Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच उक्तो द्वीपस्य संक्षेपो विस्तरं ब्रूहि संजय यावद्भूम्यवकाशोऽयं दृश्यते शशलक्षणे तस्य प्रमाणं प्रब्रूहि ततो वक्ष्यसि पिप्पलम्
M. N. Dutt: Tell us now of the dimension of that portion of the land that looks like a hare. You may then describe the portion that looks like the pipal tree.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.1 After 1a, B Da Dn D4.5.8 ins.: *23 विधिवद्बुद्धिमंस्त्वया तत्त्वज्ञश्चासि सर्वस्य
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तः स राज्ञा तु संजयो वाक्यमब्रवीत् प्रागायता महाराज षडेते रत्नपर्वताः अवगाढा ह्युभयतः समुद्रौ पूर्वपश्चिमौ
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said Stretching from east to west, there are six mountains that are all equal and that extend from the eastern to the western sea.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.2 After 2cd, D6 ins.: *24 स्थिता समुद्रमाक्रम्य अवरूढा भवंस्ततः
हिमवान्हेमकूटश्च निषधश्च नगोत्तमः नीलश्च वैडूर्यमयः श्वेतश्च रजतप्रभः सर्वधातुविनद्धश्च शृङ्गवान्नाम पर्वतः
AI Translation: Himavan, Hemanakuta, and the best of mountains, Nīla, made of lapis lazuli, and Śveta, shining with silver, and Śṛṅgavān, a mountain covered with all kinds of minerals,
एते वै पर्वता राजन्सिद्धचारणसेविताः तेषामन्तरविष्कम्भो योजनानि सहस्रशः
AI Translation: These mountains, O king, are frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas. The distance between them is thousands of yojanas.
तत्र पुण्या जनपदास्तानि वर्षाणि भारत वसन्ति तेषु सत्त्वानि नानाजातीनि सर्वशः
AI Translation: There are the countries of the meritorious, those years, O descendant of Bharata. The beings of various species live there in all ways.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.5 After 5, Ś1 K0-2 ins.: *25 गन्धर्वाद्या वसन्ति स्म ह्यप्सरोगणसेविताः
इदं तु भारतं वर्षं ततो हैमवतं परम् हेमकूटात्परं चैव हरिवर्षं प्रचक्षते
AI Translation: This is the land of Bharata, beyond which is the land of Haimavata. Beyond the Himalayas, they call it the land of Hari.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.6 After 6ab, T G M2.4 ins.: *26 ततः किंपुरुषावासं वर्षं हिमवतः परम्
दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण च प्रागायतो महाराज माल्यवान्नाम पर्वतः
AI Translation: To the south of Nīla and to the north of Niṣadha, is the mountain named Mālyavān, extending to the east, O great king.
ततः परं माल्यवतः पर्वतो गन्धमादनः परिमण्डलस्तयोर्मध्ये मेरुः कनकपर्वतः
AI Translation: Then beyond that is the mountain Malaya, then Gandhamadana, and between them is Meru, the golden mountain, which is circular.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.8 After 8ab, D3 ins.: *27 तेनैव क्रमयोगेन पर्वतो गन्धमादनः
आदित्यतरुणाभासो विधूम इव पावकः योजनानां सहस्राणि षोडशाधः किल स्मृतः
AI Translation: Shining like the rising sun, like fire without smoke, It is said to be sixteen thousand yojanas below.
उच्चैश्च चतुराशीतिर्योजनानां महीपते ऊर्ध्वमन्तश्च तिर्यक्च लोकानावृत्य तिष्ठति
AI Translation: And it is eighty-four yojanas high, O King. It stands covering the worlds above, below, and across.
तस्य पार्श्वे त्विमे द्वीपाश्चत्वारः संस्थिताः प्रभो भद्राश्वः केतुमालश्च जम्बूद्वीपश्च भारत उत्तराश्चैव कुरवः कृतपुण्यप्रतिश्रयाः
M. N. Dutt: Namely Bhadrashva, Ketumala, Jambudvipa also called Bharata, and Uttara Kuru which is the abode of the pious.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.11 After 11cd, D1 ins.: *28 केतुमालश्चतुर्थश्च मेरोः पश्चिमतः स्थितः
विहगः सुमुखो यत्र सुपर्णस्यात्मजः किल स वै विचिन्तयामास सौवर्णान्प्रेक्ष्य वायसान्
M. N. Dutt: The bird Sumukha, the son of Suparna (Garuda), seeing that all the birds on the Meru were of golden plumage, reflected.
