The Seven Island-Continents and Oceans

Verse 1 (bhagavata.5.20.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच अतः परं प्लक्षादीनां प्रमाणलक्षणसंस्थानतो वर्षविभाग उपवर्ण्यते ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ataḥ paraṁ plakṣādīnāṁ pramāṇa-lakṣaṇa-saṁsthānato varṣa-vibhāga upavarṇyate.

Shukadeva Gosvami said: Hereafter, I shall describe the extent, characteristics and structure of the lands beginning with Plaksha.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.5.20.2)

जम्बूद्वीपोऽयं यावत्प्रमाणविस्तारस्तावता क्षारोदधिना परिवेष्टितो यथा मेरुर्जम्ब्वाख्येन लवणोदधिरपि ततो द्विगुणविशालेन प्लक्षाख्येन परिक्षिप्तो यथा परिखा बाह्योपवनेन । प्लक्षो जम्बूप्रमाणो द्वीपाख्याकरो हिरण्मय उत्थितो यत्राग्निरुपास्ते सप्तजिह्वस्तस्याधिपतिः प्रियव्रतात्मज इध्मजिह्वः स्वं द्वीपं सप्तवर्षाणि विभज्य सप्तवर्षनामभ्य आत्मजेभ्य आकलय्य स्वयमात्मयोगेनोपरराम ॥ २ ॥

jambūdvīpo ’yaṁ yāvat-pramāṇa-vistāras tāvatā kṣārodadhinā pariveṣṭito yathā merur jambv-ākhyena lavaṇodadhir api tato dvi-guṇa-viśālena plakṣākhyena parikṣipto yathā parikhā bāhyopavanena; plakṣo jambū-pramāṇo dvīpākhyākaro hiraṇmaya utthito yatrāgnir upāste sapta-jihvas tasyādhipatiḥ priyavratātmaja idhmajihvaḥ svaṁ dvīpaṁ sapta-varṣāṇi vibhajya sapta-varṣa-nāmabhya ātmajebhya ākalayya svayam ātma-yogenopararāma.

This Jambudvipa, whatever its extent may be, is encircled by an equal expanse of the salt ocean, just as Mount Sumeru is encircled by Jambudvipa, named for its jambu tree; and that salt ocean, in turn, is surrounded by the island called Plaksha, twice its size, just as a moat is bordered by an outer grove. The Plaksha tree, equal in height to the jambu tree and lending the island its name, rises golden, with a seven-tongued fire dwelling at its root. Its ruler, Idhmajihva, son of Priyavrata, having divided his island into seven lands and given them the names of his seven sons, himself, through the practice of self-absorption, withdrew from active life.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.5.20.3)

शिवं यवसं सुभद्रं शान्तं क्षेमममृतमभयमिति वर्षाणि तेषु गिरयो नद्यश्च सप्तैवाभिज्ञाताः ॥ ३ ॥

śivaṁ yavasaṁ subhadraṁ śāntaṁ kṣemam amṛtam abhayam iti varṣāṇi teṣu girayo nadyaś ca saptaivābhijñātāḥ;

The seven lands are named Shiva, Yavasa, Subhadra, Shanta, Kshema, Amrita and Abhaya; in them are seven boundary-mountains and seven rivers, each well known.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.5.20.4)

मणिकूटो वज्रकूट इन्द्रसेनो ज्योतिष्मान् सुपर्णो हिरण्यष्ठीवो मेघमाल इति सेतुशैलाः । अरुणा नृम्णाऽऽङ्गिरसी सावित्री सुप्तभाता ऋतम्भरा सत्यम्भरा इति महानद्यः । यासां जलोपस्पर्शनविधूतरजस्तमसो हंसपतङ्गोर्ध्वायनसत्याङ्गसंज्ञाश्चत्वारो वर्णाः सहस्रायुषो विबुधोपमसन्दर्शनप्रजननाः स्वर्गद्वारं त्रय्या विद्यया भगवन्तं त्रयीमयं सूर्यमात्मानं यजन्ते ॥ ४ ॥

maṇikūṭo vajrakūṭa indraseno jyotiṣmān suparṇo hiraṇyaṣṭhīvo meghamāla iti setu-śailāḥ aruṇā nṛmṇāṅgirasī sāvitrī suptabhātā ṛtambharā satyambharā iti mahā-nadyaḥ; yāsāṁ jalopasparśana-vidhūta-rajas-tamaso haṁsa-pataṅgordhvāyana-satyāṅga-saṁjñāś catvāro varṇāḥ sahasrāyuṣo vibudhopama-sandarśana-prajananāḥ svarga-dvāraṁ trayyā vidyayā bhagavantaṁ trayīmayaṁ sūryam ātmānaṁ yajante.

