Plaksha-dvipa and Kusha-dvipa

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.12.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । जम्बुद्वीपो यथा चायं यत्प्रमाणेन कीर्तितः । तावता सर्वतः क्षारोदधिना परिवेष्टितः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | jambudvīpo yathā cāyaṁ yatpramāṇena kīrtitaḥ | tāvatā sarvataḥ kṣārodadhinā pariveṣṭitaḥ

Shri Narayana said: This Jambudvipa, exactly as declared in its measure, is entirely surrounded, to that same measure, by the ocean of salt water.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.12.2)

जम्ब्वाख्येन यथा मेरुस्तथा क्षारोदकेन च । क्षारोदधिस्तु द्विगुणः प्लक्षाख्येनोपवेष्टितः

jambvākhyena yathā merustathā kṣārodakena ca | kṣārodadhistu dviguṇaḥ plakṣākhyenopaveṣṭitaḥ

As Meru is encircled by the continent named Jambu, so too by the salt water; but the salt-water ocean, of twice that extent, is itself encircled by the continent named Plaksha.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.12.3)

यथैव परिखा बाह्योपवनेन हि वेष्ट्यते । प्लक्षाख्यश्च स्वयं जम्बुप्रमाणो द्वीपरूपधृक्

yathaiva parikhā bāhyopavanena hi veṣṭyate | plakṣākhyaśca svayaṁ jambupramāṇo dvīparūpadhṛk

Just as a moat is ringed by an outer garden-grove, so the continent named Plaksha, itself of the same measure as Jambu, bears the form of a continent.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.12.4)

हिरण्मयोऽग्निस्तत्रैव तिष्ठतीति विनिश्चयः । प्रियव्रतात्मजस्तत्र सप्तजिह्व इति स्मृतः

hiraṇmayo'gnistatraiva tiṣṭhatīti viniścayaḥ | priyavratātmajastatra saptajihva iti smṛtaḥ

There dwells a fire of golden form — this is settled truth; there rules the son of Priyavrata, remembered by the name Saptajihva.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.12.5)

अग्निस्तदधिपस्त्विध्मजिह्वः स्वं द्वीपमेव च । विभज्य सप्तवर्षाणि स्वपुत्रेभ्यो ददौ विभुः

agnistadadhipastvidhmajihvaḥ svaṁ dvīpameva ca | vibhajya saptavarṣāṇi svaputrebhyo dadau vibhuḥ

Agni, its lord, having divided his own continent, gave its seven regions to his seven sons.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.12.6)

स्वयमात्मविदां मान्यां योगचर्यां समाश्रितः । तेनैव चात्मयोगेन भगवन्तमुपागतः

svayamātmavidāṁ mānyāṁ yogacaryāṁ samāśritaḥ | tenaiva cātmayogena bhagavantamupāgataḥ

He himself, taking refuge in the discipline of yoga honoured by knowers of the Self, attained the Blessed Lord by that very self-directed yoga.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.12.7)

शिवं च यवसं भद्रं शान्तं क्षेमामृते तथा । अभयं चेति सप्तैव तद्वर्षाणि सदेक्षताम्

śivaṁ ca yavasaṁ bhadraṁ śāntaṁ kṣemāmṛte tathā | abhayaṁ ceti saptaiva tadvarṣāṇi sadekṣatām

Shiva, Yavasa, Bhadra, Shanta, and likewise Kshema and Amrita, and Abhaya — these are the seven regions there, ever beautiful to behold.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.12.8)

तेषु प्रोक्ता नदीः सप्त गिरयः सप्त चैव हि । अरुणा नृम्णाङ्गिरसी सावित्री सुप्रभातिका

teṣu proktā nadīḥ sapta girayaḥ sapta caiva hi | aruṇā nṛmṇāṅgirasī sāvitrī suprabhātikā

In them are declared seven rivers and seven mountains as well: Aruna, Nrimna, Angirasi, Savitri, Suprabhatika,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.12.9)

ऋतम्भरा सत्यम्भरा इति नद्यः प्रकीर्तिताः । मणिकूटो वज्रकूट इन्द्रसेनस्तथैव च

ṛtambharā satyambharā iti nadyaḥ prakīrtitāḥ | maṇikūṭo vajrakūṭa indrasenastathaiva ca

Ritambhara, and Satyambhara — thus are the rivers named. Manikuta, Vajrakuta, and Indrasena,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.12.10)

