Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 9
Sourceसूत उवाच-। उत्तरेषु च भो विप्रा द्वीपेषु श्रूयते कथा । एवं तत्र महाभागा ब्रुवतस्तन्निबोधत १। घृततोयः समुद्रोथ दधिमंडोदकोपरः । सुरोदसागरश्चैव तथान्यो दुग्धसागरः २। परस्परेण द्विगुणाः सर्वे द्वीपा द्विजर्षभाः । पर्वताश्च महाप्राज्ञाः समुद्रैः परिवारिताः ३। गौरस्तु मध्यमे द्वीपे गिरिर्मनःशिलो महान् । पर्वतः पश्चिमे कृष्णो नारायणसखो द्विजाः ४। तत्र रत्नानि दिव्यानि स्वयं रक्षति केशवः । प्रसन्नश्चाभवत्तत्र प्रजानां व्यदधात्सुखम् ५। शरद्वीपे कुशस्तंबो मध्ये जनपदस्य ह । संपूज्यते शाल्मलिश्च द्वीपे शाल्मलिके द्विजाः ६। क्रौंचद्वीपे महाक्रौंचो गिरी रत्नचयाकरः । संपूज्यते भो विप्रेंद्राश्चातुर्वर्ण्येन नित्यदा ७। गोमंतः पर्वतो विप्राः सुमहान्सर्वधातुकः । यत्र नित्यं निवसति श्रीमान्कमललोचनः ८। मोक्षिभिः संगतो नित्यं प्रभुर्नारायणोहरिः । कुशद्वीपे तु विप्रेंद्राः पर्वतो विद्रुमैश्चितः ९। सुनामा च सुदुर्धर्षो द्वितीयो हेमपर्वतः । द्युतिमान्नाम विप्रेंद्रास्तृतीयः कुमुदो गिरिः १०। चतुर्थः पुष्पवान्नाम पंचमस्तु कुशेशयः । षष्टो हरिगिरिर्नाम षडेते पर्वतोत्तमाः ११। तेषामंतरविष्कंभो द्विगुणः प्रविभागशः । औद्भिदं प्रथमं वर्षं द्वितीयं रेणुमंडलम् १२। तृतीयं सुरथं नाम चतुर्थं लंबनं स्मृतम् । धृतिमत्पंचमं वर्षं षष्ठं वर्षं प्रभाकरम् १३। सप्तमं कापिलं वर्षं सप्तैते वर्षलंबकाः । एतेषु देवगंधर्वाः प्रजाश्च मुदिता द्विजाः । विहरंति रमंते च न तेषु म्रियते जनः १४। न तेषु दस्यवः संति म्लेच्छजात्योऽपि वा द्विजाः । गौरप्रायो जनः सर्वः सुकुमारश्च सत्तमाः १५। अवशिष्टेषु सर्वेषु वक्ष्यामि द्विजपुंगवाः । यथा श्रुतं महाप्राज्ञा वर्ण्यते शृणुत द्विजाः १६। क्रौंचद्वीपे महाभागाः क्रौंचो नाम महागिरिः । क्रौंचात्परो वामनको वामनादंधकारकः १७। अंधकारात्परो विप्रा मैनाकः पर्वतोत्तमः । मैनाकात्परतो विप्रा गोविंदो गिरिरुत्तमः १८। गोविंदात्परतश्चैव पुंडरीको महागिरिः । पुंडरीकात्परश्चापि प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः १९। पुरस्ताद्द्विगुणस्तेषां विष्कंभो मुनिपुंगवाः । देशांस्तत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु २०। क्रौंचस्य कुशलो देशो वामनस्य मनोनुगः । मनोनुगात्परो देश उष्णो नाम तपोधनाः २१। उष्णात्परः प्रावरकः प्रावरादंधकारकः । अंधकारकदेशात्तु मुनिदेशः परः स्मृतः २२। मुनिदेशात्परश्चैव प्रोच्यते दुंदुभिस्वनः । सिद्धचारणसंकीर्णो गौरः प्रायोजनः स्मृतः २३। एते देशाः समाख्याता देवगंधर्वसेविताः । पुष्करे पुष्करो नाम पर्वतो मणिरत्नवान् २४। तत्र नित्यं प्रसरति स्वयं देवः प्रजापतिः । पर्युपासंति तं नित्यं देवाः सर्वे महर्षयः २५। वाग्भिर्मनोनुकूलाभिः पूजयंति द्विजोत्तमाः । जंबूद्वीपात्प्रवर्त्तन्ते रत्नानि विविधानि च २६। द्वीपेषु तेषु