The Seven Dvipas and the Naming of Bharata-varsha

Verse 1 (vishnu.2.1.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच । भगवन् सर्वम् आख्यातं ममैतद् अखिलं त्वया । जगतः सर्गसंबन्धि यत् पृष्टोऽसि गुरो मया

maitreya uvāca bhagavan sarvam ākhyātaṁ mamaitad akhilaṁ tvayā jagataḥ sargasaṁbandhi yat pṛṣṭo'si guro mayā

Maitreya said: O venerable one, you have fully related to me all that I asked you, O guru, concerning the creation of the world.

Verse 2 (vishnu.2.1.2)

योऽयम् अंशो जगत्सृष्टिसंबन्धो गदितस् त्वया । तत्राहं श्रोतुम् इच्छामि भूयोऽपि मुनिसत्तम

yo'yam aṁśo jagatsṛṣṭisaṁbandho gaditas tvayā tatrāhaṁ śrotum icchāmi bhūyo'pi munisattama

That portion connected with the creation of the world which you have spoken of, O best of sages, I wish to hear yet further about.

Verse 3 (vishnu.2.1.3)

प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ सुतौ स्वायम्भुवस्य यौ । तयोर् उत्तानपादस्य ध्रुवः पुत्रस् त्वयोदितः

priyavratottānapādau sutau svāyambhuvasya yau tayor uttānapādasya dhruvaḥ putras tvayoditaḥ

Priyavrata and Uttanapada were the two sons of Svayambhuva Manu; of these, you have already told me of Dhruva, the son of Uttanapada.

Verse 4 (vishnu.2.1.4)

प्रियव्रतस्य नैवोक्ता भवता द्विज संततिः । ताम् अहं श्रोतुम् इच्छामि प्रसन्नो वक्तुम् अर्हसि

priyavratasya naivoktā bhavatā dvija saṁtatiḥ tām ahaṁ śrotum icchāmi prasanno vaktum arhasi

But you have not yet told me of Priyavrata's descendants, O best of the twice-born; I wish to hear of that — may you kindly relate it.

Verse 5 (vishnu.2.1.5)

पराशर उवाच । कर्दमस्यात्मजां कन्याम् उपयेमे प्रियव्रतः । सम्राट् कुक्षिश् च तत्कन्ये दशपुत्रास् तथापरे

parāśara uvāca kardamasyātmajāṁ kanyām upayeme priyavrataḥ samrāṭ kukṣiś ca tatkanye daśaputrās tathāpare

Parashara said: Priyavrata married the daughter of Kardama; by her he had Samrat and Kukshi, and ten other sons besides.

Verse 6 (vishnu.2.1.6)

महाप्रज्ञा महावीर्या विनीता दयिताः पितुः । प्रियव्रतसुताः ख्यातास् तेषां नामानि मे शृणु

mahāprajñā mahāvīryā vinītā dayitāḥ pituḥ priyavratasutāḥ khyātās teṣāṁ nāmāni me śṛṇu

Highly wise, of great valor, humble, and dearly beloved of their father — hear from me the names of those renowned sons of Priyavrata.

Verse 7 (vishnu.2.1.7)

आग्नीध्रश् चाग्निबाहुश् च वपुष्मान् द्युतिमांस् तथा । मेधा मेधातिथिर् भव्यः सवनः पुत्र एव च

āgnīdhraś cāgnibāhuś ca vapuṣmān dyutimāṁs tathā medhā medhātithir bhavyaḥ savanaḥ putra eva ca

Agnidhra and Agnibahu, Vapushman and likewise Dyutiman, Medha, Medhatithi, Bhavya, and the son named Savana —

Verse 8 (vishnu.2.1.8)

ज्योतिष्मान् दशमस् तेषां सत्यनामा सुतोऽभवत् । प्रियव्रतस्य पुत्राणां प्रख्याता बलवीर्यतः

jyotiṣmān daśamas teṣāṁ satyanāmā suto'bhavat priyavratasya putrāṇāṁ prakhyātā balavīryataḥ

The tenth among them was Jyotishman, born under the name Satyanaman — these were the sons of Priyavrata, renowned for their strength and valor.

Verse 9 (vishnu.2.1.9)

मेधाग्निबाहुपुत्रास् तु त्रयो योगपरायणाः । जातिस्मरा महाभागा न राज्याय मनो दधुः

medhāgnibāhuputrās tu trayo yogaparāyaṇāḥ jātismarā mahābhāgā na rājyāya mano dadhuḥ

Among these, the three sons of Medha and Agnibahu were devoted to yoga and, remembering their former births, did not set their minds upon kingship.

