indeed omniscient and the supporter of all beings. The gods refer to him as Vaikuṇṭha, and the Vedas call him Viṣṇu, the lord.