The mountains are Manikuta, Vajrakuta, Indrasena, Jyotishman, Suparna, Hiranyashthiva and Meghamala; the great rivers are Aruna, Nrimna-Angirasi, Savitri, Suptabhata, Ritambhara and Satyambhara. By touching their waters, the four classes of people there, called Hamsa, Patanga, Urdhvayana and Satyanga, are cleansed of rajas and tamas; living a thousand years, beautiful as the gods, and begetting offspring like the gods, they worship, through the threefold Vedic knowledge, as the gateway to heaven, Bhagavan the Sun, who is Himself the very embodiment of the three Vedas, as their own self.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.5.20.5)

प्रत्नस्य विष्णो रूपं यत्सत्यस्यर्तस्य ब्रह्मणः । अमृतस्य च मृत्योश्च सूर्यमात्मानमीमहीति ॥ ५ ॥

pratnasya viṣṇo rūpaṁ yat satyasyartasya brahmaṇaḥ amṛtasya ca mṛtyoś ca sūryam ātmānam īmahīti

That form of the primeval Vishnu, which is truth, cosmic order, the Absolute itself, both immortality and death, we take as our own self, the sun. Thus they pray.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.5.20.6)

प्लक्षादिषु पञ्चसु पुरुषाणामायुरिन्द्रियमोजः सहो बलं बुद्धिर्विक्रम इति च सर्वेषामौत्पत्तिकी सिद्धिरविशेषेण वर्तते ॥ ६ ॥

plakṣādiṣu pañcasu puruṣāṇām āyur indriyam ojaḥ saho balaṁ buddhir vikrama iti ca sarveṣām autpattikī siddhir aviśeṣeṇa vartate.

In the five islands beginning with Plaksha, long life, keenness of the senses, vigor, endurance, strength, intelligence and valor arise, without distinction, as an inborn perfection shared equally by all the people there.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.5.20.7)

प्लक्षः स्वसमानेनेक्षुरसोदेनावृतो यथा तथा द्वीपोऽपि शाल्मलो द्विगुणविशालः समानेन सुरोदेनावृतः परिवृङ्क्ते ॥ ७ ॥

plakṣaḥ sva-samānenekṣu-rasodenāvṛto yathā tathā dvīpo ’pi śālmalo dvi-guṇa-viśālaḥ samānena surodenāvṛtaḥ parivṛṅkte.

As Plaksha is surrounded by an ocean of sugarcane juice equal to itself in breadth, so too the island of Shalmali, twice as vast, is encompassed all around by an ocean of liquor equal to its own breadth.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.5.20.8)

यत्र ह वै शाल्मली प्लक्षायामा यस्यां वाव किल निलयमाहुर्भगवतश्छन्दः स्तुतः पतत्त्रिराजस्य सा द्वीपहूतये उपलक्ष्यते ॥ ८ ॥

yatra ha vai śālmalī plakṣāyāmā yasyāṁ vāva kila nilayam āhur bhagavataś chandaḥ-stutaḥ patattri-rājasya sā dvīpa-hūtaye upalakṣyate.

There, indeed, stands the Shalmali tree, as vast as the Plaksha tree; within it, they say, dwells the abode of Garuda, the king of birds and the Vedas' own praised carrier of Bhagavan. That tree, from which the island takes its name, is regarded as the very place from which it may be invoked.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.5.20.9)

तद्द्वीपाधिपतिः प्रियव्रतात्मजो यज्ञबाहुः स्वसुतेभ्यः सप्तभ्यस्तन्नामानि सप्तवर्षाणि व्यभजत्सुरोचनं सौमनस्यं रमणकं देववर्षं पारिभद्रमाप्यायनमविज्ञातमिति ॥ ९ ॥

tad-dvīpādhipatiḥ priyavratātmajo yajñabāhuḥ sva-sutebhyaḥ saptabhyas tan-nāmāni sapta-varṣāṇi vyabhajat surocanaṁ saumanasyaṁ ramaṇakaṁ deva-varṣaṁ pāribhadram āpyāyanam avijñātam iti.

The ruler of that island, Yajnabahu, son of Priyavrata, divided it into seven lands, named after his seven sons, to whom he gave them: Surochana, Saumanasya, Ramanaka, Deva-varsha, Paribhadra, Apyayana and Avijnata.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.5.20.10)

तेषु वर्षाद्रयो नद्यश्च सप्तैवाभिज्ञाताः स्वरसः शतशृङ्गो वामदेवः कुन्दो मुकुन्दः पुष्पवर्षः सहस्रश्रुतिरिति । अनुमतिः सिनीवाली सरस्वती कुहू रजनी नन्दा राकेति ॥ १० ॥

teṣu varṣādrayo nadyaś ca saptaivābhijñātāḥ svarasaḥ śataśṛṅgo vāmadevaḥ kundo mukundaḥ puṣpa-varṣaḥ sahasra-śrutir iti; anumatiḥ sinīvālī sarasvatī kuhū rajanī nandā rāketi.

