Adhyaya 9

Verse 1

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

Sūta said: “O brāhmaṇas, in the northern islands a certain account is heard. Thus, O greatly fortunate ones, as it is being narrated there—listen and understand it.”

Verse 2

घृततोयः समुद्रोथ दधिमंडोदकोपरः । सुरोदसागरश्चैव तथान्यो दुग्धसागरः

Then there is the ocean whose waters are ghee; another whose waters are the creamy essence of curd; likewise the ocean of surā (fermented liquor); and yet another—the ocean of milk.

Verse 3

परस्परेण द्विगुणाः सर्वे द्वीपा द्विजर्षभाः । पर्वताश्च महाप्राज्ञाः समुद्रैः परिवारिताः

O best of the twice-born, all the dvīpas are each twice the size of the one before; and the mountains, O greatly wise one, are encircled by oceans.

Verse 4

गौरस्तु मध्यमे द्वीपे गिरिर्मनःशिलो महान् । पर्वतः पश्चिमे कृष्णो नारायणसखो द्विजाः

In the middle dvīpa is the great mountain called Manaḥśilā, O twice-born ones. In the west is Mount Kṛṣṇa, a companion of Nārāyaṇa, O brāhmaṇas.

Verse 5

तत्र रत्नानि दिव्यानि स्वयं रक्षति केशवः । प्रसन्नश्चाभवत्तत्र प्रजानां व्यदधात्सुखम्

There, Keśava Himself protects the divine jewels; and, being pleased in that place, He bestowed happiness upon the people.

Verse 6

शरद्वीपे कुशस्तंबो मध्ये जनपदस्य ह । संपूज्यते शाल्मलिश्च द्वीपे शाल्मलिके द्विजाः

In Śaradvīpa, in the very middle of the realm, the Kuśa-stambha is found; and in the Śālmalika-dvīpa, the Śālmali tree too is duly worshipped, O brāhmaṇas.

Verse 7

क्रौंचद्वीपे महाक्रौंचो गिरी रत्नचयाकरः । संपूज्यते भो विप्रेंद्राश्चातुर्वर्ण्येन नित्यदा

In Krauñca-dvīpa stands the great Mahākrauñca mountain, a mine of heaps of jewels; it is continually worshipped, O best of brāhmaṇas, by all the four varṇas every day.

Verse 8

गोमंतः पर्वतो विप्राः सुमहान्सर्वधातुकः । यत्र नित्यं निवसति श्रीमान्कमललोचनः

O brāhmaṇas, Mount Gomanta is exceedingly great and abundant in all minerals; there the glorious lotus-eyed Lord dwells eternally.

Verse 9

इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे नवमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the ninth chapter in the Svarga-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Mahāpurāṇa.

Verse 10

सुनामा च सुदुर्धर्षो द्वितीयो हेमपर्वतः । द्युतिमान्नाम विप्रेंद्रास्तृतीयः कुमुदो गिरिः

The first is called Sunāmā, and the next Sudurdharṣa. The second is the mountain named Hemaparvata. The third, O best of brāhmaṇas, is the shining mountain called Kumuda.

Verse 11

चतुर्थः पुष्पवान्नाम पंचमस्तु कुशेशयः । षष्टो हरिगिरिर्नाम षडेते पर्वतोत्तमाः

The fourth is named Puṣpavān; the fifth is Kuśeśaya. The sixth is called Harigiri. These six are the foremost among mountains.

Verse 12

तेषामंतरविष्कंभो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः । औद्भिदं प्रथमं वर्षं द्वितीयं रेणुमंडलम्

Of these regions, the intervening breadth is, by proper division, twice as much. The first varṣa is called Audbhida, and the second is the circular region known as Reṇumaṇḍala.

Verse 13

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

The third (region) is called Suratha; the fourth is remembered as Laṃbana. The fifth varṣa is Dhṛtimat, and the sixth varṣa is Prabhākara.

Verse 14

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

The seventh region is called Kāpila. These seven are known as the Varṣalambakas. In them, O brāhmaṇa, gods and Gandharvas, along with the peoples, remain joyful; they sport and delight, and among them no one dies.

Verse 15

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

Among them there are no bandits; nor are there brāhmaṇas of mleccha (foreign) origin. Nearly all the people are fair-complexioned, delicate in constitution, and of excellent character.

Verse 16

अवशिष्टेषु सर्वेषु वक्ष्यामि द्विजपुंगवाः । यथा श्रुतं महाप्राज्ञा वर्ण्यते शृणुत द्विजाः

O best of the twice-born, I shall now speak of all that remains. O highly wise brāhmaṇas, listen as it is recounted exactly as it was heard.

Verse 17

क्रौंचद्वीपे महाभागाः क्रौंचो नाम महागिरिः । क्रौंचात्परो वामनको वामनादंधकारकः

O fortunate ones, in Kraunca-dvīpa there is a great mountain named Kraunca. Beyond Kraunca lies (the mountain) Vāmanaka, and beyond Vāmanaka is Andhakāraka.

Verse 18

अंधकारात्परो विप्रा मैनाकः पर्वतोत्तमः । मैनाकात्परतो विप्रा गोविंदो गिरिरुत्तमः

O brāhmaṇas, higher than Andhakāra is Maināka, the best of mountains. Higher than Maināka, O brāhmaṇas, is Govinda—the most excellent of mountains.

Verse 19

गोविंदात्परतश्चैव पुंडरीको महागिरिः । पुंडरीकात्परश्चापि प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः

Beyond Govinda lies the great mountain called Puṇḍarīka; and beyond Puṇḍarīka, it is said, is the mountain named Duṃdubhisvana (“Drum-sounding”).

