Sūta said:
1-3. Near Gandhamädana there is a large and bulky boulder above, thirty-four thousand Yojanas long, and thirty two thousand Yojanas wide, east to west, The residents of this area perform auspicious rites. They are well-known as Ketu målas. The men are black in complexion. They are vigorous and powerful. The women have the lustrous complexion of the petals of a lotus. All of them have pleasing appearances.
4. There is a great divine Panasa (Jack-fruit) tree there. It has six tastes. It is the son of Brahma, capable of moving about according to its pleasure. It has the speed of mind. It is veritable Ishvara himself. Imbibing its juice, the people there live for ten thousand years.
5. On the eastern side of Mālyavat, there is another big boulder. In length and width, it is like the former one.
6. The people of the area are called Bhadraśhvas. remain always joyous in mind. There is a splendid forest of huge trees called Kālāmra (black mangoes).
7. The men are fair-complexioned, vigorous and powerful. The women are charming and comely in appearance, with the hue and lustre of lilies.
8. They have the complexion and lustre of the moon and their faces resemble the full moon. Their bodies are as cool as the moon. They have the fragrance of lotuses.
9. Their span of life is ten thousand years. They are free from ailments. Imbibing the juice of the black mangoes, they enjoy perpetual youth.
The sages said:
10. The magnitude, lustre and the span of life of the people of all the four great continents have been explained precisely and succinctly, but not in detail.
Sūta said:
11. O Sages of enhancing reputation! The characteristics of the people of Bhadrāśhva mentioned by me are what have been cited by earlier Siddhas, Now listen to them in detail.
12-13. I shall narrate fully and in detail what I have seen and heard, of the five principal mountain ranges, countries and rivers which surround the famous Devakūta mountain,
14. The five principal mountains are Shaivāla, Varnamalágra, the excellent mountain Korañja, Shvetavarņa and Nila.
15. There are hundreds, thousands and crores of small mountains besides, which are offshoots of these five ranges.
16. (In and near these mountains) there are many lands and countries where a great variety of people live, which abound in various types of animals and which are looked after by many kings.
17. The lands are occupied by prosperous leading men of well-known names and valour. They are splendid and worthy of being glorified.
18. Many kingdoms are established between the mountains in the lands whether plain or rugged and uneven. Their names are as follows:
19-23. Sumangalas, Shuddhas, Chandrakantas, Sunandanas, Vrajakas, Nīlashaileyas, Sauviras, Vijayasthalas, Mahästhalas, Sukamas, Mahäkeśhas, Sumūrdhajas, Vātaramhas, Sopasangas Parivayas, Parachakas, Sambhavaktras, Mahānetras, Shaivālas Stanapas, Kumudas, Shakamundas, Uraḥsamkirņas, Bhaumakas, Sodakas, Vatsakas, Vārāhas, Häravāmakas, Shankhas, Bhävisandras, Uttaras, Haimabhaumakas, Krişhnabhaumas, Subhaumas and Mahabhaumas. These and other lands and countries are very famous.1
1. Verses 35ff: These seem to be provinces in China as the people, thereof are ‘gold-complexioned’.
24. They drink from the holy river Mahāgangă2 which was, in the beginning, known in the three worlds as Sità bearing down volumes of cold water.
2. This is the Hwang Ho river of China. The Puranic belief that the Sitā (which flows to the western sea) has emerged in the cast in Bhadrashva through underground channels is shared by Chinese, Arabs and Persians (AGP 102).
25-31. The other rivers are Hamsavasati, Mahāchakra, Chakrā, Vaktra, Kanchi, the excellent river Surasa, Shakhăvati, Indranadi, Megha, Mangåravāhini, Kāveri, Haritoyā, Somavartā, Shatahrada, Vanamala, Vasumati, Pampa, Pampāvati, Suvarnā, Pañchavarņā, the holy Vapuşhmatī, Manivapră, Suvaprā, Brahmabhāgā, Shilāśhini, Krushnatoyā, Punyodā, the auspicious Nägapadi, Shaivalini, Maņitațā, Kruşhārodā, Arunavati, Vişhnupadi, Mahäpunya, Mahānadi, Hiranyavāhini, Nila, Skandamālā, Suravati, Vamodā, Pataka, Vetáli and Mahanadi Ganga and these rivers are glorified as the heroines important rivers). Besides there are other rivers small and innumerable hundreds and thousands.
32. Thus the holy rivers in the eastern continent have been enumerated to you. A person becomes sanctified by merely enumerating them.
33. The kingdom is flourishing and prosperous. It consists of many provinces where trees and forests grow in abundance. These are encircled by many hills.
34. It is teeming with groups of men and women. The kingdom is auspicious and joyous. People are governed by many kings. They are rich in money and foodgrains. There are many mines of jewels, glorified in many ways.
35. In that country, men are said to be lustrous in complexion like gold and conch-shell.1 They are big-bodied, extremely vigorous like bulls.
1. Verses 35-38 describe the people of Bhadrāśhva (N. China, Sinkiang).
36, They can meet, talk and associate with Devas and occupy the same seats with them.
37. Their span of life is ten thousand years. There is no difference of Dharma and Adharma among them (all people are equal). They are naturally truthful and non-violent.
38. Everyday they perform sacrifices, worships and obeisance with devotion to Lord Shankara and Gauri, the great Vaişhņavi (Shakti).