Adhyaya 80: Cosmographic Ordering of the Southern and Western Quarters: Valleys, Forest-Plateaus, and Sacred Sites

Verse 1

रुद्र उवाच । अथ दक्षिणदिग्व्यवस्थिताः पर्वतद्रोण्यः सिद्धाचारिताः कीर्त्यन्ते । शिशिरपतङ्गयोर्मध्ये शुक्लभूमिस्त्रिया मुक्तलतागलितपादपम् । इक्षुक्षेपे च शिखरे पादपैरुपशोभितम् । उदुम्बरवनं रम्यं पक्षिसङ्घनिषेवितम् ॥ ८०.१ ॥

Rudra said: Now are described the mountain-valleys situated in the southern quarter, places frequented by accomplished beings. Between Śiśira and Pataṅga lies a bright tract of land, adorned with trees from which clusters of freely growing creepers hang down. And on the peak called Ikṣukṣepa, beautified by trees, there is a delightful grove of udumbara (cluster fig), inhabited by flocks of birds.

Verse 2

फलितं तद्वनं भाति महाकूर्मोपमैः फलैः ॥ तद्वनं देवयोन्योऽष्टौ सेवन्ते सर्वदैव ॥ ८०.२ ॥

That forest shines resplendent, laden with fruits comparable in size to great tortoises; and eight beings of divine origin continually frequent and attend that forest.

Verse 3

तत्र प्रसन्नस्वादुसलिला बहूदका नद्यः वहन्ति । तत्राश्रमो भगवतः कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । नानामुनिजनाकीर्णस् तच्च शतयोजनम् एकं परिमण्डलं वनं च । तथा च ताम्राभस्य शैलस्य पतङ्गस्य चान्तरे शतयोजनविस्तीर्णं द्विगुणायतं बालार्कसदृशराजीवपुण्डरीकैः समन्ततः सहस्रपत्रैरविरलैरलङ्कृतं महत्सरः । अनेकसिद्धगन्धर्वाध्युषितम् ॥ ८०.३ ॥

There, many rivers flow with clear, sweet water and abundant streams. There is the hermitage of the venerable Prajāpati Kardama, crowded with numerous sages; and there is also a circular forest extending for one hundred yojanas. Likewise, between the Tamrābha mountain and the Pataṅga mountain lies a great lake—one hundred yojanas wide and twice as long—adorned on all sides with dense, thousand-petalled lotuses and white lotuses, resembling the rising sun, and inhabited by many siddhas and gandharvas.

Verse 4

तस्य च मध्ये महाशिखरः शतयोजनायामस्त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णोऽनेकधातुरत्नभूषितः तस्य चोपरि महती रथ्या रत्नप्राकारतोरणा । तस्यां महद् विद्याधरपुरम् । तत्र पुलोमानामा विद्याधरराजः शतसहस्रपरिवारः । तथा च विखाखाचलेन्द्रस्य श्वेतस्य चान्तरे सरः । तस्य च पूर्वतीरे महदाम्रवनं कनकसंकाशैः फलैरतिसुगन्धिभिर्महाकुम्भमात्रैः सर्वतश्चितम् । देवगन्धर्वादयश्च तत्र निवसन्ति ॥४॥

In its midst stands a great peak, a hundred yojanas in length and thirty yojanas in breadth, adorned with many ores and gems. Upon it lies a broad royal roadway, with jewel-built ramparts and gateways. There is a great city of the Vidyādharas. There dwells a Vidyādhara king named Pulomā, attended by a retinue numbering one hundred thousand. And between the lordly mountains Vikhākhā and Śveta there is a lake. On its eastern bank is a vast mango-grove, filled on every side with exceedingly fragrant fruits, golden in appearance and as large as great jars. Devas, Gandharvas, and others reside there.

Verse 5

सुमूलस्याचलेन्द्रस्य वसुधारस्य चान्तरे । त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णे पञ्चाशद्योजनायते ॥५॥

Between the firm-rooted lord of mountains and Vasudhārā, the earth-bearer, it extends thirty yojanas in breadth and fifty yojanas in length.