मेरुरुत्तममध्यानामधमानां च पक्षिणाम् अविशेषकरो यस्मात्तस्मादेनं त्यजाम्यहम्
M. N. Dutt: "I shall go away from this mountain, because there is no difference there between good, indifferent and bad birds".
तमादित्योऽनुपर्येति सततं ज्योतिषां पतिः चन्द्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो वायुश्चैव प्रदक्षिणम्
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of luminaries, the sun, always goes round the Meru, so does the moon with his attendant constellations so does also Vayu.
स पर्वतो महाराज दिव्यपुष्पफलान्वितः भवनैरावृतः सर्वैर्जाम्बूनदमयैः शुभैः
M. N. Dutt: O king, that mountain possesses celestial fruits and flowers; it is covered all over with houses made of burnished gold.
तत्र देवगणा राजन्गन्धर्वासुरराक्षसाः अप्सरोगणसंयुक्ताः शैले क्रीडन्ति नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: O king, there on that mountain the celestial, the Gandharvas, the Asuras and the Rakshasas with the Apasaras always come to sport.
तत्र ब्रह्मा च रुद्रश्च शक्रश्चापि सुरेश्वरः समेत्य विविधैर्यज्ञैर्यजन्तेऽनेकदक्षिणैः
M. N. Dutt: There Brahma, Rudra, and Shakra the lord of the celestial, meet together and perform various kinds of sacrifices with large Dakshinas.
तुम्बुरुर्नारदश्चैव विश्वावसुर्हहा हुहूः अभिगम्यामरश्रेष्ठाः स्तवै स्तुन्वन्ति चाभिभो
M. N. Dutt: Tamburu, and Narada, Vishvavasu and the Hahas and the Huhus went there and adored the foremost of the celestial with various hymns.
सप्तर्षयो महात्मानः कश्यपश्च प्रजापतिः तत्र गच्छन्ति भद्रं ते सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious seven Rishis and Kashyapa, the lord of creatures, go there on every Parva day.
तस्यैव मूर्धन्युशनाः काव्यो दैत्यैर्महीपते तस्य हीमानि रत्नानि तस्येमे रत्नपर्वताः
M. N. Dutt: On the summit of that mountain, Ushanas, otherwise called the Poet, sports with the Dailyas. The jewels and gems and all precious stones belong to Meru.
तस्मात्कुबेरो भगवांश्चतुर्थं भागमश्नुते ततः कलांशं वित्तस्य मनुष्येभ्यः प्रयच्छति
M. N. Dutt: A fourth part of them is enjoyed by Kubera. Only a sixteenth part he gives away to men to be enjoyed by them.
पार्श्वे तस्योत्तरे दिव्यं सर्वर्तुकुसुमं शिवम् कर्णिकारवनं रम्यं शिलाजालसमुद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: On the northern side of Meru there is a charming and beautiful forest of Karnikaras. It is ever covered with the flowers of every season. It occupies a range of hills.
तत्र साक्षात्पशुपतिर्दिव्यैर्भूतैः समावृतः उमासहायो भगवान्रमते भूतभावनः
M. N. Dutt: There sports the illustrious Pashupati, the creator of all things, surrounded by his celestial attendants and accompanied by Uma.
कर्णिकारमयीं मालां बिभ्रत्पादावलम्बिनीम् त्रिभिर्नेत्रैः कृतोद्द्योतस्त्रिभिः सूर्यैरिवोदितैः
M. N. Dutt: He wears a garland of Karnikars flowers round his neck which reaches down his feet and which blazes with radiance with his three eyes resembling three suns.
तमुग्रतपसः सिद्धाः सुव्रताः सत्यवादिनः पश्यन्ति न हि दुर्वृत्तैः शक्यो द्रष्टुं महेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: The Siddhas who are truthful, who are of excellent vows and austere asceticism can see him. Maheshvara is incapable of being seen by men of bad conduct.
तस्य शैलस्य शिखरात्क्षीरधारा नरेश्वर त्रिंशद्बाहुपरिग्राह्या भीमनिर्घातनिस्वना
AI Translation: From the peak of that mountain, O Lord of Men, a stream of milk is grasped by thirty arms, with a terrible roar.
पुण्या पुण्यतमैर्जुष्टा गङ्गा भागीरथी शुभा पतत्यजस्रवेगेन ह्रदे चान्द्रमसे शुभे तया ह्युत्पादितः पुण्यः स ह्रदः सागरोपमः
AI Translation: The auspicious Ganges, the most auspicious, is frequented by the most auspicious. It falls into the auspicious Chandrama lake with a constant flow. By her, the auspicious lake, resembling the ocean, was produced.