Verse 10 (vishnu.2.1.10)

निर्ममाः सर्वकालं तु समस्तार्थेषु वै मुने । चक्रुः क्रिया यथान्यायम् अफलाकाङ्क्षिणो हि ते

nirmamāḥ sarvakālaṁ tu samastārtheṣu vai mune cakruḥ kriyā yathānyāyam aphalākāṅkṣiṇo hi te

Free from any sense of possession, they performed all their prescribed duties, O sage, at all times and in every matter, without desire for reward.

Verse 11 (vishnu.2.1.11)

प्रियव्रतो ददौ तेषां सप्तानां मुनिसत्तम । विभज्य सप्त द्वीपानि मैत्रेय सुमहात्मनाम्

priyavrato dadau teṣāṁ saptānāṁ munisattama vibhajya sapta dvīpāni maitreya sumahātmanām

Priyavrata, O best of sages, having divided the seven continents (dvipas), gave them to those seven great-souled sons, O Maitreya.

Verse 12 (vishnu.2.1.12)

जम्बूद्वीपं महाभाग सोऽग्नीध्राय ददौ पिता । मेधातिथेस् तथा प्रादात् प्लक्षद्वीपम् अथापरम्

jambūdvīpaṁ mahābhāga so'gnīdhrāya dadau pitā medhātithes tathā prādāt plakṣadvīpam athāparam

That father gave Jambudvipa to Agnidhra, O greatly fortunate one, and likewise gave the other, Plakshadvipa, to Medhatithi.

Verse 13 (vishnu.2.1.13)

शाल्मले च वपुष्मन्तं नरेन्द्रम् अभिषिक्तवान् । ज्योतिष्मन्तं कुशद्वीपे राजानं कृतवान् प्रभुः

śālmale ca vapuṣmantaṁ narendram abhiṣiktavān jyotiṣmantaṁ kuśadvīpe rājānaṁ kṛtavān prabhuḥ

In Shalmaladvipa he consecrated Vapushman as king; in Kushadvipa the lord made Jyotishman king.

Verse 14 (vishnu.2.1.14)

द्युतिमन्तं च राजानं क्रौञ्चद्वीपे समादिशत् । शाकद्वीपेश्वरं चापि भव्यं चक्रे प्रियव्रतः

dyutimantaṁ ca rājānaṁ krauñcadvīpe samādiśat śākadvīpeśvaraṁ cāpi bhavyaṁ cakre priyavrataḥ

He appointed Dyutiman as king in Krauncha-dvipa; and Priyavrata made Bhavya the lord of Shaka-dvipa.

Verse 15 (vishnu.2.1.15)

पुष्कराधिपतिं चक्रे सवनं चापि स प्रभुः । जम्बूद्वीपेश्वरो यस् तु आग्नीध्रो मुनिसत्तम । तस्य पुत्रा बभूवुस् ते प्रजापतिसमा नव

puṣkarādhipatiṁ cakre savanaṁ cāpi sa prabhuḥ jambūdvīpeśvaro yas tu āgnīdhro munisattama tasya putrā babhūvus te prajāpatisamā nava

That lord made Savana the ruler of Pushkaradvipa. Now Agnidhra, who was the lord of Jambudvipa, O best of sages, had nine sons equal to Prajapatis.

Verse 16 (vishnu.2.1.16)

नाभिः किंपुरुषश् चैव हरिवर्ष इलावृतः । रम्यो हिरण्वान् षष्ठस् तु कुरुर् भद्राश्व एव च । केतुमालस् तथैवान्यः साधुचेष्टो नृपोऽभवत्

nābhiḥ kiṁpuruṣaś caiva harivarṣa ilāvṛtaḥ ramyo hiraṇvān ṣaṣṭhas tu kurur bhadrāśva eva ca ketumālas tathaivānyaḥ sādhuceṣṭo nṛpo'bhavat

Nabhi, and likewise Kimpurusha, Harivarsha, Ilavrita, Ramya, Hiranvan — the sixth —, Kuru, Bhadrashva, and another of virtuous conduct who became king, Ketumala.

