Critical Edition
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच जम्बूखण्डस्त्वया प्रोक्तो यथावदिह संजय विष्कम्भमस्य प्रब्रूहि परिमाणं च तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, you have described to me. Jambukhanda. Tell me now its dimensions and extent.
समुद्रस्य प्रमाणं च सम्यगच्छिद्रदर्शन शाकद्वीपं च मे ब्रूहि कुशद्वीपं च संजय
M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, tell me also of the extent of the oceans, of Shakadvipa, and of Kushadvipa.
शाल्मलं चैव तत्त्वेन क्रौञ्चद्वीपं तथैव च ब्रूहि गावल्गणे सर्वं राहोः सोमार्कयोस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Of Shalmalidvipa and of Kraunchadvipa. O son of Gavalgani, tell me also of Rahu, Soma and Surya.
संजय उवाच राजन्सुबहवो द्वीपा यैरिदं संततं जगत् सप्त त्वहं प्रवक्ष्यामि चन्द्रादित्यौ ग्रहांस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, there are many islands in this earth. But I shall describe to you only seven islands and also the moon, and the sun and the planets.
अष्टादश सहस्राणि योजनानां विशां पते षट्शतानि च पूर्णानि विष्कम्भो जम्बुपर्वतः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the Jambu mountain extends for full eighteen thousand and six hundred Yojanas.
लावणस्य समुद्रस्य विष्कम्भो द्विगुणः स्मृतः नानाजनपदाकीर्णो मणिविद्रुमचित्रितः
M. N. Dutt: The extent of the salt sea is said to be double of it. this sea is covered with many kingdoms. It is adorned with gems and corals.
नैकधातुविचित्रैश्च पर्वतैरुपशोभितः सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णः सागरः परिमण्डलः
M. N. Dutt: It is adorned with many mountains that are variegated with metals of various kinds. It is circular in form like a sea, and is thickly peopled by the Siddhas and the Charanas.
शाकद्वीपं च वक्ष्यामि यथावदिह पार्थिव शृणु मे त्वं यथान्यायं ब्रुवतः कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata. O scion of the Kuru race, I shall now speak to you in detail of Shakadvipa. Hear as I describe it.
जम्बूद्वीपप्रमाणेन द्विगुणः स नराधिप विष्कम्भेण महाराज सागरोऽपि विभागशः क्षीरोदो भरतश्रेष्ठ येन संपरिवारितः
M. N. Dutt: O that island is twice as large as the Jambudvipa. O king of kings, the ocean also is twice as large as that island.
Supplementary Passages:
6.12.9 After 9cd, T1 G4 M2 (om. line 2) ins.: *54 शल्मलिश्च कुश[ः] क्रौञ्चो द्विगुणो ह्युत्तरोत्तरम् यथासंख्यं परिवृत्तः सुरासर्पिःपयोधिभिः
तत्र पुण्या जनपदा न तत्र म्रियते जनः कुत एव हि दुर्भिक्षं क्षमातेजोयुता हि ते
AI Translation: There the people are virtuous, there the people do not die. How much less famine, for they are endowed with forbearance and energy.
शाकद्वीपस्य संक्षेपो यथावद्भरतर्षभ उक्त एष महाराज किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि
AI Translation: O bull among the Bharatas, this is the summary of the Shaka continent, as it should be. O great king, this has been spoken. What else do you wish to hear?
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच शाकद्वीपस्य संक्षेपो यथावदिह संजय उक्तस्त्वया महाभाग विस्तरं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said You have briefly told me of Shakadvipa. O greatly wise one, tell me now everything in detail.
संजय उवाच तथैव पर्वता राजन्सप्तात्र मणिभूषिताः रत्नाकरास्तथा नद्यस्तेषां नामानि मे शृणु अतीवगुणवत्सर्वं तत्र पुण्यं जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: O king there are seven mountains in that island. They are decked with jewels and there are mines of gems and precious stones. There are many rivers in that island. Hear, as I tell you their names. O king, every thing there is charming and delightful. The first of those mountains is called Meru. It is the abode of the celestials, the Rishis and the Gandharvas.
देवर्षिगन्धर्वयुतः परमो मेरुरुच्यते प्रागायतो महाराज मलयो नाम पर्वतः यतो मेघाः प्रवर्तन्ते प्रभवन्ति च सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the next mountains stretching castward is called the Malaya. It is there that the clouds are born, and it is from that place that they disperse on all sides.
ततः परेण कौरव्य जलधारो महागिरिः यत्र नित्यमुपादत्ते वासवः परमं जलम् यतो वर्षं प्रभवति वर्षाकाले जनेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, the next is the large mountain, called Jaladhara. From it, Indra daily takes water of the best quality.
उच्चैर्गिरी रैवतको यत्र नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितः रेवती दिवि नक्षत्रं पितामहकृतो विधिः
AI Translation: Where the mountain Ucchagiri is always established, And the constellation Revati in the sky, created by the grandfather.
उत्तरेण तु राजेन्द्र श्यामो नाम महागिरिः यतः श्यामत्वमापन्नाः प्रजा जनपदेश्वर
AI Translation: But to the north, O lord of kings, is the great mountain named Śyāma, From which, O lord of the people, the people have become dark.
Supplementary Passages:
6.12.17 After 17ab, K2.4 B Da Dn D4-6.8 ins.: *55 नवमेघप्रभः प्रांशुः श्रीमानुज्ज्वलविग्रहः
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच सुमहान्संशयो मेऽद्य प्रोक्तं संजय यत्त्वया प्रजाः कथं सूतपुत्र संप्राप्ताः श्यामतामिह
M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, a great doubt has arisen in my mind. Why, O son of Suta, people of that country are dark?
