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Caturdiśaḥ Śailendrāḥ Sarasāṃś ca Nāmāni (Rudroktā Bhūgolīya-Vistṛtiḥ)
Ancient-Geography
Dalam bingkai ajaran Varaha–Prithivi, adhyaya ini memuat katalog geografi suci yang diajarkan oleh Rudra. Disebutkan para śailendra (raja gunung) pada empat penjuru—Caitraratha di timur, Gandhamādana di selatan, serta wilayah pegunungan arah lainnya—beserta danau-danau (saras) yang menyertainya: Aruṇoda (timur), Mānasa (selatan), Asitoda (barat), dan Mahābhadra (utara). Teks menonjolkan kelimpahan alam: kicau burung, semilir sejuk beraroma, air dipenuhi teratai, serta rimba dan kebun tempat para dewa dan bidadari surgawi dikisahkan bersuka-ria. Setelah itu, banyak nama gunung kecil di tiap arah dirinci sebagai peta hafalan, mengaitkan tatanan bumi, kesucian, dan pemeliharaan hidrologi penopang kehidupan.
Verse 1
रुद्र उवाच । तथा चतुर्णां वक्ष्यामि शैलेन्द्राणां यथाक्रमम् । अनुविध्यानि रम्याणि विहङ्गैः कूजितानि च ॥ ७८.१ ॥
Rudra bersabda: “Demikianlah, akan kuuraikan menurut urutan empat raja di antara gunung-gunung—wilayah yang elok, serta yang bergema oleh kicau burung.”
Verse 2
अनेकपक्षियुक्तात्मशृङ्गाणि सुबाहूनि च । देवानां दिव्यनारीभिः समं क्रीडामयानि च ॥ ७८.२ ॥
Tempat-tempat itu dipenuhi banyak burung, berhias puncak-puncak dan memiliki tonjolan indah laksana lengan; menjadi arena permainan para dewa bersama para bidadari.
Verse 3
किन्नरोद्गीतघुष्टानि शीतमन्दसुगन्धिभिः । पवनैः सेव्यमानानि रमणीयतराणि च ॥ ७८.३ ॥
Tempat-tempat itu bergema oleh nyanyian para Kinnara; disapa angin sejuk, lembut, dan harum, sehingga kian menawan.
Verse 4
चतुर्द्दिक्षु विराजन्ते नामतः शृणुतानघाः । पूर्वे चैत्ररथं नाम दक्षिणे गन्धमादनम् । प्रभावेण सुतोयानि नवखण्डयुतानि च ॥ ७८.४ ॥
Mereka bersinar di keempat penjuru—wahai yang tak bernoda, dengarkan namanya. Di timur bernama Caitraratha, di selatan Gandhamādana. Oleh daya pengaruhnya ada pula perairan yang indah serta wilayah yang terbagi menjadi sembilan bagian.
Verse 5
वनषण्डांस्तथाक्रम्य देवता ललनायुताः । यत्र क्रीडन्ति चोद्देशे मुदा परमया युताः ॥ ७८.५ ॥
Demikian, setelah melintasi gugusan rimba, para dewa—bersama para gadis surgawi—bersukaria di tempat itu dengan kebahagiaan tertinggi.
Verse 6
अनुबन्धानि रम्याणि विहगैः कूजितानि च । रत्नोपकीर्णतीर्थानि महापुण्यजलानि च ॥ ७८.६ ॥
Di sana ada bentangan wilayah yang indah dan saling tersambung, dipenuhi kicau burung; ada pula tirtha (tempat penyeberangan suci) bertabur permata serta air yang sangat menyucikan dan penuh pahala.
Verse 7
अनेकजलयन्त्रैश्च नादितानि महान्ति च । शाखाभिर्लम्बमानाभी रुवत्पक्षिकुलालिभिः ॥ ७८.७ ॥
Dan ada banyak perangkat air yang besar, bergemuruh nyaring; tempat itu dihiasi dahan-dahan yang menjuntai, serta dipenuhi kawanan burung yang berseru dan gerombolan lebah yang berdengung.
Verse 8
कमलोत्पलकह्लारशोभितानि सरांसि च । चतुर्षु तेषु गिरिषु नानागुणयुतेषु च ॥ ७८.८ ॥
Ada pula danau-danau yang dihiasi teratai, teratai biru (utpala), dan kahlāra; demikian juga pada keempat gunung itu—yang dianugerahi beragam keutamaan.
Verse 9
अरुणोदं तु पूर्वेण दक्षिणे मानसṃ स्मृतम् । असितोदं पश्चिमे च महाभद्रं तथोत्तरे । कुमुदैः श्वेतकपिलैः कहलारैर्भूषितानि च ॥ ७८.९ ॥
Di timur ada Aruṇoda; di selatan dikenang sebagai Mānas(a). Di barat ada Asitoda, dan di utara Mahābhadra. Semuanya dihiasi bunga kumuda—putih dan kekuningan—serta kahlāra.
