06.012
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke.
जम्बूखण्डस्त्वया प्रोक्तो यथावदिह सञ्जय। विष्कम्भमस्य प्रब्रूहि परिमाणं च तत्त्वतः ॥६-१२-१॥
O Sanjaya, you have accurately described Jambudvipa here. Now, please tell me the true breadth and measurement of it.
समुद्रस्य प्रमाणं च सम्यगच्छिद्रदर्शन। शाकद्वीपं च मे ब्रूहि कुशद्वीपं च सञ्जय ॥६-१२-२॥
O Sañjaya, with your clear vision, please tell me about the measurement of the ocean, as well as about Śākadvīpa and Kuśadvīpa.
शाल्मलं चैव तत्त्वेन क्रौञ्चद्वीपं तथैव च। ब्रूहि गावल्गणे सर्वं राहोः सोमार्कयोस्तथा ॥६-१२-३॥
O Gāvalgaṇa, please describe in detail the Śālmala and Krauñca islands, as well as everything related to Rāhu, the Moon, and the Sun.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
राजन्सुबहवो द्वीपा यैरिदं सन्ततं जगत्। सप्त त्वहं प्रवक्ष्यामि चन्द्रादित्यौ ग्रहांस्तथा ॥६-१२-४॥
O king, the world is pervaded by many islands. I will describe the seven islands, as well as the moon, sun, and planets.
अष्टादश सहस्राणि योजनानां विशां पते। षट्शतानि च पूर्णानि विष्कम्भो जम्बुपर्वतः ॥६-१२-५॥
O Lord of the worlds, the Jambu mountain has a diameter of eighteen thousand and six hundred yojanas.
लावणस्य समुद्रस्य विष्कम्भो द्विगुणः स्मृतः। नानाजनपदाकीर्णो मणिविद्रुमचित्रितः ॥६-१२-६॥
The ocean, known for its salty waters, is said to be twice as wide, teeming with diverse regions and beautifully adorned with jewels and coral.
नैकधातुविचित्रैश्च पर्वतैरुपशोभितः। सिद्धचारणसङ्कीर्णः सागरः परिमण्डलः ॥६-१२-७॥
The ocean, adorned with various minerals and mountains, and crowded with siddhas and charanas, is perfectly circular.
शाकद्वीपं च वक्ष्यामि यथावदिह पार्थिव। शृणु मे त्वं यथान्यायं ब्रुवतः कुरुनन्दन ॥६-१२-८॥
O King, I shall properly describe Shakadwipa here. Listen to me, O descendant of Kuru, as I speak according to justice.
जम्बूद्वीपप्रमाणेन द्विगुणः स नराधिप। विष्कम्भेण महाराज सागरोऽपि विभागशः ॥ क्षीरोदो भरतश्रेष्ठ येन सम्परिवारितः ॥६-१२-९॥
O King, the ocean, measured by the size of Jambudvipa, is twice as wide and divided into sections. The milk ocean, O best of the Bharatas, is surrounded by it.
तत्र पुण्या जनपदा न तत्र म्रियते जनः। कुत एव हि दुर्भिक्षं क्षमातेजोयुता हि ते ॥६-१२-१०॥
In those sacred regions, people do not die. There is no famine, for they are endowed with patience and energy.
शाकद्वीपस्य सङ्क्षेपो यथावद्भरतर्षभ। उक्त एष महाराज किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥६-१२-११॥
O great king, the summary of Śākadvīpa has been provided as it is. Is there anything else you wish to know, O best of the Bharatas?
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke.
शाकद्वीपस्य सङ्क्षेपो यथावदिह सञ्जय। उक्तस्त्वया महाभाग विस्तरं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ॥६-१२-१२॥
O Sañjaya, you have already provided a summary of Śākadvīpa as it is here. O fortunate one, please explain it in detail and truly.
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
तथैव पर्वता राजन्सप्तात्र मणिभूषिताः। रत्नाकरास्तथा नद्यस्तेषां नामानि मे शृणु ॥ अतीवगुणवत्सर्वं तत्र पुण्यं जनाधिप ॥६-१२-१३॥
O king, just as there are seven mountains here adorned with jewels, there are also oceans and rivers. Listen to their names from me. Everything there is extremely virtuous and sacred, O ruler of people.
