The Glory of Bharata-varsha

Verse 1 (vishnu.2.3.1)

पराशर उवाच । उत्तरं यत् समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रेश् चैव दक्षिणम् । वर्षं तद् भारतं नाम भारती यत्र संततिः

parāśara uvāca uttaraṁ yat samudrasya himādreś caiva dakṣiṇam varṣaṁ tad bhārataṁ nāma bhāratī yatra saṁtatiḥ

Parashara said: The region lying north of the ocean and south of the Himalaya mountain is called Bharata, where the descendants of Bharata dwell.

Verse 2 (vishnu.2.3.2)

नवयोजनसाहस्रो विस्तारोऽस्य महामुने । कर्मभूमिर् इयं स्वर्गम् अपवर्गं च गच्छताम्

navayojanasāhasro vistāro'sya mahāmune karmabhūmir iyaṁ svargam apavargaṁ ca gacchatām

Its extent is nine thousand yojanas, O great sage; this is the land of action (karmabhumi) for those bound for heaven or for liberation.

Verse 3 (vishnu.2.3.3)

महेन्द्रो मलयः सह्यः शुक्तिमान् ऋक्षपर्वतः । विन्ध्यश् च पारियात्रश् च सप्तात्र कुलपर्वताः

mahendro malayaḥ sahyaḥ śuktimān ṛkṣaparvataḥ vindhyaś ca pāriyātraś ca saptātra kulaparvatāḥ

Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimat, Rikshaparvata, Vindhya, and Pariyatra — these are the seven principal mountain-ranges here.

Verse 4 (vishnu.2.3.4)

अतः संप्राप्यते स्वर्गो मुक्तिम् अस्मात् प्रयान्ति च । तिर्यक्त्वं नरकं चापि यान्त्य् अतः पुरुषा मुने

ataḥ saṁprāpyate svargo muktim asmāt prayānti ca tiryaktvaṁ narakaṁ cāpi yānty ataḥ puruṣā mune

From here heaven is attained, and from here liberation too; and from here also men go to animal birth and to hell, O sage.

Verse 5 (vishnu.2.3.5)

इतः स्वर्गश् च मोक्षश् च मध्यं चान्तश् च गम्यते । न खल्व् अन्यत्र मर्त्यानां कर्म भूमौ विधीयते

itaḥ svargaś ca mokṣaś ca madhyaṁ cāntaś ca gamyate na khalv anyatra martyānāṁ karma bhūmau vidhīyate

From here heaven, liberation, and the middling and lowest states as well are reached; indeed, the ordinance of action for mortals exists nowhere else but on this land.

Verse 6 (vishnu.2.3.6)

भारतस्यास्य वर्षस्य नव भेदान् निशामय । इन्द्रद्वीपः कसेरुश् च ताम्रपर्णो गभस्तिमान्

bhāratasyāsya varṣasya nava bhedān niśāmaya indradvīpaḥ kaseruś ca tāmraparṇo gabhastimān

Hear now the nine divisions of this Bharata-varsha: Indradvipa, Kaseru, Tamraparna, Gabhastimat,

Verse 7 (vishnu.2.3.7)

नागद्वीपस् तथा सौम्यो गान्धर्वस् त्व् अथ वारुणः । अयं तु नवमस् तेषां द्वीपः सागरसंवृतः

nāgadvīpas tathā saumyo gāndharvas tv atha vāruṇaḥ ayaṁ tu navamas teṣāṁ dvīpaḥ sāgarasaṁvṛtaḥ

Nagadvipa, and likewise Saumya, Gandharva, and then Varuna — this last, the ninth, is an island surrounded by the sea.

Verse 8 (vishnu.2.3.8)

योजनानां सहस्रं तु द्वीपोऽयं दक्षिणोत्तरात् । पूर्वे किराता यस्यान्ते पश्चिमे यवनाः स्थिताः

yojanānāṁ sahasraṁ tu dvīpo'yaṁ dakṣiṇottarāt pūrve kirātā yasyānte paścime yavanāḥ sthitāḥ

This continent measures a thousand yojanas from south to north; at its eastern end dwell the Kiratas, and in the west the Yavanas reside.

Verse 9 (vishnu.2.3.9)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या मध्ये शूद्राश् च भागशः । इज्यायुधवणिज्याद्यैर् वर्तयन्तो व्यवस्थिताः

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā madhye śūdrāś ca bhāgaśaḥ ijyāyudhavaṇijyādyair vartayanto vyavasthitāḥ

Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas, and Shudras in their due portion in the middle, dwell there, sustaining themselves through sacrifice, arms, trade, and the like.

Verse 10 (vishnu.2.3.10)

शतद्रूचन्द्रभागाद्या हिमवत्पादनिःसृताः । वेदस्मृतिमुखाश् चान्याः पारियात्रोद्भवा मुने

śatadrūcandrabhāgādyā himavatpādaniḥsṛtāḥ vedasmṛtimukhāś cānyāḥ pāriyātrodbhavā mune

The Shatadru, Chandrabhaga, and others issue from the foot of the Himalaya; other rivers, headed by the Veda and Smriti, arise from the Pariyatra, O sage.

