The Divisions of the Continents and Lands

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.5.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । देवर्षे शृणु विस्तारं द्वीपवर्षविभेदतः । भूमण्डलस्य सर्वस्य यथा देवप्रकल्पितम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | devarṣe śṛṇu vistāraṁ dvīpavarṣavibhedataḥ | bhūmaṇḍalasya sarvasya yathā devaprakalpitam

Shri Narayana said: O divine sage, hear the full extent, according to the division into continents and regions, of this entire terrestrial disc, as fashioned by the gods.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.5.2)

समासात्सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि नालं विस्तरतः क्वचित् । जम्बुद्वीपः प्रथमतः प्रमाणे लक्षयोजनः

samāsātsampravakṣyāmi nālaṁ vistarataḥ kvacit | jambudvīpaḥ prathamataḥ pramāṇe lakṣayojanaḥ

I shall tell it in brief, nowhere at length; Jambudvipa, the first, is a hundred thousand yojanas in measure.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.5.3)

विशालो वर्तुलाकारो यथाब्जस्य च कर्णिका । नव वर्षाणि यस्मिंश्च नवसाहस्रयोजनैः

viśālo vartulākāro yathābjasya ca karṇikā | nava varṣāṇi yasmiṁśca navasāhasrayojanaiḥ

Vast, round in shape like the pericarp of a lotus, in which there are nine regions, each of nine thousand yojanas —

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.5.4)

आयामैः परिसङ्ख्यानि गिरिभिः परितः श्रितैः । अष्टाभिर्दीर्घरूपैश्च सुविभक्तानि सर्वतः

āyāmaiḥ parisaṅkhyāni giribhiḥ paritaḥ śritaiḥ | aṣṭābhirdīrgharūpaiśca suvibhaktāni sarvataḥ

in length, reckoned by the eight long mountains lying all around, well divided on every side.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.5.5)

धनुर्वत्संस्थिते ज्ञेये द्वे वर्षे दक्षिणोत्तरे । दीर्घाणि तत्र चत्वारि चतुरस्रमिलावृतम्

dhanurvatsaṁsthite jñeye dve varṣe dakṣiṇottare | dīrghāṇi tatra catvāri caturasramilāvṛtam

Two regions, shaped like a bow and a crescent, are to be known — the southern and the northern; there four are long, and Ilavrita is square.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.5.6)

इलावृतं मध्यवर्षं यन्नाभ्यां सुप्रतिष्ठितः । सौवर्णो गिरिराजोऽयं लक्षयोजनमुच्छ्रितः

ilāvṛtaṁ madhyavarṣaṁ yannābhyāṁ supratiṣṭhitaḥ | sauvarṇo girirājo'yaṁ lakṣayojanamucchritaḥ

Ilavrita is the middle region, at whose navel this golden king of mountains, Meru, is well established, rising a hundred thousand yojanas.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.5.7)

कर्णिकारूप एवायं भूगोलकमलस्य च । मूर्ध्नि द्वात्रिंशत्सहस्रयोजनैर्विततस्त्वयम्

karṇikārūpa evāyaṁ bhūgolakamalasya ca | mūrdhni dvātriṁśatsahasrayojanairvitatastvayam

This mountain is in the very form of the pericarp of the lotus that is the terrestrial globe; at its summit it extends thirty-two thousand yojanas across,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.5.8)

मूले षोडशसाहस्रस्तावतान्तर्गतः क्षितौ । इलावृतस्योत्तरतो नीलः श्वेतश्च शृङ्गवान्

mūle ṣoḍaśasāhasrastāvatāntargataḥ kṣitau | ilāvṛtasyottarato nīlaḥ śvetaśca śṛṅgavān

and at its base sixteen thousand — that much lies embedded within the earth. North of Ilavrita are Nila, Shveta, and Shringavat —

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.5.9)

त्रयो वै गिरयः प्रोक्ता मर्यादावधयस्त्रिषु । रम्यकाख्ये तथा वर्षे द्वितीये च हिरण्मये

trayo vai girayaḥ proktā maryādāvadhayastriṣu | ramyakākhye tathā varṣe dvitīye ca hiraṇmaye

these three mountains are declared to form the boundaries of three regions — in the region called Ramyaka, and second, in Hiranmaya,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.5.10)

कुरुवर्षे तृतीये तु मर्यादां व्यञ्जयन्ति ते । प्रागायता उभयतः क्षारोदावधयस्तथा

kuruvarṣe tṛtīye tu maryādāṁ vyañjayanti te | prāgāyatā ubhayataḥ kṣārodāvadhayastathā

and third, in Kuruvarsha, they mark the boundary. Extending eastward, bounded on both sides up to the salt-water ocean.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.5.11)

