The Arrangement of the Worlds

Verse 1 (skanda.1.73.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ भूमेर्योजनलक्षे च कौरव्य रविमंडलम्॥ योजनानां सहस्राणि भास्करस्य रथो नव

||nārada uvāca|| bhūmeryojanalakṣe ca kauravya ravimaṁḍalam|| yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi bhāskarasya ratho nava

Narada said: O Kaurava, at a hundred thousand yojanas from the earth is the orb of the sun. The chariot of the Sun is nine thousand yojanas long.

Verse 2 (skanda.1.73.2)

ईषादंडस्ततैवास्य द्विगुणः परिकीर्तितः॥ सार्धकोटिस्तथा सप्त नियुतानि विवस्वतः

īṣādaṁḍastataivāsya dviguṇaḥ parikīrtitaḥ|| sārdhakoṭistathā sapta niyutāni vivasvataḥ

Its pole is declared to be twice that length; the total measure of Vivasvan's chariot is reckoned as one and a half crore plus seven hundred thousand.

Verse 3 (skanda.1.73.3)

योजनानां तु तस्याक्षस्तत्र चक्रं प्रतिष्ठितम्॥ त्रिनाभि तच्च पंचारं षण्नेमि परिकीर्तितम्

yojanānāṁ tu tasyākṣastatra cakraṁ pratiṣṭhitam|| trinābhi tacca paṁcāraṁ ṣaṇnemi parikīrtitam

Its axle, of that many yojanas, has the wheel fixed upon it; that wheel is declared to have three naves, five spokes, and six rims.

Verse 4 (skanda.1.73.4)

चत्वारिंशत्सहस्राणि द्वितीयोऽक्षोऽपि विस्तृतः॥ पंच चान्यानि सार्द्धानि स्यन्दनस्य तु पांडव

catvāriṁśatsahasrāṇi dvitīyo'kṣo'pi vistṛtaḥ|| paṁca cānyāni sārddhāni syandanasya tu pāṁḍava

O Pandava, the second axle of the chariot extends forty thousand yojanas, and five and a half more.

Verse 5 (skanda.1.73.5)

अक्षप्रमाणमुभयोः प्रमाणं तद्युगार्द्धयोः॥ ह्रस्वोऽक्षस्तद्युगार्द्धं च ध्रुवाधारं रथस्य वै

akṣapramāṇamubhayoḥ pramāṇaṁ tadyugārddhayoḥ|| hrasvo'kṣastadyugārddhaṁ ca dhruvādhāraṁ rathasya vai

The measure of the axle is the measure of both halves of the yoke; the shorter axle equals that half of the yoke, which forms the Pole-Star support of the chariot.

Verse 6 (skanda.1.73.6)

द्वितीयोऽक्षस्तथा सव्ये चक्रं तन्मानसे स्थितम्॥ हयाश्च सप्त च्छांदांसि तेषां नामानि मे श्रृणु

dvitīyo'kṣastathā savye cakraṁ tanmānase sthitam|| hayāśca sapta cchāṁdāṁsi teṣāṁ nāmāni me śrṛṇu

The second axle is on the left side, its wheel resting on Mount Manasa. The seven horses of the chariot are the Vedic meters; hear from me their names.

Verse 7 (skanda.1.73.7)

गायत्री च बृहत्युष्णिग्जगती त्रिष्टुवेव च॥ अनुष्टुप्पंक्तिरित्युक्ताश्छंदांसि हरयो रवेः

gāyatrī ca bṛhatyuṣṇigjagatī triṣṭuveva ca|| anuṣṭuppaṁktirityuktāśchaṁdāṁsi harayo raveḥ

Gayatri, Brihati, Ushnik, Jagati, Trishtubh, Anushtubh, and Pankti — these meters are called the steeds of the Sun.

Verse 8 (skanda.1.73.8)

नैवास्तमनमर्कस्य नोदयः सर्वदा सतः॥ उदयास्तमनाक्यं हि दर्शनादर्शनं रवेः

naivāstamanamarkasya nodayaḥ sarvadā sataḥ|| udayāstamanākyaṁ hi darśanādarśanaṁ raveḥ

The Sun, being ever-present, truly has neither setting nor rising; what is called his rising and setting is simply his being seen or not being seen.