Verse 11 (vishnu.2.3.11)

नर्मदासुरसाद्याश् च नद्यो विन्ध्याद्रिनिर्गताः । तापीपयोष्णीनिर्विन्ध्याप्रमुखा ऋक्षसंभवाः

narmadāsurasādyāś ca nadyo vindhyādrinirgatāḥ tāpīpayoṣṇīnirvindhyāpramukhā ṛkṣasaṁbhavāḥ

The Narmada, Surasa, and others are rivers issuing from the Vindhya mountain; the Tapi, Payoshni, Nirvindhya, and others arise from the Rikshaparvata.

Verse 12 (vishnu.2.3.12)

गोदावरी भीमरथी कृष्णवेण्यादिकास् तथा । सह्यपादोद्भवा नद्यः स्मृताः पापभयापहाः

godāvarī bhīmarathī kṛṣṇaveṇyādikās tathā sahyapādodbhavā nadyaḥ smṛtāḥ pāpabhayāpahāḥ

The Godavari, Bhimarathi, Krishnaveni, and others, rivers arising from the foot of the Sahya mountain, are held to remove sin and fear.

Verse 13 (vishnu.2.3.13)

कृतमालाताम्रपर्णीप्रमुखा मलयोद्भवाः । त्रिसामा ऋषिकुल्याद्या महेन्द्रप्रभवाः स्मृताः

kṛtamālātāmraparṇīpramukhā malayodbhavāḥ trisāmā ṛṣikulyādyā mahendraprabhavāḥ smṛtāḥ

The Kritamala, Tamraparni, and others arise from the Malaya mountain; the Trisama, Rishikulya, and others are held to arise from the Mahendra mountain.

Verse 14 (vishnu.2.3.14)

ऋषिकुल्याकुमाराद्याः शुक्तिमत्पादसंभवाः । आसां नद्युपनद्यश् च सन्त्य् अन्याश् च सहस्रशः

ṛṣikulyākumārādyāḥ śuktimatpādasaṁbhavāḥ āsāṁ nadyupanadyaś ca santy anyāś ca sahasraśaḥ

The Rishikulya, Kumari, and others arise from the foot of the Shuktimat; besides these there are thousands of other rivers and tributaries.

Verse 15 (vishnu.2.3.15)

तास्व् इमे कुरुपाञ्चाला मध्यदेशादयो जनाः । पूर्वदेशादिकाश् चैव कामरूपनिवासिनः

tāsv ime kurupāñcālā madhyadeśādayo janāḥ pūrvadeśādikāś caiva kāmarūpanivāsinaḥ

Along these rivers dwell the peoples of the Kurus and Panchalas and the rest of the middle country, and likewise the peoples of the eastern country and the inhabitants of Kamarupa.

Verse 16 (vishnu.2.3.16)

पुण्ड्राः कलिङ्गा मगधा दाक्षिणाद्याश् च कृत्स्नशः । तथापरान्ताः सौराष्ट्राः शूराभीरास् तथार्बुदाः

puṇḍrāḥ kaliṅgā magadhā dākṣiṇādyāś ca kṛtsnaśaḥ tathāparāntāḥ saurāṣṭrāḥ śūrābhīrās tathārbudāḥ

The Pundras, Kalingas, Magadhas, and all the southern peoples, and likewise the Aparantas, Saurashtras, Shurabhiras, and Arbudas,

Verse 17 (vishnu.2.3.17)

कारूषा मालवाश् चैव पारियात्रनिवासिनः । सौवीराः सैन्धवा हूणाः साल्वाः शाकलवासिनः

kārūṣā mālavāś caiva pāriyātranivāsinaḥ sauvīrāḥ saindhavā hūṇāḥ sālvāḥ śākalavāsinaḥ

The Karushas and Malavas, and the dwellers of Pariyatra; the Sauviras, Saindhavas, Hunas, Salvas, and the inhabitants of Shakala,

Verse 18 (vishnu.2.3.18)

मद्रा रामास् तथाम्बष्ठाः पारसीकादयस् तथा । आसां पिबन्ति सलिलं वसन्ति सरितां सदा । समीपतो महाभागा हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाः

madrā rāmās tathāmbaṣṭhāḥ pārasīkādayas tathā āsāṁ pibanti salilaṁ vasanti saritāṁ sadā samīpato mahābhāgā hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulāḥ

The Madras, Ramas, and Ambashthas, and the Parasikas and others — all these drink the waters of these rivers and dwell ever near them, greatly fortunate, thronged with cheerful and prosperous people.

Verse 19 (vishnu.2.3.19)

चत्वारि भारते वर्षे युगान्य् अत्र महामुने । कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश् चान्यत्र न क्वचित्

catvāri bhārate varṣe yugāny atra mahāmune kṛtaṁ tretā dvāparaṁ ca kaliś cānyatra na kvacit

In this Bharata-varsha alone, O great sage, all four ages exist — Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali; nowhere else.