देवर्षिगन्धर्वयुतः परमो मेरुरुच्यते। प्रागायतो महाराज मलयो नाम पर्वतः ॥ यतो मेघाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रभवन्ति च सर्वशः ॥६-१२-१४॥
The supreme Mount Meru, accompanied by divine sages and celestial musicians, is renowned. To the east, O great king, lies the mountain known as Malaya, from which clouds emerge and spread in all directions.
ततः परेण कौरव्य जलधारो महागिरिः। यत्र नित्यमुपादत्ते वासवः परमं जलम् ॥ यतो वर्षं प्रभवति वर्षाकाले जनेश्वर ॥६-१२-१५॥
Beyond Kauravya lies the great mountain known as the water-bearer, where Indra perpetually gathers the purest water. It is from here that rain originates during the monsoon season, O king.
उच्चैर्गिरी रैवतको यत्र नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितः। रेवती दिवि नक्षत्रं पितामहकृतो विधिः ॥६-१२-१६॥
The high mountain Raivataka is eternally established where Revati, a constellation in the sky, was created by the grandsire as a cosmic law.
उत्तरेण तु राजेन्द्र श्यामो नाम महागिरिः। यतः श्यामत्वमापन्नाः प्रजा जनपदेश्वर ॥६-१२-१७॥
To the north, O King, lies the great mountain called Shyama, from which the people have derived their dark complexion.
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच॥
Dhritarashtra spoke.
सुमहान्संशयो मेऽद्य प्रोक्तं सञ्जय यत्त्वया। प्रजाः कथं सूतपुत्र सम्प्राप्ताः श्यामतामिह ॥६-१२-१८॥
Today, Sanjaya, you have expressed a great doubt of mine. How have the people here, O son of a charioteer, come to be in darkness?
सञ्जय उवाच॥
Sanjaya said.
सर्वेष्वेव महाप्राज्ञ द्वीपेषु कुरुनन्दन। गौरः कृष्णश्च वर्णौ द्वौ तयोर्वर्णान्तरं नृप ॥६-१२-१९॥
O descendant of Kuru, in all the islands, there exist two colors, white and black, and there is a distinction between them, O king.
श्यामो यस्मात्प्रवृत्तो वै तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत। आस्तेऽत्र भगवान्कृष्णस्तत्कान्त्या श्यामतां गतः ॥६-१२-२०॥
I will tell you, O Bhārata, from whom the darkness indeed originated. Here resides Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has become dark due to that radiance.
ततः परं कौरवेन्द्र दुर्गशैलो महोदयः। केसरी केसरयुतो यतो वातः प्रवायति ॥६-१२-२१॥
Then, beyond the king of the Kauravas, rises the great fortress mountain. It is like a lion with a mane, from where the wind blows.
तेषां योजनविष्कम्भो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः। वर्षाणि तेषु कौरव्य सम्प्रोक्तानि मनीषिभिः ॥६-१२-२२॥
The wise have mentioned, O descendant of Kuru, that the diameter in yojanas is double by division, and the years among them are specified.
महामेरुर्महाकाशो जलदः कुमुदोत्तरः। जलधारात्परो राजन्सुकुमार इति स्मृतः ॥६-१२-२३॥
The great Meru mountain, vast sky, and clouds are said to be more beautiful than the lotus. Beyond the streams of water, O king, he is remembered as delicate.
रैवतस्य तु कौमारः श्यामस्य तु मणीचकः। केसरस्याथ मोदाकी परेण तु महापुमान् ॥६-१२-२४॥
Raivata's youthful one is Maṇīcaka of Śyāma; Kesara's is Modākī, and beyond them is a great man.
परिवार्य तु कौरव्य दैर्घ्यं ह्रस्वत्वमेव च। जम्बूद्वीपेन विख्यातस्तस्य मध्ये महाद्रुमः ॥६-१२-२५॥
Surrounding Kauravya, there is a known great tree in the middle of Jambudvipa, characterized by its length and shortness.