Verse 9 (skanda.1.73.9)

शक्रदीनां पुरे तिष्ठन्स्पृशत्येष पुरत्रयम्॥ विकीर्णोऽतो विकर्णस्थस्त्रिकोणार्धपुरे तथा

śakradīnāṁ pure tiṣṭhanspṛśatyeṣa puratrayam|| vikīrṇo'to vikarṇasthastrikoṇārdhapure tathā

Standing in the cities of Indra and the other guardians, he touches three cities at once; thus dispersed, he is positioned at the corner of the triangular half-city.

Verse 10 (skanda.1.73.10)

अयनस्योत्तरस्यादौ मकरं याति भास्करः॥ ततः कुम्भं च मीनं च राशे राश्यंतरं तथा

ayanasyottarasyādau makaraṁ yāti bhāskaraḥ|| tataḥ kumbhaṁ ca mīnaṁ ca rāśe rāśyaṁtaraṁ tathā

At the beginning of the northern course, the Sun enters Makara; then Kumbha and Mina, passing thus from sign to sign.

Verse 11 (skanda.1.73.11)

त्रिष्वेतेष्वथ भुक्तेषु ततो वैषुवतीं गतिम्॥ प्रयाति सविता कुर्वन्नहोरात्रं च तत्समम्

triṣveteṣvatha bhukteṣu tato vaiṣuvatīṁ gatim|| prayāti savitā kurvannahorātraṁ ca tatsamam

When these three have been traversed, the Sun then proceeds on the equinoctial course, making day and night equal.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.73.12)

ततो रात्रिः क्षयं याति वर्धते तु दिनं दिनम्॥ ततश्च मिथुनस्यांते परां काष्ठामुपागतः

tato rātriḥ kṣayaṁ yāti vardhate tu dinaṁ dinam|| tataśca mithunasyāṁte parāṁ kāṣṭhāmupāgataḥ

Thereafter the night diminishes, and the day grows longer day by day; then, at the end of Mithuna, he reaches the farthest point.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.73.13)

राशिं कर्कटकं प्राप्य कुरुते दक्षिणायांनम्॥ कुलालचक्रपर्यंतो यथा शीघ्रं निवर्तते

rāśiṁ karkaṭakaṁ prāpya kurute dakṣiṇāyāṁnam|| kulālacakraparyaṁto yathā śīghraṁ nivartate

Having reached the sign Karkataka, he turns to the southern course. As the rim of a potter's wheel turns swiftly,

Verse 14 (skanda.1.73.14)

दक्षिणायक्रमे सूर्यस्तथा शीघ्रं निवर्तते॥ अतिवेगितया कालं वायुमार्गबलाच्चरन्

dakṣiṇāyakrame sūryastathā śīghraṁ nivartate|| ativegitayā kālaṁ vāyumārgabalāccaran

so too the Sun turns swiftly in the southern course, moving with the force of the path of the wind, with extreme speed.

Verse 15 (skanda.1.73.15)

तस्मात्प्रकृष्टां भूमिं स कालेनाल्पेन गच्छति॥ कुलालचक्रमध्यस्थो यता मंदं प्रसर्पति

tasmātprakṛṣṭāṁ bhūmiṁ sa kālenālpena gacchati|| kulālacakramadhyastho yatā maṁdaṁ prasarpati

Therefore he covers a great distance in a short time. As that which stands at the center of the potter's wheel moves slowly,

Verse 16 (skanda.1.73.16)

तथोदगयने सूर्यः सर्पते मंदविक्रमः॥ तस्माद्दीर्घेण कालेन भूमिमल्पं निगच्छति

tathodagayane sūryaḥ sarpate maṁdavikramaḥ|| tasmāddīrgheṇa kālena bhūmimalpaṁ nigacchati

so too, in the northern course, the Sun moves with a slower pace; therefore he covers only a short distance in a long time.

