The Regions of Bhadrashva, Ketumala and Uttarakuru

Verse 1 (markandeya.59.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवन्तु भारतं वर्षं यथावत् कथितं मुने । कृतं त्रेता द्वापरञ्च तथाथिष्यं चतुष्टयम् ॥ 59.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evantu bhārataṁ varṣaṁ yathāvat kathitaṁ mune kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparañca tathāthiṣyaṁ catuṣṭayam

Markandeya said: Thus, O sage, has Bharata been fully described to you as it truly is. Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and likewise the fourth age —

Verse 2 (markandeya.59.2)

अत्रैवैतद्युगानान्तु चातुर्वर्ण्योऽत्र वै द्विज । चत्वारि त्रीणि द्वे चैव तथैकञ्च शरच्छतम् ॥ 59.2 ॥

atraivaitadyugānāntu cāturvarṇyo'tra vai dvija catvāri trīṇi dve caiva tathaikañca śaracchatam

here alone do these four ages hold sway, and here, O brahmana, are the four varnas. In them the span of human life is, in order, four hundred, three hundred, two hundred, and one hundred years.

Verse 3 (markandeya.59.3)

जीवन्त्यत्र नरा ब्रह्मन् ! कृतत्रेतादिके क्रमात् । देवकूटस्य पूर्वस्य शैलेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः ॥ 59.3 ॥

jīvantyatra narā brahman ! kṛtatretādike kramāt devakūṭasya pūrvasya śailendrasya mahātmanaḥ

Here, O brahman, men live out their lives in due order through Krita, Treta, and the ages that follow. Now, to the east of the great mountain Devakuta —

Verse 4 (markandeya.59.4)

पूर्वेण यत् स्थितं वर्षं भद्राश्वं तन्निबोध मे । श्वेतपर्णश्च नीलश्च शैवालश्चाचलोत्तमः ॥ 59.4 ॥

pūrveṇa yat sthitaṁ varṣaṁ bhadrāśvaṁ tannibodha me śvetaparṇaśca nīlaśca śaivālaścācalottamaḥ

learn from me of the region lying to its east, called Bhadrashva. Shvetaparna, and Nila, and Shaivala — the best of mountains,

Verse 5 (markandeya.59.5)

कौरञ्जः पर्णशालाग्रः पञ्चैते तु कुलाचलाः । तेषां प्रसूतिरन्ये ये बहवः क्षुद्रपर्वताः ॥ 59.5 ॥

kaurañjaḥ parṇaśālāgraḥ pañcaite tu kulācalāḥ teṣāṁ prasūtiranye ye bahavaḥ kṣudraparvatāḥ

Kauranja, and Parnashalagra — these are the five principal mountains; from them arise many other, lesser hills besides.

Verse 6 (markandeya.59.6)

तैर्विशिष्टा जनपदा नानारूपाः सहस्रशः । ततः कुमुदसंकाशाः शुद्धसानुसुमङ्गलाः ॥ 59.6 ॥

tairviśiṣṭā janapadā nānārūpāḥ sahasraśaḥ tataḥ kumudasaṁkāśāḥ śuddhasānusumaṅgalāḥ

By them are set apart thousands of countries of varied kind — bright as the kumuda lotus, with ridges pure and altogether auspicious.

Verse 7 (markandeya.59.7)

इत्येवमादयोऽन्येऽपि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । सीता शङ्खावती भद्रा चक्रावर्तादिकास्तथा ॥ 59.7 ॥

ityevamādayo'nye'pi śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ sītā śaṅkhāvatī bhadrā cakrāvartādikāstathā

Thus these and hundreds and thousands of others besides. Sita, Shankhavati, Bhadra, and likewise Chakravarta and the rest —

Verse 8 (markandeya.59.8)

नद्योऽथ बह्व्यो विस्तीर्णाः शीततोयौघवाहिकाः । अत्र वर्षे नराः शङ्खशुद्धहेमसमप्रभाः ॥ 59.8 ॥

nadyo'tha bahvyo vistīrṇāḥ śītatoyaughavāhikāḥ atra varṣe narāḥ śaṅkhaśuddhahemasamaprabhāḥ

these many broad rivers flow, carrying streams of cool water. In this region, men are radiant as the conch-shell or as pure gold,

Verse 9 (markandeya.59.9)

दिव्यसङ्गमिनः पुण्या दशवर्षशतायुषः । मन्दोत्तमौ न तेषु स्तः सर्वे ते समदर्शनाः ॥ 59.9 ॥

divyasaṅgaminaḥ puṇyā daśavarṣaśatāyuṣaḥ mandottamau na teṣu staḥ sarve te samadarśanāḥ

endowed with a divine radiance, virtuous, and possessed of a thousand years of life; among them there is neither the lowest nor the highest — all of them are alike in appearance.

