Adhyaya 5

Verse 1

ऋषय ऊचुः । वर्षाणां चैव नामानि पर्वतानां च सत्तम । आचक्ष्व नो यथातत्वं ये च पर्वतवासिनः

The sages said: “O best among the virtuous, tell us truthfully the names of the regions (varṣas) and of the mountains, and also those who dwell upon the mountains.”

Verse 2

सूत उवाच । दक्षिणेन तु श्वेतस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु । वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायंते तत्र मानवाः

Sūta said: To the south of Śveta and to the north of Niṣadha lies a region called Ramaṇaka; human beings are born there.

Verse 3

शुक्लाभिजनसंपन्नाः सर्वे ते प्रियदर्शनाः । निःसपत्नाश्च ते सर्वे जायंते तत्र मानवाः

All who are born there are endowed with noble lineage and fair complexion; they are all pleasing to behold. Those humans are born there without rivals.

Verse 4

दशवर्षसहस्राणि शतानि दशपंच च । जीवंति ते महाभागा नित्यं मुदितमानसाः

For ten thousand years—along with a hundred and also fifteen more—those greatly fortunate ones live on, their minds ever joyful.

Verse 5

दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु । वर्षं हिरण्मयं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी

To the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha lies the region called Hiraṇmaya, where the river Hairaṇvatī flows.

Verse 6

यत्र चायं महाप्राज्ञाः पक्षिराट्पतगोत्तमः । यज्ञानुगा विप्रवरा धन्विनः प्रियदर्शनाः

Where this supremely wise king of birds—the finest among the winged—abides, there too are excellent brāhmaṇas devoted to the rites of yajña, bearing bows and fair to behold.

Verse 7

महाबलास्तत्र जना विप्रा मुदितमानसाः । एकादशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते तपोधनाः

There the brāhmaṇas—people of great strength and joyful minds, rich in tapas—lived for eleven thousand years.

Verse 8

आयुःप्रमाणं जीवंति शतानि दश पंच च । शृंगाणि च पवित्राणि त्रीण्येव द्विजपुंगवाः

O best of the twice-born, they live out the full measure of life—one hundred and fifteen years—and they possess three sacred horns.

Verse 9

एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रुक्ममद्भुतम् । सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भवनैरुपशोभितम्

There, one palace was made of gems; another, wondrously, was of gold; and yet another was fashioned of every kind of jewel, adorned with splendid mansions.

Verse 10

तत्र स्वयं प्रभादेवी नित्यं वसति शंडिनी । उत्तरेण तु शृंगस्य समुद्रांते द्विजोत्तमाः

There, Prabhādevī herself ever dwells as Śaṃḍinī. And to the north of that peak, at the ocean’s edge, O best of the twice-born, there are sacred presences and holy places.

Verse 11

वर्षमैरावतं नाम तस्माच्छृंगवतः परम् । न तु तत्र सूर्यगतिर्जीर्यंते न च मानवाः

Beyond Śṛṅgavat lies the region called Airāvata. There the sun’s course is not seen, and human beings do not grow old.

Verse 12

चंद्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो ज्योतिर्भूत इवावृतः । पद्मप्रभाः पद्मवर्णाः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणाः

The moon, together with the constellations, appeared as though enveloped in a mass of light—lotus-radiant, lotus-hued, with eyes like lotus-petals.

Verse 13

पद्मपत्रसुगंधाश्च जायंते तत्र मानवाः । अनिष्पन्ना नष्टगंधा निराहारा जितेंद्रियाः

There, humans are born fragrant like lotus-petals—unripened, yet with their scent faded; living without food, and having conquered their senses.

Verse 14

देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे तथा विरजसो द्विजाः । त्रयोदशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते द्विजोत्तमाः

All of them, fallen from the world of the gods, and those stainless brahmins as well—O best of the twice-born—remain thus for thirteen thousand years.

Verse 15

आयुःप्रमाणं जीवंति नरा धार्मिकपुंगवाः । क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य तथैवोत्तरतः प्रभुः

The foremost among righteous men live out the full measure of their lifespan; and so too, O Lord, they dwell to the north of the Ocean of Milk.

Verse 16

हरिस्तिष्ठति वैकुंठः शकटे कनकामये । अष्टचक्रं हि तद्यानं भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम्

Hari abides in Vaikuṇṭha upon a golden chariot. That conveyance has eight wheels, is yoked with beings, and moves with the speed of the mind.

Verse 17

अग्निवर्णं महातेजो जांबूनदविभूषितम् । स प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां विभुश्च द्विजसत्तमाः

He is fire-hued, of immense radiance, adorned with Jāmbūnada gold; he is the Lord of all beings and the all-pervading One, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 18

संक्षेपे विस्तरे चैव कर्ता कारयिता तथा । पृथिव्यापस्तथाकाशं वायुस्तेजश्च सत्तमाः

Whether spoken briefly or in full detail, he is the doer and also the one who causes action; he is earth, water, and likewise space, and he is air and fire as well, O best of the virtuous.

Verse 19

स यज्ञः सर्वभूतानामास्यं तस्य हुताशनः

He is that Yajña, the sacrifice, which is the very mouth of all beings; and Agni, the receiver of oblations, is his consuming flame.