Verse 17 (skanda.1.73.17)

संध्याकाले च मंदेहाः सूर्यमिच्छंति खादितुम्॥ प्रजापतिकृतः शापस्तेषां फाल्गुन रक्षसाम्

saṁdhyākāle ca maṁdehāḥ sūryamicchaṁti khāditum|| prajāpatikṛtaḥ śāpasteṣāṁ phālguna rakṣasām

At the twilight hour, the Mandeha rakshasas desire to devour the Sun — this is a curse pronounced upon those rakshasas by Prajapati, O Phalguna:

Verse 18 (skanda.1.73.18)

अक्षयत्वं शरीराणां मरणं च दिनेदिने॥ ततः सूर्यस्य तैर्युद्धं भवत्यत्यंतदारुणम्

akṣayatvaṁ śarīrāṇāṁ maraṇaṁ ca dinedine|| tataḥ sūryasya tairyuddhaṁ bhavatyatyaṁtadāruṇam

"Your bodies shall be imperishable, yet you shall die every single day." Then a most terrible battle occurs between them and the Sun.

Verse 19 (skanda.1.73.19)

ततो गायत्रिपूतं यद्द्विजास्तोयं क्षिपंति च॥ तेन दह्यंति ते पापाः संध्योपासनतः सदा

tato gāyatripūtaṁ yaddvijāstoyaṁ kṣipaṁti ca|| tena dahyaṁti te pāpāḥ saṁdhyopāsanataḥ sadā

Then, the water which the twice-born, purified by the Gayatri mantra, cast forth — by that, through the power of the sandhya rite, those sinful ones are always burned.

Verse 20 (skanda.1.73.20)

ये संध्यां नाप्युपासंते कृतघ्ना यांति रौरवम्॥ प्रतिमासं पृथक्सूर्य ऋषिगन्धर्वराक्षसैः

ye saṁdhyāṁ nāpyupāsaṁte kṛtaghnā yāṁti rauravam|| pratimāsaṁ pṛthaksūrya ṛṣigandharvarākṣasaiḥ

Those ungrateful ones who do not perform the sandhya rite go to the hell called Raurava. Each month, a different form of the Sun, together with sages, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas,

Verse 21 (skanda.1.73.21)

अप्सरोग्रामणीसर्पैरथो याति च सप्तभिः॥ धातार्यमा मित्रवरुणौ विवस्वानिन्द्र एव च

apsarogrāmaṇīsarpairatho yāti ca saptabhiḥ|| dhātāryamā mitravaruṇau vivasvānindra eva ca

and with Apsaras, Yaksha-chieftains, and serpents — seven in all — makes his journey. Their names are Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Vivasvan, and Indra,

Verse 22 (skanda.1.73.22)

पूषा च सविता सोऽथ भगस्त्वष्टा च कीर्तितः॥ विष्णुश्चैत्रादिमासेषु आदित्या द्वादश स्मृताः

pūṣā ca savitā so'tha bhagastvaṣṭā ca kīrtitaḥ|| viṣṇuścaitrādimāseṣu ādityā dvādaśa smṛtāḥ

and Pusha, and Savita, and Bhaga, and Tvashta, and Vishnu — these are declared as the twelve Adityas, one for each of the months beginning with Chaitra.

Verse 23 (skanda.1.73.23)

ततो दिवाकरस्थानान्मंडलं शशिनः स्थितम्॥ लक्षमात्रेण तस्यापि त्रिचक्रो रथ उच्यते

tato divākarasthānānmaṁḍalaṁ śaśinaḥ sthitam|| lakṣamātreṇa tasyāpi tricakro ratha ucyate

Beyond the region of the Sun stands the orb of the Moon, just a hundred thousand yojanas away; his chariot too is said to have three wheels.