ज्योतिष्मान्वै सुपर्णश्च हिरण्यष्ठीव एव च । मेघमाल इति ख्याताः प्लक्षद्वीपस्य पर्वताः

jyotiṣmānvai suparṇaśca hiraṇyaṣṭhīva eva ca | meghamāla iti khyātāḥ plakṣadvīpasya parvatāḥ

Jyotishman, and Suparna, and Hiranyashthiva as well, and the one renowned as Meghamala — these are the mountains of Plaksha-dvipa.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.12.11)

नदीनां जलमात्रेण दर्शनस्पर्शनादिभिः । निर्धूताशेषरजसो निस्तमस्काः प्रजास्तथा

nadīnāṁ jalamātreṇa darśanasparśanādibhiḥ | nirdhūtāśeṣarajaso nistamaskāḥ prajāstathā

By the mere water of these rivers, through sight and touch and the like, the inhabitants become free of every impurity, and free of darkness.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.12.12)

हंसश्चैव पतङ्गश्च ऊर्ध्वायन इतीव च । सत्याङ्गसंज्ञाश्चत्वारो वर्णाः प्लक्षस्य द्वीपके

haṁsaścaiva pataṅgaśca ūrdhvāyana itīva ca | satyāṅgasaṁjñāścatvāro varṇāḥ plakṣasya dvīpake

Hamsa, and Patanga, and Urdhvayana, and Satyanga — these are the four castes named in Plaksha-dvipa.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.12.13)

सहस्रायुप्रमाणाश्च विविधोपमदर्शनाः । स्वर्गद्वारं त्रयीविद्याविधिनार्कं यजन्ति ते

sahasrāyupramāṇāśca vividhopamadarśanāḥ | svargadvāraṁ trayīvidyāvidhinārkaṁ yajanti te

With a lifespan measured in a thousand years, of varied and admirable appearance, they worship the sun, the very gateway to heaven, by the rite of the threefold Vedic knowledge.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.12.14)

प्रत्नस्य विष्णो रूपं च सत्यर्तस्य च ब्रह्मणः । अमृतस्य च मृत्योश्च सूर्यमात्मानमीमहि

pratnasya viṣṇo rūpaṁ ca satyartasya ca brahmaṇaḥ | amṛtasya ca mṛtyośca sūryamātmānamīmahi

"We meditate upon the sun as our own very Self — the ancient form of Vishnu, and of Brahma who is truth and cosmic order, of the immortal, and of death."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.12.15)

प्लक्षादिषु च सर्वेषु पञ्चद्वीपेषु नारद । आयुरिन्द्रियमोजश्च बलं बुद्धिः सहोऽपि च

plakṣādiṣu ca sarveṣu pañcadvīpeṣu nārada | āyurindriyamojaśca balaṁ buddhiḥ saho'pi ca

O Narada, in all these five continents beginning with Plaksha, lifespan, the senses, vigour, strength, intelligence, and fortitude too,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.12.16)

विक्रमः सर्वलोकानां सिद्धिरौत्पत्तिकी सदा । प्लक्षद्वीपात्परं चेक्षुरसोदः सरिताम्पतिः

vikramaḥ sarvalokānāṁ siddhirautpattikī sadā | plakṣadvīpātparaṁ cekṣurasodaḥ saritāmpatiḥ

the prowess of all the worlds, and accomplishment innate from birth, are ever present in abundance. Beyond Plaksha-dvipa is the lord of rivers, the ocean of sugarcane-juice,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.12.17)

प्लक्षद्वीपं समग्रं च परिवार्यावतिष्ठते । शाल्मलाख्यस्ततो द्वीपश्चास्माद् द्विगुणविस्तरः

plakṣadvīpaṁ samagraṁ ca parivāryāvatiṣṭhate | śālmalākhyastato dvīpaścāsmād dviguṇavistaraḥ

which stands encircling Plaksha-dvipa in its entirety. Beyond that is the continent named Shalmala, of twice its extent,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.12.18)

समानेन सुरोदेन सिन्धुना परिवेष्टितः । यत्र वै शाल्मलीवृक्षः प्लक्षायामः प्रकीर्तितः

samānena surodena sindhunā pariveṣṭitaḥ | yatra vai śālmalīvṛkṣaḥ plakṣāyāmaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

encircled by an ocean of the sea of wine, of equal measure, where indeed stands the Shalmali tree, said to be of the same height as the Plaksha tree.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.12.19)