सर्वेषु प्रजानां मुनिसत्तमाः । विप्राणां ब्रह्मचर्येण सत्येन च दमेन च २७। आरोग्यायुष्प्रमाणाभ्यां द्विगुणं द्विगुणं ततः । एते जनपदा विप्रा द्वीपेषु तेषु सत्तमाः २८। उक्ता जनपदा येषु धर्मश्चैकः प्रवर्त्तते । ईश्वरो दंडमुद्यम्य स्वयमेव प्रजापतिः २९। द्वीपानेतान्मुनिवरा रक्षंस्तिष्ठति सर्वदा । स राजा स शिवो विप्राः स पिता स पितामहः ३०। गोपायति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रजाः स द्विजपंडिताः । भोजनं चात्र विप्रेंद्राः प्रजाः स्वयमुपस्थितम् ३१। सिद्धमेव महाभागा भुंजते तद्धि नित्यदा । ततः परं महाशैलो दृश्यते लोकसंस्थितिः ३२। चतुरस्रो महाप्राज्ञः सर्वतः परिमंडलः । तत्र तिष्ठंति विप्रेंद्राश्चत्वारो लोकसंमताः ३३। दिग्गजा हि मुनिश्रेष्ठा वामनैरावतां जनाः । सुप्रतीकस्तथा विप्राः प्रभिन्नकरटामुखाः ३४। तस्याहं परिमाणं न संख्यातुमिहमुत्सहे । असंख्यातः सुनित्यं हि तिर्यगूर्द्ध्वमधस्तथा ३५। तत्र वै वायवो वांति दिग्भ्यः सर्वाभ्य एव च । असंबंधा मुनिश्रेष्ठास्तान्निगृह्णंति ते द्विजाः ३६। पुष्करैः पद्मसंकाशैर्विकर्षंति महाप्रभैः । शतधा पुनरेवाशु ते तान्मुंचंति नित्यशः ३७। श्वसद्भिर्मुखनासाभ्यां दिग्गजैरिव मारुताः । आगच्छंति द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तत्र तिष्ठंति वै प्रजाः ३८। यथोद्दिष्टं मया प्रोक्तं सनिर्माणमिदं जगत् । श्रुत्वेदं पृथिवीमानं पुण्यदं च मनोनुगम् ३९। श्रीमांस्तरति विप्रेंद्राः सिद्धार्थः साधुसंमतः । आयुर्बलं च कीर्त्तिश्च तस्य तेजश्च वर्द्धते ४०। यः शृणोति समाख्यातुं पर्वणीदं धृतव्रतः । प्रीयंते पितरस्तस्य तथैव च पितामहाः ४१। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे नवमोऽध्यायः ९।
sūta uvāca-| uttareṣu ca bho viprā dvīpeṣu śrūyate kathā | evaṃ tatra mahābhāgā bruvatastannibodhata 1| ghṛtatoyaḥ samudrotha dadhimaṃḍodakoparaḥ | surodasāgaraścaiva tathānyo dugdhasāgaraḥ 2| paraspareṇa dviguṇāḥ sarve dvīpā dvijarṣabhāḥ | parvatāśca mahāprājñāḥ samudraiḥ parivāritāḥ 3| gaurastu madhyame dvīpe girirmanaḥśilo mahān | parvataḥ paścime kṛṣṇo nārāyaṇasakho dvijāḥ 4| tatra ratnāni divyāni svayaṃ rakṣati keśavaḥ | prasannaścābhavattatra prajānāṃ vyadadhātsukham 5| śaradvīpe kuśastaṃbo madhye janapadasya ha | saṃpūjyate śālmaliśca dvīpe śālmalike dvijāḥ 6| krauṃcadvīpe mahākrauṃco girī ratnacayākaraḥ | saṃpūjyate bho vipreṃdrāścāturvarṇyena nityadā 7| gomaṃtaḥ parvato viprāḥ sumahānsarvadhātukaḥ | yatra nityaṃ nivasati śrīmānkamalalocanaḥ 8| mokṣibhiḥ saṃgato nityaṃ prabhurnārāyaṇohariḥ | kuśadvīpe tu vipreṃdrāḥ parvato vidrumaiścitaḥ 9| sunāmā ca sudurdharṣo dvitīyo hemaparvataḥ | dyutimānnāma vipreṃdrāstṛtīyaḥ kumudo giriḥ 10| caturthaḥ puṣpavānnāma paṃcamastu kuśeśayaḥ | ṣaṣṭo harigirirnāma ṣaḍete parvatottamāḥ 11| teṣāmaṃtaraviṣkaṃbho dviguṇaḥ pravibhāgaśaḥ | audbhidaṃ prathamaṃ varṣaṃ dvitīyaṃ reṇumaṃḍalam 12| tṛtīyaṃ surathaṃ nāma caturthaṃ laṃbanaṃ smṛtam | dhṛtimatpaṃcamaṃ varṣaṃ ṣaṣṭhaṃ varṣaṃ prabhākaram 13| saptamaṃ kāpilaṃ varṣaṃ saptaite varṣalaṃbakāḥ | eteṣu devagaṃdharvāḥ prajāśca muditā dvijāḥ | viharaṃti ramaṃte ca na teṣu mriyate janaḥ 14| na teṣu dasyavaḥ saṃti mlecchajātyo'pi vā dvijāḥ | gauraprāyo janaḥ sarvaḥ sukumāraśca sattamāḥ 15| avaśiṣṭeṣu sarveṣu vakṣyāmi dvijapuṃgavāḥ | yathā śrutaṃ mahāprājñā varṇyate śṛṇuta dvijāḥ 16| krauṃcadvīpe mahābhāgāḥ krauṃco nāma mahāgiriḥ | krauṃcātparo vāmanako vāmanādaṃdhakārakaḥ 17| aṃdhakārātparo viprā mainākaḥ parvatottamaḥ | mainākātparato viprā goviṃdo giriruttamaḥ 18| goviṃdātparataścaiva puṃḍarīko mahāgiriḥ | puṃḍarīkātparaścāpi procyate duṃdubhisvanaḥ 19| purastāddviguṇasteṣāṃ viṣkaṃbho munipuṃgavāḥ | deśāṃstatra pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu 20| krauṃcasya kuśalo deśo vāmanasya manonugaḥ | manonugātparo deśa uṣṇo nāma tapodhanāḥ 21| uṣṇātparaḥ prāvarakaḥ prāvarādaṃdhakārakaḥ | aṃdhakārakadeśāttu munideśaḥ paraḥ smṛtaḥ 22| munideśātparaścaiva procyate duṃdubhisvanaḥ | siddhacāraṇasaṃkīrṇo gauraḥ prāyojanaḥ smṛtaḥ 23| ete deśāḥ samākhyātā devagaṃdharvasevitāḥ | puṣkare puṣkaro nāma parvato maṇiratnavān 24| tatra nityaṃ prasarati svayaṃ devaḥ prajāpatiḥ | paryupāsaṃti taṃ nityaṃ devāḥ sarve maharṣayaḥ 25| vāgbhirmanonukūlābhiḥ pūjayaṃti dvijottamāḥ | jaṃbūdvīpātpravarttante ratnāni vividhāni ca 26| dvīpeṣu teṣu sarveṣu prajānāṃ munisattamāḥ | viprāṇāṃ brahmacaryeṇa satyena ca damena ca 27| ārogyāyuṣpramāṇābhyāṃ dviguṇaṃ dviguṇaṃ tataḥ | ete janapadā viprā dvīpeṣu teṣu sattamāḥ 28| uktā janapadā yeṣu dharmaścaikaḥ pravarttate | īśvaro daṃḍamudyamya svayameva prajāpatiḥ 29| dvīpānetānmunivarā rakṣaṃstiṣṭhati sarvadā | sa rājā sa śivo viprāḥ sa pitā sa pitāmahaḥ 30| gopāyati dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prajāḥ sa dvijapaṃḍitāḥ | bhojanaṃ cātra vipreṃdrāḥ prajāḥ svayamupasthitam 31| siddhameva mahābhāgā bhuṃjate taddhi nityadā | tataḥ paraṃ mahāśailo dṛśyate lokasaṃsthitiḥ 32| caturasro mahāprājñaḥ sarvataḥ parimaṃḍalaḥ | tatra tiṣṭhaṃti vipreṃdrāścatvāro lokasaṃmatāḥ 33| diggajā hi muniśreṣṭhā vāmanairāvatāṃ janāḥ | supratīkastathā viprāḥ prabhinnakaraṭāmukhāḥ 34| tasyāhaṃ parimāṇaṃ na saṃkhyātumihamutsahe | asaṃkhyātaḥ sunityaṃ hi tiryagūrddhvamadhastathā 35| tatra vai vāyavo vāṃti digbhyaḥ sarvābhya eva ca | asaṃbaṃdhā muniśreṣṭhāstānnigṛhṇaṃti te dvijāḥ 36| puṣkaraiḥ padmasaṃkāśairvikarṣaṃti mahāprabhaiḥ | śatadhā punarevāśu te tānmuṃcaṃti nityaśaḥ 37| śvasadbhirmukhanāsābhyāṃ diggajairiva mārutāḥ | āgacchaṃti dvijaśreṣṭhāstatra tiṣṭhaṃti vai prajāḥ 38| yathoddiṣṭaṃ mayā proktaṃ sanirmāṇamidaṃ jagat | śrutvedaṃ pṛthivīmānaṃ puṇyadaṃ ca manonugam 39| śrīmāṃstarati vipreṃdrāḥ siddhārthaḥ sādhusaṃmataḥ | āyurbalaṃ ca kīrttiśca tasya tejaśca varddhate 40| yaḥ śṛṇoti samākhyātuṃ parvaṇīdaṃ dhṛtavrataḥ | prīyaṃte pitarastasya tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ 41| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe navamo'dhyāyaḥ 9|
English translation
Sūta said :
1. O illustrious ones, now listen to the account of the northern islands from me who am telling it.
2. There is an ocean having the water of clarified butter; another has the water of curds; then there is an ocean having the water of wine; and one more is an ocean of milk.
3. O best brāhmaṇas , these islands have double the size of one another (as they proceed northwards). O highly intelligent ones, there are also mountains surrounded by oceans.
4-6. In the middle island there is a large mountain (made of) minerals. In the western island there is the mountain Kṛṣṇa , that is the friend (i.e. favourite) of Nārāyaṇa , O brāhmaṇas. There Viṣṇu himself guards divine gems; and there, being pleased, he bestows happiness on creatures. In the centre of the country in the Śaradvīpa there is a cl[?]mp of Kuśa (grass); O brāhmaṇas, the Śālmali (tree) is worshipped in the Śālmalika island.
7-9a. O best brāhmaṇas, on the Krauñca island is the Mahākrauñca mountain, which is a mine of heaps of gems. It is always adored by all the four castes. O brāhmaṇas, then there is the Gomanta mountain full of all minerals, where the glorious, lotus-eyed (Viṣṇu) always lives. The lord Nārāyaṇa, (also called) Hari is always in the company of those who have secured salvation.
9b-11. O best brāhmaṇas, in Kuśadvīpa is the mountain Sunāma (literally, of a good name) which is full of corals and is inaccessible. Another mountain, the golden mountain, is Dyutimān , O best of brāhmaṇas. The third is Kumuda mountain. The fourth mountain is called Puṣpavān , the fifth one is Kuśeśaya . The sixth is Harigiri . These six are the chief mountains.