Verse 24 (skanda.1.73.24)

कुंदाभा दश चैवाश्वा वामदक्षिणतो युताः॥ पूर्णे शतसहस्रे च योजनानां निशाकरात्

kuṁdābhā daśa caivāśvā vāmadakṣiṇato yutāḥ|| pūrṇe śatasahasre ca yojanānāṁ niśākarāt

Ten horses, white as jasmine, are yoked to it on the left and right. At a full hundred thousand yojanas from the Moon,

Verse 25 (skanda.1.73.25)

नक्षत्रमण्डलं कृत्स्नमुपरिष्टात्प्रकाशते॥ चतुर्दश चार्बुदान्यप्यशीतिः सरितांपतिः

nakṣatramaṇḍalaṁ kṛtsnamupariṣṭātprakāśate|| caturdaśa cārbudānyapyaśītiḥ saritāṁpatiḥ

the entire orb of the constellations shines above. Fourteen arbudas, and eighty more,

Verse 26 (skanda.1.73.26)

विंशतिश्च तथा कोट्यो नक्षत्राणां प्रकीर्तिताः॥ द्वे लक्षे चोत्तरे तस्माद्बुधो नक्षत्रमण्डलात्

viṁśatiśca tathā koṭyo nakṣatrāṇāṁ prakīrtitāḥ|| dve lakṣe cottare tasmādbudho nakṣatramaṇḍalāt

and twenty crores — such is declared to be the number of the stars. Two hundred thousand yojanas above that constellation-orb stands the planet Budha.

Verse 27 (skanda.1.73.27)

वाय्वग्निद्रव्यसंभूतो रथश्चंद्रसुतस्य च॥ पिशंगैस्तुर--- सोष्टाभिर्वायवेगिभिः

vāyvagnidravyasaṁbhūto rathaścaṁdrasutasya ca|| piśaṁgaistura--- soṣṭābhirvāyavegibhiḥ

The chariot of the Moon's son is composed of the substance of wind and fire, drawn by eight tawny horses swift as the wind.

Verse 28 (skanda.1.73.28)

द्विलक्षश्चोत्तरे तस्माद्बुधाच्चाप्युशना स्मृतः॥ शुक्रस्यापि रथोष्टाभिर्युक्तोऽभूत्संभवैर्हयैः

dvilakṣaścottare tasmādbudhāccāpyuśanā smṛtaḥ|| śukrasyāpi rathoṣṭābhiryukto'bhūtsaṁbhavairhayaiḥ

Two hundred thousand yojanas above Budha is remembered Ushanas, Shukra. Shukra's chariot too is yoked with eight horses of similar origin.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.73.29)

लक्षद्वयेन भौमस्य स्मृतो देवपुरोहितः॥ अष्टाभिः पांडुरैरश्वैर्युक्तोऽस्य कांचनोरथः

lakṣadvayena bhaumasya smṛto devapurohitaḥ|| aṣṭābhiḥ pāṁḍurairaśvairyukto'sya kāṁcanorathaḥ

Two hundred thousand yojanas above Mars is remembered the Priest of the Gods, Brihaspati; his golden chariot is yoked with eight white horses.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.73.30)

सौरिर्बृहस्पतेश्चोर्ध्वं द्विलक्षे समुपस्थितः॥ आकाशसंभवैरश्वैरष्टाभिः शबलै रथः

saurirbṛhaspateścordhvaṁ dvilakṣe samupasthitaḥ|| ākāśasaṁbhavairaśvairaṣṭābhiḥ śabalai rathaḥ

Saturn, the son of the Sun, stands two hundred thousand yojanas above Brihaspati; his chariot has eight dappled horses born of the sky.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.73.31)

स्वर्भानोस्तुरगाश्चाष्टौ भृंगाभा धूसरारथम्॥ वहंति च सकृद्युक्ता आदित्याधःस्थितास्तथा

svarbhānosturagāścāṣṭau bhṛṁgābhā dhūsarāratham|| vahaṁti ca sakṛdyuktā ādityādhaḥsthitāstathā

Rahu's eight horses, dark as bees, draw his dusky chariot; once yoked, they remain always positioned below the Sun.

