This chapter is (even textually) similar to Bd. P.I.2.14 as both deal with the topic of the race of Priyavrata and the distribution of the continents and sub-continents among the descendants of Priyavrata.
Sūta said:
1. In all the Manvantaras of the past and future, equally identical persons, all of the same names and forms, are born.
2. The different Devas who are the ruler in that Manvantara, sages and human beings all (are equally identical2).
2. This belief is shared by all Puranas. This chapter deals with Puranic cosmography. It associates the names of the continents and sub-continents of the earth with those of their respective rulers-all being the grandsons of Svayambhuva Manu - sons of Priyavrata. Compare A.P. Ch. 107, Bh. P.V. 16.1-26, KP. I. 40, Mt. P. Chs. 112, 121, 122.
3. The creation of great sages has been narrated. Now know and understand the family of Svāyambhuva Manu being narrated in detail and in due order.
4-6. Svayambhuva Manu had ten grandsons equal to himself. They were the sons of Priyavrata. This entire earth with its seven continents and various Varşhas was colonised by them formerly in the Svayambhuva Manvantara in the first Tretå ages.3 They were endowed with progeny, Yogic power, and penance and the ability to create subjects. This earth was colonised by them.
3. Tretă is the Yuga in which Kşhattriyas got established.
7-8. Kanya (Kamya in Bd. P.), that extremely fortunate daughter of Kardama, the Prajapati, bore to valorous Priyavrata sons endowed with progeny. She gave birth to two daughters Samrāj and Kukşhi as well as to hundred sons.4 Among them ten brothers were very valorous and equal to Prajāpati.
4. Ten sons in Bd. P.
9. They were Agnidhra, Vapushmat, Medha, Medhā tithi, Vibhu, Jyotişhmat, Dyutimat, Havya, Savana and Sarva.
10. Priyavrata crowned seven of them with due religious rites as kings over the seven continents.1
1. The division of the earth among the sons of Priyavrata is as follows:
Name of Pripavrata’s son Name of the Dvīpa
assigned as a
separate kingdom
1. Agnidhra Jambū Dvipa
2. Vapushmat Sálmala (-li)
3. Medha
4. Medhătithi Plaksha
5. Vibhu
6. Jyotişhmat Kusha
7. Dyutimat Krauñcha
8. Havya Shaka
9. Savana Pushkara
10.Sarva
11. He made Agnidhra the powerful lord over Jambūdvipa and he made Medhätithi king of Plaksha Dvipa.
12. In the Salmali continent, he crowned Vapushmat as the king. He made Jyotişhmat ruler over Kuśha Dvīpa.
13. He granted Dyutimān the kingdom of Krauñcha Dvipa. He made Havya lord over Saka Dvipa.
14. He made Savana the overlord of Pushkara. In Pushkara Dvipa, Savana had two sons Mahāvīta and Dhataki. These two sons were excellent among persons endowed with sons.
15. In honour of the name of the noble soul, that continent (sub-Varuşha) [is known] as Mahävita. The subcontinent Dhātaki Khanda is called after the name Dhătaki.2
2. The Şub-Divisions of Puşhkara Dvip
16. King Havya begot (seven) sons as the rulers of Shāka dvipa. They were Jalada, Kumāra, Sukumara, Manichaka, Vasumoda, Sumodāka and the seventh son Mahādruma.3
3. Verses 16-20 enumerate the Sub-Divisions of Shaka Dvipa, each named after the seven sons of Havva.
17. The first sub-continent or country of (=governed by) Jalada is called Jalada; the second of (= ruled by) Kumāra is glorified as Kaumara.