Verse 20 (vishnu.2.3.20)

तपस् तप्यन्ति यतयो जुह्वते चात्र यज्विनः । दानानि चात्र दीयन्ते परलोकार्थम् आदरात्

tapas tapyanti yatayo juhvate cātra yajvinaḥ dānāni cātra dīyante paralokārtham ādarāt

Here ascetics perform austerity, and sacrificers offer oblations here; here too, gifts are given with reverence for the sake of the world beyond.

Verse 21 (vishnu.2.3.21)

पुरुषैर् यज्ञपुरुषो जम्बूद्वीपे सदेज्यते । यज्ञैर् यज्ञमयो विष्णुर् अन्यद्वीपेषु चान्यथा

puruṣair yajñapuruṣo jambūdvīpe sadejyate yajñair yajñamayo viṣṇur anyadvīpeṣu cānyathā

In Jambudvipa, the Purusha who is sacrifice itself (yajnapurusha) is ever worshipped by men through sacrifices; Vishnu, who consists of sacrifice, is worshipped differently in the other continents.

Verse 22 (vishnu.2.3.22)

अत्रापि भारतं श्रेष्ठं जम्बूद्वीपे महामुने । यतो हि कर्मभूर् एषा ह्य् अतोऽन्या भोगभूमयः

atrāpi bhārataṁ śreṣṭhaṁ jambūdvīpe mahāmune yato hi karmabhūr eṣā hy ato'nyā bhogabhūmayaḥ

Even within Jambudvipa, Bharata is the foremost, O great sage, because this alone is the land of action; all the others are lands of mere enjoyment.

Verse 23 (vishnu.2.3.23)

अत्र जन्मसहस्राणां सहस्रैर् अपि सत्तम । कदाचिल् लभते जन्तुर् मानुष्यं पुण्यसंचयात्

atra janmasahasrāṇāṁ sahasrair api sattama kadācil labhate jantur mānuṣyaṁ puṇyasaṁcayāt

Here, O most excellent one, only after thousands upon thousands of births does a being sometimes attain human birth, through an accumulation of merit.

Verse 24 (vishnu.2.3.24)

गायन्ति देवाः किल गीतकानि धन्यास् तु ये भारतभूमिभागे । स्वर्गापवर्गास्पदहेतुभूते भवन्ति भूयः पुरुषाः सुरत्वात्

gāyanti devāḥ kila gītakāni dhanyās tu ye bhāratabhūmibhāge svargāpavargāspadahetubhūte bhavanti bhūyaḥ puruṣāḥ suratvāt

It is said that even the gods sing this song: 'Blessed indeed are they who are born in the land of Bharata, which is the very cause of the seat of heaven and of liberation; by virtue of that human birth they may again rise to greatness.'

Verse 25 (vishnu.2.3.25)

कर्माण्य् असंकल्पिततत्फलानि संन्यस्य विष्णौ परमात्मरूपे । अवाप्य तां कर्ममहीम् अनन्ते तस्मिंल् लयं ये त्व् अमलाः प्रयान्ति

karmāṇy asaṁkalpitatatphalāni saṁnyasya viṣṇau paramātmarūpe avāpya tāṁ karmamahīm anante tasmiṁl layaṁ ye tv amalāḥ prayānti

Those pure souls who, without desiring the fruits of their acts, dedicate their deeds to Vishnu, the Supreme Self, and who, having obtained this land of action, attain dissolution in that Infinite One —

Verse 26 (vishnu.2.3.26)

जानीम नैतत् क्व वयं विलीने स्वर्गप्रदे कर्मणि देहबन्धम् । प्राप्स्याम धन्याः खलु ते मनुष्या ये भारते नेन्द्रियविप्रहीनाः

jānīma naitat kva vayaṁ vilīne svargaprade karmaṇi dehabandham prāpsyāma dhanyāḥ khalu te manuṣyā ye bhārate nendriyaviprahīnāḥ

We do not even know where we ourselves shall be when this bodily bond, the means of heaven-granting action, dissolves; but blessed indeed are those men who, dwelling in Bharata, are not bereft of the use of their senses.

Verse 27 (vishnu.2.3.27)

नववर्षं तु मैत्रेय जम्बूद्वीपम् इदं मया । लक्षयोजनविस्तारं संक्षेपात् कथितं तव

navavarṣaṁ tu maitreya jambūdvīpam idaṁ mayā lakṣayojanavistāraṁ saṁkṣepāt kathitaṁ tava

Thus, O Maitreya, I have told you in brief of this Jambudvipa with its nine regions, a hundred thousand yojanas in extent.

Verse 28 (vishnu.2.3.28)

जम्बूद्वीपं समावृत्य लक्षयोजनविस्तरः । मैत्रेय वलयाकारः स्थितः क्षारोदधिर् बहिः

jambūdvīpaṁ samāvṛtya lakṣayojanavistaraḥ maitreya valayākāraḥ sthitaḥ kṣārodadhir bahiḥ

Surrounding Jambudvipa, O Maitreya, the salt ocean, a hundred thousand yojanas in extent, lies outside it, shaped like a bracelet.