Verse 32 (skanda.1.73.32)

सौरेर्लक्षं स्मृतं चोर्ध्वं ततः सप्तर्षिमण्डलम्॥ ऋषिभ्यश्चापि लक्षेण ध्रुवश्चोर्ध्वं व्यवस्थितः

saurerlakṣaṁ smṛtaṁ cordhvaṁ tataḥ saptarṣimaṇḍalam|| ṛṣibhyaścāpi lakṣeṇa dhruvaścordhvaṁ vyavasthitaḥ

A hundred thousand yojanas above Saturn is remembered the orb of the Seven Sages; and a hundred thousand yojanas above the Sages, Dhruva is situated.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.73.33)

मेढीभूतः समस्तस्य ज्योतिश्चक्रस्य वै ध्रुवः॥ ध्रुवोऽपि शिंशुमारस्य पुच्छाधारे व्यवस्थितः

meḍhībhūtaḥ samastasya jyotiścakrasya vai dhruvaḥ|| dhruvo'pi śiṁśumārasya pucchādhāre vyavasthitaḥ

Dhruva is the very pivot of the entire wheel of the constellations; and Dhruva himself is situated at the base of the tail of the Shishumara constellation,

Verse 34 (skanda.1.73.34)

यमाहुर्वासुदेवस्य रूपमात्मानमव्ययम्॥ वायुपाशैर्ध्रुवे बद्धं सर्वमेतच्च फाल्गुन

yamāhurvāsudevasya rūpamātmānamavyayam|| vāyupāśairdhruve baddhaṁ sarvametacca phālguna

which they call the imperishable Self, the very form of Vasudeva. And, O Phalguna, all this is bound to Dhruva by cords of wind.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.73.35)

नवयोजनसाहस्रं मण्डलं सवितुः स्मृतम्॥ द्विगुणं सूर्यविस्तारान्मण्डलं शशिनः स्मृतम्

navayojanasāhasraṁ maṇḍalaṁ savituḥ smṛtam|| dviguṇaṁ sūryavistārānmaṇḍalaṁ śaśinaḥ smṛtam

The orb of the Sun is remembered as nine thousand yojanas in diameter; the orb of the Moon is remembered as twice the extent of the Sun.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.73.36)

तुल्यस्तयोस्तु स्वर्भानुर्भूत्वाधस्तात्प्रसर्पति॥ उद्धृत्य पृथिवीच्छायां निर्मलां मण्डलाकृतिः

tulyastayostu svarbhānurbhūtvādhastātprasarpati|| uddhṛtya pṛthivīcchāyāṁ nirmalāṁ maṇḍalākṛtiḥ

Equal to both of these in size, Rahu moves beneath them, having lifted up the pure, circular shadow of the earth.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.73.37)

चन्द्रस्य षोडशो भागो भार्गवश्च विधीयते॥ भार्गवात्पादहीनस्तु विज्ञेयोऽथ बृहस्पतिः

candrasya ṣoḍaśo bhāgo bhārgavaśca vidhīyate|| bhārgavātpādahīnastu vijñeyo'tha bṛhaspatiḥ

Shukra is ordained to be one-sixteenth the size of the Moon; and Brihaspati is to be known as one-quarter smaller than Shukra.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.73.38)

बृहस्पतेः पादहीनौ वक्रसौरी बुधस्तथा॥ शतानि पंच चत्वारित्रीणि द्वे चैकयोजनम्

bṛhaspateḥ pādahīnau vakrasaurī budhastathā|| śatāni paṁca catvāritrīṇi dve caikayojanam

Mars and Saturn, and Budha as well, are each one-quarter smaller than Brihaspati. Five hundred, four hundred, three hundred, two hundred, and one yojana —

Verse 39 (skanda.1.73.39)

योजनार्धप्रमाणानि भानि ह्रस्वं न विद्यते॥ भूमिलोकश्च भूर्लोकः पादगम्यः प्रकीर्तितः

yojanārdhapramāṇāni bhāni hrasvaṁ na vidyate|| bhūmilokaśca bhūrlokaḥ pādagamyaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

— down to half a yojana, such is the graded measure of the fixed stars; there is no smaller measure than this. The world of the earth, "Bhurloka," is declared to be that reachable on foot.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.73.40)

भूमिसूर्यांतरं तच्च भुवर्लोकः प्रकीर्तितः॥ ध्रुवसूर्यांतरं तच्च नियुतानि चतुर्दश

bhūmisūryāṁtaraṁ tacca bhuvarlokaḥ prakīrtitaḥ|| dhruvasūryāṁtaraṁ tacca niyutāni caturdaśa