Verse 20

पुरस्ताद्द्विगुणस्तेषां विष्कंभो मुनिपुंगवाः । देशांस्तत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

O best of sages, in the region lying to the east their breadth is twice as great. I shall now describe the countries situated there—listen as I declare them.

Verse 21

क्रौंचस्य कुशलो देशो वामनस्य मनोनुगः । मनोनुगात्परो देश उष्णो नाम तपोधनाः

O ascetics rich in austerity, the region belonging to Krauñca is called Kuśala; that of Vāmana is called Manonuga. Beyond Manonuga lies a land known as Uṣṇa.

Verse 22

उष्णात्परः प्रावरकः प्रावरादंधकारकः । अंधकारकदेशात्तु मुनिदेशः परः स्मृतः

Beyond Uṣṇa lies Prāvaraka; beyond Prāvaraka is Andhakāraka. And beyond the region of Andhakāraka, the land of the sages (Munideśa) is remembered to be further still.

Verse 23

मुनिदेशात्परश्चैव प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः । सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णो गौरः प्रायोजनः स्मृतः

Beyond the region called Munideśa lies a tract known as Duṃdubhisvana; it is said to be thronged with Siddhas and Cāraṇas, and is remembered as Gaurā, a place chiefly set apart for sacred rite and purpose.

Verse 24

एते देशाः समाख्याता देवगंधर्वसेविताः । पुष्करे पुष्करो नाम पर्वतो मणिरत्नवान्

Thus have these regions been described—frequented by Devas and Gandharvas. In Puṣkara there is a mountain named Puṣkara, abounding in jewels and precious gems.

Verse 25

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

There, the divine Prajāpati himself ever moves about and presides; all the gods and the great sages constantly attend upon him in reverent service.

Verse 26

वाग्भिर्मनोनुकूलाभिः पूजयंति द्विजोत्तमाः । जंबूद्वीपात्प्रवर्त्तन्ते रत्नानि विविधानि च

The best of the twice-born worship with words pleasing to the mind; and from Jambūdvīpa there also arise jewels of many kinds.

Verse 27

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

In all those continents, O best of sages, the people—especially the brahmins—prosper through brahmacarya, truthfulness, and self-restraint.

Verse 28

आरोग्यायुष्प्रमाणाभ्यां द्विगुणं द्विगुणं ततः । एते जनपदा विप्रा द्वीपेषु तेषु सत्तमाः

In health, lifespan, and stature, they are each twice—and twice again—progressively greater. O brāhmaṇas, these are the regions within those islands, O best among the virtuous.

Verse 29

उक्ता जनपदा येषु धर्मश्चैकः प्रवर्त्तते । ईश्वरो दंडमुद्यम्य स्वयमेव प्रजापतिः

In those realms that have been described—where a single, unified dharma prevails—Īśvara Himself, the Lord and Prajāpati, personally raises the rod of punishment to uphold order.

Verse 30

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

O best of sages, he ever stands guarding these islands. He is the king; he is Śiva; O brāhmaṇas, he is the father, and he is the grandfather.

Verse 31

गोपायति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रजाः स द्विजपंडिताः । भोजनं चात्र विप्रेंद्राः प्रजाः स्वयमुपस्थितम्

He protects the people, O best of the twice-born; he is a learned brāhmaṇa. And here, O chiefs among brāhmaṇas, the people themselves present food to him.

Verse 32

सिद्धमेव महाभागा भुंजते तद्धि नित्यदा । ततः परं महाशैलो दृश्यते लोकसंस्थितिः

Indeed, the fortunate Siddhas enjoy that state continually. Beyond that, a great mountain is seen—marking the established order and arrangement of the worlds.

Verse 33

चतुरस्रो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिमंडलः । तत्र तिष्ठंति विप्रेंद्राश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः

O great sage, it is four-sided and yet circular on every side; there stand four foremost brāhmaṇas, honored by the world.

Verse 34

दिग्गजा हि मुनिश्रेष्ठा वामनैरावतां जनाः । सुप्रतीकस्तथा विप्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः

O best of sages, the elephants of the quarters are Vāmana and Airāvata; likewise, O brāhmaṇas, (there is) Supratīka—each with temples streaming with rut.

Verse 35

तस्याहं परिमाणं न संख्यातुमिहमुत्सहे । असंख्यातः सुनित्यं हि तिर्यगूर्द्ध्वमधस्तथा

I do not dare to calculate its measure here; for it is truly countless and ever-enduring, extending alike sideways, upward, and downward.

Verse 36

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

There, indeed, winds blow from every direction. Those excellent sages, free from attachment, are held in restraint by the twice-born (dvija).

Verse 37

पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः

With mighty, lotus-like goads (puṣkara), those splendid beings draw them along; and again, swiftly, they release them—hundreds of times, repeatedly, day after day.

Verse 38

श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः

Like gusts of wind rushing forth from the mouths and nostrils of the guardian elephants of the directions, the most excellent twice-born ones come there; and indeed the people remain gathered there.

Verse 39

यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम्

Thus, as I was instructed, I have described this world together with its formation. Having heard this measure of the earth—merit-bestowing and pleasing to the mind—one gains spiritual benefit.

Verse 40

श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते

O best of Brahmins, he becomes prosperous and crosses over difficulties; his aims are fulfilled and he is approved by the virtuous. His lifespan, strength, fame, and radiance all increase.

Verse 41

यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः

Whoever, steadfast in observance, listens to this account concerning the Parvaṇī rite—his ancestors (pitṛs), and likewise his grandfathers, become pleased.