द्विसहस्रपृथुतरास्तथा एकैकशः क्रमात् । पूर्वात्पूर्वाच्चोत्तरस्यां दशांशादधिकांशतः

dvisahasrapṛthutarāstathā ekaikaśaḥ kramāt | pūrvātpūrvāccottarasyāṁ daśāṁśādadhikāṁśataḥ

They are, in order, each two thousand yojanas wider than the one before, each exceeding the previous by a tenth part as one goes north.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.5.12)

दैर्घ्य एव ह्रसन्तीमे नानानदनदीयुताः । इलावृताद्दक्षिणतो निषधो हेमकूटकः

dairghya eva hrasantīme nānānadanadīyutāḥ | ilāvṛtāddakṣiṇato niṣadho hemakūṭakaḥ

These decrease only in length, and are furnished with many rivers and streams. South of Ilavrita are Nishadha, Hemakuta,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.5.13)

हिमालयश्चेति त्रयः प्राग्विस्तीर्णाः सुशोभनाः । अयुतोत्सेधभाजस्ते योजनैः परिकीर्तिताः

himālayaśceti trayaḥ prāgvistīrṇāḥ suśobhanāḥ | ayutotsedhabhājaste yojanaiḥ parikīrtitāḥ

and Himalaya — these three, extending east to west, most beautiful, are declared to bear a height of ten thousand yojanas each.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.5.14)

हरिवर्षं किम्पुरुषं भारतं च यथातथम् । विभागात्कथयन्त्येते मर्यादागिरयस्त्रयः

harivarṣaṁ kimpuruṣaṁ bhārataṁ ca yathātatham | vibhāgātkathayantyete maryādāgirayastrayaḥ

Harivarsha, Kimpurusha, and Bharata — exactly so, these three boundary mountains mark out these regions by their division.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.5.15)

इलावृतात्पश्चिमतो माल्यवान्नामपर्वतः । पूर्वेण च ततः श्रीमान् गन्धमादनपर्वतः

ilāvṛtātpaścimato mālyavānnāmaparvataḥ | pūrveṇa ca tataḥ śrīmān gandhamādanaparvataḥ

West of Ilavrita is the mountain named Malyavan, and to its east the glorious mountain Gandhamadana.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.5.16)

आनीलनिषधं त्वेतौ चायतौ द्विसहस्रतः । योजनैः पृथुतां यातौ मर्यादाकारकौ गिरी

ānīlaniṣadhaṁ tvetau cāyatau dvisahasrataḥ | yojanaiḥ pṛthutāṁ yātau maryādākārakau girī

These two, stretching from Nila to Nishadha, two thousand yojanas in breadth, are the two boundary-forming mountains,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.5.17)

केतुमालाख्यभद्राश्ववर्षयोः प्रथितौ च तौ । मन्दरश्च तथा मेरुमन्दरश्च सुपार्श्वकः

ketumālākhyabhadrāśvavarṣayoḥ prathitau ca tau | mandaraśca tathā merumandaraśca supārśvakaḥ

celebrated as marking the regions called Ketumala and Bhadrashva; and (at the centre) Mandara, Meru-Mandara, Suparshvaka,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.5.18)

कुमुदश्चेति विख्याता गिरयो मेरुपादकाः । योजनायुतविस्तारोन्नाहा मेरोश्चतुर्दिशम्

kumudaśceti vikhyātā girayo merupādakāḥ | yojanāyutavistāronnāhā meroścaturdiśam

and Kumuda — mountains renowned as standing at the foot of Meru, each ten thousand yojanas in breadth and height, on the four sides of Meru,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.5.19)

अवष्टम्भकरास्ते तु सर्वतोऽभिविराजिताः । एतेषु गिरिषु प्राप्ताः पादपाश्चूतजम्बुनी

avaṣṭambhakarāste tu sarvato'bhivirājitāḥ | eteṣu giriṣu prāptāḥ pādapāścūtajambunī

serving as its buttresses, resplendent on every side. Upon these mountains grow the trees Amra (mango), Jambu,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.5.20)

कदम्बन्यग्रोध इति चत्वारः पर्वताः स्थिताः । केतवो गिरिराजेषु एकादशशतोच्छ्रयाः

kadambanyagrodha iti catvāraḥ parvatāḥ sthitāḥ | ketavo girirājeṣu ekādaśaśatocchrayāḥ

Kadamba, and Nyagrodha — four such mountains stand like banners among the kingly mountains, eleven hundred yojanas in height,

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.5.21)

