भूमि पर्व — उत्तर कुरु प्रदेशको वर्णन

Sanjaya said O descendant of Kuru, O great king, I shall tell you what is heard of the island in the north. Hear.

There is that ocean the water of which is Ghee. Next to it is the ocean, the water of which is curd. Next is the ocean, the water of which is wine, and then comes a ocean of water.

O king, the island are double in area of one another as they proceed further towards the north. O king, they are surrounded by these oceans.

In the middle island, there is a large mountain called Goura which is made of red arsenic. O king, on the western island, there is a mountain, called Krishna; it is a favourite abode of Narayana.

There Keshava protects celestial gems. From that place, when gracious, he bestows happiness on creatures.

O king, along with the kingdoms in these islands, Kusha grass in Kushadvipa and the Salami tree is Shalmalikadvipa are worshipped.

O king, in the Krauncha island the mountain called Maha Krauncha which is a mine of all kinds of gems is always worshipped by all the four orders of men.

O king, there is the mountain called Gomanta which is huge in size and which consists of all kinds of metals. On its summit lives Narayana Hari with those they have obtained salvation, graced with prosperity and possessed of eyes like lotus. O great king, in Kushadvipa there is another mountain abounding in corals.

It is called after the island, this mountain is made of gold and it is inaccessible. O descendant of Kuru, there is another greatly effulgert mountain called Kumuda.

The fourth mountain there is called Pushpavati, the fifth Kusheshaya, the sixty Harigiri. These are the six chief mountains.

The intervening spaces between one another of these six mountains increases in the ratio of one to two, as they proceed further and further towards the north. This first Varsha is called Audbhida, the second is Venumandala.

The third is Suratha, the fourth is Kambala, the fifth is called Dhritimat, and the sixth is named Prabhakara.

The seventh is called Kapila. These are the Seven successive Varshas. The celestial and the Gandharvas and other creatures of the universe take pleasure to sport in them. The dwellers of these Varshas never die. O king, there is not any robber or any Mlecchha race there.

O king, all the dwellers are generally white in complexion. They are very delicate. O ruler of men, I shall describe all that has been heard by me. O king, hear with attention. O great king, there is a great mountain called Krauncha in the Krauncha island.

Next to Krauncha is Vamanaka, next to Vamanaka is Andhakaraka, next to Andhakaraka is that foremost of all mountains which is called Mainaka.

O king, next to Mainaka is that best of mountains called Govinda, next to Govinda is the Nibida mountain. O perpetuator of the Kuru race, the intervening spaces between one another of these mountains increase in the ratio of one to two. I shall speak of the countries that are situated there. Hear as I tell of them.

The country near Krauncha is called Kushala, that near Vainana is Manonuga that next to Manonuga, O perpetuator of the Kuru race, is called Ushna.

Next to Ushna is Pravaraka, next to Pravarka is Andhakaraka, next to Andhakaraka is named Munidesha,

Next to Munidesha is Dundubhisvana frequented by the Siddhas and the Charanas. O king, the people of this regions are white.

O king, all these countries are inhabited by the celestial and the Gandharvas. In Pushkara (island) there is a mountain called Pushkara, full of gems and jewels.

There dwells the divine creator of the worlds himself. All the celestial and great Rishis always worship bim.

With gratifying words and respectful adoration. o king, various gems from Jambudvipa are used there.

O king, in all these islands Brahmacharya, truth, self-control, also health and length of life are in the ratio of one to two as the island are more and more remote northwards. O king, O descendant of Bharata, the land in all these islands is but one country.

For it is said to be the one country in which is scen but one religion. The supreme lord of creation himself, lifting up the rod of chastisement always lives there and protects! these islands. O king,. he is their ruler, he is their source of happiness, he is their father, he is their grandfather.

O foremost of men, it is he who protects there all mobile and immobile creatures. O descendant of Kuru, cooked food comes there of itself and all creatures eat it every day. O mighty-armed hero, next to these regions is seen the region named Shyama.

It is like a star in shape having four corners. O king, it has thirty three Mandalas. ) descendant of Kuru, there live four great clephants adored by all, o best among the Bharata race, they are Vamana, Airavata, Supratika with rent temples and also another.

I cannot venture to calculate the proportions of these four elephants. Their length, breadth and thickness have ever remained umascertained.

O king, winds blow in these regions irregularly from all directions. These winds are scized by these elephants with the tips of their trunks, which are like to lotus in complexion, which are very bright and which they are capable of drawing up in this way. As soon as they scize them, they let them out.

O king, having been thus let out by these clephants, these winds come over to this earth, and for their coming creatures breathe and live.

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, you have told me in detail about the first subject. You have also told me the position of the islands. O Sanjaya tell me now the rest.

Sanjaya said O great king, I have described to you all the islands. O Kuru chief, now hear what I say about the heavily bodies and about Svarbhanu.

O king, it is hcard by us that the planet Svarbhanu is a globe. Its diameter is twelve thousand Yojanas.

And because because it is very large, its circumference is forty two thousand Yojanas. O sinless one, thus say the learned men of old.

O king, the diameter of the moon is said to be cleven thousand Yojanas. O Kuru chief, the circumference of our this famous planet of cool rays is said to be thirty-cight thousand and nine hundred Yojanas. O descendant of Kuru, we have heard that the diameter of the beneficent, fast-going and light-giving sun is ten thousand and Yojanas, and O king, its circumference is thirty-five thousand cight hundred miles, O sinless one, O descendant of Bharata, these are all the calculations of Arka.

The planet Rahu on account of its great bulk covers both the sun and the moon in due tiine (during eclipses). I tell you all this in brief.

O great king, with the help of the eye of science, I have told you all that you asked me. Be blessed.

I shall now tell you of the construction of the universe as narrated in the Shastras. Therefore, O descendant of Kuru, pacify your son Duryodhana.

O best of the Bharata race, hearing this delightful Bhumi Parva, a Kshatriya obtains prosperity, the fruition of all his desires and approbation of the pious.

The king who hears this on the full-moon or the new-incon day and observes the vows with care, obtains long life, fame, and prowess. His ancestral manes become pleased. You have now heard of all the merits that flow from this Bharata Varsha in which we live.