Suta said:
1-4. Know that there is an ocean ten thousand Yojanas in extent to the south of Bharata. There is a country in it three thousand Yojanas long and one-third of it in breadth. It abounds in fruits and flowers. The regional mountain (Kula parvata) thereof is Vidyutvan,1 the innumerable peaks of which embellish the land. There are thousands of rivers there, with clean and tasty water. The lakes contain pure water.
1. The Vidyutvan mountain is obviously the Arakan Yoma of Burma. The islands dotting the Arakan coast are mentioned in vv. 11-12-AGP 178-179.
5-7. In the many long and wide caves, and crevasses of that mountain there are many prosperous jolly men and women of various shapes and features. In the many spacious and long and wide cavities (valleys?) are established hundreds and thousands of cities built into the mountain. These houses are joined to one another and have only a door each.
8. The subjects thereof have long beards and moustache. They are black and shining like clouds. They have the maximum life span of eighty years.
9. They eat fruits and roots and live like monkeys. Like cattle, they follow promiscuous, unconcealed sexual habits. They are devoid of bodily and mental purity and they have no fixed rules or conventions.
10. That continent is full of worthless men. Similarly, other countries and islets shall be known in due order.
11-14. The groups of islands known as Peacock islands are extending to twenty, thirty, fifty, sixty, eighty and hundred Yojanas. There are a few, extending to a thousand Yojanas. They are long, wide and full of various living beings. Besides Jambu-dvipa there are six islands. These islands are famous all over the earth for their mines of gems and precious stones. They are known as Anga, Yama, Malaya, Sankha, Kusha and Varaha2 islands.
2. These are the lands around India.
15. Know ye that the Anga Dvipa1 comprises islands, and many people of the Mleccha tribes live there. That continent is very large.
1. Verses 16-18 describe Anga-dvipa. Ali identifies it with the Malaya Peninsula due to pointers such as Mleccha population, gold, corals (AGP 179).
16. There are mines of gems, corals and gold in that land here. It is variegated with rivers, mountains and forests. It resembles the vast expanse of the briny sea.
17-18. There is a mountain called Chakragiri full of many rivulets and caves. The caves afford shelter to various living beings. That great mountain spreads on too many places in the Nagaland with its extremities reaching the lord of rivers, the abode of serpents (ocean).
19. What is called Yamadvipa2 is also full of mines of gems. There is a mountain called Dyutiman, embellished with minerals and is the source of many rivers and gold (mines).
2. Yama-dvipa is tentatively traced to Sumatra, Malaya, and Java.
20-21. Similarly, the Malaya Dvipa3 is also surrounded by the ocean. It is the source of gems, jewels and gold. It is very prosperous. It is the place of origin of sandalwood and is surrounded by gulfs (lit, seas). Many kinds of Mleccha tribes live there. There are many rivers and mountains.
3. M. Ali identifies it with the southernmost peninsular India-AUS 179-180.
22. The glorious mountain Malaya is the source of origin of silver. This excellent moutain is famous as Mahamalaya.
23. It is known as the second Mandara mountain. The abode of Agastya, bowed to by Devas and Asuras, is also there.
24-25. There is another mountain kanchanapada which is a second Malaya. There are many hermitages there, resorted to by pious persons and full of hedges of grass and Soma plants. It abounds in Powers and fruits of all kinds. It excels even the heaven. On festive occasions, on all Parvan days, heaven descends to that place.
26-28. There is a great city Lanka on the beautiful ridge and peak of the mountain Trikuta decorated with different minerals. The mountain is many Yojanas in height. Its variegated precipices and caves resemble houses. The city has gold ramparts and archways. There are many mansions and palaces with turrets and gables of variegated colour. It is a hundred Yojanas long and thirty Yojanas broad. It is flourishing and the people there are happy and gay.
29. It is the abode of noble Rakshasas who can assume various forms as they please. Know that to be the habitation of the enemies of Devas, proud of their strength. Free from all harassments, this city is inaccessible to human beings.
30. In that island, on the eastern shore of the sea there is Gokarna, the great shrine of Shankara.
31. Shankhadvipa1 is ruled as a single kingdom extending to a hundred Yojanas. It is the abode of many Mleccha tribes.
1. Shankha-dvipa is Zangistan of Arab geographers. It represents a part of the eastern shore of Africa from Abyssinia to Madagascar.
32. The mountain Shankhagiri has the lustre of white conch shell. It is sacred and is the source of many gems. It is resorted to by pious persons.
33. From this mountain rises the holy river Shankhanaga. Shankhamukha, king of Nagas, has his abode there.
34. Similarly, the Kumudadvipa2 is brightened by variegated flowers. Full of many villages, it is the source of many gems and jewels.
2. Kumuda-dvipa or Kushadvipa identifiable with western Asia, Arabian Peninsula-AGP 183.
35. There the blessed sister of Mahadeva, named Kumuda, the destroyer of evil persons, is worshipped by the people.
36-38. Similarly, in the island called Varaha3, there is a beautiful mountain known as Varaha containing many caves, crevasses and rivulets. The island is densely populated by different Mleccha tribes and people of different castes. There are many habitations and cities flourishing and prosperous with wealth and foodgrains. It is full of righteous people. The rivers, mountains and forests thereof contain various kinds of fruits and flowers of various colours.
3. Varaha-dvipa is identifiable with ‘Horn of Africa’. Scholars differ about these identifications.
39. A great river known as Varahi emerges from that mountain. Its waters are tasty. There are holy centres on its banks. This river is bestower of bliss.
40. O Brahmana, the people bow to Vishnu the powerful deity in the form of a Boar. They do not honour any other god.
41. Thus the six southern islands of the Bharata country have been described in detail.
42. In this single Bharata there are many islands separated by the ocean. They have been divided into various parts.
43. Thus have been described in details the four great continents adorned with islands interspersed in between as well as Jambudvipa together with its adjacent islands.