Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 8
Sourceऋषय ऊचुः-। जंबूखंडस्त्वया प्रोक्तो यथावदिह सत्तमः । विष्कंभस्य च प्रब्रूहि परिमाणं हि तत्त्वतः १। समुद्रस्य प्रमाणं च सम्यगच्छिद्र दर्शनः । शाकद्वीपं च नो ब्रूहि कुशद्वीपं च धार्मिकम् २। शाल्मलं चैव तत्त्वेन क्रौंचद्वीपं तथैव च । सूत उवाच-। विप्राः सुबहवो द्वीपाः यैरिदं संततं जगत् । सप्तद्वीपान्प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वं द्विजपुंगवाः ३। अष्टादशसहस्राणि योजनानि द्विजोत्तमाः । षट्शतानि च पूर्णानि विष्कंभो जंबुपर्वतः ४। लवणस्य समुद्रस्य विष्कंभो द्विगुणः स्मृतः । नानाजनपदाकीर्णो मणिविद्रुमचित्रितः ५। नैकधातुविचित्रैश्च पर्वतैरुपशोभितः । सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णैः सागरः परिमंडलः ६। शाकद्वीपं च वक्ष्यामि यथावदिह सत्तमाः । शृणुताद्य यथान्यायं ब्रुवतो मम धार्मिकाः ७। जंबुद्वीपप्रमाणेन द्विगुणः स द्विजर्षभाः । विष्कंभेन महाभागाः सागरोऽपि विभागशः ८। क्षीरोदो मुनिशार्दूला येन संपरिवारितः । तत्र पुण्याजनपदास्तत्र न म्रियते जनः ९। कुत एव हि दुर्भिक्षं क्षमा तेजोयुता हि ते । शाकद्वीपस्य संक्षेपो यथावन्मुनिसत्तमाः । उक्त एष महाभागाः किमन्यत्कथयामि वः १०। ऋषय ऊचुः-। शाकद्वीपस्य संक्षेपो यथावदिह धार्मिक । उक्तस्त्वया महाप्राज्ञ विस्तरं ब्रूहि तत्त्वतः ११। सूत उवाच-। तथैव पर्वता विप्राः सप्तात्र मणिपर्वताः । रत्नाकरास्तथा नद्यस्तेषां नामानि वर्णये १२। अतीवगुणवत्सर्वं तत्त्वं पृच्छथ धार्मिकाः । देवर्षिगंधर्वयुतः प्रथमो मेरुरुच्यते १३। प्रागायतो महाभागा मलयोनाम पर्वतः । ततो मेघाः प्रवर्त्तंते प्रभवंति च सर्वशः १४। ततः परेण मुनयो जलधारो महागिरिः । ततो नित्यमुपादत्ते वासवः परमं जलम् १५। ततो वर्षं प्रभवति वर्षाकाले द्विजोत्तमाः । उच्चैर्गिरी रैवतको यत्र नित्यं प्रतिष्ठितम् १६। रेवती दिवि नक्षत्रं पितामहकृतो विधिः । उत्तरेण तु विप्रेंद्राः श्यामो नाम महागिरिः १७। नवमेघप्रभः प्रांशुः श्रीमानुज्ज्वलविग्रहः । यतः श्यामत्वमापन्नाः प्रजा मुदितमानसाः १८। ऋषय ऊचुः-। सुमहान्संशयोऽस्माकं प्राप्तोयं सूत यत्त्वया । प्रजाः कथं सूत सम्यक्संप्राप्ताः श्यामतामिह १९। सूत उवाच-। सर्वेष्वेव महाप्राज्ञा द्वीपेषु मुनिपुंगवाः । गौरः कृष्णश्च पतगस्तयोर्वर्णांतरे द्विजाः २०। श्यामो यस्मात्प्रवृत्तो वै तस्मात्श्यामगिरिः स्मृतः । ततः परं मुनिश्रेष्ठा दुर्गशैलो महोदयः २१। केशरी केशरयुतो यतो वातः प्रवर्त्तते । तेषां योजनविष्कंभो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः २२। वर्षाणि तेषु विप्रेंद्राः संप्रोक्तानि मनीषिभिः । महामेरुर्महाकाशो जलदः कुमुदोत्तरम् २३। जलधारो महाप्राज्ञः सुकुमार इति स्मृतः । रेवतस्य तु कौमारः श्यामश्च मणिकांचनः २४। केशरस्याथ मौदाकी परेण तु महान्पुमान् । परिवार्य्यं तु विप्रेंद्रा दैर्घ्यं ह्रस्वत्वमेव च २५। जंबूद्वीपेन संख्यातस्तस्य मध्ये महाद्रुमः । शाको नाम महाप्राज्ञाः प्रजास्तस्य सहानुगाः २६। तत्र पुण्या जनपदाः पूज्यते तत्र शंकरः । तत्र गच्छंति सिद्धाश्च चारणा दैवतानि च २७। धार्मिकाश्च प्रजाः सर्वाः चत्वारो गतमत्सराः । वर्णाः स्वकर्मनिरता न च स्तेनोऽत्र