This extensive cosmic egg consisting of fourteen parts has been described to you so far. Henceforth, I shall describe to you in detail the complete account of this earth.

There are seven continents of which Jambudvipa is the most important. (The other continents are: Plaksa, Salmali, Kusa, Kraunca, Saka and Puskara.^

These seven great continents are encircled by seven oceans. The latter the continent, the greater it is in extent than the previous one, the latter ocean is said to be greater than the former.

The seven oceans are : K^aroda (ocean of salt water). Iksurasoda (ocean of sugar-cane juice), Suroda (ocean of wine), Ghrtoda (ocean of ghee), Dadhyoda (ocean of curd) Kslra- salila (ocean milk), svaduda (ocean of Sweetwater).

The earth alongwith the oceans and seven con¬ tinents extends to fifty crores of Yojanas all round.

Jambudvipa is situated in the middle of conti¬ nents. In its centre is the well-known mountain Mahameru that has the golden lustre.^

Its height is eightyfour thousand Yojanas. It has gone sixteen thousand Yojanas down below. On the top it extends to thirtytwo thousand Yojanas.

Its extent at its root (i.e. base) is sixteen thousand Yojanas all round. This mountain resembles the pericarp of the lotus of the Earth.

To its south are the mountains Himavan, Hemakuta and Nisadha. The Varsa (boundary) mountains to the north are Nila, Sveta and Srhgin.^

The two middle ranges of mountains are a hundred thousand Yojanas in extent. The others are each ten thousand Yojanas less in order. Their height is two thousand Yojanas and the length is as much.

Bharata is the first Varsa (sub-continent) ; then is the Kimpurusa Varsa, the other one is Harivarsa. O Brahmanas, All these are to the South of Meru.^

Beyond Meru Ramyaka is the northern sub¬ continent. Behind it is the Hiranmaya Varsa. Beyond it is the northern Kurus. These are in their order like the Bharata Varsa. O excellent Brahmanas, each of these is nine thousand Yojanas in extent. In their middle is Ilavrta Varsa and the Meru rises above in its middle.

Beyond Meru Ramyaka is the northern sub¬ continent. Behind it is the Hiranmaya Varsa. Beyond it is the northern Kurus. These are in their order like the Bharata Varsa. O excellent Brahmanas, each of these is nine thousand Yojanas in extent. In their middle is Ilavrta Varsa and the Meru rises above in its middle.

On four sides of Mt. Meru, there is Ilavrta which is nine thousand Yojanas in extent (on all sides of Meru). There are four mountains in Ilavfta, O highly fortunate ones.

They are as if constructed as the support of Mt Meru and they are ten thousand Yojanas in height. The mountain to the east is Mandara and that to the south is Gandhamadana.

The mountain Vipula is on the western side and Suparsva is on the northern mountain. On each of the mountains stands a Kadamba, a Jambu, a Pippala and a Vata (banyan) tree respectively.

O great sages, the Jambu tree is the cause of the name of the continent, Jambudvipa. The fruits of the Jambu tree are of the size of a huge elephant.

They fall on the top of the mountain all round and they are shattered and strewn about. With the juice thereof the well-known Jambu river flows on the mountain.

The river flows and it is drunk by the residents of the place whereby they have no perspiration, no bad odour, no old age nor any disability of sense-organs.

Those pure-minded people do not get distressed. When the juice mixes up with the soil on its banks and gets completely dried up by wind it turns into gold called Jambunada of which Siddhas make their ornaments. The sub-continent called Bhadrasva is to the east of Meru and Ketumala is to its west. 22-24a. These two are sub-continents, O excellent sages, in between them is the sub-continent Ilavrta. The forest to the east is Gaitraratha, the forest to the south is Gandhamadana. The western forest should be known as Vaibhraja, the northern forest is the forest of Savitr. The four lakes always worthy of being enjoyed by Devas are—Arunoda, Mahabhadra, Asitoda and Manasa.i 24b-26. The following mountains are the residences of Siddhas. They are constructed by Devas viz. Sitanta, Kumudvan, Kururi, Malyavan, Vaikahka, Manisaila, the excellent mountains Vrksavan, Mahanila, Rucaka, Sasibindu, Mandara, Venuman, Megha, Nisadha and Deva.

Those pure-minded people do not get distressed. When the juice mixes up with the soil on its banks and gets completely dried up by wind it turns into gold called Jambunada of which Siddhas make their ornaments. The sub-continent called Bhadrasva is to the east of Meru and Ketumala is to its west. 22-24a. These two are sub-continents, O excellent sages, in between them is the sub-continent Ilavrta. The forest to the east is Gaitraratha, the forest to the south is Gandhamadana. The western forest should be known as Vaibhraja, the northern forest is the forest of Savitr. The four lakes always worthy of being enjoyed by Devas are—Arunoda, Mahabhadra, Asitoda and Manasa.i 24b-26. The following mountains are the residences of Siddhas. They are constructed by Devas viz. Sitanta, Kumudvan, Kururi, Malyavan, Vaikahka, Manisaila, the excellent mountains Vrksavan, Mahanila, Rucaka, Sasibindu, Mandara, Venuman, Megha, Nisadha and Deva.

