Jambukhanda Vinirmana Parva — Description of Bharata

Dhritarashtra said Tell me about the Varsha called Bharata in which these foolish men have assembled (to fight), for which my son Duryodhana has become so very covetous, which the Pandavas also are desirous of obtaining and in which even my mind sinks. Tell me all this, for you are, in my opinion endued with great intelligence.

Sanjaya said O king, hear my words. The Pandavas are not covetous about this country. It is Duryodhana who is covetous. It is the son of Subala, Shakuni.

And also many other Kshatriyas who are rulers of countries and who being covetous of this country cannot tolerate one another,

O descendant of Bharata, I shall now speak to you about the country named after Bharata, It is the beloved land of Indra. O king, this land called after Bharata, is also the beloved land of Manu, the son of Vivasvat, of Pritha, of Vainya, of the illustrious Ikshvaku, of Yayati, of Ambarisha, of Mandhata, of Nahusha, of Muchukunda, of Shibi, the son of Ushinaras of Rishabha, of Ila, of king Nriga, of Kushika, of the illustrious Gadhi, of Somaka, and of Dilipa and of many other kings. O chastiser of foes, I shall now describe to you the country as I have heard of it.

O king, hear as I speak of what you have asked me. Mahendra, Malaya, Sahya, Shuktimat, Gandhamadana, Vindhya, and Paripatra, these are the seven main mountains forming the boundaries (of Bharata Varsha). Besides these there are 0 king, thousands of other mountains which are hard and huge and which contain many excellent valleys. Besides these (large ones) there are many smaller mountains inhabited by the barbarians.

O descendant of Kuru, O lord, the Aryans and the Mlechchhas and many other races drink the waters of the following rivers. The magnificent Ganga, Sindhu, Sarasvati, Godavari, Narmada, the large river called Bahuda, Shatadru, Chandrabhaga, the large river called Yamuna, Drishadvati, Vipasha, Vipapa, Sthulabaluka, Vetravati, Krishnavena, Iravati. Vitasta, Payoshini, Devika, Vedasmrita, Vedavati, Tridiva, Ikshuala, Karishini, Chitravaha, Chitrasena, Gomati, Dhutapapa, Gandaki, Kaushaki, Tridiva, Kritya, Nichita, Lohitarani, Rahasya, Shatakumbha, Sarayu, Charamnvati, Vetravati, Hastisoma, Dika, Sharavati, Payoshini, Vena, Bhimarathi, Kaveri, Chuluka, Vani, Shatabala, Nivara, Ahita, Suprayoga, Pavitra, Kundali, Sindhu, Rajani, Puramalini, Purvabhirama, Vira, Bhima, Oghavati, Pashashini, Papahara, Mahendra, Patalavati, Karishini, Asikni, Kushachira, Makari, Pravara, Mena, Hema, Ghritavati, Puravati, Anushna, Shaivya, Kapi, Sadanira, Adhrishya, The mystery river Kushadhara, Sadakanta, Shiva, Viramati, Vastra, Suvastra, Gouri, Kampana, Hiranvati, Vara, Virakara, Great river Panchami, Rathachitra, Jyotiratha, Vishvamitra, Kapinjala, Upendra, Bahula, Kuvira, Ambuvahini, Vinadi, Pinjala, Vena, the great river Tungavena, Vidisha, Krishnavena, Tamara, Kapila, Khalu, Suvama, Vedashrva, the great river Harishrava.

Shighra, Pichhala, Bharadvaji, Kaushika, Sona and Chandrama, Durga, Chintrashila, Brahmavaidhya, Brihadvati, Yavaksha, Rohi, Jambunadi, Sunasa, Tamasa, Dasi, Vasa, Varuna and Asi, Nila, Ghritavati, The great river Parnasha, Tamasi, Vrishabha, Brahmamedhya, Brihadhani.

O king, these the many other large rivers such as Sadaniramaya, Krishna, Mandaga, Mandavahini, Brahmini, Mahagouri, Durga, Chitrotpla, Chitraratha, Manjula, Vahini, Mandakani, Vaitarani, Kosha Mahanadi, Shuktimati, Ananga, Pushpavini, Utpalavati, Lohitya, Karatoya, Vrishaka, Kumari, Rishikulya, Marisha, Sarasvati, and Mandakini, Supunya, Sarva and Ganga,

O descendant of Bharata, all these are the mother of the universe and the produce great merit. Besides these rivers, there are hundreds and thousand of rivers that have no names. O king, I have mentioned to you all the rivers that I remember.