दृश्यते २८। दीर्घायुषो महाप्राज्ञा जरामृत्युविवर्जिताः । प्रजास्तत्र विवर्द्धंते वर्षास्विव समुद्रगाः २९। नद्यः पुण्यजलास्तत्र गंगा च बहुधा गता । सुकुमारी कुमारी च शीता शीतोदका तथा ३०। महानदी च भो विप्रास्तथा मणिजला नदी । इक्षुवर्द्धनिका चैव नदी मुनिवराः स्मृताः ३१। ततः प्रवृत्ताः पुण्योदा नद्यः परमशोभनाः । सहस्राणां शतान्येव यतो वर्षति वासवः ३२। न तासां नामधेयानि परिस्मर्तुं तथैव च । शक्यंते परिसंख्यातुं पुण्यास्ता हि सरिद्वराः ३३। ततः पुण्या जनपदाश्चत्वारो लोकविश्रुताः । मृगाश्च मशकाश्चैव मानसा मल्लकास्तथा ३४। मृगाश्च ब्रह्मभूयिष्ठाः स्वकर्मनिरता द्विजाः । मशकेषु तु राजन्या धार्मिकाः सर्वकामदाः ३५। मानसाश्च महाभागा वैश्यधर्मोपजीविनः । सर्वकामसमायुक्ताः शूरा धर्मार्थनिश्चिताः ३६। शूद्रास्तु मल्लका नित्यं पुरुषा धर्मशीलिनः । न तत्र राजा विप्रेंद्रा न दंडो न च दंडिकाः ३७। स्वधर्मेणैव धर्मज्ञास्ते रक्षंति परस्परम् । एतावदेव शक्यं तु तत्र द्वीपे प्रभाषितुम् ३८। एतदेव च श्रोतव्यं शाकद्वीपे महौजसि ३९। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडेऽष्टमोऽध्यायः ८।
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ-| jaṃbūkhaṃḍastvayā prokto yathāvadiha sattamaḥ | viṣkaṃbhasya ca prabrūhi parimāṇaṃ hi tattvataḥ 1| samudrasya pramāṇaṃ ca samyagacchidra darśanaḥ | śākadvīpaṃ ca no brūhi kuśadvīpaṃ ca dhārmikam 2| śālmalaṃ caiva tattvena krauṃcadvīpaṃ tathaiva ca | sūta uvāca-| viprāḥ subahavo dvīpāḥ yairidaṃ saṃtataṃ jagat | saptadvīpānpravakṣyāmi śṛṇudhvaṃ dvijapuṃgavāḥ 3| aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi yojanāni dvijottamāḥ | ṣaṭśatāni ca pūrṇāni viṣkaṃbho jaṃbuparvataḥ 4| lavaṇasya samudrasya viṣkaṃbho dviguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ | nānājanapadākīrṇo maṇividrumacitritaḥ 5| naikadhātuvicitraiśca parvatairupaśobhitaḥ | siddhacāraṇasaṃkīrṇaiḥ sāgaraḥ parimaṃḍalaḥ 6| śākadvīpaṃ ca vakṣyāmi yathāvadiha sattamāḥ | śṛṇutādya yathānyāyaṃ bruvato mama dhārmikāḥ 7| jaṃbudvīpapramāṇena dviguṇaḥ sa dvijarṣabhāḥ | viṣkaṃbhena mahābhāgāḥ sāgaro'pi vibhāgaśaḥ 8| kṣīrodo muniśārdūlā yena saṃparivāritaḥ | tatra puṇyājanapadāstatra na mriyate janaḥ 9| kuta eva hi durbhikṣaṃ kṣamā tejoyutā hi te | śākadvīpasya saṃkṣepo yathāvanmunisattamāḥ | ukta eṣa mahābhāgāḥ kimanyatkathayāmi vaḥ 10| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ-| śākadvīpasya saṃkṣepo yathāvadiha dhārmika | uktastvayā mahāprājña vistaraṃ brūhi tattvataḥ 11| sūta uvāca-| tathaiva parvatā viprāḥ saptātra maṇiparvatāḥ | ratnākarāstathā nadyasteṣāṃ nāmāni varṇaye 12| atīvaguṇavatsarvaṃ tattvaṃ pṛcchatha dhārmikāḥ | devarṣigaṃdharvayutaḥ prathamo merurucyate 13| prāgāyato mahābhāgā malayonāma parvataḥ | tato meghāḥ pravarttaṃte prabhavaṃti ca sarvaśaḥ 14| tataḥ pareṇa munayo jaladhāro mahāgiriḥ | tato nityamupādatte vāsavaḥ paramaṃ jalam 15| tato