Verse 17 (vishnu.2.1.17)

जम्बूद्वीपविभागांस् तु तेषां विप्र निशामय । पित्रा दत्तं हिमाह्वं तु वर्षं नाभेस् तु दक्षिणम्

jambūdvīpavibhāgāṁs tu teṣāṁ vipra niśāmaya pitrā dattaṁ himāhvaṁ tu varṣaṁ nābhes tu dakṣiṇam

Hear now, O brahmin, the divisions of Jambudvipa allotted to them: to the south of Meru, the father gave to Nabhi the region called Himahva.

Verse 18 (vishnu.2.1.18)

हेमकूटं तथा वर्षं ददौ किंपुरुषाय सः । तृतीयं नैषधं वर्षं हरिवर्षाय दत्तवान्

hemakūṭaṁ tathā varṣaṁ dadau kiṁpuruṣāya saḥ tṛtīyaṁ naiṣadhaṁ varṣaṁ harivarṣāya dattavān

The region called Hemakuta he gave to Kimpurusha; the third region, Naishadha, he gave to Harivarsha.

Verse 19 (vishnu.2.1.19)

इलावृताय प्रददौ मेरुर् यत्र तु मध्यमे । नीलाचलाश्रितं वर्षं रम्याय प्रददौ पिता

ilāvṛtāya pradadau merur yatra tu madhyame nīlācalāśritaṁ varṣaṁ ramyāya pradadau pitā

To Ilavrita he gave the region in whose midst Mount Meru stands; the region bordering the Nila mountain the father gave to Ramya.

Verse 20 (vishnu.2.1.20)

श्वेतं यद् उत्तरं तस्मात् पित्रा दत्तं हिरण्वते

śvetaṁ yad uttaraṁ tasmāt pitrā dattaṁ hiraṇvate

The region north of that, called Shveta, was given by the father to Hiranvan.

Verse 21 (vishnu.2.1.21)

यद् उत्तरं शृङ्गवतो वर्षं तत् कुरवे ददौ । मेरोः पूर्वेण यद् वर्षं भद्राश्वाय प्रदत्तवान्

yad uttaraṁ śṛṅgavato varṣaṁ tat kurave dadau meroḥ pūrveṇa yad varṣaṁ bhadrāśvāya pradattavān

The region north of Mount Shringavat he gave to Kuru; the region east of Meru he gave to Bhadrashva.

Verse 22 (vishnu.2.1.22)

गन्धमादनवर्षं तु केतुमालाय दत्तवान् । इत्य् एतानि ददौ तेभ्यः पुत्रेभ्यः स नरेश्वरः

gandhamādanavarṣaṁ tu ketumālāya dattavān ity etāni dadau tebhyaḥ putrebhyaḥ sa nareśvaraḥ

The region of Gandhamadana he gave to Ketumala. Thus that lord of men gave these regions to his sons.

Verse 23 (vishnu.2.1.23)

वर्षेष्व् एतेषु तान् पुत्रान् अभिषिच्य स भूपतिः । सालग्रामं महापुण्यं मैत्रेय तपसे ययौ

varṣeṣv eteṣu tān putrān abhiṣicya sa bhūpatiḥ sālagrāmaṁ mahāpuṇyaṁ maitreya tapase yayau

Having consecrated his sons over those regions, that lord of the earth, O Maitreya, went to the greatly sacred Shalagrama for austerity.

Verse 24 (vishnu.2.1.24)

यानि किंपुरुषादीनि वर्षाण्य् अष्टौ महामुने । तेषां स्वाभाविकी सिद्धिः सुखप्राया ह्य् अयत्नतः

yāni kiṁpuruṣādīni varṣāṇy aṣṭau mahāmune teṣāṁ svābhāvikī siddhiḥ sukhaprāyā hy ayatnataḥ

In these eight regions beginning with Kimpurusha, O great sage, there is natural accomplishment, and happiness for the most part, without any effort.

Verse 25 (vishnu.2.1.25)

विपर्ययो न तेष्व् अस्ति जरामृत्युभयं न च । धर्माधर्मौ न तेष्व् आस्तां नोत्तमाधममध्यमाः

viparyayo na teṣv asti jarāmṛtyubhayaṁ na ca dharmādharmau na teṣv āstāṁ nottamādhamamadhyamāḥ

In them there is no change or misfortune, nor fear of old age or death; in them there is neither righteousness nor unrighteousness, nor best, worst, or middling natures.