Verse 6

बिल्वस्थली नाम । तत्र फलानि विद्रुमसंकाशानि तैश्च पतद्भिः स्थलमृत्तिका क्लिन्ना । तां च स्थलीं सुगुह्यकादयः सेवन्ते बिल्वफलाशिनः । तथा च वसुधारारत्नधारयोरन्तरे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णं शतयोजनमायतं सुगन्धिकिंशुकवनं सदाकुसुमं यस्य गन्धेन वास्यते योजनशतम् । तत्र सिद्धाध्युषितं जलोपेतं च ॥६॥

There is a place called Bilvasthalī. There the fruits appear like coral, and as they fall they moisten the soil of the ground. That tract is frequented by beings such as the Suguhyakas, who live on bilva-fruits. And between Vasudhārā and Ratnadhārā lies a forest of fragrant kiṃśuka trees, ever in bloom, thirty yojanas in breadth and a hundred yojanas in length; by its scent a range of a hundred yojanas is perfumed. There it is inhabited by Siddhas and is also supplied with water.

Verse 7

तत्र चादित्यस्य देवस्य महदायतनम् । समासे मासे च भगवानवतारति सूर्यः प्रजापतिः । कालजनकं देवाऽऽदयो नमस्यन्ति । तथा च पञ्चकूटस्य कैलासस्य चान्तरे सहस्रयोजनायामं विस्तीर्णं शतयोजनं हंसपाण्डुरं क्षुद्रसत्त्वैरनाधृष्यं स्वर्गसोपानमिव भूमण्डलम् ॥७॥

There is indeed a great sanctuary of the deity Āditya. At the junction of seasons and in each month, the Blessed One—Sūrya, Prajāpati, Lord of creatures—is said to manifest. The gods and other beings bow to him as the begetter of time. Further, between Pañcakūṭa and Kailāsa lies a region of earth, a thousand yojanas in length and a hundred yojanas in breadth, swan-white in appearance, unassailable by petty creatures, like a stairway to heaven upon the terrestrial sphere.

Verse 8

अथ पश्चिमदिग्भागे व्यवस्थिताः गिरिद्रोण्यः कीर्त्यन्ते । सुपार्श्वशिखिशैलयोर्मध्ये समन्ताद् योजनशतमेकेन भौमशिलातलं नित्यतप्तं दुःस्पर्शम् । तस्य मध्ये त्रिंशद् योजनविस्तीर्णं मण्डलं वह्निस्थानम् । स च सर्वकालमनिन्धनो भगवान् लोकक्षयकारी संवर्तको ज्वलते । अन्तरे च शैलवरयोः कुमुदाञ्जनयोः शतयोजनविस्तीर्णामातुलुङ्गस्थली सर्वसत्त्वानामगम्या । पीतवर्णैः फलैरावृताऽसती सा स्थली शोभते । तत्र च पुण्यो ह्रदः सिद्धैरुपेतः । बृहस्पतेस्तद्वनम् । तथा च शैलयोः पिञ्जरगौरयोरन्तरेण सरोद्रोणी ह्यनेकशतयोजनायता महद्भिश्च षट्पदोद्घुष्टैः कुमुदैरुपशोभिता ॥८॥

Now the mountain-valleys situated in the western quarter are described. Between the mountains Supārśva and Śikhi there lies, on all sides for a hundred yojanas, a rocky ground-surface that is perpetually heated and difficult to touch. In its center is a circular expanse thirty yojanas across, a station of fire. There the Lord—the unfueled blazing power, the Saṁvartaka that brings about the dissolution of worlds—burns at all times. And between the two excellent mountains Kumuda and Añjana lies an Ātuluṅga-plain a hundred yojanas wide, inaccessible to all living beings; covered with yellow-hued fruits, that plain appears splendid. There also is a meritorious lake attended by Siddhas—this is the grove of Bṛhaspati. Likewise, between the mountains Piñjara and Gaura there is a lake-valley extending many hundreds of yojanas, adorned with kumuda lotuses and resounding with the hum of great swarms of bees.