The space between the earth and the Sun is declared "Bhuvarloka." The distance between Dhruva and the Sun is fourteen hundred thousand yojanas,

Verse 41 (skanda.1.73.41)

स्वर्लोकः सोऽपि गदितो लोकसंस्थानचिंतकैः॥ ध्रुवादूर्ध्वं तथा कोटचिर्महर्लोकः प्रकीर्तितः

svarlokaḥ so'pi gadito lokasaṁsthānaciṁtakaiḥ|| dhruvādūrdhvaṁ tathā koṭacirmaharlokaḥ prakīrtitaḥ

and this too is declared "Svarloka" by those who reflect on the arrangement of the worlds. And above Dhruva, at a distance of a crore yojanas, is declared "Maharloka,"

Verse 42 (skanda.1.73.42)

द्वे कोट्यौ च जनो यत्र निवसंति चतुःसनाः॥ चतुर्भिश्चापि कोटीभिस्तपोलोकस्ततः स्मॉतः

dve koṭyau ca jano yatra nivasaṁti catuḥsanāḥ|| caturbhiścāpi koṭībhistapolokastataḥ smaॉtaḥ

at two crores above that is "Janaloka," where the four Sanas dwell. And at four crores further is remembered "Tapoloka,"

Verse 43 (skanda.1.73.43)

वैराजा यत्र ते देवाः स्थिता दाहविवर्जिताः॥ षड्गुणेन तपोलोकात्सत्यलोको विराजते

vairājā yatra te devāḥ sthitā dāhavivarjitāḥ|| ṣaḍguṇena tapolokātsatyaloko virājate

where the Vairaja gods dwell, free from all burning affliction. At six times the distance of Tapoloka shines "Satyaloka,"

Verse 44 (skanda.1.73.44)

अपुनर्मरका यत्र ब्रह्मलोको हि स स्मृतः॥ अष्टादस तथा कोट्यो लक्षाण्यशीतिपंच च

apunarmarakā yatra brahmaloko hi sa smṛtaḥ|| aṣṭādasa tathā koṭyo lakṣāṇyaśītipaṁca ca

where there is no more dying — that indeed is remembered as Brahmaloka. Eighteen crores, and eighty-five hundred thousand yojanas —

Verse 45 (skanda.1.73.45)

शुभं निरुपमं स्थानं तदूर्ध्वं संप्रकाशते॥ भूर्भूवःस्वरिति प्रोक्तं त्रैलोक्यं कृतकं त्विदम्

śubhaṁ nirupamaṁ sthānaṁ tadūrdhvaṁ saṁprakāśate|| bhūrbhūvaḥsvariti proktaṁ trailokyaṁ kṛtakaṁ tvidam

— above that shines this auspicious, incomparable abode. Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah are called the "made," perishable triple world.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.73.46)

जनस्तपस्तथा सत्यमिति चाकृतकं त्रयम्॥ कृतकाकृतयोर्मध्ये मर्हर्लोक इति स्मृतः

janastapastathā satyamiti cākṛtakaṁ trayam|| kṛtakākṛtayormadhye marharloka iti smṛtaḥ

Janas, Tapas, and Satya are the "unmade," imperishable three. Between the made and the unmade is remembered "Maharloka" —

Verse 47 (skanda.1.73.47)

शून्यो भवति कल्पांते योत्यंतं न विनश्यति॥ एते सप्त समाख्याता लोकाः पुण्यैरुपार्जिताः

śūnyo bhavati kalpāṁte yotyaṁtaṁ na vinaśyati|| ete sapta samākhyātā lokāḥ puṇyairupārjitāḥ

which becomes empty at the end of a kalpa, yet is never utterly destroyed. These seven worlds have been declared, attainable through merit —

Verse 48 (skanda.1.73.48)

यज्ञैर्दानैर्जपैर्होमैस्तीर्थैर्व्रतसमुच्चयैः॥ वेदादिप्रोक्तैरन्यैश्च साध्याँल्लोकानिमान्विदुः

yajñairdānairjapairhomaistīrthairvratasamuccayaiḥ|| vedādiproktairanyaiśca sādhyā~llokānimānviduḥ

— through sacrifices, gifts, japa, homa, pilgrimage to tirthas, and vows, and other means declared in the Vedas and elsewhere; by these these worlds are known to be attainable.