Verse 26 (vishnu.2.1.26)

न तेष्व् अस्ति युगावस्था क्षेत्रेष्व् अष्टसु सर्वदा । हिमाह्वयं तु वै वर्षं नाभेर् आसीन् महात्मनः । तस्यर्षभोऽभवत् पुत्रो मेरुदेव्यां महाद्युतिः

na teṣv asti yugāvasthā kṣetreṣv aṣṭasu sarvadā himāhvayaṁ tu vai varṣaṁ nābher āsīn mahātmanaḥ tasyarṣabho'bhavat putro merudevyāṁ mahādyutiḥ

In these eight regions there is never any state of the [four] ages. The region called Himahva belonged to the great-souled Nabhi; his son by Merudevi, of great splendor, was Rishabha.

Verse 27 (vishnu.2.1.27)

ऋषभाद् भरतो जज्ञे ज्येष्ठः पुत्रशतस्य सः । कृत्वा राज्यं स्वधर्मेण तथेष्ट्वा विविधान् मखान्

ṛṣabhād bharato jajñe jyeṣṭhaḥ putraśatasya saḥ kṛtvā rājyaṁ svadharmeṇa tatheṣṭvā vividhān makhān

From Rishabha was born Bharata, the eldest among a hundred sons. Having ruled the kingdom according to his own duty, and having performed various sacrifices,

Verse 28 (vishnu.2.1.28)

अभिषिच्य सुतं वीरं भरतं पृथिवीपतिः । तपसे स महाभागः पुलहस्याश्रमं ययौ

abhiṣicya sutaṁ vīraṁ bharataṁ pṛthivīpatiḥ tapase sa mahābhāgaḥ pulahasyāśramaṁ yayau

having consecrated his heroic son Bharata as king, that greatly fortunate lord of the earth went to the hermitage of Pulaha for austerity.

Verse 29 (vishnu.2.1.29)

वानप्रस्थविधानेन तत्रापि कृतनिश्चयः । तपस् तेपे यथान्यायम् इयाज स महीपतिः

vānaprasthavidhānena tatrāpi kṛtaniścayaḥ tapas tepe yathānyāyam iyāja sa mahīpatiḥ

Resolved even there according to the rule of the forest-dwelling stage, that lord of the earth performed austerity and sacrifice as is proper.

Verse 30 (vishnu.2.1.30)

तपसा कर्षितोऽत्यर्थं कृशो धमनिसंततः । नग्नो वीटां मुखे दत्त्वा वीराध्वानं ततो गतः

tapasā karṣito'tyarthaṁ kṛśo dhamanisaṁtataḥ nagno vīṭāṁ mukhe dattvā vīrādhvānaṁ tato gataḥ

Emaciated exceedingly by austerity, thin, his body traced with sinews, naked, a straw held in his mouth, he then went the way of heroes — that is, he gave up his body.

Verse 31 (vishnu.2.1.31)

ततश् च भारतं वर्षम् एतल् लोकेषु गीयते । भरताय यतः पित्रा दत्तं प्रातिष्ठता वनम्

tataś ca bhārataṁ varṣam etal lokeṣu gīyate bharatāya yataḥ pitrā dattaṁ prātiṣṭhatā vanam

Since then this land has been sung of among the worlds as Bharata-varsha, because it was given by the father to Bharata, who established himself in the forest.

Verse 32 (vishnu.2.1.32)

सुमतिर् भरतस्याभूत् पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः । कृत्वा सम्यग् ददौ तस्मै राज्यम् इष्टमखः पिता

sumatir bharatasyābhūt putraḥ paramadhārmikaḥ kṛtvā samyag dadau tasmai rājyam iṣṭamakhaḥ pitā

Sumati, supremely righteous, was the son of Bharata. Having duly completed his sacrifices, the father gave him the kingdom.

Verse 33 (vishnu.2.1.33)

पुत्रसंक्रामितश्रीस् तु भरतः स महीपतिः । योगाभ्यासरतः प्राणान् सालग्रामेऽत्यजन् मुने

putrasaṁkrāmitaśrīs tu bharataḥ sa mahīpatiḥ yogābhyāsarataḥ prāṇān sālagrāme'tyajan mune

Having transferred his royal fortune to his son, that lord of the earth, Bharata, devoted to the practice of yoga, gave up his life-breath at Shalagrama, O sage.

Verse 34 (vishnu.2.1.34)

अजायत च विप्रोऽसौ योगिनां प्रवरे कुले । मैत्रेय तस्य चरितं कथयिष्यामि ते पुनः

ajāyata ca vipro'sau yogināṁ pravare kule maitreya tasya caritaṁ kathayiṣyāmi te punaḥ

And he was born a brahmin in the finest lineage of yogis; O Maitreya, I shall relate his story to you again later.