तां धारयामास पुरा दुर्धरां पर्वतैरपि शतं वर्षसहस्राणां शिरसा वै महेश्वरः
AI Translation: He formerly held that which was difficult to hold even by mountains. Mahesvara held it on his head for a hundred thousand years.
मेरोस्तु पश्चिमे पार्श्वे केतुमालो महीपते जम्बूषण्डश्च तत्रैव सुमहान्नन्दनोपमः
AI Translation: On the western side of Meru is Ketumala, O king. And there is a large Jambū forest, like Nandana.
आयुर्दश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां तत्र भारत सुवर्णवर्णाश्च नराः स्त्रियश्चाप्सरसोपमाः
AI Translation: There, O descendant of Bharata, the lifespan is ten thousand years. The men are golden in complexion, and the women are like celestial nymphs.
अनामया वीतशोका नित्यं मुदितमानसाः जायन्ते मानवास्तत्र निष्टप्तकनकप्रभाः
AI Translation: They are free from disease and sorrow, always joyful in mind. People are born there with the luster of refined gold.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.31 After 31, D3 ins.: *29 पूर्वेण यस्य विख्यातः पर्वतो गन्धमादनः
गन्धमादनशृङ्गेषु कुबेरः सह राक्षसैः संवृतोऽप्सरसां संघैर्मोदते गुह्यकाधिपः
AI Translation: Kubera, together with the demons, is surrounded by groups of celestial nymphs on the peaks of Gandhamadana. The lord of the guhyakas rejoices there.
गन्धमादनपादेषु परेष्वपरगण्डिकाः एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां परमायुषः
AI Translation: The Gandharvas have a life span of eleven thousand years.
तत्र कृष्णा नरा राजंस्तेजोयुक्ता महाबलाः स्त्रियश्चोत्पलपत्राभाः सर्वाः सुप्रियदर्शनाः
M. N. Dutt: The length of human life there is eleven thousand years. O king, the men there are cheerful, and possess great energy and great strength. The women are all of the complexion of the lotus. They are exceedingly beautiful.
नीलात्परतरं श्वेतं श्वेताद्धैरण्यकं परम् वर्षमैरावतं नाम ततः शृङ्गवतः परम्
M. N. Dutt: Beyond the Nila (mountain) is Shveta; beyond Shveta is Hiranyaka, beyond Hiranyaka is Airavata abounding in many countries.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.35 After 35ab, T1 G4 ins.: *30 हिरण्मयं च श्वेताद्रेः परं वर्षं नराधिप कुरुवर्षं ततो राजञ्शृङ्गवत्पर्वतात्परम्
धनुःसंस्थे महाराज द्वे वर्षे दक्षिणोत्तरे इलावृतं मध्यमं तु पञ्च वर्षाणि चैव ह
M. N. Dutt: O king, the last Varsha in the north and Bharata Varsha in the south are both of the form of a bow. Ilavrita is situated in the very middle of the five Varshas.
उत्तरोत्तरमेतेभ्यो वर्षमुद्रिच्यते गुणैः आयुष्प्रमाणमारोग्यं धर्मतः कामतोऽर्थतः
M. N. Dutt: Amongst these seven Varshas, the one that is furthest north excels the one immediate south to it as regards its many features such as the length of life, stature, wealth, piety, pleasure and profit.
समन्वितानि भूतानि तेषु वर्षेषु भारत एवमेषा महाराज पर्वतैः पृथिवी चिता
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, in these Varshas, creatures all live together. O king, the earth is thus covered with mountains.
हेमकूटस्तु सुमहान्कैलासो नाम पर्वतः यत्र वैश्रवणो राजा गुह्यकैः सह मोदते
M. N. Dutt: The great mountain of Hemakuta is also called Kailasa where, ( king, Vaishravana delightedly sports with his Guhyakas.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.39 After 39, S ins.: *31 तत्र देवो महादेवो नित्यमास्ते सहोमया चित्रे शिलातले रम्ये देवर्षिगणपूजितः
अस्त्युत्तरेण कैलासं मैनाकं पर्वतं प्रति हिरण्यशृङ्गः सुमहान्दिव्यो मणिमयो गिरिः
M. N. Dutt: Immediately north of Kailasa and near the mountain Mainaka, there is a great and beautiful mountain called Manimeya which possesses golden peaks.
तस्य पार्श्वे महद्दिव्यं शुभं काञ्चनवालुकम् रम्यं बिन्दुसरो नाम यत्र राजा भगीरथः दृष्ट्वा भागीरथीं गङ्गामुवास बहुलाः समाः
M. N. Dutt: Near this mountain there is a large, celestial and delightful lake called Bindusara with golden sands. There king Bhagiratha, seeing Ganga who is called after his name, lived for many years. There are innumerable sacrificial stakes made of gems and Chaitya trees made of gold.
