Adhyaya 81: Description of the Divine Mountain Abodes: Meru, Devakūṭa, and Kailāsa

Verse 1

Rudra said:

Verse 2

अतः परं पर्वतेषु देवानामवकाशा वर्ण्यन्ते।

Hereafter, the abodes (resorts) of the gods upon the mountains are described.

Verse 3

तत्र योऽसौ शान्ताख्यः पर्वतस्तस्योपरि महेन्द्रस्य क्रीडास्थानम्।

There, upon the mountain known as Śānta, is Mahendra’s place of recreation.

Verse 4

तत्र देवराजस्य पारिजातकवृक्षवनम्।

There is the grove of the pārijāta trees belonging to the king of the gods.

Verse 5

तस्य पूर्वपार्श्वे कुञ्जरो नाम गिरिः।

On its eastern side is a mountain named Kuñjara.

Verse 6

तस्योपरि दानवानामष्टौ पुराणि च।

Upon it, there are also eight ‘purāṇas’ (ancient accounts) associated with the Dānavas.

Verse 7

तथा वज्रके पर्वतवरे राक्षसानामनेकानि पुराणि।

Likewise, on Vajraka—the excellent mountain—there are many Purāṇas associated with the Rākṣasas.

Verse 8

ते च नाम्ना नीलकाः कामरूपिणः।

And they are, by name, the Nīlakas, able to assume forms at will.

Verse 9

महानीलेऽपि शैलेन्द्रपुराणि।

And on Mahānīla as well are the Śailendra-purāṇas, ancient accounts connected with the lords of mountains.

Verse 10

पञ्चदशसहस्राणि किन्नराणां ख्यातानि।

Fifteen thousand (accounts or units) concerning the Kinnaras are renowned.

Verse 11

तत्र देवदत्तचन्द्रादयो राजानः।

There, kings such as Devadatta and Candra (and others) are mentioned.

Verse 12

पञ्चदशकिन्नराणां गर्विताः

Fifteen groups of Kinnaras are described as proud.

Verse 13

तानि सौवर्णानि बिलप्रवेशनानि च पुराणि

Those are ancient cave-entrances, golden in appearance.

Verse 14

चन्द्रोदये च पर्वतवरे नागानामधिवासः

And on the excellent mountain called Candrodaya is the dwelling-place of the Nāgas.

Verse 15

ते च बिलप्रवेशाः बिलेṣu वैनतेयविषयावर्त्तिनो व्यवस्थितानुरागे च दानवेन्द्रा व्यवस्थिताः

And those cave-entrances—within the caves—are situated in regions connected with Vainateya; and, in mutual attachment, the lords of the Dānavas are established there.

Verse 16

वेणुमत्यपि विद्याधरपुरत्रयं

And there is also Veṇumatī, and the triad of cities of the Vidyādharas.

Verse 17

त्रिंशद् योजनशतविस्तीर्णमेकैकं तावदायतम्

Each one spreads to a hundred yojanas in breadth, and extends in length to that same measure—thirty in number.

Verse 18

उलूकरोमशमहावेत्रादयश्च राजानो विद्याधराणाम्

Ulūkaromaśa, Mahāvetra, and others are kings among the Vidyādharas.

Verse 19

एकैक्ये च शैलराजनि स्वयमेव गरुडो व्यवस्थितः

And on each mountain-king, Garuḍa himself is stationed.

Verse 20

कुञ्जरे तु पर्वतवरे नित्यं पशुपतिः स्थितः

But on Kuñjara, the excellent mountain, Paśupati abides eternally.

Verse 21

वृषभाङ्को महादेवः शङ्करो योगिनां वरः । अनेकगणभूतकोटिसहस्रवारो भगवान् अनादिपुरुषो व्यवस्थितः ॥

Mahādeva—Śaṅkara, marked by the bull and foremost among yogins—abides as the Blessed, the beginningless Person, surrounded by countless thousands of hosts of gaṇas and bhūtas.

Verse 22

वसुधारे च पुष्पवतां वसूनां च समावासः ।

In Vasudhārā there is also the abode of the Puṣpavats and of the Vasus.

Verse 23

वसुधारारत्नधारयोर्मूर्ध्नि अष्टौ सप्त च संख्यया ।

Upon the summit (mūrdhan) of Vasudhārā and Ratnadhārā are groups counted as eight and seven.

Verse 24

पुराणि वसुसप्तर्षीणां चेति ।

And there are ancient settlements associated with the Vasus and the Seven Sages (Saptarṣis), thus it is said.

Verse 25

एकशृङ्गे च पर्वतोत्तमे प्रजापतेः स्थानं चतुर्वक्त्रस्य ब्रह्मणः ।

And on Ekaśṛṅga, the excellent mountain, is the seat of Prajāpati—of Brahmā, the four-faced one.