In those lands are seven well-known mountains, Svarasa, Shatashringa, Vamadeva, Kunda, Mukunda, Pushpavarsha and Sahasrashruti, and seven rivers: Anumati, Sinivali, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani, Nanda and Raka.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.5.20.11)

तद्वर्षपुरुषाः श्रुतधरवीर्यधरवसुन्धरेषन्धरसंज्ञा भगवन्तं वेदमयं सोममात्मानं वेदेन यजन्ते ॥ ११ ॥

tad-varṣa-puruṣāḥ śrutadhara-vīryadhara-vasundhareṣandhara-saṁjñā bhagavantaṁ vedamayaṁ somam ātmānaṁ vedena yajante.

The people of that land, called Shrutadhara, Viryadhara, Vasundhara and Ishandhara, worship Bhagavan Soma, the moon, the very Self and embodiment of the Vedas, by means of Vedic rites.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.5.20.12)

स्वगोभिः पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजन् कृष्णशुक्लयोः । प्रजानां सर्वासां राजान्धः सोमो न आस्त्विति ॥ १२ ॥

sva-gobhiḥ pitṛ-devebhyo vibhajan kṛṣṇa-śuklayoḥ prajānāṁ sarvāsāṁ rājā- ndhaḥ somo na āstv iti

Distributing his own rays to the ancestors and the gods through the dark and bright fortnights, may Soma, though he wanes to darkness, remain the king of all our creatures. Thus they pray.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.5.20.13)

एवं सुरोदाद्बहिस्तद्द्विगुणः समानेनावृतो घृतोदेन यथापूर्वः कुशद्वीपो यस्मिन् कुशस्तम्बो देवकृतस्तद्द्वीपाख्याकरो ज्वलन इवापरः स्वशष्परोचिषा दिशो विराजयति ॥ १३ ॥

evaṁ surodād bahis tad-dvi-guṇaḥ samānenāvṛto ghṛtodena yathā-pūrvaḥ kuśa-dvīpo yasmin kuśa-stambo deva-kṛtas tad-dvīpākhyākaro jvalana ivāparaḥ sva-śaṣpa-rociṣā diśo virājayati.

Thus, outside the ocean of liquor, twice its size and surrounded equally by an ocean of ghee, lies the island called Kusha, as before. On it stands a tuft of kusha grass fashioned by the gods, which, giving the island its name, illumines every direction like a second fire, through the very radiance of its blades.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.5.20.14)

तद्द्वीपपतिः प्रैयव्रतो राजन् हिरण्यरेता नाम स्वं द्वीपं सप्तभ्यः स्वपुत्रेभ्यो यथाभागं विभज्य स्वयं तप आतिष्ठत वसुवसुदानदृढरुचिनाभिगुप्तस्तुत्यव्रतविविक्तवामदेवनामभ्यः ॥ १४ ॥

tad-dvīpa-patiḥ praiyavrato rājan hiraṇyaretā nāma svaṁ dvīpaṁ saptabhyaḥ sva-putrebhyo yathā-bhāgaṁ vibhajya svayaṁ tapa ātiṣṭhata vasu-vasudāna-dṛḍharuci-nābhigupta-stutyavrata-vivikta-vāmadeva-nāmabhyaḥ.

The ruler of that island, O King, was another son of Priyavrata named Hiranyareta. Having duly divided his island among his seven sons, Vasu, Vasudana, Dridharuchi, Stutyavrata, Nabhigupta, Vivikta and Vamadeva, he himself took up a life of austerity.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.5.20.15)

तेषां वर्षेषु सीमागिरयो नद्यश्चाभिज्ञाताः सप्त सप्तैव चक्रश्चतुःशृङ्गः कपिलश्चित्रकूटो देवानीक ऊर्ध्वरोमा द्रविण इति रसकुल्या मधुकुल्या मित्रविन्दा श्रुतविन्दा देवगर्भा घृतच्युता मन्त्रमालेति ॥ १५ ॥

teṣāṁ varṣeṣu sīmā-girayo nadyaś cābhijñātāḥ sapta saptaiva cakraś catuḥśṛṅgaḥ kapilaś citrakūṭo devānīka ūrdhvaromā draviṇa iti rasakulyā madhukulyā mitravindā śrutavindā devagarbhā ghṛtacyutā mantramāleti.

In their lands, likewise, are seven well-known boundary-mountains and seven rivers: the mountains Chakra, Chatuhshringa, Kapila, Chitrakuta, Devanika, Urdhvaroma and Dravina; the rivers Rasakulya, Madhukulya, Mitravinda, Shrutavinda, Devagarbha, Ghritachyuta and Mantramala.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.5.20.16)

यासां पयोभिः कुशद्वीपौकसः कुशलकोविदाभियुक्तकुलकसंज्ञा भगवन्तं जातवेदसरूपिणं कर्मकौशलेन यजन्ते ॥ १६ ॥

yāsāṁ payobhiḥ kuśadvīpaukasaḥ kuśala-kovidābhiyukta-kulaka-saṁjñā bhagavantaṁ jātaveda-sarūpiṇaṁ karma-kauśalena yajante.

