Sūta said:
1. What is described as the root of the pericarp1 is seventy thousand Yojanas beneath.
1. This is a continuation of the description of Mt. Meru. The author is recording his hearsay information social memory. Modern geographers try to identify the mountains, rivers etc., in Puranas, many times without success.
2. It is heard that a sphere of forty-eight thousand Yojanas encompassed by the lord of mountains is what is called Merumüla (Root of Meru).
3. In all the quarters, there are boundary mountains, the loftiest among thousands of mountains.
4-6. They are beautified by hedges, caves, rivers and rivulets. They have many ridges like huge mansions shining with flowers. Their sides are beautified by minerals. Their flanks are decorated by clusters of flowers. Their peaks are golden brown. Many streams flow over them. All these mountains are richly decorated with gems. There are inimitable bowers with hundreds of birds resorting to them. Lions, tigers, Sarabhas (a mythological eight footed animal), Chamari deer and elephants live there. They (boundary mountains) are bounded by mountain (ranges) of various shapes and colours.
7. Each of the ten mountains is marked by the sun, lion and the black deer. They have three streams (?) flowing in and out.
8. To the east of Meru are the two mountains Jathara1 and Devakūta which run north to south and stretch up to the Nila and Nişhadha mountains.
1. Jathara and Devakūta are the Kuruk-Tagh and Altin Tagh (Nanshang-Tsing-ling) mountains of Sinkiang (AGP 99-100).
9. The Kailasa and the Himavat are to the south and north. Extending to the east and the west, they enter the sea.
10. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, now I shall tell you the diameter of Meru, the mountain of gold.
11. Meru has four great ranges (legs) in all the four quarters. Held by them, the earth with her seven continents does not move,
12. Their extent is ten thousand Yojanas. They shine with many gems and jewels of Devas, Yakşhas and Gandharvas who reside there. Many rivulets flow from their rocky declivity and their beautiful caves.
13. The table-lands of diverse colours and features shine with the clusters of flowers blooming around the slopes and ridges, abounding in red arsenic mines and yellow orpiment.
14. The caves all round shine in diverse colours with gems and gold. The place abounds in vermilion, gold and minerals.
15. They are decorated in corals set in variegated shapes and sizes of gold. There are abodes of Siddhas with hundreds of joints (storeys?) which are beautiful and delightful. They are dazzling all around with majestic palatial aerial chariots.
16. To the cast is the Mandara,2 to the west, the Vipula and to the north, the Supārshva.
2. The Pamirs if taken as Meru, Supārshva is located in Kirghistan. Mandara is not the hill in the Banka sub-division of the Bhagalpur district (Bihar) as given by Dc 124, but the Sarikol range (N. China) (AGP 10), and Vipula is in Ketumāla (see p. 248, note 2). The identification Mandara with Ptolemy’s Maiandros is doubtful.
17. On thousands of their peaks, there are platforms of diamonds and Lapis lazuli, with trees of thousands of branches. With firm roots, they are well-established.
18. They have thickly grown smooth dark leaves, with large fruits and flowers. They cover the ground with shade. They are very lofty.
19. Four great trees which are the land-marks of the continent, have grown there. They are resorted to by Siddhas, Yakşhas and Gandharvas,
20. On the peak of mountain Mandara, there is a great tree Keturät (the king of banners) with hanging branches. There is a Kandara tree also.
21. It is splendid with excessive fragrant, full-blown flowers as big as a pitcher, with filaments spread out. They bloom in all seasons.
22. Wafted by the gentle wind, the fragrance fills up the quarters to more than a thousand Yojanas around.
23-25. O Brāhmaṇas, the continent Bhadrāśhva1 is well known as Varaketu. Here Vişhnu is directly worshipped by groups of Siddhas. Formerly Hari (Indra), the most excellent among Devas, riding a white horse and accompanied by a group of Rudras, travelled over the entire continent. O leaders of Brāhmaṇas, the continent is, therefore called Bhadrāśhva.
1. Bhadrāśhva is the Tarim-Hwango-Ho basin or North China (AGP 64, 65, 73).
26. There is a Jambū tree (Rose Apple) on the top of the southern mountain. It is resorted to by Devas. It ever blooms and bears fruits. It shines with garlands of flowers.
27. Its roots and branches are very extensive. Its branches are of pleasing colours. The tree is always bedecked with fresh flowers, fruits and branches.
28. The sweet and soft fruits of huge size falling on the peak of the mountain are nectar-like in taste.
29. From the table-land on the top of this excellent mountain, flows the river Jambū with currents of honey.
30. Gold known as Jambūnada, with the lustre of burning fire, is formed here. It is the incomparable ornament of Devas and the destroyer of sins.
31. Devas, Dänavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pannagas (serpents) drink the honey, the juice exuding from the Jambù tree which is as sweet as nectar.
32. That eternal Jambū tree which is well-known in the world is the landmark in the southern continent,1 The continent is called Jambūdvipa after its name.
1. It appears that certain climatic zones favourable for the growth of some typical trees are regarded as ‘continents’. Thus Jambūdvipa has Jambu. (Rose-apple) as its representative tree implying the climatic zone (and other condition) conducive to its growth.
33. A great Aśhvattha tree grows on the peak of the great western mountain Vipula.2
2. This is located in Ketumāla. Ketumala is bounded on the south by Nişhadha (Hindukush-Kunlun), in the north by Nila (Zarafshan-Tien Shan), on the west by the (Caspian) Sea-the Western Seal of Purăņas, and on the north by the Turan desert (AGP, 88).
34. It has hanging garlands, and golden platforms set with gems. Its trunk and branches are very lofty. It is the abode of many living beings. It abounds in good qualities.
35. That tree is the landmark of the people of Ketumāla. It is embellished with auspicious fruits growing in all seasons. They are of the size of big pots and very pleasing. The tree is resorted to by Devas and Gandharvas.
36. How the continent came to be known as Ketumāla, o great Brähmaņas, hear. I shall tell you the etymology of the name.
37-38. After the churning of the milk ocean the Daityas were defeated; on being pressed in the tumult of the battle, when the trees shook, a garland wreathed by the thousand-eyed lord Indra was put round the trunk of that Aśhvattha tree (as a form of worship).
39. It still retains its excessive fragrance. It never fades. It bestows all desires. That blessed garland is worshipped by Siddhas and Charanas.
40. The garland, as it were a flag-staff bestowed by Indra, shines in a divine way. Blown by the wind, it wafts pleasing fragrance.
41. Symbolised with the two names (Ketu and Mäla) joined together, the continent is known as Ketumāla.3 It lies in the western region. It is very extensive, well known here as well as in the heaven.
3. A popular etymology.
42. On the northern peak of the mountain Suparśhva, a great fig tree grows up with extensive branches. It covers an area of many Yojanas.
43. It is resorted to by Siddhas and Chăranas. From its branches clusters of garlands of sweet fragrance hang loose. It shines with them.
44. This tree is the landmark of the northern Kuru country. It shines with fruits full of honey. The fruits resemble the coral cup.
45. Seven mental sons of Brahmā, the blessed younger brothers of Sanatkumara, stay there. They are known as Kurus.
46. They attained (spiritual) knowledge in that region. They are characterised by piety and good qualities. They are of meritorious fame. This eternal, imperishable, great region has been attained by them.
47. This continent has derived its name from those seven great souls. The northern Kurus1 are famous here and in the heaven for ever.
1. M. Ali identifies Uttara Kuru with Western Siberian Region including the basins of the river Irtysh, the Op and the Tobol (AGP. P. 85).