18. The third sub-continent of Sukumāra is known as Sukumara and the fourth of Manichaka is called Manichaka.
19. The fifth Varsha of Vasumoda is called Vasumodaka and the sixth of Modāka, is glorified as Modāka.
20. The seventh of Mahadruma is named Mahädruma. All the seven countries were thus named after them.
21. Dyutimat, Lord of Krauñcha Dvīpa had seven sons, viz. Kuchala, Manuga, Uşhņa, Pivara, Andhakäraka, Muni and Dundubhi.1
1. Verses 21-23 enumerate the sub-continents of Krauñcha-dvīpa which are named after their first rulers, the sons of Dyutimat.
22. The splendid regions situated in Krauñcha Dvipa were called after the names of these sons). The land of Ushna is remembered as Uşhna and that of Pīvara, Pīvara.
23. Andhakaraka’s land was called Andhakāra, that of Muni was Muni and that of Dundubhi, Dundubhi. These seven flourishing lands were situated in Krauñcha Dvipa.
24. These seven sons of great strength were born to Jyotishmat in Kušha Dvipa. These were Udbhida, Venumat, Svairatha, Lavana, Dhruti, the sixth son Prabhākara and the seventh Kapila. 2
2. Verses 24-27 give the seven sub-divisions of Kuśha-dvipa each named after their initial ruler, the sons of Jyotişhmat.
25-26. The first country was called after Udbhida, the second after Veņumandala, the third after Svairathākāra, the fourth after Lavaņa, the fifth-after Dhrutimat, the sixth after Prabhākara and the seventh Varşha of Kapila is well-known as Kapila.
27. Thus the countries in the Kušha Dvipa were known after their names. The subjects therein followed the conducts be fitting the stages of life.
28. The rulers of the Shalmali continent were the seven sons of Vapushmat. They were: Sveta, Harita, Jimūta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Manasa and Suprabha.3
3. Verses 28-30: The seven sons of Vapushmän, the kings of Shalmalidvipa gave their names to its sub-divisions, each to his special sub-division.
29-30. Shveta was the land of Shveta, Rohita, of Rohita. Jimūta, of Jimūta, Harita, of Harita, Vaidyuta, of Vaidyuta, Manasa, of Manasa and Suprabha, of Suprabha. All these seven were the rulers of the lands.
31. I shall describe the seven countries after Jambūdvīpa. The seven sons of Medhătithi were kings and rulers of Plaksha dvīpa.1
1. Verses 32-34 enumerate the seven sub-continents of Plakşha-dvipa each of which was named after its ruler, the son of Medhātithi.
32-33. The eldest was Shāntabhaya, and then followed Shiśhira, Sukhodaya, Ananda, Dhruva, Kşhemaka and Shiva. The seven countries named after them were established by them in the previous Svāyambhuva Manvantara.
34. The subjects in the Plaksha-dvīpa were made to follow the conduct of life according to their respective castes and stages of life by the sons of Medhătithi residing in their respective seven countries.
35-36. In the five continents beginning with Plaksha and ending with Shāka the sacred rite was known in accordance with the division of castes (Varnas) and stages of life (Āśhramas). Happiness, longevity, forms (beauty), strength and Dharma were all common to everyone in the five Dvipas (continents) perpetually.
37. Understand that the Jambūdvipa is surrounded by the seven Dvīpas. Priyavrata crowned the eldest son (the son of) Kāmya2, Āgnidhra of great valour as the king of Jambūdvīpa.
2. Kanya in the text is a misprint.
38-40. He had nine sons equal in valour and strength to Prajāpati. The eldest was known as Näbhi; his younger brother was Kimpuruşha; Harivarşha was the third; Ilåvruta was the fourth; Ramya was the fifth; Hariņmat was the sixth; Kuru was the seventh; Bhadrāśhva was the eighth; Ketumāla was the ninth. Undestand their lands.3
3. Verses 38-45 enumerate the nine sub-division of India as understood by the author of the Vā. P. For locations of mountains mentioned here vide Suptă p. 11, fn. 2.