By the waters of these rivers, the inhabitants of Kushadvipa, known as Kushala, Kovida, Abhiyukta and Kulaka, skilled in the performance of ritual action, worship Bhagavan in His form as fire.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.5.20.17)

परस्य ब्रह्मणः साक्षाज्जातवेदोऽसि हव्यवाट् । देवानां पुरुषाङ्गानां यज्ञेन पुरुषं यजेति ॥ १७ ॥

parasya brahmaṇaḥ sākṣāj jāta-vedo ’si havyavāṭ devānāṁ puruṣāṅgānāṁ yajñena puruṣaṁ yajeti

You are indeed, O fire, the direct carrier of oblations to the Supreme Brahman; through this sacrifice, worship on our behalf the Supreme Person, of whom the gods are but limbs.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.5.20.18)

तथा घृतोदाद्बहिः क्रौञ्चद्वीपो द्विगुणः स्वमानेन क्षीरोदेन परित उपक्लृप्तो वृतो यथा कुशद्वीपो घृतोदेन यस्मिन् क्रौञ्चो नाम पर्वतराजो द्वीपनामनिर्वर्तक आस्ते ॥ १८ ॥

tathā ghṛtodād bahiḥ krauñcadvīpo dvi-guṇaḥ sva-mānena kṣīrodena parita upakḷpto vṛto yathā kuśadvīpo ghṛtodena yasmin krauñco nāma parvata-rājo dvīpa-nāma-nirvartaka āste.

Likewise, outside the ocean of ghee, twice its own measure and surrounded all around by an ocean of milk, just as Kusha-dvipa was ringed by the ocean of ghee, lies Krauncha-dvipa. On it stands the great mountain named Krauncha, which gives the island its name.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.5.20.19)

योऽसौ गुहप्रहरणोन्मथितनितम्बकुञ्जोऽपि क्षीरोदेनासिच्यमानो भगवता वरुणेनाभिगुप्तो विभयो बभूव ॥ १९ ॥

yo ’sau guha-praharaṇonmathita-nitamba-kuñjo ’pi kṣīrodenā-sicyamāno bhagavatā varuṇenābhigupto vibhayo babhūva.

That mountain, though its slopes and thickets were once torn apart by the weapon of Guha, has, being bathed by the ocean of milk and protected by Bhagavan Varuna, become free of all fear.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.5.20.20)

तस्मिन्नपि प्रैयव्रतो घृतपृष्ठो नामाधिपतिः स्वे द्वीपे वर्षाणि सप्त विभज्य तेषु पुत्रनामसु सप्त रिक्थादान् वर्षपान्निवेश्य स्वयं भगवान् भगवतः परमकल्याणयशस आत्मभूतस्य हरेश्चरणारविन्दमुपजगाम ॥ २० ॥

tasminn api praiyavrato ghṛtapṛṣṭho nāmādhipatiḥ sve dvīpe varṣāṇi sapta vibhajya teṣu putra-nāmasu sapta rikthādān varṣapān niveśya svayaṁ bhagavān bhagavataḥ parama-kalyāṇa-yaśasa ātma-bhūtasya hareś caraṇāravindam upajagāma.

On that island too, the ruler, a son of Priyavrata named Ghritaprishtha, divided his island into seven lands, and having established his seven sons, named after those seven portions, as their rulers, he himself drew near to the lotus feet of Hari, the Self of all, of supremely auspicious renown.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.5.20.21)

आमो मधुरुहो मेघपृष्ठः सुधामा भ्राजिष्ठो लोहितार्णो वनस्पतिरिति घृतपृष्ठसुतास्तेषां वर्षगिरयः सप्त सप्तैव नद्यश्चाभिख्याताः शुक्लो वर्धमानो भोजन उपबर्हिणो नन्दो नन्दनः सर्वतोभद्र इति अभया अमृतौघा आर्यका तीर्थवती रूपवती पवित्रवती शुक्लेति ॥ २१ ॥

āmo madhuruho meghapṛṣṭhaḥ sudhāmā bhrājiṣṭho lohitārṇo vanaspatir iti ghṛtapṛṣṭha-sutās teṣāṁ varṣa-girayaḥ sapta saptaiva nadyaś cābhikhyātāḥ śuklo vardhamāno bhojana upabarhiṇo nando nandanaḥ sarvatobhadra iti abhayā amṛtaughā āryakā tīrthavatī rūpavatī pavitravatī śukleti.

The sons of Ghritaprishtha were named Ama, Madhuruha, Meghaprishtha, Sudhama, Bhrajishtha, Lohitarna and Vanaspati. In their lands are seven well-known boundary-mountains, Shukla, Vardhamana, Bhojana, Upabarhina, Nanda, Nandana and Sarvatobhadra, and seven rivers: Abhaya, Amritaugha, Aryaka, Tirthavati, Rupavati, Pavitravati and Shukla.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.5.20.22)

यासामम्भः पवित्रममलमुपयुञ्जानाः पुरुषऋषभद्रविणदेवकसंज्ञा वर्षपुरुषा आपोमयं देवमपां पूर्णेनाञ्जलिना यजन्ते ॥ २२ ॥

yāsām ambhaḥ pavitram amalam upayuñjānāḥ puruṣa-ṛṣabha-draviṇa-devaka-saṁjñā varṣa-puruṣā āpomayaṁ devam apāṁ pūrṇenāñjalinā yajante.