12-14a. The distance between each of them becomes double (as we proceed from one to another). The first country is Audbhida ; the second in Reṇumaṇdala; the third one is Suratha , and the fourth one is known as Lambana . The fifth country is Dhṛtimat, and the sixth country is Prabhākara . The seventh country is Kapila . These seven are in a straight line.
14b-16. O brāhmaṇas, in these gods and gandharvas and (other) creatures are cheerful and sport and enjoy. No man dies in these (divisions). O brāhmaṇas, there are no thieves there, nor the Mleccha tribes. O best ones, the people there are almost white and delicate. O best brāhmaṇas, O very wise ones, I shall describe as I have heard about the remaining islands.
17-20a. O illustrious ones, in Krauñcadvīpa , there is a large mountain called Krauñca. Next to Krauñca is the (mountain) Vāmanaka ; next to Vāmana (or Vāmanaka) is Andhakāraka ; next to Andhakāra (or Andhakāraka) is the best mountain Maināka , O brāhmaṇas. Next to Maināka, O brāhmaṇas, is the best mountain Govinda . Beyond Govinda is the great mountain Puṇḍarīka . Next to Puṇḍarīka is said to be the (mountain called) Dundubhisvana . Towards the east the distance between any two of the mountains becomes double.
20b-24a. I shall tell you about the countries there. Listen to me who am describing them. The country of Krauñca (i.e. in which Krauñca is situated) is Kuśala ; that of Vāmana is Manonuga ; O ascetics, the country beyond Manonuga is Uṣṇa . Beyond Uṣṇa is Prāvaraka . Andhakāraka is next to Prāvara . Munideśa is said to be next to Adhakāraka country. Dundubhisvana is said to be next to Munideśa. It is crowded with siddhas and cāraṇas . The men there have almost a white complexion. These regions are said to be resorted to by gods and gandharvas.
24b-32a. In (the island of) Puṣkara there is a mountain called Puṣkara which is rich in gems and jewels. The lord of beings himself moves there. All gods and great sages always wait upon him. O best brāhmaṇas, they worship him with agreeable words. Various gems proceed uninterruptedly from Jambudvīpa . O best sages, due to celibacy, truthfulness and restraint of the brāhmaṇas the span of life and the quality of health of the people in those islands go on doubling (as one goes) on (towards the north). O best ones, I have described to you the countries in which only one religion exists. The lord, the creator himself, having raised the rod of punishment always protects these islands. O brāhmaṇas, he is the king, he is the final beatitude, he is the father and the grandfather. O best brāhmaṇas, he protects the creatures along with the brāhmaṇas and the wise. O glorious ones, the beings here daily eat the food that is ready and that itself approaches them.
32b-41. Beyond that a region called Samā (Or, beyond that a great mountain, the habitation of people) is seen. It is symmetrical and is round on all sides. O best brāhmaṇas, the four quarter-elephants, dear to the world and with their cheeks and mouths in rut, live there. O best sages, O brāhmaṇas, (they are:) Vāmana, Airāvata , Añjana and Supratīka . I do not venture to count their measure. The proportion—breadthwise, lengthwise and heightwise—is ever incalculable. There winds blow irregularly from all directions. O best sages, the elephants take them. They draw them with the very lustrous trunks resembling lotuses. Then they always again quickly let them out in a hundred ways. O best brahmaṇas , the winds (thus) let out by the breathing elephants come (down), and the creatures live (by them). I have described to you the world along with its creation as desired (by you). O best brāhmaṇas having heard this measure of the earth, which gives merit and is agreeable, a rich person gets emancipated, has his objects accomplished, and is liked by the good. His span of life, strength, glory and lustre increase. The (fore-)fathers and grandfathers of him, who, having taken a vow, listens to this when narrated on a parvan -day, are pleased.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43166, revision 351726 (2022-09-20T23:39:04Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365228.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.