स्थानं तत्पक्षिराजस्य गरुडस्य महात्मनः । तस्य द्वीपस्य नाथो हि यज्ञबाहुः प्रियव्रतात्

sthānaṁ tatpakṣirājasya garuḍasya mahātmanaḥ | tasya dvīpasya nātho hi yajñabāhuḥ priyavratāt

That is the abode of the great-souled Garuda, king of birds. The lord of that continent is Yajnabahu,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.12.20)

जातः स एव सप्तभ्यः स्वपुत्रेभ्यो ददौ धराम् । तद्वर्षाणां च नामानि कथितानि निबोधत

jātaḥ sa eva saptabhyaḥ svaputrebhyo dadau dharām | tadvarṣāṇāṁ ca nāmāni kathitāni nibodhata

born of Priyavrata; he it was who gave this land to his seven sons. The names of those regions are now declared — listen.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.12.21)

सुरोचनं सौमनस्यं रमणं देववर्षकम् । पारिभद्रं तथा चाप्यायनं विज्ञातनामकम्

surocanaṁ saumanasyaṁ ramaṇaṁ devavarṣakam | pāribhadraṁ tathā cāpyāyanaṁ vijñātanāmakam

Surochana, Saumanasya, Ramana, Devavarshaka, Paribhadra, and Apyayana, of well-known name.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.12.22)

तेषु वर्षाद्रयः सप्त सप्तैव सरितः स्मृताः । सरसः शतशृङ्गश्च वामदेवश्च कन्दकः

teṣu varṣādrayaḥ sapta saptaiva saritaḥ smṛtāḥ | sarasaḥ śataśṛṅgaśca vāmadevaśca kandakaḥ

In them are remembered seven boundary-mountains, and seven rivers as well: Saras, and Shatashringa, and Vamadeva, and Kandaka,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.12.23)

कुमुदः पुष्पवर्षश्च सहस्रश्रुतिरेव च । एते च पर्वताः सप्त नदीनामानि चोच्यते

kumudaḥ puṣpavarṣaśca sahasraśrutireva ca | ete ca parvatāḥ sapta nadīnāmāni cocyate

Kumuda, and Pushpavarsha, and Sahasrashruti as well — these are the seven mountains, and now the names of the rivers are told —

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.12.24)

अनुमतिः सिनीवाली सरस्वती कुहूस्तथा । रजनी चैव नन्दा च राकेति परिकीर्तिताः

anumatiḥ sinīvālī sarasvatī kuhūstathā | rajanī caiva nandā ca rāketi parikīrtitāḥ

Anumati, Sinivali, Sarasvati, and Kuhu as well, and Rajani, and Nanda, and the one renowned by the name Raka.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.12.25)

तद्वर्षपुरुषाः सर्वे चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाह्वयाः । श्रुतधरो वीर्यधरो वसुन्धर इषुन्धरः

tadvarṣapuruṣāḥ sarve cāturvarṇyasamāhvayāḥ | śrutadharo vīryadharo vasundhara iṣundharaḥ

The people of that region are all called by the names of the four castes: Shrutadhara, Viryadhara, Vasundhara, and Ishundhara.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.12.26)

भगवन्तं वेदमयं यजन्ते सोममीश्वरम् । स्वगोभिः पितृदेवेभ्यो विभजन्कृष्णशुक्लयोः

bhagavantaṁ vedamayaṁ yajante somamīśvaram | svagobhiḥ pitṛdevebhyo vibhajankṛṣṇaśuklayoḥ

They worship the Blessed Lord Soma, made of the Vedas, the ruler, apportioning offerings to the ancestors and the gods through their own dark and bright fortnights.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.12.27)

सर्वासां च प्रजानां च राजा सोमः प्रसीदतु । एवं सुरोदाद् द्विगुणः स्वमानेन प्रकीर्तितः

sarvāsāṁ ca prajānāṁ ca rājā somaḥ prasīdatu | evaṁ surodād dviguṇaḥ svamānena prakīrtitaḥ

"May King Soma be gracious to all creatures." Thus, celebrated as twice the ocean of wine in its own measure,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.12.28)

घृतोदेनावृतः सोऽयं कुशद्वीपः प्रकाशते । यस्मिन्नास्ते कुशस्तम्बो द्वीपाख्याकारणो ज्वलन्

ghṛtodenāvṛtaḥ so'yaṁ kuśadvīpaḥ prakāśate | yasminnāste kuśastambo dvīpākhyākāraṇo jvalan

encircled by the ocean of ghee, this Kusha-dvipa shines forth, in which stands a blazing tuft of Kusha grass, the very cause of the continent's name,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.12.29)