By the pure, spotless waters of these rivers, the people of that land, known as Purusha, Rishabha, Dravina and Devaka, worship, with cupped hands filled with water, the deity whose very form is water.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.5.20.23)

आपः पुरुषवीर्याः स्थ पुनन्तीर्भूर्भुवःसुवः । ता नः पुनीतामीवघ्नीः स्पृशतामात्मना भुव इति ॥ २३ ॥

āpaḥ puruṣa-vīryāḥ stha punantīr bhūr-bhuvaḥ-suvaḥ tā naḥ punītāmīva-ghnīḥ spṛśatām ātmanā bhuva iti

O waters, you possess the very potency of the Supreme Person, purifying the three worlds, Bhu, Bhuvah and Svah. May you, who destroy affliction, purify us, who touch you now with our own bodies. Thus they pray.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.5.20.24)

एवं पुरस्तात्क्षीरोदात्परित उपवेशितः शाकद्वीपो द्वात्रिंशल्लक्षयोजनायामः समानेन च दधिमण्डोदेन परीतो यस्मिन् शाको नाम महीरुहः स्वक्षेत्रव्यपदेशको यस्य ह महासुरभिगन्धस्तं द्वीपमनुवासयति ॥ २४ ॥

evaṁ purastāt kṣīrodāt parita upaveśitaḥ śākadvīpo dvātriṁśal-lakṣa-yojanāyāmaḥ samānena ca dadhi-maṇḍodena parīto yasmin śāko nāma mahīruhaḥ sva-kṣetra-vyapadeśako yasya ha mahā-surabhi-gandhas taṁ dvīpam anuvāsayati.

Thus, lying beyond and all around the ocean of milk, is Shaka-dvipa, 3,200,000 yojanas in extent, surrounded by an ocean of curd-whey equal to its own breadth. On it stands the great tree named Shaka, which gives the island its name, and whose intensely fragrant scent perfumes the whole island.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.5.20.25)

तस्यापि प्रैयव्रत एवाधिपतिर्नाम्ना मेधातिथिः सोऽपि विभज्य सप्त वर्षाणि पुत्रनामानि तेषु स्वात्मजान् पुरोजवमनोजवपवमानधूम्रानीकचित्ररेफबहुरूपविश्वधारसंज्ञान्निधाप्याधिपतीन् स्वयं भगवत्यनन्त आवेशितमतिस्तपोवनं प्रविवेश ॥ २५ ॥

tasyāpi praiyavrata evādhipatir nāmnā medhātithiḥ so ’pi vibhajya sapta varṣāṇi putra-nāmāni teṣu svātmajān purojava-manojava-pavamāna-dhūmrānīka-citrarepha-bahurūpa-viśvadhāra-saṁjñān nidhāpyādhipatīn svayaṁ bhagavaty ananta ā-veśita-matis tapovanaṁ praviveśa.

The ruler of that island too was a son of Priyavrata named Medhatithi. He too divided it into seven lands, named after his own sons, and having established them as rulers, Purojava, Manojava, Pavamana, Dhumranika, Chitrarepha, Bahurupa and Vishvadhara, he himself, his mind fixed wholly on Bhagavan Ananta, entered a forest of austerity.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.5.20.26)

एतेषां वर्षमर्यादागिरयो नद्यश्च सप्त सप्तैव ईशान उरुशृङ्गो बलभद्रः शतकेसरः सहस्रस्रोतो देवपालो महानस इति अनघाऽऽयुर्दा उभयस्पृष्टिरपराजिता पञ्चपदी सहस्रस्रुतिर्निजधृतिरिति ॥ २६ ॥

eteṣāṁ varṣa-maryādā-girayo nadyaś ca sapta saptaiva īśāna uruśṛṅgo balabhadraḥ śatakesaraḥ sahasrasroto devapālo mahānasa iti anaghāyurdā ubhayaspṛṣṭir aparājitā pañcapadī sahasrasrutir nijadhṛtir iti.

For these lands too there are seven well-known boundary-mountains, Ishana, Urushringa, Balabhadra, Shatakesara, Sahasrasrota, Devapala and Mahanasa, and seven rivers: Anagha, Ayurda, Ubhayasprishti, Aparajita, Panchapadi, Sahasrashruti and Nijadhriti.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.5.20.27)

तद्वर्षपुरुषा ऋतव्रतसत्यव्रतदानव्रतानुव्रतनामानो भगवन्तं वाय्वात्मकं प्राणायामविधूतरजस्तमसः परमसमाधिना यजन्ते ॥ २७ ॥

tad-varṣa-puruṣā ṛtavrata-satyavrata-dānavratānuvrata-nāmāno bhagavantaṁ vāyv-ātmakaṁ prāṇāyāma-vidhūta-rajas-tamasaḥ parama-samādhinā yajante.

