The Northern Dvipas, Pushkara, and the Elephants of the Directions

Verse 1 (padma.3.9.1)

सूत उवाच । उत्तरेषु च भो विप्रा द्वीपेषु श्रूयते कथा । एवं तत्र महाभागा ब्रुवतस्तन्निबोधत

sūta uvāca uttareṣu ca bho viprā dvīpeṣu śrūyate kathā evaṁ tatra mahābhāgā bruvatastannibodhata

Suta said: O brahmins, a tale is also heard concerning the northern dvipas; O greatly fortunate ones, understand also what is spoken there.

Verse 2 (padma.3.9.2)

घृततोयः समुद्रोथ दधिमंडोदकोपरः । सुरोदसागरश्चैव तथान्यो दुग्धसागरः

ghṛtatoyaḥ samudrotha dadhimaṁḍodakoparaḥ surodasāgaraścaiva tathānyo dugdhasāgaraḥ

Then there is the Ocean of Ghee, beyond it the Ocean of Curd-water, then the Ocean of Wine (Sura), and likewise another, the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 3 (padma.3.9.3)

परस्परेण द्विगुणाः सर्वे द्वीपा द्विजर्षभाः । पर्वताश्च महाप्राज्ञाः समुद्रैः परिवारिताः

paraspareṇa dviguṇāḥ sarve dvīpā dvijarṣabhāḥ parvatāśca mahāprājñāḥ samudraiḥ parivāritāḥ

O bulls among the twice-born, each dvipa is, one after another, twice the size of the one before; O greatly wise ones, the mountains too are surrounded by their respective oceans.

Verse 4 (padma.3.9.4)

गौरस्तु मध्यमे द्वीपे गिरिर्मनःशिलो महान् । पर्वतः पश्चिमे कृष्णो नारायणसखो द्विजाः

gaurastu madhyame dvīpe girirmanaḥśilo mahān parvataḥ paścime kṛṣṇo nārāyaṇasakho dvijāḥ

In the middle dvipa is the great mountain Gaura, made of red arsenic; in the western dvipa is the mountain named Krishna, the friend of Narayana, O twice-born.

Verse 5 (padma.3.9.5)

तत्र रत्नानि दिव्यानि स्वयं रक्षति केशवः । प्रसन्नश्चाभवत्तत्र प्रजानां व्यदधात्सुखम्

tatra ratnāni divyāni svayaṁ rakṣati keśavaḥ prasannaścābhavattatra prajānāṁ vyadadhātsukham

There Keshava himself guards the divine jewels; and there, being gracious, he grants happiness to the people.

Verse 6 (padma.3.9.6)

शरद्वीपे कुशस्तंबो मध्ये जनपदस्य ह । संपूज्यते शाल्मलिश्च द्वीपे शाल्मलिके द्विजाः

śaradvīpe kuśastaṁbo madhye janapadasya ha saṁpūjyate śālmaliśca dvīpe śālmalike dvijāḥ

In Shara-dvipa, in the middle of the inhabited land, is the Kusha-clump; and in Shalmalika-dvipa the Shalmali tree is worshipped, O twice-born.

Verse 7 (padma.3.9.7)

क्रौंचद्वीपे महाक्रौंचो गिरी रत्नचयाकरः । संपूज्यते भो विप्रेंद्राश्चातुर्वर्ण्येन नित्यदा

krauṁcadvīpe mahākrauṁco girī ratnacayākaraḥ saṁpūjyate bho vipreṁdrāścāturvarṇyena nityadā

In Kraunca-dvipa is the great mountain Kraunca, a mine of heaped-up gems; O lords among brahmins, it is ever worshipped there by all four varnas.