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To the east of the lake Arunoda is the Kesara mountain.2 So also are Trikuta, Sasiras. Patahga, Rucaka

To the east of the lake Arunoda is the Kesara mountain.2 So also are Trikuta, Sasiras. Patahga, Rucaka

To the east of the lake Arunoda is the Kesara mountain.2 So also are Trikuta, Sasiras. Patahga, Rucaka

To the east of the lake Arunoda is the Kesara mountain.2 So also are Trikuta, Sasiras. Patahga, Rucaka

To the south of the lake Mahabhadra is the Kesara, mountain. So, also are the mountains Sikhivasas, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, Surambu, the ex¬ cellent mountain Sarvagandha, Suparsva, Supaksa, Kahka, Kapila, Viraja, Bhadrajala, Susaka, Mahabala, Anjana, Madhu- man, Citrasrhga, Mahalaya, Kumuda, Mukuta, Pandura, Krsna, Parijata, Mahasaila, Kapilacala, Susena, Pundarlka and Mahamegha—All these are the kings of mountains resorted to by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

To the south of the lake Mahabhadra is the Kesara, mountain. So, also are the mountains Sikhivasas, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, Surambu, the ex¬ cellent mountain Sarvagandha, Suparsva, Supaksa, Kahka, Kapila, Viraja, Bhadrajala, Susaka, Mahabala, Anjana, Madhu- man, Citrasrhga, Mahalaya, Kumuda, Mukuta, Pandura, Krsna, Parijata, Mahasaila, Kapilacala, Susena, Pundarlka and Mahamegha—All these are the kings of mountains resorted to by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

To the south of the lake Mahabhadra is the Kesara, mountain. So, also are the mountains Sikhivasas, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, Surambu, the ex¬ cellent mountain Sarvagandha, Suparsva, Supaksa, Kahka, Kapila, Viraja, Bhadrajala, Susaka, Mahabala, Anjana, Madhu- man, Citrasrhga, Mahalaya, Kumuda, Mukuta, Pandura, Krsna, Parijata, Mahasaila, Kapilacala, Susena, Pundarlka and Mahamegha—All these are the kings of mountains resorted to by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

To the south of the lake Mahabhadra is the Kesara, mountain. So, also are the mountains Sikhivasas, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, Surambu, the ex¬ cellent mountain Sarvagandha, Suparsva, Supaksa, Kahka, Kapila, Viraja, Bhadrajala, Susaka, Mahabala, Anjana, Madhu- man, Citrasrhga, Mahalaya, Kumuda, Mukuta, Pandura, Krsna, Parijata, Mahasaila, Kapilacala, Susena, Pundarlka and Mahamegha—All these are the kings of mountains resorted to by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

To the south of the lake Mahabhadra is the Kesara, mountain. So, also are the mountains Sikhivasas, Vaidurya, Kapila, Gandhamadana, Jarudhi, Surambu, the ex¬ cellent mountain Sarvagandha, Suparsva, Supaksa, Kahka, Kapila, Viraja, Bhadrajala, Susaka, Mahabala, Anjana, Madhu- man, Citrasrhga, Mahalaya, Kumuda, Mukuta, Pandura, Krsna, Parijata, Mahasaila, Kapilacala, Susena, Pundarlka and Mahamegha—All these are the kings of mountains resorted to by Siddhas and Gandharvas.

To the west of the lake Asitoda is the Kesara mountain. So also are Sahkhakuta, Vrsabha, Harhsa, Naga, Kalanjana, Sukrasaila, Nilakamala, Parijata, Mahasaila Kanakhala, Puspaka, Sumegha, Varaha, Virajas, Mayura, Kapila and Mahakapila. These are resorted to by Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Yaksas. To the north of the lake Manasa lies mount Kesara.

To the west of the lake Asitoda is the Kesara mountain. So also are Sahkhakuta, Vrsabha, Harhsa, Naga, Kalanjana, Sukrasaila, Nilakamala, Parijata, Mahasaila Kanakhala, Puspaka, Sumegha, Varaha, Virajas, Mayura, Kapila and Mahakapila. These are resorted to by Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Yaksas. To the north of the lake Manasa lies mount Kesara.

To the west of the lake Asitoda is the Kesara mountain. So also are Sahkhakuta, Vrsabha, Harhsa, Naga, Kalanjana, Sukrasaila, Nilakamala, Parijata, Mahasaila Kanakhala, Puspaka, Sumegha, Varaha, Virajas, Mayura, Kapila and Mahakapila. These are resorted to by Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Yaksas. To the north of the lake Manasa lies mount Kesara.

To the west of the lake Asitoda is the Kesara mountain. So also are Sahkhakuta, Vrsabha, Harhsa, Naga, Kalanjana, Sukrasaila, Nilakamala, Parijata, Mahasaila Kanakhala, Puspaka, Sumegha, Varaha, Virajas, Mayura, Kapila and Mahakapila. These are resorted to by Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Yaksas. To the north of the lake Manasa lies mount Kesara.

In between these important mountains, there are inner water reservoirs, lakes and forests.

Sages, Siddhas and ascetics sanctified by meditation on Brahman inhabit there. They are delighted, free from all distresses and sorrows and have their Rajas attribute subdued. is regarded as the pericarp of the lotus in the form of the earth and the mountain-ranges as the filaments. M. Ali locates most of them and shows that the information of the Puranic-writer is fairly accurate and not imaginary {Vide—The Geog. of the Puranas Chs. v-viii). 300 Kurma Purana

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