Verse 10
अरुणोदयस्य ये शैलाः प्राच्याः वै नामतः स्मृताः । तान् कीर्त्यमानांस्तत्त्वेन शृणुध्वं गदतो मम ॥ ७८.१० ॥
Dengarkan dariku, ketika aku menguraikan: gunung-gunung di timur yang dikenang dengan nama sebagai milik Aruṇodaya; pahamilah hakikatnya sebagaimana dipaparkan.
Verse 11
विकङ्को मणिशृङ्गश्च सुपात्रश्चोपलो महान् । महानीलोऽथ कुम्भश्च सुबिन्दुर्मदनस्तथा ॥ ७८.११ ॥
Inilah: Vikaṅka, Maṇiśṛṅga, Supātra, dan Upala yang agung; juga Mahānīla, kemudian Kumbha, Subindu, serta Madana.
Verse 12
वेणुनद्धः सुमेदाश्च निषधो देवपर्वतः । इत्येते पर्वतवराः पुण्याश्च गिरयोऽपरे ॥ ७८.१२ ॥
Veṇunaddha, Sumedā, Niṣadha, dan Devaparvata—mereka dipandang sebagai gunung-gunung unggul; dan ada pula puncak lain yang bernilai kebajikan.
Verse 13
पूर्वेण मन्दरात् सिद्धाः पर्वताश्च मदायुताः । सरसो मानसस्येह दक्षिणेन महाचलाः ॥ ७८.१३ ॥
Di sebelah timur Gunung Mandara ada para Siddha dan gunung-gunung yang dipenuhi gajah-gajah mabuk; dan di selatan Danau Mānasarovar terdapat jajaran pegunungan besar.
Verse 14
ये कीर्तिता मया तुभ्यं नामतस्तान्निबोधत । शैलस्त्रिशिराश्चैव शिशिरश्चाचलोत्तमः ॥ ७८.१४ ॥
Nama-nama yang telah kusebutkan kepadamu, pahamilah sesuai namanya: Śaila, Triśiras, dan juga Śiśira, yang terbaik di antara gunung-gunung yang tak bergerak.
Verse 15
कपिश्च शतमक्षश्च तुरगश्चैव सानुमान् । ताम्राहश्च विषश्चैव तथा श्वेतोदनो गिरिः ॥ ७८.१५ ॥
Ada pula Kapi, Śatamakṣa, Turaga, dan Sānumān; demikian juga Tāmrāha dan Viṣa; serta gunung bernama Śvetodana.
Verse 16
समूलश्चैव सरलॊ रत्नकेतुश्च पर्वतः । एकमूलो महाशृङ्गो गजमूलोऽपि शावकः ॥ ७८.१६ ॥
Ada Sarala yang disebut ‘Samūla’ dan gunung bernama ‘Ratnaketu’; ada pula Mahāśṛṅga yang disebut ‘Ekamūla’, serta Śāvaka yang bernama ‘Gajamūla’.
Verse 17
पञ्चशैलश्च कैलासो हिमवानचलोत्तमः । उत्तराः ये महाशैलास्तान् वक्ष्यामि निबोधत ॥ ७८.१७ ॥
Ada Pañcaśaila, Kailāsa, dan Himavān—yang utama di antara gunung-gunung. Kini gunung-gunung besar di wilayah utara akan kuuraikan; dengarkan dengan saksama.
Verse 18
कपिलः पिङ्गलो भद्रः सरसश्च महाचलः । कुमुदो मधुमांश्चैव गर्जनो मर्कटस्तथा ॥ ७८.१८ ॥
Mereka bernama Kapila, Piṅgala, Bhadra, dan Sarasa; juga Mahācala; Kumuda dan Madhumāṁś; demikian pula Garjana dan Markaṭa.
Verse 19
कृष्णश्च पाण्डवश्चैव सहस्रशिरसस्तथा । पारियात्रश्च शैलेन्द्रः शृङ्गवानचलोत्तमः । इत्येते पर्वतवराः श्रीमन्तः पश्चिमे स्मृताः ॥ ७८.१९ ॥
‘Kṛṣṇa’ dan ‘Pāṇḍava’, demikian pula ‘Sahasraśiras’; juga Pāriyātra, sang raja gunung, dan Śṛṅgavān, puncak yang terbaik—mereka dikenang sebagai gunung-gunung mulia di wilayah barat.
Verse 20
महाभद्रस्य सरस उत्तरॆण द्विजोत्तमाः । ये पर्वताः स्थिताः विप्रास्तान् वक्ष्यामि निबोधत ॥ ७८.२० ॥
Wahai para dvija yang utama, wahai para brāhmaṇa! Gunung-gunung yang terletak di sebelah utara danau Mahābhadra akan kuuraikan; dengarkan dengan saksama.