Verse 8 (padma.3.9.8)

गोमंतः पर्वतो विप्राः सुमहान्सर्वधातुकः । यत्र नित्यं निवसति श्रीमान्कमललोचनः

gomaṁtaḥ parvato viprāḥ sumahānsarvadhātukaḥ yatra nityaṁ nivasati śrīmānkamalalocanaḥ

O brahmins, the mountain named Gomanta is very great, made of every kind of ore, where the glorious lotus-eyed one ever dwells,

Verse 9 (padma.3.9.9)

मोक्षिभिः संगतो नित्यं प्रभुर्नारायणोहरिः । कुशद्वीपे तु विप्रेंद्राः पर्वतो विद्रुमैश्चितः

mokṣibhiḥ saṁgato nityaṁ prabhurnārāyaṇohariḥ kuśadvīpe tu vipreṁdrāḥ parvato vidrumaiścitaḥ

the Lord Narayana Hari, ever accompanied by those who seek liberation. O lords among brahmins, in Kusha-dvipa is a mountain adorned with coral,

Verse 10 (padma.3.9.10)

सुनामा च सुदुर्धर्षो द्वितीयो हेमपर्वतः । द्युतिमान्नाम विप्रेंद्रास्तृतीयः कुमुदो गिरिः

sunāmā ca sudurdharṣo dvitīyo hemaparvataḥ dyutimānnāma vipreṁdrāstṛtīyaḥ kumudo giriḥ

well-named and exceedingly hard to overcome; the second is the golden mountain; O lords among brahmins, the third is named Dyutimat, the mountain Kumuda,

Verse 11 (padma.3.9.11)

चतुर्थः पुष्पवान्नाम पंचमस्तु कुशेशयः । षष्टो हरिगिरिर्नाम षडेते पर्वतोत्तमाः

caturthaḥ puṣpavānnāma paṁcamastu kuśeśayaḥ ṣaṣṭo harigirirnāma ṣaḍete parvatottamāḥ

the fourth is named Pushpavan, the fifth Kusheshaya, and the sixth is known as Harigiri — these are the six foremost mountains.

Verse 12 (padma.3.9.12)

तेषामंतरविष्कंभो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः । औद्भिदं प्रथमं वर्षं द्वितीयं रेणुमंडलम्

teṣāmaṁtaraviṣkaṁbho dviguṇaḥ pravibhāgaśaḥ audbhidaṁ prathamaṁ varṣaṁ dvitīyaṁ reṇumaṁḍalam

The distance between them is, division by division, twice the preceding one. The first region is Audbhida; the second is Renumandala;

Verse 13 (padma.3.9.13)

तृतीयं सुरथं नाम चतुर्थं लंबनं स्मृतम् । धृतिमत्पंचमं वर्षं षष्ठं वर्षं प्रभाकरम्

tṛtīyaṁ surathaṁ nāma caturthaṁ laṁbanaṁ smṛtam dhṛtimatpaṁcamaṁ varṣaṁ ṣaṣṭhaṁ varṣaṁ prabhākaram

the third is named Suratha; the fourth is called Lambana; the fifth region is Dhritimat; the sixth region is Prabhakara;

Verse 14 (padma.3.9.14)

सप्तमं कापिलं वर्षं सप्तैते वर्षलंबकाः । एतेषु देवगंधर्वाः प्रजाश्च मुदिता द्विजाः । विहरंति रमंते च न तेषु म्रियते जनः

saptamaṁ kāpilaṁ varṣaṁ saptaite varṣalaṁbakāḥ eteṣu devagaṁdharvāḥ prajāśca muditā dvijāḥ viharaṁti ramaṁte ca na teṣu mriyate janaḥ

the seventh region is Kapila — these are the seven extending regions. In these, gods, gandharvas, and glad people, O twice-born, wander and take their pleasure; no one dies there before their time.

Verse 15 (padma.3.9.15)

न तेषु दस्यवः संति म्लेच्छजात्योऽपि वा द्विजाः । गौरप्रायो जनः सर्वः सुकुमारश्च सत्तमाः

na teṣu dasyavaḥ saṁti mlecchajātyo'pi vā dvijāḥ gauraprāyo janaḥ sarvaḥ sukumāraśca sattamāḥ

There are no thieves there, nor any Mleccha peoples, O twice-born; the people there are all mostly fair-skinned and delicate, O excellent ones.