Verse 10 (markandeya.59.10)

तितिक्षादिभिरष्टाभैः प्रकृत्या ते गुणैर्युताः । तत्राप्यश्वशिरा देवश्चतुर्बाहुर्जनार्दनः ॥ 59.10 ॥

titikṣādibhiraṣṭābhaiḥ prakṛtyā te guṇairyutāḥ tatrāpyaśvaśirā devaścaturbāhurjanārdanaḥ

By nature they are endowed with eight qualities beginning with forbearance. There too the Lord Janardana, with the head of a horse and four arms, is present.

Verse 11 (markandeya.59.11)

शिरोहृदयोमेढ्राङ्घ्रिहस्तैश्चाक्षित्रयान्वितः । तस्याप्यथैवं विषया विज्ञेया जगतः प्रभोः ॥ 59.11 ॥

śirohṛdayomeḍhrāṅghrihastaiścākṣitrayānvitaḥ tasyāpyathaivaṁ viṣayā vijñeyā jagataḥ prabhoḥ

He is possessed of head, heart, generative organ, feet, and hands, and is endowed with three eyes. The regions belonging to him, that Lord of the universe, should likewise be understood in this same way.

Verse 12 (markandeya.59.12)

केतुमालमतो वर्षं निबोध मम पश्चिमम् । विशालः कम्बलः कृष्णो जयन्तो हरिपर्वतः ॥ 59.12 ॥

ketumālamato varṣaṁ nibodha mama paścimam viśālaḥ kambalaḥ kṛṣṇo jayanto hariparvataḥ

Now learn from me of the region Ketumala, lying to the west. Vishala, Kambala, Krishna, Jayanta, and the Hari mountain —

Verse 13 (markandeya.59.13)

विशोको वर्धमानश्च सप्तैते कुलपर्वताः । अन्ये सहस्रशः शैला येषु लोकगणः स्थितः ॥ 59.13 ॥

viśoko vardhamānaśca saptaite kulaparvatāḥ anye sahasraśaḥ śailā yeṣu lokagaṇaḥ sthitaḥ

Vishoka, and Vardhamana — these seven are the principal mountains; besides these there are thousands of other hills upon which the people dwell.

Verse 14 (markandeya.59.14)

मौलयस्ते महाकायाः शाकपोतकम्भकाः । अङ्गुलप्रमुखाश्चापि वसन्ति शतशो जनाः ॥ 59.14 ॥

maulayaste mahākāyāḥ śākapotakambhakāḥ aṅgulapramukhāścāpi vasanti śataśo janāḥ

Those root-dwellers are of vast stature — the Shakapotas, Kambhakas, and likewise the Angulapramukhas — hundreds of such peoples dwell there.

Verse 15 (markandeya.59.15)

ये पिबन्ति महानद्यो वङ्क्षुं श्यामां सकम्बलाम् । अमोघां कामिनीं श्यामां तथैवान्याः सहस्रशः ॥ 59.15 ॥

ye pibanti mahānadyo vaṅkṣuṁ śyāmāṁ sakambalām amoghāṁ kāminīṁ śyāmāṁ tathaivānyāḥ sahasraśaḥ

They drink from the great rivers Vankshu, Shyama together with Kambala, Amogha, Kamini, Shyama, and likewise thousands of others.

Verse 16 (markandeya.59.16)

अत्राप्यायुः समं पूर्वैरत्रापि भगवान् हरिः । वराहरूपी पादास्यहृत्पृष्ठपार्श्वतस्तथा ॥ 59.16 ॥

atrāpyāyuḥ samaṁ pūrvairatrāpi bhagavān hariḥ varāharūpī pādāsyahṛtpṛṣṭhapārśvatastathā

Here too the span of life is the same as before; here too the Lord Hari is present in the form of the boar, together with his feet, mouth, heart, back, and sides.

Verse 17 (markandeya.59.17)

त्रिनक्षत्रयुते देशे नक्षत्राणि शुभानि च । इत्येतत् केतुमालन्ते कथितं मुनिसत्तम ॥ 59.17 ॥

trinakṣatrayute deśe nakṣatrāṇi śubhāni ca ityetat ketumālante kathitaṁ munisattama

Each region is joined with three nakshatras, and those nakshatras are auspicious. Thus, O best of sages, this land Ketumala has been described to you.

Verse 18 (markandeya.59.18)

अतः परं कुरून् वक्ष्ये निबोधेह ममोत्तरान् । तत्र वृक्षा मधुफला नित्यपुष्पफलोपगाः ॥ 59.18 ॥

ataḥ paraṁ kurūn vakṣye nibodheha mamottarān tatra vṛkṣā madhuphalā nityapuṣpaphalopagāḥ

Now, beyond this, I shall speak of the Kurus; hear from me of the Northern Kurus. There the trees bear honey-sweet fruit and are ever laden with blossom and fruit.

Verse 19 (markandeya.59.19)

वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयन्ते फलेष्वाभरणानि च । सर्वकामप्रदास्ते हि सर्वकामफलप्रदाः ॥ 59.19 ॥

vastrāṇi ca prasūyante phaleṣvābharaṇāni ca sarvakāmapradāste hi sarvakāmaphalapradāḥ

Those trees also yield garments, and ornaments are found within their fruit; they grant every desire, for their fruit fulfills every wish.

