In this island the four caste people worship the great Janārddana in the form of Rudra with various sacrifices. Krauncha is girt by the sea of curds of a similar dimension and that again is encircled by Sāka-dwipa, which is twice as much in extent, O great Muni.

The high-souled Bhavya, the king of Sāka-dwipa had seven sons upon whom he severally conferred the seven portions. They are Jalada, Kumāra, Sukumāra, Manecchaka, Kusumoda, Mandāki and Mahādruma. The seven varsas were named in order after the seven princes. There are seven boundary mountains. Of these one situate on the east is Udayagiri and others are named Jatādhāra, Raivatak, Shyama, Astagiri, Anchikeya and Kesari. They are all charming and excellent mountains. There is a large Sāka (Teak) tree, frequented by the Siddhas and Gandharvas; and the wind produced by its fluttering leaves, spreads joy. The holy lands of this insular continent were inhabited by people of four castes. There are seven sacred rivers which remove all sins—they are Sukumari, Kamari, Nalini, Dhenuka, Ikshu, Benuka and Gavasti. Besides these seven rivers there are numerous rivulets. There are hundreds and thousands of mountains. People residing in Jalada varsa partake of the waters of these rivers. They seem to have come down from heaven to earth. In those divisions there is no decrease of virtue; there is no quarrel and there is no deviation from honesty. The four castes, Nriga, Magadha, Manasa and Mandaga correspond respectively to Brāhmmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaiçyas and Sudras. They worship Vishnu, in the form of the sun, having controlled their minds with diverse pious observances. Sāka-dwipa, O Maitreya, is girt by the sea of milk on all sides, as by a bracelet, which is of the same dimension as the continent.

The sea of milk, O Brahman, is again encircled on all sides by the insular continent of Pushkara, which is twice the extent of Sāka-dwipa. The king Savala of Pushkara had two sons; one was named Mahavira and the other Dhataki; and the two varsas were named after them. O great sage, there is only one mighty range of mountains, named Mānosattara, which runs in a circular direction like an armlet. It is fifty thousand yojanas in height and the same in breadth, circular on all sides, and divides the island in the middle, as if like a bracelet into two divisions. And being divided into two portions by that mountain they are also of a circular form. There the people live for ten thousand years, freed from disease, sorrow, anger and jealousy. There is neither virtue nor vice, killer nor slain: there is no jealousy, envy fear, hatred, malice, nor any moral delinquency. The varsa situate on the outside of Mānosattara is called Mahavira and the one situate inside is called Dhataki: they are both frequented by the celestials and Dānavas. And in that island of Pushkara there is neither truth nor falsehood. And in that insular continent divided into two portions there is no other mountain nor river. All men and celestials here have the same form and dress. There is no distinction of caste or order; they do not perform rites and the three Vedas, Puranaa, ethics, polity and the laws of service are unknown there. These two portions, O Maitreya, might be denominated as paradise on earth. In these two varsas of Dhataki and Mahavira, where time affords delight to the inhabitants who are freed from sickness and decay. There is a Nyagrodha-tree (Fisucus-indica) on this insular continent which is a favourite resort of Brahmā and where he lives worshipped by the celestials and Asuras. Pushkara is encircled by Syaduka ocean (sea of fresh water) which is of equal extent with the island.

In this way the seven insular continents are encircled by seven seas and each ocean and island is twice the dimension of that which precedes it. The water, in all these oceans, remains the same at all seasons and never increases or diminishes. Like the water in a cauldron, which expands in consequence of heat, the waters of the oceans swell with the increase of the moon, O foremost of Munis. Except in the light and dark fortnights the waters neither increase nor decrease. O great Muni, the rise and fall of the waters is five hundred and ten inches. In this island of Pushkara, O Brahman, foods are produced spontaneously and people there enjoy viands of various flavours.

Beyond the sea of fresh water, there is the land of gold which is twice its extent where no living beings dwell. Beyond that is the mountain Lokaloka which is a ten thousand yojanas in height and as many in breadth. The other side of the mountain is enshrouded with perpetual darkness which again is encircled by the shell of egg.

Such, O Maitreya, is the earth with all its continents, mountains and oceans and exterior shell. The extent of the earth is five hundred millions. It is the mother and nurse of beings, the foremost of all elements and the stay of all the worlds.

SECTION V.

Parāçara said:—The extent of the earth has been related to you by me. I have also said, O twice-born one, that the depth below the surface is seventy thousand yojanas. O foremost of Munis, each of the seven regions of Pātāla, extends over ten thousand yojanas. They are seven in number—namely Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gavastimat, Malmtala, Sutala and Pātāla. Thus soil is severally white, black, purple, yellow, sandy, stony and of gold. They are adorned with numberless palaces in which reside Dānavas, Daityas, Yakshas and serpents by hundreds, O great Muni. Once on a time Nārada, after coming back to heaven from these regions, declared amongst the gods that Pātāla was much more charming than heaven. He exclaimed "What can be compared with Pātāla where Nāgas are adorned with beautiful and brilliant and pleasure-diffusing gems? This region is embellished with the daughters of Daityas and Dānavas. Who does not find delight in Pātāla? Even those who have retired from the world find delight therein. By day, the rays of the sun diffuse joy and not heat; by night the moon diffuses illumination and not cold. There the sons of Danu, always happy in the enjoyment of sweet foods and good wines, do not know how the time glides away. There are many charming forests, rivers and ponds abounding in lotuses and the skies are resonant with the Koil's song. Charming ornaments, fragrant perfumes, unguents, the sweet music of the lute, pipe and tabor are always enjoyed by the Daityas, Dānavas and serpents who dwell in the regions of Pātāla".

Below the regions of Patala there is a form of Vishnu called Sesha [234] which is the outcome of the quality of darkness. The Daityas and Dānavas are incapable of counting the glories of this Deity. This is called Ananta by the ascetics of accomplished piety and is worshipped by the celestials and great sages. He has a thousand heads which are adorned with mystic lines. For the behoof of the world he illuminates all the quarters with the jewels on his thousand fangs and all the Asuras are disabled thereby. His eye rolls perpetually in consequence of inebriation; he has an excellent Kundala, a diadem on his head and a wreath upon each brow. He shined brilliantly like a white mountain topped with flame. He always wears a purple raiment, is always drunk, and adorned with a white necklace and appears like another Kailasha with sable clouds and the Ganges flowing. In one hand he holds a plough and in the other a mace. And he is being worshipped by the Goddess of wealth incarnate and Vāruni (the goodness of wine). At the time of great dissolution proceeds from his mouth the venomed fire in the form of Rudra, which devours the three Worlds. This Sesha form of the great God worshipped by celestials, is in Pātāla, bearing the entire world on his head like a diadem. Even the celestials are not capable of describing or knowing his strength, prowess, form and nature. Who can describe his prowess who holds the entire earth like a garland of flowers tinged with purple dye by the brilliance of jems on his crests?

[234]He is the great serpent upon which Vishnu rests during the intervals of divine creations. And the world is supported on his thousand heads.