Verse 16 (padma.3.9.16)

अवशिष्टेषु सर्वेषु वक्ष्यामि द्विजपुंगवाः । यथा श्रुतं महाप्राज्ञा वर्ण्यते शृणुत द्विजाः

avaśiṣṭeṣu sarveṣu vakṣyāmi dvijapuṁgavāḥ yathā śrutaṁ mahāprājñā varṇyate śṛṇuta dvijāḥ

O bulls among the twice-born, O greatly wise ones, I shall now tell of all the remaining dvipas as I have heard them described — listen, O twice-born.

Verse 17 (padma.3.9.17)

क्रौंचद्वीपे महाभागाः क्रौंचो नाम महागिरिः । क्रौंचात्परो वामनको वामनादंधकारकः

krauṁcadvīpe mahābhāgāḥ krauṁco nāma mahāgiriḥ krauṁcātparo vāmanako vāmanādaṁdhakārakaḥ

O greatly fortunate ones, in Kraunca-dvipa is the great mountain named Kraunca; beyond Kraunca is Vamanaka; beyond Vamana is Andhakaraka;

Verse 18 (padma.3.9.18)

अंधकारात्परो विप्रा मैनाकः पर्वतोत्तमः । मैनाकात्परतो विप्रा गोविंदो गिरिरुत्तमः

aṁdhakārātparo viprā mainākaḥ parvatottamaḥ mainākātparato viprā goviṁdo giriruttamaḥ

beyond Andhakaraka, O brahmins, is Mainaka, the finest of mountains; beyond Mainaka, O brahmins, is Govinda, the excellent mountain,

Verse 19 (padma.3.9.19)

गोविंदात्परतश्चैव पुंडरीको महागिरिः । पुंडरीकात्परश्चापि प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः

goviṁdātparataścaiva puṁḍarīko mahāgiriḥ puṁḍarīkātparaścāpi procyate duṁdubhisvanaḥ

beyond Govinda is the great mountain Pundarika; and beyond Pundarika, again, is spoken of Dundubhisvana.

Verse 20 (padma.3.9.20)

पुरस्ताद्द्विगुणस्तेषां विष्कंभो मुनिपुंगवाः । देशांस्तत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

purastāddviguṇasteṣāṁ viṣkaṁbho munipuṁgavāḥ deśāṁstatra pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

O bulls among sages, their breadth, going forward, is each time twice the one before. Now I shall tell of the lands there — hear it as I proceed to speak.

Verse 21 (padma.3.9.21)

क्रौंचस्य कुशलो देशो वामनस्य मनोनुगः । मनोनुगात्परो देश उष्णो नाम तपोधनाः

krauṁcasya kuśalo deśo vāmanasya manonugaḥ manonugātparo deśa uṣṇo nāma tapodhanāḥ

Kraunca's land is Kushala; Vamana's is Manonuga; beyond Manonuga, O ascetics, is the land named Ushna,

Verse 22 (padma.3.9.22)

उष्णात्परः प्रावरकः प्रावरादंधकारकः । अंधकारकदेशात्तु मुनिदेशः परः स्मृतः

uṣṇātparaḥ prāvarakaḥ prāvarādaṁdhakārakaḥ aṁdhakārakadeśāttu munideśaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ

beyond Ushna is Pravaraka, beyond Pravaraka is Andhakaraka; beyond the land of Andhakaraka the land of Muni is spoken of,

Verse 23 (padma.3.9.23)

मुनिदेशात्परश्चैव प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः । सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णो गौरः प्रायोजनः स्मृतः

munideśātparaścaiva procyate duṁdubhisvanaḥ siddhacāraṇasaṁkīrṇo gauraḥ prāyojanaḥ smṛtaḥ

and beyond the land of Muni, again, is spoken of Dundubhisvana — thronged with Siddhas and Charanas, its people mostly fair-skinned, it is thus remembered.