41-45. The father gave Nābhi the southern Varsha (sub- continent) called Hima. He gave to Kimpuruşha the Varsha known as Hemakūta; to Harivarşha the Varsha remembered as Naişhadha; to Ilāvruta the central part of Sumeru. He the father) gave to Ramya Nīla-varsha; Shveta, which lay to the north of it, was given by the father to Hariņmat. He gave to Kuru the subcontinent to the north of Shrungavān. Similarly, he assigned the subcontinent Mālyavat to Bhadrāśhva. He assigned the subcontinent Gandhamädan to Ketumala. Thus (he apportioned) these big subcontinents (among his sons).
46. The righteous Agnidhra crowned his sons in these countries in due order and then engaged himself in penance.
47. Thus, the seven continents were established by the seven sons of Priyavrata, the grandsons of Svayambhuva (Manu).
48. The eight countries beginning with Kimpuruşha are very auspicious. There perfection is natural, wholly consisting of pleasure and without effort.
49. There is no calamity or misfortune, no tear of old age and death. They have neither righteousness nor unrighteousness. There are neither high born nor low born nor middling. In all those areas there are no yuga cycles (with their classification, duties etc.).
50. I shall now describe the lineage of Nābhi in the Hima Varşha. Nābhi of great lustre begot of Merudevi a son (named) Ruşhabha,1 the best among all kings and the ancestor of all Kşhattriyas.
1. He is the first Tirthankara of Jairs. He is mentioned in Bh. P.V. Chs. 4 & 5 and in VP. II. 1.28. Brahmanical Purānas regard him as their own, an incarnation of Vişhnu.
51. The heroic Bharata was born of Ruşhabha. He was the eldest of his hundred sons. After crowning his son Bharata, Ruşhabha renounced the world.
52. He entrusted the southern Varsha called Hima to Bharata. Hence learned people know it by the name Bharata Varşha. 2
2. Jain tradition supports this Puranic belief. But countries are named after the major tribes that settled in that particular land e.g. Malwa, Gujarat England. Thus the country in which the tribe called Bharatas settled was the original Bhārata.
53. Bharata’s son was the scholarly and righteous Sumati. After transferring his kingdom, the royal splendour and glory to the son, Bharata entered the forest.
54. His son, Tejas1 was a lord of the subjects and conqueror of enemies. Indradyumna, the son of Taijasa, was well- known as a scholar.
1. Reading in A accepted as ‘Tejasas tu sutah’ in the text contradicts the second line thereof.
55. His son was Parameshthin. After his death Shobhana born in the family of Pratīhåras2 and related to him (ascended his throne). A son known as Pratihartru was born to him.
2. Bd. P. (v. 65-66) states that Pratihara is the name of the son of Parameşhthin.
56. Unnetru was the son of Pratihartru. Bhuva was his son. His son was Udgitha, Pratăvi was his son.
57. Vibhu was the son of Pratāvi. His son was Pruthu. Nakta was Pruthu’s son and Gaya was Nakta’s son.
58. Nara was the son of Gaya. Virat was Nara’s son. Virāt’s son was Mahåvirya and Dhimat was his son.
59. Mahat was the son of Dhīmat. Bhauvana was Mahat’s son. Tvashtru was Bhauvana’s son and Arija was his son,
60. Rajas was Arija’s son. Shatajit was the son of Rajas. He had a hundred sons and all of them were kings.
61. Out of them Viśhvajyoti was the chief. It is through them that these subjects flourished. They made this Bhārata as consisting of seven Khandas.
62. The country Bhārata was enjoyed by those born of their race, for seventyone sets of ages consisting of Kruta, Tretă etc.
63. Along with those ages (yugas) which have gone, the kings of their race were hundreds and thousands in the Svayambhuva Manvantara.
64-65. This is the creation of Svayambhuva (Manu) by which this universe has been filled along with sages, deities, Pitrus, Gandharvas, Rakşhasas, Yakşhas, Bhūtas, Pishachas, human beings, animals and birds. Their creation in the world revolves in cycles along with the Yugas.