Verse 9

तत्र च भगवतो विष्णोः परमेश्वरस्यायतनम् । तथा च शुक्लपाण्डुरयोऽपि महागिर्योरन्तरे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तीर्णो नवत्यायत एकः शिलोद्देशो वृक्षविवर्जितः । तत्र निष्पङ्का दीर्घिका सवृक्षा च स्थलपद्मिनी अनेकजातीयैश्च पद्मैः शोभिता । तस्याश्च मध्ये पञ्चयोजनप्रमाणो महान्यग्रोधवृक्षः । तस्मिंश्चन्द्रशेखरोमापतिर्नीलवासाश्च देवो निवसति यक्षादिभिरीड्यमानः । सहस्रशिखरस्य गिरेः कुमुदस्य चान्तरे पञ्चाशद्योजनायामं विंशद्योजनविस्तृतमिक्षुक्षेपोच्चशिखरमनेकपक्षिसेवितम् । अनेकवृक्षफलैर्मधुरस्त्रवैरुपशोभितम् । तत्र चेन्द्रस्य महानाश्रमो दिव्याभिप्रायनिर्मितः । तथा च शङ्खकूटऋषभयोर्मध्ये पुरुषस्थलीरम्या । अनेकगुणानेकयोजनायता बिल्वप्रमाणैः कङ्कोलकैः सुगन्धिभिरुपेता । तत्र पुरुषकरसोन्मत्ता नागाद्याः प्रतिवसन्ति ॥९॥

There, too, is a sanctuary of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, the supreme Lord. And between the great mountains Śukla and Pāṇḍura lies a rocky tract, thirty yojanas in breadth and ninety in length, devoid of trees. In that place is a clear, mudless long reservoir; and there is also a lotus-pond on firm ground, adorned with lotuses of many kinds. In its midst stands a great nyagrodha (banyan) tree, five yojanas in measure. There dwells a deity—Candraśekhara, lord of Umā—clad in blue, praised by Yakṣas and others. Between the mountain Sahasraśikhara and Kumuda is a lofty-peaked region, fifty yojanas long and twenty yojanas wide, frequented by many birds, and beautified by many trees, fruits, and sweet-flowing juices. There is also a great hermitage of Indra, fashioned by divine intention. And between Śaṅkhakūṭa and Ṛṣabha lies the delightful place called Puruṣasthalī, extending many yojanas and endowed with many excellences, furnished with fragrant kaṅkola trees of bilva-like size. There dwell Nāgas and others, intoxicated by the touch of the Puruṣa, the divine presence.

Verse 10

तथा कपिञ्जलनागशैलयोरन्तरे द्विशतयोजनमायामविस्तीर्णा शतयोजनस्थली नानावनविभूषिता द्राक्षाखर्जूरखण्डैरुपेता अनेकवृक्षवल्लीभिरनेकैश्च सरोभिरुपेता सा स्थली । तथा च पुष्करमहामेघयोरन्तरे षष्टियोजनविस्तीर्णा शतायामा पाणितलप्रख्या महती स्थली वृक्षवीरुधविवर्जिता । तस्याश्च पार्श्वे चत्वारि महावनानि सरांसि चानेकयोजनानाम् । दश पञ्च सप्त तथाष्टौ त्रिंशद्विंशति योजनानां स्थल्यो द्रोण्यश्च । तत्र काश्चिन्महाघोराः पर्वतक्षयाः ॥१०॥

Between the Kapiñjala and Nāga mountains there lies a tract of land, two hundred yojanas in length and one hundred yojanas in breadth, adorned with many kinds of forests, furnished with groves of grapes and date-palms, and supplied with numerous trees, creepers, and many lakes. Likewise, between Puṣkara and Mahāmegha there is a great plain, sixty yojanas across and one hundred yojanas long, said to be like the palm of a hand, devoid of trees and vegetation. Beside it are four great forests and lakes extending for many yojanas. There are also plains and valleys measuring ten, five, seven, and eight yojanas, and also thirty and twenty yojanas. In that region there are certain exceedingly formidable mountain-gorges and precipitous declivities.