Verse 24 (padma.3.9.24)

एते देशाः समाख्याता देवगंधर्वसेविताः । पुष्करे पुष्करो नाम पर्वतो मणिरत्नवान्

ete deśāḥ samākhyātā devagaṁdharvasevitāḥ puṣkare puṣkaro nāma parvato maṇiratnavān

These lands, served by gods and gandharvas, have thus been described. In Pushkara-dvipa is the mountain named Pushkara, rich in gems and jewels,

Verse 25 (padma.3.9.25)

तत्र नित्यं प्रसरति स्वयं देवः प्रजापतिः । पर्युपासंति तं नित्यं देवाः सर्वे महर्षयः

tatra nityaṁ prasarati svayaṁ devaḥ prajāpatiḥ paryupāsaṁti taṁ nityaṁ devāḥ sarve maharṣayaḥ

where the god Prajapati himself ever moves about; there all the gods and great seers ever wait upon him,

Verse 26 (padma.3.9.26)

वाग्भिर्मनोनुकूलाभिः पूजयंति द्विजोत्तमाः । जंबूद्वीपात्प्रवर्त्तन्ते रत्नानि विविधानि च

vāgbhirmanonukūlābhiḥ pūjayaṁti dvijottamāḥ jaṁbūdvīpātpravarttante ratnāni vividhāni ca

worshipping him, O best of the twice-born, with words pleasing to the mind. From Jambudvipa proceed gems of every kind,

Verse 27 (padma.3.9.27)

द्वीपेषु तेषु सर्वेषु प्रजानां मुनिसत्तमाः । विप्राणां ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्येन च दमेन च

dvīpeṣu teṣu sarveṣu prajānāṁ munisattamāḥ viprāṇāṁ brahmacaryeṇa satyena ca damena ca

O best of sages, throughout all those dvipas, for the sake of the people — for brahmins, through celibacy, truth, and self-restraint,

Verse 28 (padma.3.9.28)

आरोग्यायुष्प्रमाणाभ्यां द्विगुणं द्विगुणं ततः । एते जनपदा विप्रा द्वीपेषु तेषु सत्तमाः

ārogyāyuṣpramāṇābhyāṁ dviguṇaṁ dviguṇaṁ tataḥ ete janapadā viprā dvīpeṣu teṣu sattamāḥ

and through health and length of life, each successively doubling; O brahmins, these inhabited lands exist in each of those dvipas, O excellent ones,

Verse 29 (padma.3.9.29)

उक्ता जनपदा येषु धर्मश्चैकः प्रवर्त्तते । ईश्वरो दंडमुद्यम्य स्वयमेव प्रजापतिः

uktā janapadā yeṣu dharmaścaikaḥ pravarttate īśvaro daṁḍamudyamya svayameva prajāpatiḥ

these are the lands in which a single dharma prevails; the Lord, having raised the rod of chastisement, himself becoming Prajapati,

Verse 30 (padma.3.9.30)

द्वीपानेतान्मुनिवरा रक्षंस्तिष्ठति सर्वदा । स राजा स शिवो विप्राः स पिता स पितामहः

dvīpānetānmunivarā rakṣaṁstiṣṭhati sarvadā sa rājā sa śivo viprāḥ sa pitā sa pitāmahaḥ

O best of sages, ever stands guarding these dvipas. O brahmins, he is the king, he is Shiva, he is the father, he is the grandfather,

Verse 31 (padma.3.9.31)

गोपायति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रजाः स द्विजपंडिताः । भोजनं चात्र विप्रेंद्राः प्रजाः स्वयमुपस्थितम्

gopāyati dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prajāḥ sa dvijapaṁḍitāḥ bhojanaṁ cātra vipreṁdrāḥ prajāḥ svayamupasthitam

O bulls among the twice-born, O learned twice-born, he alone protects the people. And, O lords among brahmins, the food there presents itself of its own accord to the people —

Verse 32 (padma.3.9.32)

सिद्धमेव महाभागा भुंजते तद्धि नित्यदा । ततः परं महाशैलो दृश्यते लोकसंस्थितिः

siddhameva mahābhāgā bhuṁjate taddhi nityadā tataḥ paraṁ mahāśailo dṛśyate lokasaṁsthitiḥ