The people of that land, named Ritavrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata, through the practice of pranayama, having shaken off rajas and tamas, worship Bhagavan in His form as Vayu, in the deepest meditative absorption.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.5.20.28)

अन्तःप्रविश्य भूतानि यो बिभर्त्यात्मकेतुभिः । अन्तर्यामीश्वरः साक्षात्पातु नो यद्वशे स्फुटम् ॥ २८ ॥

antaḥ-praviśya bhūtāni yo bibharty ātma-ketubhiḥ antaryāmīśvaraḥ sākṣāt pātu no yad-vaśe sphuṭam

Having entered within all beings, He sustains them by His own life-signs; may that Lord, the inner controller who dwells within, and under whose evident sway all this exists, protect us.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.5.20.29)

एवमेव दधिमण्डोदात्परतः पुष्करद्वीपस्ततो द्विगुणायामः समन्तत उपकल्पितः समानेन स्वादूदकेन समुद्रेण बहिरावृतो यस्मिन् बृहत्पुष्करं ज्वलनशिखामलकनकपत्रायुतायुतं भगवतः कमलासनस्याध्यासनं परिकल्पितम् ॥ २९ ॥

evam eva dadhi-maṇḍodāt parataḥ puṣkaradvīpas tato dvi-guṇāyāmaḥ samantata upakalpitaḥ samānena svādūdakena samudreṇa bahir āvṛto yasmin bṛhat-puṣkaraṁ jvalana-śikhāmala-kanaka-patrāyutāyutaṁ bhagavataḥ kamalāsanasyādhyāsanaṁ parikalpitam.

In just the same way, beyond the ocean of curd-whey, lies Pushkara-dvipa, twice as vast all around, and likewise surrounded on the outside by an ocean of sweet water equal to its own breadth. On it stands a great lotus, its countless petals of pure gold gleaming like flames of fire, fashioned as the very seat of Bhagavan, the lotus-seated one.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.5.20.30)

तद्द्वीपमध्ये मानसोत्तरनामैक एवार्वाचीनपराचीनवर्षयोर्मर्यादाचलोऽयुतयोजनोच्छ्रायायामो यत्र तु चतसृषु दिक्षु चत्वारि पुराणि लोकपालानामिन्द्रादीनां यदुपरिष्टात्सूर्यरथस्य मेरुं परिभ्रमतः संवत्सरात्मकं चक्रं देवानामहोरात्राभ्यां परिभ्रमति ॥ ३० ॥

tad-dvīpa-madhye mānasottara-nāmaika evārvācīna-parācīna-varṣayor maryādācalo ’yuta-yojanocchrāyāyāmo yatra tu catasṛṣu dikṣu catvāri purāṇi loka-pālānām indrādīnāṁ yad-upariṣṭāt sūrya-rathasya meruṁ paribhramataḥ saṁvatsarātmakaṁ cakraṁ devānām aho-rātrābhyāṁ paribhramati.

In the middle of that island stands a single mountain named Manasottara, forming the boundary between the inner and outer lands, ten thousand yojanas in both height and breadth. On it, in the four directions, stand the four cities of the world-guardians headed by Indra. Above this mountain, the wheel of the sun-chariot, reckoned as the year-cycle of the Samvatsara, revolves around Meru through what forms the day and night of the gods.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.5.20.31)

तद्द्वीपस्याप्यधिपतिः प्रैयव्रतो वीतिहोत्रो नामैतस्यात्मजौ रमणकधातकिनामानौ वर्षपती नियुज्य स स्वयं पूर्वजवद्भगवत्कर्मशील एवास्ते ॥ ३१ ॥

tad-dvīpasyāpy adhipatiḥ praiyavrato vītihotro nāmaitasyātmajau ramaṇaka-dhātaki-nāmānau varṣa-patī niyujya sa svayaṁ pūrvajavad-bhagavat-karma-śīla evāste.

The ruler of that island too was a son of Priyavrata named Vitihotra. Appointing his two sons, named Ramanaka and Dhataki, as rulers of its two lands, he himself, like his elder brother, remained devoted to activities performed for Bhagavan.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.5.20.32)

तद्वर्षपुरुषा भगवन्तं ब्रह्मरूपिणं सकर्मकेण कर्मणाऽऽराधयन्तीदं चोदाहरन्ति ॥ ३२ ॥

tad-varṣa-puruṣā bhagavantaṁ brahma-rūpiṇaṁ sakarmakeṇa karmaṇārādhayantīdaṁ codāharanti.