Verse 26

गजपर्वते च महाभूतपरिवृता स्वयमेव भगवती तिष्ठति ।

And on Gajaparvata, the Bhagavatī herself abides, surrounded by the great elements.

Verse 27

वसुधारे च पर्वतवरे मुनिसिद्धविद्याधराणामायतनम् ।

And in Vasudhārā, upon the excellent mountain, is the abode of the sages, the Siddhas, and the Vidyādharas.

Verse 28

चतुराशीत्यपरपुर्यो महाप्राकारतोरणाः ।

There are eighty-four other cities, furnished with great ramparts and gateways.

Verse 29

तत्र चानेकपर्वता नाम गन्धर्वा युद्धशालिनो वसन्ति ।

There, Gandharvas named Anekaparvatā dwell—renowned for prowess in battle.

Verse 30

तेषां चाधिपतिर्देवो राजराजैकपिङ्गलः ।

And their overlord is the divine one named Rājarājaikapiṅgala.

Verse 31

सुरराक्षसाः पञ्चकूटे दानवाः शतशृङ्गे यक्षाणां पुरशतम् ।

On Pañcakūṭa are the Suras and the Rākṣasas; on Śataśṛṅga are the Dānavas; and for the Yakṣas there are a hundred cities.

Verse 32

ताम्राभे तक्षकस्य पुरशतम्॥

On the peak called Tāmābha, there are a hundred citadels of Takṣaka.

Verse 33

विशाखपर्वते गुहस्यायतनम्॥

On Mount Viśākha is the sanctuary (āyatana) of Guha.

Verse 34

श्वेतोदये गिरिवरे महागन्धर्वभवनम्॥

On Śvetodaya, the excellent mountain, is the great dwelling of the Gandharvas.

Verse 35

हरिकूटे हरिर्देवः॥

On Harikūṭa is Hari, the deity.

Verse 36

कुमुदे किन्नरावासः॥

On the peak called Kumuda is the abode of the Kinnaras.

Verse 37

अञ्जने महोरगाः॥

On Añjana dwell the great serpents, the Mahoragas.

Verse 38

सहस्रशिखरे च दैत्यानामुग्रकर्मिणामावासः॥

And on Sahasraśikhara is the dwelling of the Daityas, fierce in their deeds.

Verse 39

पुराणां सहस्रमेकं हेममालिनां मुकुटे पन्नप्रपक्षे पर्वतवरे चत्वार्यायतनानि तु॥

There are one thousand and one ancient citadels; and on Mukuṭa, on Pannaprapakṣa, and on that excellent mountain there are indeed four sanctuaries—belonging to the Hemamālins.

Verse 40

एवं मेरुपर्वतेषु देवानामधिवासः॥

Thus, on the mountains of Meru is the residence of the gods.

Verse 41

मर्यादापर्वते देवकूटे पुरविन्यासः कीर्त्यते॥

On the boundary-mountain, Devakūṭa, the layout of the cities is described.

Verse 42

तस्योपरि योजनशतं गरुडस्य जातं क्षेत्रम्।

Above that lies a sacred tract extending a hundred yojanas, associated with Garuḍa.

Verse 43

तस्यैव पार्श्वतस्त्रिंशद्योहनविस्तीर्णाश्चत्वारिंशदायताः सप्तगन्धर्वनगराः।

Along its very flank are seven cities of the Gandharvas, each thirty yojanas in breadth and forty yojanas in length.

Verse 44

आग्नेयाश्च नाम्ना गन्धर्वातिबलिनः।

They are called Āgneyas, and the Gandharvas there are exceedingly powerful.

Verse 45

तत्र चान्यत् त्रिंशद्योहनमण्डलं पुरं सैंहिकेयानाम्।

There, further, is another city forming a circuit of thirty yojanas, belonging to the Saiṃhikeyas.

Verse 46

तत्र च देवर्षिचरितानि देवकूटे दृश्यन्ते।

There, on Devakūṭa, the deeds of the divine seers are seen, as though manifest.

Verse 47

पुरं च कालकेयानां तत्रैव।

And there itself is a city of the Kālakeyas.

Verse 48

तथा चान्तरतटेऽन्ये सुनान्नाम तस्यैव दक्षिणे त्रिंशद्योहनविस्तृतं द्विषष्टियोजनायामं पुरं कामरूपिणां दृप्तानां मध्यमे च तस्य हेमकूटे महादेवस्य न्यग्रोधः।

Likewise, on the inner bank there are others, called Sunān; and to the south of that same region is a city of the proud Kāmārūpiṇs, thirty yojanas in breadth and sixty-two yojanas in length. And in the middle of that, on Hemakūṭa, stands Mahādeva’s banyan tree.

Verse 49

अथातः कैलासवर्णको भवति।

Now, therefore, begins the description of Kailāsa.