स्वशष्परोचिषा काष्ठा भासयन्परितिष्ठते । हिरण्यरेतास्तद्द्वीपपतिः प्रैयव्रत स्वराट्

svaśaṣparociṣā kāṣṭhā bhāsayanparitiṣṭhate | hiraṇyaretāstaddvīpapatiḥ praiyavrata svarāṭ

which stands illuminating the quarters with the rays of its own flame. The self-ruling lord of that continent, Hiranyaretas, son of Priyavrata,

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.12.30)

स्वपुत्रेभ्यश्च सप्तभ्यस्तद्द्वीपं सप्तधाभजत् । वसुश्च वसुदानश्च तथा दृढरुचिः परः

svaputrebhyaśca saptabhyastaddvīpaṁ saptadhābhajat | vasuśca vasudānaśca tathā dṛḍharuciḥ paraḥ

divided that continent into seven parts among his seven sons: Vasu, and Vasudana, and the excellent Dridharuchi,

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.12.31)

नाभिगुप्तस्तुत्यव्रतौ विविक्तनामदेवकौ । तेषां वर्षेषु सप्तैव सीमागिरिवराः स्मृताः

nābhiguptastutyavratau viviktanāmadevakau | teṣāṁ varṣeṣu saptaiva sīmāgirivarāḥ smṛtāḥ

Nabhigupta, Stutavrata, and the ones named Vivikta and Deva. In their regions, seven excellent boundary-mountains are remembered,

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.8.12.32)

नद्यः सप्तैव सन्तीह तन्नामानि निबोधत । चक्रस्तथा चतुःशृङ्गः कपिलश्चित्रकूटकः

nadyaḥ saptaiva santīha tannāmāni nibodhata | cakrastathā catuḥśṛṅgaḥ kapilaścitrakūṭakaḥ

and there are seven rivers here as well; hear their names — Chakra, and Chatushringa, Kapila, Chitrakutaka,

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.8.12.33)

देवानीकश्चोर्ध्वरोमा द्रविणः सप्त पर्वताः । रसकुल्या मधुकुल्या मित्रविन्दा तथैव च

devānīkaścordhvaromā draviṇaḥ sapta parvatāḥ | rasakulyā madhukulyā mitravindā tathaiva ca

Devanika, and Urdhvaroma, and Dravina — these are the seven mountains. Rasakulya, Madhukulya, and Mitravinda as well,

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.8.12.34)

श्रुतविन्दा देवगर्भा घृतच्युन्मन्दमालिके । यत्पयोभिः कुशद्वीपवासिनः सर्व एव ते

śrutavindā devagarbhā ghṛtacyunmandamālike | yatpayobhiḥ kuśadvīpavāsinaḥ sarva eva te

Shrutavinda, Devagarbha, Ghritachyut, and Mandamalika — by whose waters all the inhabitants of Kusha-dvipa,

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.8.12.35)

कुशलः कोविदश्चैवाप्यभियुक्तस्तथैव च । कुलकश्चेति संज्ञाभिश्चतुर्वर्णाः प्रकीर्तिताः

kuśalaḥ kovidaścaivāpyabhiyuktastathaiva ca | kulakaśceti saṁjñābhiścaturvarṇāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

named Kushala, and Kovida as well, and Abhiyukta, and Kulaka, are celebrated as the four castes.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.8.12.36)

जातवेदसरूपं तं देवं कर्मजकौशलैः । यजन्ते देववर्याभाः सर्वे सर्वविदो जनाः

jātavedasarūpaṁ taṁ devaṁ karmajakauśalaiḥ | yajante devavaryābhāḥ sarve sarvavido janāḥ

That god in the form of Jatavedas, all of them, resplendent as the finest of the gods, all-knowing, worship through the skills born of ritual action.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.8.12.37)

परस्यब्रह्मणः साक्षाज्जातवेदोऽसि हव्यवाट् । देवानां पुरुषाङ्गानां यज्ञेन पुरुषं यज । एवं यजन्ते ज्वलनं सर्वे द्वीपाधिवासिनः

parasyabrahmaṇaḥ sākṣājjātavedo'si havyavāṭ | devānāṁ puruṣāṅgānāṁ yajñena puruṣaṁ yaja | evaṁ yajante jvalanaṁ sarve dvīpādhivāsinaḥ

"O Jatavedas, you are directly the carrier of oblations of the Supreme Brahman; through sacrifice, worship the Person whose limbs are the gods and embodied beings." Thus do all the dwellers of that continent worship the flame.