संजय उवाच सर्वेष्वेव महाप्राज्ञ द्वीपेषु कुरुनन्दन गौरः कृष्णश्च वर्णौ द्वौ तयोर्वर्णान्तरं नृप
M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O great king, O descendant of Kuru in all islands men may be found who are fair and those who are dark and those also who are born by the mixture of the white and the black races.
श्यामो यस्मात्प्रवृत्तो वै तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत आस्तेऽत्र भगवान्कृष्णस्तत्कान्त्या श्यामतां गतः
M. N. Dutt: But because the people are all dark there, that mountain is called the Dark mountain. O chief of the Kurus, next to this is the great mountain, called Durgashaila.
ततः परं कौरवेन्द्र दुर्गशैलो महोदयः केसरी केसरयुतो यतो वातः प्रवायति
AI Translation: Then, O lord of the Kurus, beyond that is the great mountain Durgaśaila, where the wind blows with the mane of a lion.
तेषां योजनविष्कम्भो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः वर्षाणि तेषु कौरव्य संप्रोक्तानि मनीषिभिः
AI Translation: Their diameter is twice that, divided into parts. The years in them are declared by the wise.
महामेरुर्महाकाशो जलदः कुमुदोत्तरः जलधारात्परो राजन्सुकुमार इति स्मृतः
AI Translation: Mahāmeru, Mahākāśa, Jalada, Kumudottara, Jala-dhara, and then King Sukumāra.
रैवतस्य तु कौमारः श्यामस्य तु मणीचकः केसरस्याथ मोदाकी परेण तु महापुमान्
AI Translation: The son of Raivata was Kumāra, the son of Śyāma was Maṇīcaka, the son of Keśara was Modāki, and the son of Parama was Mahāpuruṣa.
परिवार्य तु कौरव्य दैर्घ्यं ह्रस्वत्वमेव च जम्बूद्वीपेन विख्यातस्तस्य मध्ये महाद्रुमः
AI Translation: Surrounded by the ocean, O descendant of Kuru, is Jambudvipa, which is long and short. In the middle of it is a great tree, known as Jambudvipa.
शाको नाम महाराज तस्य द्वीपस्य मध्यगः तत्र पुण्या जनपदाः पूज्यते तत्र शंकरः
AI Translation: Śāka is the name of the central country of that island. There the people are meritorious and Śiva is worshipped there.
तत्र गच्छन्ति सिद्धाश्च चारणा दैवतानि च धार्मिकाश्च प्रजा राजंश्चत्वारोऽतीव भारत
AI Translation: There go the Siddhas, the Charanas, and the Devas, And the righteous people, O King, the four, O descendant of Bharata.
वर्णाः स्वकर्मनिरता न च स्तेनोऽत्र दृश्यते दीर्घायुषो महाराज जरामृत्युविवर्जिताः
AI Translation: The castes are engaged in their own duties, and no thief is seen here. O great king, they have long lives, free from old age and death.
प्रजास्तत्र विवर्धन्ते वर्षास्विव समुद्रगाः नद्यः पुण्यजलास्तत्र गङ्गा च बहुधागतिः
AI Translation: There the subjects increase like rivers flowing into the ocean in the rainy season. There are rivers with sacred waters, and the Ganges with many courses.
सुकुमारी कुमारी च सीता कावेरका तथा महानदी च कौरव्य तथा मणिजला नदी इक्षुवर्धनिका चैव तथा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Mahanadi, the Manijala, Chakshuas, and the river Vardhanika, O descendant of Kuru, O best of the Bharata race.
ततः प्रवृत्ताः पुण्योदा नद्यः कुरुकुलोद्वह सहस्राणां शतान्येव यतो वर्षति वासवः
M. N. Dutt: These and many other rivers by hundreds and thousands all full of sacred water are there. O perpetuator of the Kuru race, Vasava (Indra) draws water from them to shower as rain.
न तासां नामधेयानि परिमाणं तथैव च शक्यते परिसंख्यातुं पुण्यास्ता हि सरिद्वराः
M. N. Dutt: It is impossible to mention the names and lengths of these rivers. All of them are the foremost of all rivers, and they are all sincleansing.
तत्र पुण्या जनपदाश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः मगाश्च मशकाश्चैव मानसा मन्दगास्तथा
M. N. Dutt: As every body has heard in the island of Shaka there are four sacred countries. They are the Mrigas, the Mashakas, the Manasas and the Mandagas.
मगा ब्राह्मणभूयिष्ठाः स्वकर्मनिरता नृप मशकेषु तु राजन्या धार्मिकाः सर्वकामदाः
M. N. Dutt: The Mrigas are generally Brahmanas engaged in the duties of their own. Many virtuous Kshatriyas are among the Mashakas who grant every wish of the Brahmanas.
मानसेषु महाराज वैश्याः कर्मोपजीविनः सर्वकामसमायुक्ताः शूरा धर्मार्थनिश्चिताः शूद्रास्तु मन्दगे नित्यं पुरुषा धर्मशीलिनः
M. N. Dutt: O king, the Manasas follow the duties of the Vaishyas. Having all their desires gratified, they are brave and firmly devoted to Dharma and Artha.
न तत्र राजा राजेन्द्र न दण्डो न च दण्डिकाः स्वधर्मेणैव धर्मं च ते रक्षन्ति परस्परम्
AI Translation: There is no king there, O lord of kings, no punishment, no punishment-officers. By their own duty they protect each other.
एतावदेव शक्यं तु तस्मिन्द्वीपे प्रभाषितुम् एतावदेव श्रोतव्यं शाकद्वीपे महौजसि
M. N. Dutt: They are all engaged in the practice of their respective duties and they all protect one another. So much can be said of the Shaka island and so much only could be heard of that greatly powerful isiand.