The people of that land worship Bhagavan in His form as Brahma, through the performance of ritual action, and they recite this hymn.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.5.20.33)

यत्तत्कर्ममयं लिङ्गं ब्रह्मलिङ्गं जनोऽर्चयेत् । एकान्तमद्वयं शान्तं तस्मै भगवते नम इति ॥ ३३ ॥

yat tat karmamayaṁ liṅgaṁ brahma-liṅgaṁ jano ’rcayet ekāntam advayaṁ śāntaṁ tasmai bhagavate nama iti

That form composed of ritual action, the very sign of Brahman, which people worship, solitary, non-dual, at peace, obeisance to that Bhagavan.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.5.20.34)

ऋषिरुवाच ततः परस्ताल्लोकालोकनामाचलो लोकालोकयोरन्तराले परित उपक्षिप्तः ॥ ३४ ॥

tataḥ parastāl lokāloka-nāmācalo lokālokayor antarāle parita upakṣiptaḥ.

The sage said: Beyond that lies a mountain named Lokaloka, set all around in the space between the inhabited world and the uninhabited beyond.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.5.20.35)

यावन्मानसोत्तरमेर्वोरन्तरं तावती भूमिः काञ्चन्यन्याऽऽदर्शतलोपमा यस्यां प्रहितः पदार्थो न कथञ्चित्पुनः प्रत्युपलभ्यते तस्मात्सर्वसत्त्वपरिहृतासीत् ॥ ३५ ॥

yāvan mānasottara-mervor antaraṁ tāvatī bhūmiḥ kāñcany anyādarśa-talopamā yasyāṁ prahitaḥ padārtho na kathañcit punaḥ pratyupalabhyate tasmāt sarva-sattva-parihṛtāsīt.

As great as the distance between Mount Meru and Manasottara, so great is that land beyond, golden and like the surface of a mirror, in which whatever object is cast is never again perceived. For this reason it has been abandoned by every living being.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.5.20.36)

लोकालोक इति समाख्या यदनेनाचलेन लोकालोकस्यान्तर्वर्तिनावस्थाप्यते ॥ ३६ ॥

lokāloka iti samākhyā yad anenācalena lokālokasyāntarvar-tināvasthāpyate.

'Lokaloka' is the name by which this mountain is known, since it stands between the inhabited world and the uninhabited beyond, fixing the boundary of both.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.5.20.37)

स लोकत्रयान्ते परित ईश्वरेण विहितो यस्मात्सूर्यादीनां ध्रुवापवर्गाणां ज्योतिर्गणानां गभस्तयोऽर्वाचीनांस्त्रींल्लोकानावितन्वाना न कदाचित्पराचीना भवितुमुत्सहन्ते तावदुन्नहनायामः ॥ ३७ ॥

sa loka-trayānte parita īśvareṇa vihito yasmāt sūryādīnāṁ dhruvāpavargāṇāṁ jyotir-gaṇānāṁ gabhastayo ’rvācīnāṁs trīḻ lokān āvitanvānā na kadācit parācīnā bhavitum utsahante tāvad unnahanāyāmaḥ.

That mountain has been set by the Lord all around, at the very edge of the three worlds, so that the rays of the luminaries, from the sun up to Dhruva, spreading light through the three worlds within, can never extend beyond it, so vast is its height.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.5.20.38)

एतावाँल्लोकविन्यासो मानलक्षणसंस्थाभिर्विचिन्तितः कविभिः स तु पञ्चाशत्कोटिगणितस्य भूगोलस्य तुरीयभागोऽयं लोकालोकाचलः ॥ ३८ ॥

etāvāḻ loka-vinyāso māna-lakṣaṇa-saṁsthābhir vicintitaḥ kavibhiḥ sa tu pañcāśat-koṭi-gaṇitasya bhū-golasya turīya-bhāgo ’yaṁ lokālokācalaḥ.

Thus have the learned, free from error, worked out and described the arrangement of the worlds through their measurement, characteristics and position: this mountain, Lokaloka, marks a fourth part of the earth-sphere, which is reckoned at five hundred million yojanas.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.5.20.39)

तदुपरिष्टाच्चतसृष्वाशास्वात्मयोनिनाखिलजगद्गुरुणाधिनिवेशिता ये द्विरदपतय ऋषभः पुष्करचूडो वामनोऽपराजित इति सकललोकस्थितिहेतवः ॥ ३९ ॥

tad-upariṣṭāc catasṛṣv āśāsvātma-yoninākhila-jagad-guruṇādhiniveśitā ye dvirada-pataya ṛṣabhaḥ puṣkaracūḍo vāmano ’parājita iti sakala-loka-sthiti-hetavaḥ.

