06.009
Library: Description of the northern and eastern sides of Mount Meru and the Malyavan mountain.
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca॥
Dhritarashtra spoke:
varṣāṇāṃ caiva nāmāni parvatānāṃ ca sañjaya। ācakṣva me yathātattvaṃ ye ca parvatavāsinaḥ ॥6-9-1॥
Sanjaya, please tell me the names of the years and the mountains, and truthfully, who are the inhabitants of the mountains.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya spoke:
dakṣiṇena tu śvetasya nīlasyaivottareṇa tu। varṣaṃ ramaṇakaṃ nāma jāyante tatra mānavāḥ ॥6-9-2॥
To the south of the white and to the north of the blue, there is a region called Ramaṇaka where humans are born.
śuklābhijanasampannāḥ sarve supriyadarśanāḥ। ratipradhānāśca tathā jāyante tatra mānavāḥ ॥6-9-3॥
All humans born in that place are of noble birth, attractive in appearance, and primarily focused on enjoyment.
daśa varṣasahasrāṇi śatāni daśa pañca ca। jīvanti te mahārāja nityaṃ muditamānasāḥ ॥6-9-4॥
O great king, they live for ten thousand years, hundreds, ten and five, always with joyful minds.
dakṣiṇe śṛṅgiṇaścaiva śvetasyāthottareṇa ca। varṣaṃ hairaṇvataṃ nāma yatra hairaṇvatī nadī ॥6-9-5॥
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.
yakṣānugā mahārāja dhaninaḥ priyadarśanāḥ। mahābalāstatra sadā rājanmuditamānasāḥ ॥6-9-6॥
O great king, those accompanied by Yakshas, who are wealthy, pleasant in appearance, and very strong, are always there with joyful hearts.
ekādaśa sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ te janādhipa। āyuṣpramāṇaṃ jīvanti śatāni daśa pañca ca ॥6-9-7॥
O ruler of people, their lifespan extends to eleven thousand years, living for a hundred and fifteen.
śṛṅgāṇi vai śṛṅgavatastrīṇyeva manujādhipa। ekaṃ maṇimayaṃ tatra tathaikaṃ raukmamadbhutam ॥6-9-8॥
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.
sarvaratnamayaṃ caikaṃ bhavanairupaśobhitam। tatra svayamprabhā devī nityaṃ vasati śāṇḍilī ॥6-9-9॥
The place, adorned with buildings and filled with all kinds of gems, is where the goddess Svayamprabha, known as Shandili, always resides.
uttareṇa tu śṛṅgasya samudrānte janādhipa। varṣamairāvataṃ nāma tasmācchṛṅgavataḥ param ॥6-9-10॥
To the north of the peak, at the ocean's end, lies the region called Airavata, beyond Śṛṅgavata, O ruler of people.
na tatra sūryastapati na te jīryanti mānavāḥ। candramāśca sanakṣatro jyotirbhūta ivāvṛtaḥ ॥6-9-11॥
In that place, the sun does not shine, nor do humans age. The moon and stars seem to be enveloped in light.
padmaprabhāḥ padmavarṇāḥ padmapatranibhekṣaṇāḥ। padmapatrasugandhāśca jāyante tatra mānavāḥ ॥6-9-12॥
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.
aniṣpandāḥ sugandhāśca nirāhārā jitendriyāḥ। devalokacyutāḥ sarve tathā virajaso nṛpa ॥6-9-13॥
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.
trayodaśa sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṃ te janādhipa। āyuṣpramāṇaṃ jīvanti narā bharatasattama ॥6-9-14॥
O ruler of people, O best of the Bharatas, the men live for a lifespan of thirteen thousand years.
kṣīrodasya samudrasya tathaivotarataḥ prabhuḥ। harirvasati vaikuṇṭhaḥ śakaṭe kanakātmake ॥6-9-15॥
Lord Hari resides in Vaikuntha, situated to the north of the ocean of milk, in a golden chariot.
aṣṭacakraṃ hi tadyānaṃ bhūtayuktaṃ manojavam। agnivarṇaṃ mahāvegaṃ jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtam ॥6-9-16॥
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.
sa prabhuḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ vibhuśca bharatarṣabha। saṅkṣepo vistaraścaiva kartā kārayitā ca saḥ ॥6-9-17॥
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.
pṛthivy-āpas tathākāśaṃ vāyus tejaś ca pārthiva। sa yajñaḥ sarvabhūtānām āsyaṃ tasya hutāśanaḥ ॥6-9-18॥
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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
evamuktaḥ sañjayena dhṛtarāṣṭro mahāmanāḥ। dhyānamanvagamadrājā putrānprati janādhipa ॥6-9-19॥
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.
sa vicintya mahārāja punarevābravīdvacaḥ। asaṃśayaṃ sūtaputra kālaḥ saṅkṣipate jagat ॥ sṛjate ca punaḥ sarvaṃ neha vidyati śāśvatam ॥6-9-20॥
Reflecting deeply, the great king spoke again: "Undoubtedly, O son of a charioteer, time compresses the world and recreates everything; nothing here is eternal."
naro nārāyaṇaścaiva sarvajñaḥ sarvabhūtabhṛt। devā vaikuṇṭha ityāhurvedā viṣṇuriti prabhum ॥6-9-21॥
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.