Verse 49 (skanda.1.73.49)

ततश्चांडस्य शिरसो धारा नीरमयी शिवा॥ सर्वलोकान्समाप्लाव्य गंगा मेरावुपागता

tataścāṁḍasya śiraso dhārā nīramayī śivā|| sarvalokānsamāplāvya gaṁgā merāvupāgatā

Then, from the summit of the cosmic egg, the auspicious stream of water — the Ganga — having flooded all the worlds, came down upon Meru.

Verse 50 (skanda.1.73.50)

ततो महीतलं सर्वं पातालं प्रविवेश सा॥ अंडमूर्ध्नि स्थिता देवी सततं द्वारवासिनी

tato mahītalaṁ sarvaṁ pātālaṁ praviveśa sā|| aṁḍamūrdhni sthitā devī satataṁ dvāravāsinī

Then she entered the entire surface of the earth and the netherworld. The goddess, stationed at the summit of the egg, ever dwells as guardian of the gateway,

Verse 51 (skanda.1.73.51)

देवीनां कोटिकोटीभिः संवृता पिंगलेन च॥ तत्र स्थिता सदा रक्षां कुरुतेऽण्डस्य सा शुभा

devīnāṁ koṭikoṭībhiḥ saṁvṛtā piṁgalena ca|| tatra sthitā sadā rakṣāṁ kurute'ṇḍasya sā śubhā

surrounded by tens of millions of goddesses and by Pingala. Stationed there, that auspicious one ever guards the cosmic egg,

Verse 52 (skanda.1.73.52)

निहंति दुष्टसंघातान्महाबलपराक्रमा॥ वायुस्कंधानि सप्तापिश्रृणुयद्वत्स्थितान्यपि

nihaṁti duṣṭasaṁghātānmahābalaparākramā|| vāyuskaṁdhāni saptāpiśrṛṇuyadvatsthitānyapi

and, of great strength and valor, destroys the hosts of the wicked. Now hear likewise, O child, of the seven regions of wind, as they stand.

Verse 53 (skanda.1.73.53)

पृथिवीं समभिक्रम्य संस्थितो मेघमंडले॥ प्रवहोनाम यो मेघान्प्रवहत्यतिशक्तिमान्

pṛthivīṁ samabhikramya saṁsthito meghamaṁḍale|| pravahonāma yo meghānpravahatyatiśaktimān

Ranging over the earth, situated in the region of the clouds, is the wind named Pravaha, exceedingly powerful, which drives the clouds.

Verse 54 (skanda.1.73.54)

धूमजाश्वोष्मजा मेघाः सामुद्रैयन पूरिताः॥ तोयैर्भवंति नीलांगा वर्षिष्ठाश्चैव भारत

dhūmajāśvoṣmajā meghāḥ sāmudraiyana pūritāḥ|| toyairbhavaṁti nīlāṁgā varṣiṣṭhāścaiva bhārata

O Bharata, the clouds born of smoke and heat, filled with oceanic waters, become dark-bodied and most rain-bearing.

Verse 55 (skanda.1.73.55)

द्वितीयश्चावहो नाम निबद्धः सूर्यमंडले॥ तेन बद्धं ध्रुवेणेदं भ्राम्यते सूर्यमंडलम्

dvitīyaścāvaho nāma nibaddhaḥ sūryamaṁḍale|| tena baddhaṁ dhruveṇedaṁ bhrāmyate sūryamaṁḍalam

The second is named Avaha, bound to the orb of the Sun; by it, bound to Dhruva, this orb of the Sun is made to revolve.

Verse 56 (skanda.1.73.56)

तृतीयश्चोद्वहो नाम चंद्रस्कंधे प्रतिष्ठितः॥ बद्धं ध्रुवेण येनेदं भ्राम्यते चंद्रमंडलम्

tṛtīyaścodvaho nāma caṁdraskaṁdhe pratiṣṭhitaḥ|| baddhaṁ dhruveṇa yenedaṁ bhrāmyate caṁdramaṁḍalam

The third, named Udvaha, is established in the region of the Moon; by it, bound to Dhruva, this orb of the Moon is made to revolve.