यूपा मणिमयास्तत्र चित्याश्चापि हिरण्मयाः तत्रेष्ट्वा तु गतः सिद्धिं सहस्राक्षो महायशाः
AI Translation: The sacrificial posts were made of gems, and the sacrificial altars were of gold. Having performed the sacrifice there, the thousand-eyed one of great fame attained success.
सृष्ट्वा भूतपतिर्यत्र सर्वलोकान्सनातनः उपास्यते तिग्मतेजा वृतो भूतैः समागतैः नरनारायणौ ब्रह्मा मनुः स्थाणुश्च पञ्चमः
M. N. Dutt: Endued with supreme energy, surrounded by his ghostly attendants, is adored. There Nara and Narayana and Brahma and Manu and Sthanu are ever present.
तत्र त्रिपथगा देवी प्रथमं तु प्रतिष्ठिता ब्रह्मलोकादपक्रान्ता सप्तधा प्रतिपद्यते
AI Translation: There, the goddess Tripathga was first established. She descends from the Brahma world and takes seven forms.
वस्वोकसारा नलिनी पावना च सरस्वती जम्बूनदी च सीता च गङ्गा सिन्धुश्च सप्तमी
AI Translation: The Sarasvati, the Nalinī, the Pavana, the Jambūnadī, the Sītā, the Gaṅgā, and the Sindhu are the seven.
अचिन्त्या दिव्यसंकल्पा प्रभोरेषैव संविधिः उपासते यत्र सत्रं सहस्रयुगपर्यये
M. N. Dutt: The supreme lord has himself made all the arrangements as regards this inconceivable and celestial river. It is there that sacrifices have been performed on thousand of occasions at the revolution of the Yugas.
दृश्यादृश्या च भवति तत्र तत्र सरस्वती एता दिव्याः सप्त गङ्गास्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुताः
M. N. Dutt: As regards the Sarasvati, in some parts she becomes visible and in some parts she disappears. This celestial seven Gangas is known all over the three worlds.
रक्षांसि वै हिमवति हेमकूटे तु गुह्यकाः सर्पा नागाश्च निषधे गोकर्णे च तपोधनाः
M. N. Dutt: The Rakshasas live on the Himavat, the Guhyakas on Hemakuta and the Nagas on the Nishadha and the ascetics on the Gokarna.
देवासुराणां च गृहं श्वेतः पर्वत उच्यते गन्धर्वा निषधे शैले नीले ब्रह्मर्षयो नृप शृङ्गवांस्तु महाराज पितॄणां प्रतिसंचरः
AI Translation: The abode of the gods and demons is said to be the white mountain. The Gandharvas are on the mountain Níshadha, the Brahmarṣis on the blue one, O
इत्येतानि महाराज सप्त वर्षाणि भागशः भूतान्युपनिविष्टानि गतिमन्ति ध्रुवाणि च
AI Translation: Thus, these seven years, O great king, are divided into parts. The beings who have settled in them are mobile and stable.
तेषामृद्धिर्बहुविधा दृश्यते दैवमानुषी अशक्या परिसंख्यातुं श्रद्धेया तु बुभूषता
AI Translation: The prosperity of those is seen to be of many kinds, divine and human. It is impossible to enumerate, but it should be believed by one who desires to attain.
यां तु पृच्छसि मा राजन्दिव्यामेतां शशाकृतिम् पार्श्वे शशस्य द्वे वर्षे उभये दक्षिणोत्तरे कर्णौ तु नागद्वीपं च कश्यपद्वीपमेव च
AI Translation: O king, you ask about the divine one, the one shaped like the moon. On the sides of the moon are two continents, one to the south and one to the north. The ears are the continents of Nāga and Kāśyapa.
Supplementary Passages:
6.7.52 After 52ab, K2 D3 ins.: *32 जम्बूद्वीपस्य सर्वस्य आकृतिं चन्द्रमण्डले while T1 G4 ins.: *33 स वै सुदर्शनद्वीपो दृश्यते शशवद्विधौ After 52cd, T1 G4 ins.: *34 अन्यानि पञ्च वर्षाणि गलान्तं कल्पितानि च
ताम्रवर्णः शिरो राजञ्श्रीमान्मलयपर्वतः एतद्द्वितीयं द्वीपस्य दृश्यते शशसंस्थितम्
AI Translation: The mountain Malaya, O king, is copper-coloured, and is situated to the south of the island.