शाको नाम महाराज तस्य द्वीपस्य मध्यगः। तत्र पुण्या जनपदाः पूज्यते तत्र शङ्करः ॥६-१२-२६॥
King Śāka, known as a great ruler, resides centrally in that island. The sacred regions there are revered, and Śaṅkara is worshipped there.
तत्र गच्छन्ति सिद्धाश्च चारणा दैवतानि च। धार्मिकाश्च प्रजा राजंश्चत्वारोऽतीव भारत ॥६-१२-२७॥
O Bharata, there go the perfected beings, bards, divine beings, and righteous subjects, O king, all four in great numbers.
वर्णाः स्वकर्मनिरता न च स्तेनोऽत्र दृश्यते। दीर्घायुषो महाराज जरामृत्युविवर्जिताः ॥६-१२-२८॥
The people are dedicated to their respective duties, and there is no thief among them. O great king, they enjoy long lives and are free from the afflictions of old age and death.
प्रजास्तत्र विवर्धन्ते वर्षास्विव समुद्रगाः। नद्यः पुण्यजलास्तत्र गङ्गा च बहुधागतिः ॥६-१२-२९॥
The people flourish there like rivers during the rainy season. The rivers with sacred waters, including the Ganga, flow in various directions.
सुकुमारी कुमारी च सीता कावेरका तथा। महानदी च कौरव्य तथा मणिजला नदी ॥ इक्षुवर्धनिका चैव तथा भरतसत्तम ॥६-१२-३०॥
The delicate and young girl Sita, along with the Kaveri river, the great river, and Kauravya, as well as the Manijala river and Ikshuvardhanika, are mentioned, O best of the Bharatas.
ततः प्रवृत्ताः पुण्योदा नद्यः कुरुकुलोद्वह। सहस्राणां शतान्येव यतो वर्षति वासवः ॥६-१२-३१॥
Then, O best of the Kuru dynasty, the sacred rivers began to flow in their thousands and hundreds, from where Indra showers his rain.
न तासां नामधेयानि परिमाणं तथैव च। शक्यते परिसङ्ख्यातुं पुण्यास्ता हि सरिद्वराः ॥६-१२-३२॥
The names and extents of these sacred rivers cannot be enumerated; they are truly the great rivers.
तत्र पुण्या जनपदाश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः। मगाश्च मशकाश्चैव मानसा मन्दगास्तथा ॥६-१२-३३॥
In that place, there are four holy regions that are renowned throughout the world: the Magas, the Mashakas, the Manasas, and the Mandagas.
मगा ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठाः स्वकर्मनिरता नृप। मशकेषु तु राजन्या धार्मिकाः सर्वकामदाः ॥६-१२-३४॥
O king, the great ones, mostly Brahmins, are engaged in their duties, but among the mosquitoes, the kings are known to be righteous and fulfill all desires.
मानसेषु महाराज वैश्याः कर्मोपजीविनः। सर्वकामसमायुक्ताः शूरा धर्मार्थनिश्चिताः ॥ शूद्रास्तु मन्दगे नित्यं पुरुषा धर्मशीलिनः ॥६-१२-३५॥
O great king, in the minds of people, merchants live by their work, fulfilling all desires, brave and determined in righteousness and wealth. However, the Shudras, though slow-witted, are always virtuous men.
न तत्र राजा राजेन्द्र न दण्डो न च दण्डिकाः। स्वधर्मेणैव धर्मं च ते रक्षन्ति परस्परम् ॥६-१२-३६॥
In that place, O king of kings, there is neither a king nor punishment nor punishers. They protect each other and their duty by their own adherence to duty.
एतावदेव शक्यं तु तस्मिन्द्वीपे प्रभाषितुम्। एतावदेव श्रोतव्यं शाकद्वीपे महौजसि ॥६-१२-३७॥
In that island, only this much can be spoken. Similarly, only this much is to be heard on the mighty island of Shaka.