Verse 50

कैलासस्य तटे योजनशतमायामवस्तृतं भुवनमालाभिव्याप्तम्।

On the slope of Kailāsa lies a region extended for a hundred yojanas in length, pervaded by a garland-like array of worlds (or habitations).

Verse 51

तस्याश्च मध्ये सभा।

And at its center is an assembly hall.

Verse 52

तत्र च तत्पुष्करं नाम विमानं तिष्ठति।

There stands a celestial vimāna named Tatpuṣkara.

Verse 53

धनदस्य च तद्विमानमधिवासश्च।

And that very vimāna is also the residence and celestial palace of Dhanada (Kubera).

Verse 54

तत्र पद्ममहापद्ममकरकच्छपकुमुदशङ्खनीलनन्दमहानिधयः प्रतिवसन्ति।

There dwell the great treasures—Padma, Mahāpadma, Makara, Kacchapa, Kumuda, Śaṅkha, Nīla, Nanda, and Mahānidhi.

Verse 55

तत्र चन्द्रादीनां लोकपालानामावासः।

There is the abode of the Lokapālas, the world-guardians, beginning with Candra (the Moon).

Verse 56

तत्र च मन्दाकिनी नाम नदी।

There is a river named Mandākinī.

Verse 57

तथा कनकमन्दा मन्दा चेति नामभिः सरितः।

Likewise, there are rivers bearing the names Kanakamandā and Mandā.

Verse 58

तत्रान्या अपि नद्यः सन्ति।

There are also other rivers there.

Verse 59

पूर्वपार्श्वे च शतयोजनमायामास्त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तृता दशगन्धर्वपुर्यः तासु च सकुबाहुहरिकेशचित्रसेनादयो राजानः।

On the eastern side are ten cities of the Gandharvas, each a hundred yojanas in length and thirty yojanas in breadth; and in them are kings such as Sakubāhu, Harikeśa, and Citrasena.

Verse 60

तस्यैव च पश्चिमकूटे अशीतियोजनायामं चत्वारिंशद्विस्तृतमेकैकं यक्षनगरम्।

And on its western peak, each Yakṣa-city is eighty yojanas in length and forty in breadth.

Verse 61

तेषु च महामालिसुनेत्रचक्रादयो नायकाः।

And among them are leaders such as Mahāmāli, Sunetra, and Cakra.

Verse 62

तस्यैव दक्षिणे पार्श्वे कुञ्जदरीषु गुहासु समुद्राः समुद्रं यावत्किन्नराणां पुरशतम्॥

On its southern flank, amid groves, valleys, and caves, there are waters stretching as far as the ocean; and there lies a cluster of a hundred cities of the Kinnaras.

Verse 63

तेषु च द्रुमसुग्रीवादिभगदत्तप्रमुखं राजशतम्॥

And among them there are a hundred kings, headed by Bhagdatta and others such as Drumasugrīva.

Verse 64

तत्र च रुद्रस्योमया सार्द्धं विवाहः संवृत्तः॥

There, the sacred marriage of Rudra with Umā took place.

Verse 65

तपश्च कृतवती गौरी॥

And Gaurī performed austerities (tapas) with steadfastness.

Verse 66

किरातरूपिणा च रुद्रेण स्थितम्॥

And there Rudra was present, abiding in the form of a Kirāta (hunter).

Verse 67

तत्रैव तत्र स्थितेन सोमेन शङ्करेण जम्बूद्वीपावलोकनं कृतम्॥

There itself, Śaṅkara—Soma, remaining in that very place, made an observation (survey) of Jambūdvīpa.

Verse 68

तत्र चानेककिन्नरगन्धर्वोपगीतमुमावनं नामाप्सरोभिरनेकपुष्पलतावल्लीभिरुपेतम्॥

And there is a grove named Umā-vana, sung of by many Kinnaras and Gandharvas, and adorned with Apsarases and with many flowering creepers and vines.

Verse 69

यत्र भगवता महेश्वरेणार्द्धनारीनरवपुः प्राप्तम्॥

Where the venerable Maheśvara attained the form whose body is half woman and half man.

Verse 70

तत्र च कार्त्तिकेयस्य शरद्वनम्॥

And there is the Śaradvana (reed/grass forest) of Kārttikeya.

Verse 71

पुष्पचित्रक्रौञ्चयोर्मध्ये कार्त्तिकेयाभिषेकः कृतः तस्य च पूर्वतटे सिद्धमुनिगणावासः कलापग्रामो नाम॥

Between Puṣpacitra and Krauñca, the abhiṣeka (consecratory anointing) of Kārttikeya was performed; and on its eastern bank is the dwelling-place of hosts of accomplished sages, called Kalāpagrāma.