Above that mountain, in the four directions, stand the lords among elephants, Rishabha, Pushkarachuda, Vamana and Aparajita, set there by the self-born Brahma, guru of the whole universe, and it is they who sustain the entire creation.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.5.20.40)

तेषां स्वविभूतीनां लोकपालानां च विविधवीर्योपबृंहणाय भगवान् परममहापुरुषो महाविभूतिपतिरन्तर्याम्यात्मनो विशुद्धसत्त्वं धर्मज्ञानवैराग्यैश्वर्याद्यष्टमहासिद्ध्युपलक्षणं विष्वक्सेनादिभिः स्वपार्षदप्रवरैः परिवारितो निजवरायुधोपशोभितैर्निजभुजदण्डैः सन्धारय-माणस्तस्मिन् गिरिवरे समन्तात्सकललोकस्वस्तय आस्ते ॥ ४० ॥

teṣāṁ sva-vibhūtīnāṁ loka-pālānāṁ ca vividha-vīryopabṛṁhaṇāya bhagavān parama-mahā-puruṣo mahā-vibhūti-patir antaryāmy ātmano viśuddha-sattvaṁ dharma-jñāna-vairāgyaiśvaryādy-aṣṭa-mahā-siddhy-upalakṣaṇaṁ viṣvaksenādibhiḥ sva-pārṣada-pravaraiḥ parivārito nija-varāyudhopaśobhitair nija-bhuja-daṇḍaiḥ sandhārayamāṇas tasmin giri-vare samantāt sakala-loka-svastaya āste.

For the increase of the manifold power of those elephants, His own manifestations, and of the world-guardians, Bhagavan, the Supreme Great Person, master of infinite opulence, the indweller within all, manifests His own pure, unalloyed state of being, marked by the eight great perfections beginning with dharma, knowledge, renunciation and mastery. Surrounded by His foremost personal associates headed by Vishvaksena, sustaining all with His own arms adorned with His excellent weapons, He remains upon that finest of mountains, on every side, for the well-being of all the worlds.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.5.20.41)

आकल्पमेवं वेषं गत एष भगवानात्मयोगमायया विरचितविविधलोकयात्रागोपीयायेत्यर्थः ॥ ४१ ॥

ākalpam evaṁ veṣaṁ gata eṣa bhagavān ātma-yogamāyayā viracita-vividha-loka-yātrā-gopīyāyety arthaḥ.

Having assumed this eternal form in this way, Bhagavan, through His own yoga-maya, sustains the varied courses of the worlds He has fashioned. Such, O King, is the meaning of this description.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.5.20.42)

योऽन्तर्विस्तार एतेन ह्यलोकपरिमाणं च व्याख्यातं यद्बहिर्लोकालोकाचलात् । ततः परस्ताद्योगेश्वरगतिं विशुद्धामुदाहरन्ति ॥ ४२ ॥

yo ’ntar-vistāra etena hy aloka-parimāṇaṁ ca vyākhyātaṁ yad bahir lokālokācalāt; tataḥ parastād yogeśvara-gatiṁ viśuddhām udāharanti.

This much, then, is the inner extent of the universe; and by this the measure of the region beyond, called Aloka, which lies outside Mount Lokaloka, has also been explained. Beyond that, they say, lies the utterly pure path attained by the masters of yoga.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.5.20.43)

अण्डमध्यगतः सूर्यो द्यावाभूम्योर्यदन्तरम् । सूर्याण्डगोलयोर्मध्ये कोट्यः स्युः पञ्चविंशतिः ॥ ४३ ॥

aṇḍa-madhya-gataḥ sūryo dyāv-ābhūmyor yad antaram sūryāṇḍa-golayor madhye koṭyaḥ syuḥ pañca-viṁśatiḥ

The sun, positioned in the middle of the cosmic egg, marks the interval between heaven and earth. Between the sun and the outer shell of the universal egg, there are said to be twenty-five crore yojanas.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.5.20.44)

मृतेऽण्ड एष एतस्मिन् यदभूत्ततो मार्तण्ड इति व्यपदेशः । हिरण्यगर्भ इति यद्धिरण्याण्डसमुद्भवः ॥ ४४ ॥

mṛte ’ṇḍa eṣa etasmin yad abhūt tato mārtaṇḍa iti vyapadeśaḥ; hiraṇyagarbha iti yad dhiraṇyāṇḍa-samudbhavaḥ.

Since, at the time of the egg's dissolution, this sun-god came into being, he is designated Martanda; and since he was born from the golden cosmic egg, he is also called Hiranyagarbha.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.5.20.45)

सूर्येण हि विभज्यन्ते दिशः खं द्यौर्मही भिदा । स्वर्गापवर्गौ नरका रसौकांसि च सर्वशः ॥ ४५ ॥

sūryeṇa hi vibhajyante diśaḥ khaṁ dyaur mahī bhidā svargāpavargau narakā rasaukāṁsi ca sarvaśaḥ

By the sun, indeed, the directions, the sky, heaven and earth are marked out; and in every respect, it is by the sun that heaven, liberation, the hells and the subterranean abodes are distinguished from one another.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.5.20.46)

देवतिर्यङ्मनुष्याणां सरीसृपसवीरुधाम् । सर्वजीवनिकायानां सूर्य आत्मा दृगीश्वरः ॥ ४६ ॥

deva-tiryaṅ-manuṣyāṇāṁ sarīsṛpa-savīrudhām sarva-jīva-nikāyānāṁ sūrya ātmā dṛg-īśvaraḥ

The sun is the very self, and the lord presiding over sight, for the gods, animals, human beings, reptiles and plants, for the whole assemblage of living beings.