varṣaṃ prabhavati varṣākāle dvijottamāḥ | uccairgirī raivatako yatra nityaṃ pratiṣṭhitam 16| revatī divi nakṣatraṃ pitāmahakṛto vidhiḥ | uttareṇa tu vipreṃdrāḥ śyāmo nāma mahāgiriḥ 17| navameghaprabhaḥ prāṃśuḥ śrīmānujjvalavigrahaḥ | yataḥ śyāmatvamāpannāḥ prajā muditamānasāḥ 18| ṛṣaya ūcuḥ-| sumahānsaṃśayo'smākaṃ prāptoyaṃ sūta yattvayā | prajāḥ kathaṃ sūta samyaksaṃprāptāḥ śyāmatāmiha 19| sūta uvāca-| sarveṣveva mahāprājñā dvīpeṣu munipuṃgavāḥ | gauraḥ kṛṣṇaśca patagastayorvarṇāṃtare dvijāḥ 20| śyāmo yasmātpravṛtto vai tasmātśyāmagiriḥ smṛtaḥ | tataḥ paraṃ muniśreṣṭhā durgaśailo mahodayaḥ 21| keśarī keśarayuto yato vātaḥ pravarttate | teṣāṃ yojanaviṣkaṃbho dviguṇaḥ pravibhāgaśaḥ 22| varṣāṇi teṣu vipreṃdrāḥ saṃproktāni manīṣibhiḥ | mahāmerurmahākāśo jaladaḥ kumudottaram 23| jaladhāro mahāprājñaḥ sukumāra iti smṛtaḥ | revatasya tu kaumāraḥ śyāmaśca maṇikāṃcanaḥ 24| keśarasyātha maudākī pareṇa tu mahānpumān | parivāryyaṃ tu vipreṃdrā dairghyaṃ hrasvatvameva ca 25| jaṃbūdvīpena saṃkhyātastasya madhye mahādrumaḥ | śāko nāma mahāprājñāḥ prajāstasya sahānugāḥ 26| tatra puṇyā janapadāḥ pūjyate tatra śaṃkaraḥ | tatra gacchaṃti siddhāśca cāraṇā daivatāni ca 27| dhārmikāśca prajāḥ sarvāḥ catvāro gatamatsarāḥ | varṇāḥ svakarmaniratā na ca steno'tra dṛśyate 28| dīrghāyuṣo mahāprājñā jarāmṛtyuvivarjitāḥ | prajāstatra vivarddhaṃte varṣāsviva samudragāḥ 29| nadyaḥ puṇyajalāstatra gaṃgā ca bahudhā gatā | sukumārī kumārī ca śītā śītodakā tathā 30| mahānadī ca bho viprāstathā maṇijalā nadī | ikṣuvarddhanikā caiva nadī munivarāḥ smṛtāḥ 31| tataḥ pravṛttāḥ puṇyodā nadyaḥ paramaśobhanāḥ | sahasrāṇāṃ śatānyeva yato varṣati vāsavaḥ 32| na tāsāṃ nāmadheyāni parismartuṃ tathaiva ca | śakyaṃte parisaṃkhyātuṃ puṇyāstā hi saridvarāḥ 33| tataḥ puṇyā janapadāścatvāro lokaviśrutāḥ | mṛgāśca maśakāścaiva mānasā mallakāstathā 34| mṛgāśca brahmabhūyiṣṭhāḥ svakarmaniratā dvijāḥ | maśakeṣu tu rājanyā dhārmikāḥ sarvakāmadāḥ 35| mānasāśca mahābhāgā vaiśyadharmopajīvinaḥ | sarvakāmasamāyuktāḥ śūrā dharmārthaniścitāḥ 36| śūdrāstu mallakā nityaṃ puruṣā dharmaśīlinaḥ | na tatra rājā vipreṃdrā na daṃḍo na ca daṃḍikāḥ 37| svadharmeṇaiva dharmajñāste rakṣaṃti parasparam | etāvadeva śakyaṃ tu tatra dvīpe prabhāṣitum 38| etadeva ca śrotavyaṃ śākadvīpe mahaujasi 39| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe'ṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ 8|
English translation
The sages said :
1-3a. O best one, you have duly described (to us) Jambukhaṇḍa. Tell us correctly the extent of its dimensions. You who see the whole, tell us properly about the extent of the ocean, as well as about Śākadvīpa and the sacred Kuśadvīpa : also tell us properly about Śālmala and about Krauñca-dvīpa .