तावद्विटपविस्ताराः शताख्यपरिणाहिनः । चत्वारश्च ह्रदास्तेषु पयोमध्विक्षुसज्जलाः

tāvadviṭapavistārāḥ śatākhyapariṇāhinaḥ | catvāraśca hradāsteṣu payomadhvikṣusajjalāḥ

of like breadth in their spreading branches, a hundred yojanas in girth. Upon them are four lakes, filled with milk, honey, sugarcane-juice, and pure water —

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.5.22)

यदुपस्पर्शिनो देवा योगैश्वर्याणि विन्दते । देवोद्यानानि चत्वारि भवन्ति ललनासुखाः

yadupasparśino devā yogaiśvaryāṇi vindate | devodyānāni catvāri bhavanti lalanāsukhāḥ

by contact with which the gods obtain the powers of yoga and lordship. There are four divine gardens, delightful with their nymphs —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.5.23)

नन्दनं चैत्ररथकं वैभ्राजं सर्वभद्रकम् । येषु स्थित्वामरगणा ललनायूथसंयुताः

nandanaṁ caitrarathakaṁ vaibhrājaṁ sarvabhadrakam | yeṣu sthitvāmaragaṇā lalanāyūthasaṁyutāḥ

Nandana, Chaitraratha, Vaibhrajaka, and Sarvabhadraka — in which the hosts of immortals, together with troops of nymphs,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.5.24)

उपदेवगणैर्गीतमहिमानो महाशयाः । विहरन्ति स्वतन्त्रास्ते यथाकामं यथासुखम्

upadevagaṇairgītamahimāno mahāśayāḥ | viharanti svatantrāste yathākāmaṁ yathāsukham

their greatness sung by the hosts of demigods, magnanimous, sport freely and independently, according to their desire and their pleasure.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.5.25)

मन्दरोत्सङ्गसंस्थस्य देवचूतस्य मस्तकात् । एकादशशतोच्छ्रायात्फलान्यमृतभाञ्जि च

mandarotsaṅgasaṁsthasya devacūtasya mastakāt | ekādaśaśatocchrāyātphalānyamṛtabhāñji ca

From the summit of the Devachuta tree, standing on the slope of Mandara, eleven hundred yojanas in height, fall fruits laden with nectar,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.5.26)

गिरिकूटप्रमाणानि सुस्वादूनि मृदूनि च । तेषां विशीर्यमाणानां फलानां सुरसेन च

girikūṭapramāṇāni susvādūni mṛdūni ca | teṣāṁ viśīryamāṇānāṁ phalānāṁ surasena ca

of the size of mountain-peaks, exceedingly sweet and soft — and from those fruits, as they fall and dissolve, from their essence,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.5.27)

अरुणोदसवर्णेन अरुणोदा प्रवर्तते । नदी रम्यजला देवदैत्यराजप्रपूजिता

aruṇodasavarṇena aruṇodā pravartate | nadī ramyajalā devadaityarājaprapūjitā

the river Arunoda flows forth, of the very colour of that essence — a river of lovely waters, honoured by the kings of gods and demons,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.5.28)

अरुणाख्या महाराज वर्तते पापहारिणी । पूजयन्ति च तां देवीं सर्वकामफलप्रदाम्

aruṇākhyā mahārāja vartate pāpahāriṇī | pūjayanti ca tāṁ devīṁ sarvakāmaphalapradām

called Aruna, O great king, a remover of sin; and they worship that goddess, giver of the fruit of every desire,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.5.29)

नानोपहारबलिभिः कल्मषघ्न्यभयप्रदाम् । तस्याः कृपावलोकेन क्षेमारोग्यं व्रजन्ति ते

nānopahārabalibhiḥ kalmaṣaghnyabhayapradām | tasyāḥ kṛpāvalokena kṣemārogyaṁ vrajanti te

with manifold offerings and oblations — she who destroys impurity and grants freedom from fear; by her gracious glance they attain well-being and health.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.5.30)

आद्या मायातुलानन्ता पुष्टिरीश्वरमालिनी । दुष्टनाशकरी कान्तिदायिनीति स्मृता भुवि

ādyā māyātulānantā puṣṭirīśvaramālinī | duṣṭanāśakarī kāntidāyinīti smṛtā bhuvi

The Primal One, Maya beyond compare, Ananta, Pushti, garlanded with lordship, destroyer of the wicked, giver of radiance — thus is she remembered on this earth.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.5.31)

अस्याः पूजाप्रभावेण जाम्बूनदमुदावहत्

asyāḥ pūjāprabhāveṇa jāmbūnadamudāvahat

By the power of her worship, that river carries down particles of gold, the celebrated jambunada.