Verse 57 (skanda.1.73.57)

चतुर्थः संवहो नाम स्थितो नक्षत्रमण्डले॥ वातरश्मिभिराबद्धं ध्रुवेण सह भ्राम्यते

caturthaḥ saṁvaho nāma sthito nakṣatramaṇḍale|| vātaraśmibhirābaddhaṁ dhruveṇa saha bhrāmyate

The fourth, named Samvaha, is situated in the orb of the constellations; bound by cords of wind, together with Dhruva, it revolves.

Verse 58 (skanda.1.73.58)

ग्रहेषु पंचमः सोऽपि विवहो नाम मारुतः॥ ग्रहचक्रमिदं येन भ्राम्यते ध्रुवसंधितम्

graheṣu paṁcamaḥ so'pi vivaho nāma mārutaḥ|| grahacakramidaṁ yena bhrāmyate dhruvasaṁdhitam

The fifth, among the planets, is that wind named Vivaha; by it, this wheel of the planets, joined to Dhruva, revolves.

Verse 59 (skanda.1.73.59)

षष्ठः परिवहो नाम स्थितः सप्तर्षिमंडले॥ भ्रमंति ध्रुवसंबद्धा येन सप्तर्षयो दिवि

ṣaṣṭhaḥ parivaho nāma sthitaḥ saptarṣimaṁḍale|| bhramaṁti dhruvasaṁbaddhā yena saptarṣayo divi

The sixth, named Parivaha, is situated in the orb of the Seven Sages; by it, bound to Dhruva, the Seven Sages revolve in the sky.

Verse 60 (skanda.1.73.60)

सप्तमश्च ध्रुवे बद्धो वायुर्नाम्ना परावहः॥ येन संस्थापितं ध्रौव्यं चक्रं चान्यानि भारत

saptamaśca dhruve baddho vāyurnāmnā parāvahaḥ|| yena saṁsthāpitaṁ dhrauvyaṁ cakraṁ cānyāni bhārata

And the seventh, bound to Dhruva, is the wind named Paravaha; by it, O Bharata, the fixity of the Pole-wheel and the other wheels is established.

Verse 61 (skanda.1.73.61)

यं समासाद्य वेगेन दिशामंतं प्रपेदिरे॥ दक्षस्य दश पुत्राणां सहस्राणि प्रजापतेः

yaṁ samāsādya vegena diśāmaṁtaṁ prapedire|| dakṣasya daśa putrāṇāṁ sahasrāṇi prajāpateḥ

Having encountered it with speed, the thousands born of the ten sons of Prajapati Daksha reached the very ends of the directions —

Verse 62 (skanda.1.73.62)

एवमेते दितेः पुत्राः सप्तसप्त व्यवस्थिताः॥ अनारमंतः संवांति सर्वगाः सर्वधारिणः

evamete diteḥ putrāḥ saptasapta vyavasthitāḥ|| anāramaṁtaḥ saṁvāṁti sarvagāḥ sarvadhāriṇaḥ

— thus these sons of Diti stand arranged, seven by seven; unceasing, they blow everywhere, going everywhere, sustaining all.

Verse 63 (skanda.1.73.63)

ध्रुवादूर्ध्वमसूर्यं चाप्यनक्षत्रमतारकम्॥ स्वतेजसा स्वशक्त्या चाधिष्ठितास्ते हि नित्यदा

dhruvādūrdhvamasūryaṁ cāpyanakṣatramatārakam|| svatejasā svaśaktyā cādhiṣṭhitāste hi nityadā

Above Dhruva there is neither sun, nor constellation, nor star; that realm is governed always by its own inner radiance and its own power.

Verse 64 (skanda.1.73.64)

इत्यूर्ध्वं ते समाख्यांतं पातालान्यथ मे श्रृणु

ityūrdhvaṁ te samākhyāṁtaṁ pātālānyatha me śrṛṇu

Thus has the upper realm been declared to you. Now hear from me of the netherworlds.