O greatly fortunate ones, already prepared, they partake of it forever. Beyond that is seen a great mountain, the very foundation of the world's order,

Verse 33 (padma.3.9.33)

चतुरस्रो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिमंडलः । तत्र तिष्ठंति विप्रेंद्राश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः

caturasro mahāprājñaḥ sarvataḥ parimaṁḍalaḥ tatra tiṣṭhaṁti vipreṁdrāścatvāro lokasaṁmatāḥ

O greatly wise one, it is square, yet circular on every side; O lords among brahmins, there stand the four world-honored [elephants],

Verse 34 (padma.3.9.34)

दिग्गजा हि मुनिश्रेष्ठा वामनैरावतां जनाः । सुप्रतीकस्तथा विप्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः

diggajā hi muniśreṣṭhā vāmanairāvatāṁ janāḥ supratīkastathā viprāḥ prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ

O best of sages, they are the elephants of the directions — the offspring of Vamana and Airavata, and Supratika, O brahmins, with their split, gaping temples and mouths.

Verse 35 (padma.3.9.35)

तस्याहं परिमाणं न संख्यातुमिहमुत्सहे । असंख्यातः सुनित्यं हि तिर्यगूर्द्ध्वमधस्तथा

tasyāhaṁ parimāṇaṁ na saṁkhyātumihamutsahe asaṁkhyātaḥ sunityaṁ hi tiryagūrddhvamadhastathā

I am not able here to reckon its measure fully; it is truly beyond count — crosswise, above, and below alike.

Verse 36 (padma.3.9.36)

तत्र वै वायवो वांति दिग्भ्यः सर्वाभ्य एव च । असंबंधा मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तान्निगृह्णंति ते द्विजाः

tatra vai vāyavo vāṁti digbhyaḥ sarvābhya eva ca asaṁbaṁdhā muniśreṣṭhāstānnigṛhṇaṁti te dvijāḥ

O best of sages, there the winds blow from every quarter; O twice-born, those unconfined winds are restrained by those elephants,

Verse 37 (padma.3.9.37)

पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः

puṣkaraiḥ padmasaṁkāśairvikarṣaṁti mahāprabhaiḥ śatadhā punarevāśu te tānmuṁcaṁti nityaśaḥ

drawn in, in a hundred ways, by their lotus-like, greatly radiant trunks, and then swiftly released once more, forever.

Verse 38 (padma.3.9.38)

श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः

śvasadbhirmukhanāsābhyāṁ diggajairiva mārutāḥ āgacchaṁti dvijaśreṣṭhāstatra tiṣṭhaṁti vai prajāḥ

Breathing through mouth and trunk, they are like the very winds embodied as the elephants of the directions, O bulls among the twice-born; the winds come there, and there the people abide.

Verse 39 (padma.3.9.39)

यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम्

yathoddiṣṭaṁ mayā proktaṁ sanirmāṇamidaṁ jagat śrutvedaṁ pṛthivīmānaṁ puṇyadaṁ ca manonugam

As it was instructed to me, so have I told of this world together with its structure. Having heard this sacred and pleasing measure of the earth,

Verse 40 (padma.3.9.40)

श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते

śrīmāṁstarati vipreṁdrāḥ siddhārthaḥ sādhusaṁmataḥ āyurbalaṁ ca kīrttiśca tasya tejaśca varddhate

O lords among brahmins, the glorious person crosses over [the ocean of existence]; his purpose is accomplished, he is honored by the virtuous, and his lifespan, strength, fame, and radiance increase —

Verse 41 (padma.3.9.41)

यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः

yaḥ śṛṇoti samākhyātuṁ parvaṇīdaṁ dhṛtavrataḥ prīyaṁte pitarastasya tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ

he who, keeping his vow, listens to this account as it is recited on a sacred occasion. His ancestors, and his forefathers too, become pleased with him.