Verse 72

तथा च मार्कण्डेयवसिष्ठपराशरनलविश्वामित्रोद्दालकादीनां महर्षीणामनेकानि सहस्राण्याश्रमाणां हि भवति ।

Likewise, indeed there exist many thousands of hermitages belonging to the great seers—such as Mārkaṇḍeya, Vasiṣṭha, Parāśara, Nala, Viśvāmitra, Uddālaka, and others.

Verse 73

तथा च पश्चिमस्याचलेन्द्रस्य निषधस्य भागं शृणुत ।

And now, hear of the portion of Niṣadha—the lordly mountain—on its western side.

Verse 74

तस्य च मध्यमकूटे विष्ण्वायतनं महादेवस्य ।

And on its central peak there is a shrine of Viṣṇu, (and) of Mahādeva.

Verse 75

तस्यैवोत्तरतटे त्रिंशद्योजनविस्तृतं महत्पुरं लम्बाख्यातं राक्षसानाम् ।

On its northern bank there is a great city, extending for thirty yojanas, known as Lambā, belonging to the Rākṣasas.

Verse 76

तस्यैव दक्षिणे पार्श्वे बिलप्रवेशनगरम् ।

On its southern flank is the city called Bilapraveśa (“Cave-Entrance”).

Verse 77

प्रभेदकस्य पश्चिमेन देवदानवसिद्धादीनां पुराणि ।

To the west of Prabhedaka lie the ancient cities of the Devas, the Dānavas, the Siddhas, and others.

Verse 78

तस्य गिरिमूर्ध्नि महती सोमशिला तिष्ठति ।

On the summit of that mountain stands a great stone called Somāśilā.

Verse 79

तस्यां च पर्वणि सोमः स्वयमेवावतारति ।

And upon that stone, on parvan days of observance, Soma himself descends of his own accord.

Verse 80

तस्यैवोत्तरपार्श्वे त्रिकूटं नाम ।

On its northern flank is a peak named Trikūṭa.

Verse 81

तत्र ब्रह्मा तिष्ठति क्वचित् ।

There, Brahmā abides—at certain times (or in a certain place).

Verse 82

तथा च वह्न्यायतनम् ।

And likewise, there is an āyatana, a sanctuary associated with Agni (Vahni).

Verse 83

मूर्त्तिमान् वह्निरुपास्यते देवैः ।

Vahni (Agni), possessed of a manifest form, is venerated by the gods.

Verse 84

उत्तरे च शृङ्गाख्ये पर्वतवरे देवतानामायतनानि ।

And to the north, on the excellent mountain called Śṛṅga, are the sanctuaries of the deities.

Verse 85

पूर्वे नारायणस्यायतनम् ।

To the east is the sanctuary of Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 86

मध्ये ब्रह्मणः ।

In the middle (central position) is Brahmā’s sanctuary.

Verse 87

शङ्करस्य पश्चिमे ।

To the west lies Śaṅkara’s sanctuary.

Verse 88

तत्र च यक्षादीनां केचित् पुराणि तस्य चोत्तरतीरे जातुचे महापर्वते त्रिंशद्योजनमण्डलं नन्दजलं नाम सरस् तत्र नन्दो नाम नागराजा वसति शतशीर्षप्रचण्ड इति ।

And there, some ancient accounts concerning Yakṣas and others are recounted; and on its northern bank, on the great mountain called Jātuca, there is a lake named Nandajala, extending in a circuit of thirty yojanas. There dwells a Nāga-king named Nanda, described as “fierce, with a hundred heads.”

Verse 89

इत्येतेऽष्टौ देवपर्वता विज्ञेयाः ।

Thus, these eight are to be understood as the “divine mountains” (devaparvatas).

Verse 90

तेनानुक्रमेण हेमरजतरत्नवैडूर्यमाणः शिलाहिङ्गुलादिवर्णाः ।

According to that sequence, (they are) of the colors of gold, silver, jewels, beryl (vaiḍūrya), crystal (māṇa), stone, vermilion (hiṅgula), and the like.

Verse 91

इयं च पृथ्वी लक्षकोटिशतानेकसंख्यातानां पूर्णा तेषु च सिद्धविद्याधराणां निलयाः ते च मेरोः पार्श्वतः केसरवलयालवालं सिद्धलोक इति कीर्त्यते ।

And this earth is filled with beings numbering in many hundreds of lakṣas and koṭis; and among them are the dwelling-places of Siddhas and Vidyādharas. And that region, on the flank of Meru—like a basin and an encircling ring of filaments—is celebrated as “Siddhaloka.”

Verse 92

इयं पृथ्वी पद्माकारेण व्यवस्थिताः

This Earth is arranged in the form of a lotus.

Verse 93

एष च सर्वपुराणेषु क्रमः सामान्यतः प्रतिपाद्यते ।

And this sequence is generally taught across all the Purāṇas.

Verse 94

८

Numeric marker “8”; likely a scribal or editorial artifact rather than a verse.