Verse 35 (vishnu.2.1.35)

सुमतेस् तेजसस् तस्माद् इन्द्रद्युम्नो व्यजायत । परमेष्ठी ततस् तस्मात् प्रतिहारस् तदन्वयः

sumates tejasas tasmād indradyumno vyajāyata parameṣṭhī tatas tasmāt pratihāras tadanvayaḥ

From the splendor of Sumati was born Indradyumna; from him Parameshthin, and in his line came Pratihara.

Verse 36 (vishnu.2.1.36)

प्रतिहर्तेति विख्यात उत्पन्नस् तस्य चात्मजः । भुवस् तस्माद् अथोद्गीथः प्रस्तावस् तत्सुतो विभुः

pratiharteti vikhyāta utpannas tasya cātmajaḥ bhuvas tasmād athodgīthaḥ prastāvas tatsuto vibhuḥ

His son, renowned by the name Pratiharta, was born; from him Bhuva, then Udgitha, then his son Prastava, then Vibhu.

Verse 37 (vishnu.2.1.37)

पृथुस् ततस् ततो नक्तो नक्तस्यापि गयः सुतः । नरो गयस्य तनयस् तत्पुत्रोऽभूद् विराट् ततः

pṛthus tatas tato nakto naktasyāpi gayaḥ sutaḥ naro gayasya tanayas tatputro'bhūd virāṭ tataḥ

Then Prithu, then Nakta was born; Nakta's son too was Gaya. Nara was the son of Gaya; his son became Virat.

Verse 38 (vishnu.2.1.38)

तस्य पुत्रो महावीर्यो धीमांस् तस्माद् अजायत । महान्तोऽपि ततश् चाभून् मनस्युस् तस्य चात्मजः

tasya putro mahāvīryo dhīmāṁs tasmād ajāyata mahānto'pi tataś cābhūn manasyus tasya cātmajaḥ

His (Virat's) son was Mahavirya; from him Dhimat was born. Mahanta too came from him; and his son was Manasyu.

Verse 39 (vishnu.2.1.39)

त्वष्टा त्वष्टुश् च विरजो रजस् तस्याप्य् अभूत् सुतः । शतजिद् रजसस् तस्य जज्ञे पुत्रशतं मुने

tvaṣṭā tvaṣṭuś ca virajo rajas tasyāpy abhūt sutaḥ śatajid rajasas tasya jajñe putraśataṁ mune

From Manasyu was born Tvashta; Tvashta's son was Viraja; his son too was Rajas. From that Rajas, O sage, a hundred sons were born, with Shatajit foremost among them.

Verse 40 (vishnu.2.1.40)

विष्वग्ज्योतिःप्रधानास् ते यैर् इमा वर्धिताः प्रजाः । तैर् इदं भारतं वर्षं नवभेदम् अलंकृतम्

viṣvagjyotiḥpradhānās te yair imā vardhitāḥ prajāḥ tair idaṁ bhārataṁ varṣaṁ navabhedam alaṁkṛtam

They, with Vishvagjyotis as chief, by whom these subjects were increased — by them this Bharata-varsha was adorned with nine divisions.

Verse 41 (vishnu.2.1.41)

तेषां वंशप्रसूतैस् तु भुक्तेयं भारती पुरा । कृतत्रेतादिसर्गेण युगाख्या ह्य् एकसप्ततिः

teṣāṁ vaṁśaprasūtais tu bhukteyaṁ bhāratī purā kṛtatretādisargeṇa yugākhyā hy ekasaptatiḥ

By the descendants born in their lineage, this land of Bharata was formerly enjoyed for a period reckoned as seventy-one ages (yugas), counted from the Krita, Treta, and the rest.

Verse 42 (vishnu.2.1.42)

एष स्वायंभुवः सर्गो येनेदं पूरितं जगत् । वाराहे तु मुने कल्पे पूर्वमन्वन्तराधिपः

eṣa svāyaṁbhuvaḥ sargo yenedaṁ pūritaṁ jagat vārāhe tu mune kalpe pūrvamanvantarādhipaḥ

This is the creation under Svayambhuva, by which this world was filled. In the Varaha kalpa, O sage, I shall now tell of the lord who formerly presided over that Manvantara.