Verse 21
हंसकूटो महाशैलो वृषहंसश्च पर्वतः । कपिञ्जलश्च शैलेन्द्र इन्द्रशैलश्च सानुमान् ॥ ७८.२१ ॥
(Di sana ada) Haṃsakūṭa, gunung agung; Vṛṣahaṃsa, sebuah gunung; Kapiñjala, raja pegunungan; serta Indraśaila yang berhias punggung dan puncak-puncak.
Verse 22
नीलः कनकशृङ्गश्च शतशृङ्गश्च पर्वतः । पुष्करो मेघशैलोऽथ विरजाश्चाचलोत्तमः । जारुचिश्चैव शैलेन्द्र इत्येते उत्तराः स्मृताः ॥ ७८.२२ ॥
(Gunung-gunung di utara ialah) Nīla, Kanakaśṛṅga, dan Śataśṛṅga; Puṣkara; Meghaśaila; Virajā, gunung yang utama; serta Jāruci, raja pegunungan—mereka dikenang sebagai gunung-gunung utara.
Verse 23
इत्येतॆषां तु मुख्यानामुत्तरेषु यथाक्रमम् । स्थलीरन्तरद्रोण्यश्च सरांसि च निबोधत ॥ ७८.२३ ॥
Mengenai yang utama ini, di wilayah utara dan menurut urutan, pahamilah pula dataran-dataran, cekungan-lembah yang tertutup, serta danau-danau.
Within the Varāha–Pṛthivī instructional frame, Rudra begins a didactic ‘map’ of sacred terrestrial order, introducing the four quarters as structured by eminent śailendras (mountain-kings) and their sustaining waters.
Rudra enumerates the cardinal-direction mountain-lords and their principal lakes—Caitraratha with Aruṇoda (east), Gandhamādana with Mānasa (south), the western quarter with Asitoda, and the northern quarter with Mahābhadra—then expands into long lists of subsidiary mountains in each direction, presenting a mnemonic geography of Earth’s hydrological and forested supports.
The catalogue culminates in a complete four-directional grid: each quarter is ‘sealed’ by its lake and ringed by named peaks, while sensory ecology (cool fragrant winds, lotus-lakes, bird-calls, divine sport in groves) underscores that sanctity and stability arise from intact water–mountain–forest networks.
Cardinal-direction mountain realms and lakes are named: Caitraratha (east), Gandhamādana (south), Aruṇoda-saras (east), Mānasa-saras (south), Asitoda-saras (west), Mahābhadra-saras (north). Numerous mountains are listed by name across directions, including (east/Aruṇoda region): Vikaṅka, Maṇiśṛṅga, Supātra, Upala, Mahānīla, Kumbha, Subindu, Madana, Veṇunaddha, Sumedā, Niṣadha, Devaparvata; (south/Mānasa vicinity): Triśiras, Śiśira, Kapi, Śatamakṣa, Turaga, Sānumān, Tāmraha, Viṣa, Śvetodana, Samūla, Sarala, Ratnaketu, Ekamūla, Mahāśṛṅga, Gajamūla, Śāvaka, Kailāsa, Himavān; (west/Asitoda region): Kapila, Piṅgala, Bhadra, Sarasa, Kumuda, Madhumāṃs, Garjana, Markaṭa, Kṛṣṇa, Pāṇḍava, Sahasraśiras, Pāriyātra, Śṛṅgavān; (north/Mahābhadra vicinity): Haṃsakūṭa, Vṛṣahaṃsa, Kapiñjala, Indraśaila, Nīla, Kanakaśṛṅga, Śataśṛṅga, Puṣkara, Meghaśaila, Viraja, Jāruci.
Rather than prescribing a direct social rule, the text frames Earth’s stability through ordered geography: named mountains and lakes function as a schematic of terrestrial structure. The implicit instruction is that maintaining the integrity of waters (saras, tīrthas) and forested habitats sustains a balanced world, aligning sacred order with environmental continuity.
No explicit tithi, lunar phase, vrata timing, or seasonal ritual calendar is given in the cited passage. The chapter instead uses ecological descriptors—cool, fragrant breezes and blooming lotus-lakes—as atmospheric markers of a flourishing landscape rather than a dated ritual schedule.
Environmental balance is conveyed through hydrological and habitat imagery: lakes filled with lotuses (kamala, utpala, kahlāra), bird-rich groves, and clean, meritorious waters. By cataloguing lakes and mountains as interlinked systems across the four directions, the narrative presents Earth (Pṛthivī) as upheld by coherent water–forest–mountain networks, a model readily interpretable as early ecological ethics.
The principal cultural figure explicitly speaking is Rudra, who delivers the geographic enumeration. No royal dynasties, administrative lineages, or named human sages are foregrounded in this excerpt beyond the generic address to dvijottamas/vipras; the emphasis remains on place-names and landscape taxonomy.
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