Verse 20 (markandeya.59.20)

भूमिर्मणिमयी वायुः सुगन्धः सर्वदा सुखः । जायन्ते मानवास्तत्र देवलोकपरिच्युताः ॥ 59.20 ॥

bhūmirmaṇimayī vāyuḥ sugandhaḥ sarvadā sukhaḥ jāyante mānavāstatra devalokaparicyutāḥ

The ground there is made of jewels, and the wind is fragrant and forever pleasant. There are born the men who have fallen from the world of the gods.

Verse 21 (markandeya.59.21)

मिथुनानि प्रसूयन्ते समकालस्थितानि वै । अन्योन्यमनुरक्तानि चक्रवाकोपमानि च ॥ 59.21 ॥

mithunāni prasūyante samakālasthitāni vai anyonyamanuraktāni cakravākopamāni ca

They come into being in pairs, arising at the very same time, devoted to one another, and resembling a pair of chakravaka birds.

Verse 22 (markandeya.59.22)

चतुर्दशसहस्राणि तेषां सार्धानि वै स्थितिः । चन्द्रकान्तश्च शैलेन्द्रः सूर्यकान्तस्तथापरः ॥ 59.22 ॥

caturdaśasahasrāṇi teṣāṁ sārdhāni vai sthitiḥ candrakāntaśca śailendraḥ sūryakāntastathāparaḥ

Their lifespan is fourteen thousand five hundred years. There stand the mountain Chandrakanta, and likewise another, Suryakanta,

Verse 23 (markandeya.59.23)

तस्मिन् कुलाचलौ वर्षे तन्मध्ये च महानदी । भद्रसोमा प्रयात्युर्व्यां पुण्यामलजलौघिनी ॥ 59.23 ॥

tasmin kulācalau varṣe tanmadhye ca mahānadī bhadrasomā prayātyurvyāṁ puṇyāmalajalaughinī

these two being the principal mountains of that region; and in its midst flows the great river Bhadrasoma over the earth, its stream pure and sacred.

Verse 24 (markandeya.59.24)

सहस्रशस्तथैवान्या नद्यो वर्षेऽपि चोत्तरे । तथान्याः क्षीरवाहिन्यो घृतवाहिन्य एव च ॥ 59.24 ॥

sahasraśastathaivānyā nadyo varṣe'pi cottare tathānyāḥ kṣīravāhinyo ghṛtavāhinya eva ca

Likewise thousands of other rivers flow in that northern region as well, and others still that carry streams of milk, and likewise streams of ghee.

Verse 25 (markandeya.59.25)

दध्नो ह्रदास्तथा तत्र तथान्ये चानुपर्वताः । अमृतास्वादकल्पानि फलानि विविधानि च ॥ 59.25 ॥

dadhno hradāstathā tatra tathānye cānuparvatāḥ amṛtāsvādakalpāni phalāni vividhāni ca

There are also lakes of curds there, and likewise other lesser hills, and fruits of many kinds, tasting as sweet as nectar.

Verse 26 (markandeya.59.26)

वनेषु तेषु वर्षेषु शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । तत्रापि भगवान् विष्णुः प्राक्शिरा मत्स्यरूपवान् ॥ 59.26 ॥

vaneṣu teṣu varṣeṣu śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ tatrāpi bhagavān viṣṇuḥ prākśirā matsyarūpavān

— in the forests of that region, these exist by the hundred and by the thousand. There too the Lord Vishnu is present in the form of a fish, his head turned to the east.

Verse 27 (markandeya.59.27)

विभक्तो नवधा विप्र ! नक्षत्राणां त्रयं त्रयम् । दिशस्तथापि नवधा विभक्ता मुनिसत्तम ॥ 59.27 ॥

vibhakto navadhā vipra ! nakṣatrāṇāṁ trayaṁ trayam diśastathāpi navadhā vibhaktā munisattama

He is divided ninefold, O brahmana, with three nakshatras to each division; and, O best of sages, the directions too are likewise divided into nine.

Verse 28 (markandeya.59.28)

चन्द्रद्वीपः समुद्रे च भद्रद्वीपस्तथापरः । तत्रापि पुण्यो विख्यातः समुद्रान्तर्महामुने ॥ 59.28 ॥

candradvīpaḥ samudre ca bhadradvīpastathāparaḥ tatrāpi puṇyo vikhyātaḥ samudrāntarmahāmune

In the ocean lies Chandradvipa, and likewise another, Bhadradvipa; there too, O great sage, within the ocean, is a place sacred and renowned.

Verse 29 (markandeya.59.29)

इत्येतत् कथितं ब्रह्मन् ! कुरुवर्षं मयोत्तरम् । शृणु किंपुरुषादीनि वर्षाणि गदतो मम ॥ 59.29 ॥

ityetat kathitaṁ brahman ! kuruvarṣaṁ mayottaram śṛṇu kiṁpuruṣādīni varṣāṇi gadato mama

Thus, O brahman, this Northern Kuru region has been described to you by me. Now hear, as I tell them, of the regions beginning with Kimpurusha.