Hear now the names of various countries. They are the Kuru-Pancliala, the Shalvas, the Madreyas, the Jangalas, the Shurasena, the Kalingas, the Vedas, the Malas, the Matsya's, the Kushalyas, the Saushalyas, the Kuntalas, the Kanti, Kosalas, the Chedis, the Kurushas, the Bhojas, the Sindhus, the Pulindas, the Uttamashrava, the Dasharanas, the Mekalas, the Utkalas, the Panchalas, the Kausijas, the Naikaprishthas, the Dhurandharas, the Godhas, the Madrakalingas, the Kashis, the further Kashis, the Jatharas, the Kukuras, the Dasharanas, the Kuntis, the Avantis, the further Kuntis, the Gomantas, the Mandakas, the Sandas, the Vidarabhas, the Rupavahikas, the Ashmakas, the Pandurashtras, the Goparashtras, the Karitis, the Adhirajyas, the Kushadhyas, the Mallarashtras, the Keralas, the Varavasyas, the Aayavahas, the Chakara, the Chakarati, the Shakas, the Videhas, the Magadhas, the Svakshas, the Malajas, the Vijayas, the Angas, the Vangas, the Kalingas, the Yakrillomas, the Mallas, the Sudeshna, the Pralhadas, the Mahikas, the Shashikas, the Balhikas, the Vatadhanas, the Abhiras, the Kalatoyakas, the Aparantas, the Parantas, the Panchalas, the Charamamandalas, thc Atavishikharas, the Merubhutas, the Upavrittas, the Anupavrittas, the Svarashtras, the Kaikeyas, the Kundaparantas, the Maheyas, the Kakshas, the Samudranishkutas, the Andhras many other hills tribes, the Angamalajas, the Manavarjakas, the Mahyuttas, the Pravrisheyas, the Bahargavas, the Pundras, the Bhargas, the Kiratas, the Sudrishtas, the Yamunas, the Shakas, the Nishadas, the Nishadhas, the Anartas, the Nairetas, the Durgalas, the Pratimatsyas, the Kuntalas, the Kosalas, the Tiragrahas, the Ijikas, the Kanyakagunas, the Tilabharas, the Masiras, the Madhumattas, the Sukandkas, the Kashmiras, the Sindhu-son viras, the Gandharvas, the Darshakas Abhisaras, the Ulutas, the Shaivalas, the Balhikas, the Darvis, the Vanava, Darvas, the Vatajas, the Amarathas, and the Uragas, the Bahuvadhyas, the Kauravyas, the Sudamanas, the Sumallikas, the Vadharas, the Karishakas, the Kulindas, the Upatyakas, the Vanayuas, the Dash, the Romanas, the Kushabindus, the Kachhas, the Gopalakakshas, the Kuruvarnakas, the Kiratas, the Barbaras, the Siddhas, the Vaidehas, the Tarinaliptakas, the Audras, the Paundras, the Saisiridharas, and the Parvatyas. O best of the Bharata race there are other kingdoms such as the Dravidas, the Keralas, the Prachyas, the Bhushikas, the Vanavasikas, the Karantakas, the Mahishakas, the Vikalpas, the Mushakas, the Jhillikas, the Kuntals, the Sauhridas, the Nabhakananas, the Kaukuttakas, the Cholas, the Malavas, the Samangas, the Kanakas, the Kukkuras, the Angaramurishas, the Marishas, the Dhvajinis, the Utsavas-Sanketas, the Trigartas, the Shalvasenis, the Vyukas, the Kokabakas, the Proshtas, the Samavegavashas, the Vindhyachulikas, the Pulindas, the Valkalas, the Malavas, the Ballavas, the further Ballavas, the Kulindas, the Kaladas, the Kundalas, the Karatas, the Mushakas, the Stanabalas, the Srinjayas the Rishikas, the Vidarbhas, the Kakas, the Tanganas, the further Tanganas. The Mlecchas, the Kurus, the Yavanas, the Chinas, the Kambojas, the Darunas, the Sakridgrahas, the Kulatha, the Hunas, the Parasikas, the Ramanas, and the Dashamalikas.

Besides this country is the abode of many Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudra. There are the Shudraviras, the Daradas, the Kashmiras, the Paitis, the Khashiras, the Atreyas, the Bharadvaja, the Stanopi Shikas, the Poshakas, the Kalingas, and many other Kiratas, the Tomaras, the Hansamargas, and Karamanjakas. These and other kingdoms are in the east and in the north.

O lord, I have briefly mentioned them. If the resources of the earth are properly developed, she is then like an all-yielding cow, from which the threefold objects of Dharma, Artha and Kama might be linked. Brave kings learned in Dharma and Artha have become covetous of earth.

From the thirst of wealth, they would even abandon their lives in battle. Earth is the stay of creatures endued with celestial bodies as well as human bodies.

O foremost of the Bharata race, with the desire of enjoying earth they have become like dogs that snatch meat from one another.

O descendant of Bharata, their ambition is unlimited; it is for this the Kurus and the Pandavas are trying, to get possession of the earth by negotiations, by disunion, by gift and by battle. O foremost of men, if earth be properly treated, she becomes the father, the mother, the children, the sky and the heaven of all creatures.