Sūta said :
3b-6. O brāhmaṇas , there are many islands which have covered the earth. I shall describe the seven islands: Listen, O best brāhmaṇas. The measure of the mountain Jambu is full eighteen thousand and six hundred yojanas . The extent of the salt sea is said to be double this. It is crowded with many countries, and is beautified with gems and corals. It is also adorned with mountains variegated with many minerals. Crowded with siddhas and cāraṇas , the ocean is circular in form.
7-10. O best ones, I shall now duly describe Śākadvīpa. O pious ones, today listen properly when I am describing it. O best brāhmaṇas, it is twice the size of Jambudvīpa . O glorious ones, best sages, the milky ocean too which surrounds it is like that with its divisions. The communities there are righteous, and the men there never die. Then whence can there be dearth? The men there are endowed with the lustre of forgiveness. O best sages, I have duly told you this brief description of Śākadvīpa. O glorious ones, what else should I tell you?
The sages said :
11. O you righteous one, you have duly given us a brief description of Śākadvīpa. O very intelligent one, now describe it correctly and in detail.
Sūta said :
12-13a. Like that here also, O brāhmaṇas, there are seven mountains. They are jewelled mountains. Also there are oceans, rivers. I shall (now) tell their names; O righteous ones, you are asking about a very useful thing.
13b-18. The first mountain having gods, sages and gandharvas (as its residents) is called Meru . O glorious ones, (the other) mountain stretching towards the east is Malaya . From it clouds proceed in all directions and there they are generated. O sages, beyond it the large mountain is Jaladhāra . From it Indra always takes excellent water. O best brāhmaṇas, from that rain is produced in the rainy season. (Then there is) the high mountain Raivataka , where (i.e. over which) the constellation Revatī is eternally fixed in the firmament. The grandsire himself has made this arrangement. O best brāhmaṇas, on the north is the great mountain called Śyāma . It has the brightness of new clouds; it is high; is rich and has a bright body; due to it the people there are dark (yet) cheerful.
The sages said :
19. O Sūta , a great doubt has come to us (i. e. arisen in our mind): How have they entirely become dark?
Sūta said :
20-39. O very wise, best sages, in all the islands (men of) dark and fair complexion may be found; but since dark complexion (among people) prevailed, it is called Śyāma (i. e. dark) mountain. O best sages, next to this there is a large mountain Durgaśaila . Then there is the mountain Keśarin , from which breezes (fragrant) with saffron blow. The measure of (each of) them is twice (that of the one mentioned before). O best brāhmaṇas, the wise have said that there are seven countries in them (i.e. in the island). That of the great Meru is Mahākāśa ; that of the giver of water (i.e. Malaya) is Kumudottara; O very wise ones, the country of Jaladhāra is known as Sukumāra ; (the country) of Raivataka is (called) Kaumāra ; and of Śyāma is (called) Maṇikāñcana . O best brāhmaṇas, in the centre of the island there is a great tree called Śāka having height and breadth which can be measured with that in the Jambudvīpa. Beings always go to it. The countries in it are holy, and Śiva is worshipped there. Siddhas, cāraṇas and deities go there. All the subjects there are pious; and the four castes, free from jealousy are engaged in their own duties. A thief is never seen there. The people there, O very wise ones, have a long life and, being free from old age and death, grow like rivers during the rainy season. The rivers there have holy water and the Ganges flows there in many streams. O brāhmaṇas, they are Sukumārī , Kumārī , Sītā , and Śitodakā, also Mahānadī , similarly the river Maṇijalā , and the river called Ikṣuvardhanikā, O best sages. From there proceed rivers having holy water and very beautiful, in hundreds of thousands, from where Indra showers. It is not possible (for me) to remember and recount their names. (All) these excellent rivers are holy. Then there are four holy countries well-known in the world: Mṛga , Maśaka Mānasa and Mallaka . Mṛga is mostly populated with brāhmaṇas who are engaged in their duties. In Maśaka live kṣatriyas who are pious and grant the desires (of supplicants). O glorious ones, in Mānasa live vaiśyas acting according to the rules of their caste. With all their desires satisfied, they are brave and settled in the ways of virtue and material gains. In Mallaka live śūdras , and (these) men behave righteously. O best brāhmaṇas, there is no king, no punishment, nor those who inflict punishment. Those men, knowing what is right, protect one another. This much only can be said about that island.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43165, revision 351725 (2022-09-20T23:37:56Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365227.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.