Verse 11

In its midst stood a mighty mountain-peak, a hundred yojanas in length and thirty yojanas in breadth, adorned with many minerals and jewels. Upon it was a great highway, with jeweled ramparts and arched gateways. There was a vast city of the Vidyādharas. There dwelt the Vidyādhara king named Pulomā, attended by a retinue of a hundred thousand. Moreover, between the lordly mountain Vikhākhā and the white mountain Śveta lay a lake. On its eastern shore was a great mango-grove, filled on every side with fruits gleaming like gold, exceedingly fragrant, and as large as great jars. Devas, Gandharvas, and others also resided there.

Verse 12

Between the mountain-lord Sumula and the mountain Vasudhārā lay a tract thirty yojanas in breadth and fifty yojanas in length.

Verse 13

That place was called Bilvasthalī. There the fruits were like red coral, and by their falling the ground became wet and sodden. That Bilvasthalī was resorted to by the Suguhyakas and others, who fed on bilva fruits. Moreover, between the mountains Vasudhārā and Ratnadhārā stretched a fragrant kiṃśuka forest, thirty yojanas broad and a hundred yojanas long, ever in bloom; by its scent a hundred yojanas were perfumed. There Siddhas dwelt, and water was present as well.

Verse 14

There stands the great sanctuary of the god Āditya. In the course of the seasons and the months, the Blessed One—Sūrya, Prajāpati—descends and manifests there. The gods and others bow to him as the begetter of Time. And between Pañcakūṭa and Kailāsa lies a region a thousand yojanas in length and a hundred yojanas in breadth, white as a haṃsa, unassailable by lesser beings, like a stairway to heaven upon the face of the earth.

Verse 15

Next, in the western quarter, the mountain valleys are described. Between the mountains Supārśva and Śikhī lies a rocky plain extending a hundred yojanas all around, ever heated and hard to touch. In its midst is a circular tract thirty yojanas wide, the seat of fire. There, at all times, the Blessed Saṃvartaka—without fuel—blazes, bringing about the destruction of worlds at dissolution. And between the two excellent mountains Kumuda and Añjana is the valley called Ātuluṅga, a hundred yojanas broad, inaccessible to all beings; covered with yellow-hued fruits, it shines in beauty. There too is a holy lake attended by siddhas; that is the grove of Bṛhaspati. Likewise, between the mountains Piñjara and Gaura is a great lake-valley stretching many hundreds of yojanas, adorned with kumuda blossoms and resounding with the hum of great bees.

Verse 16

There too is the sanctuary of the Blessed Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord. And between the two great mountains Śukla and Pāṇḍura lies a rocky tract, thirty yojanas broad and ninety in length, devoid of trees. There is a long, mudless lake, and a lotus-ground with trees, adorned with lotuses of many kinds. In its midst stands a great nyagrodha tree, five yojanas in measure. There dwells the god Candrasekhara, the Lord with Umā, clad in blue, praised by yakṣas and others. Between the mountain Sahasraśikhara and Kumuda is a lofty peak like sugarcane, fifty yojanas long and twenty broad, frequented by many birds and beautified by many trees and sweet-flowing fruit-juices. There is Indra’s great āśrama, fashioned by divine intent. And between Śaṅkhakūṭa and Ṛṣabha is the delightful Puruṣasthalī, extending many yojanas and rich in manifold excellences, endowed with fragrant bilva and kaṅkolaka; there nāgas and others dwell, as if intoxicated by the touch of Puruṣa’s hand.

Verse 17

Likewise, between the mountains Kapiñjala and Nāga is a region two hundred yojanas in length and breadth, and within it a plain of a hundred yojanas, adorned with various forests; furnished with grapes and dates, with many trees and creepers, and with many lakes—such is that plain. And between Puṣkara and Mahāmegha is a great plain, sixty yojanas wide and a hundred long, like the palm of a hand, devoid of trees and climbing plants. Beside it are four great forests and lakes extending for many yojanas. There are plains and valleys measuring ten, fifteen, seven, eight, thirty, and twenty yojanas. There occur certain exceedingly dreadful destructions of mountains.