Sūta said: On hearing about the settlement of the subjects thus, Śāṃśapāyani asked Sūta about the length and extent of the Earth as it had been determined—“How many continents are there? How many oceans? How many mountains are proclaimed? How many are the Varṣas (sub-continents)? What are the rivers declared therein? Mention all these things to us in detail and factually such aṣ the magnitude of the great elements, the Lokāloka mountain, the transits, the extent and the movements of the moon as well as the sun.