JAMBUKHANDA VINIRMANA PARVA: Chapter 8

Words of Dhritarashtra

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच वर्षाणां चैव नामानि पर्वतानां च संजय। आचक्ष्व मे यथातत्त्वं ये च पर्वतवासिनः॥
Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, tell me in detail the names of all the Varshas and of all the mountains and also of all that live on these mountains.

संजय उवाच दक्षिणेन तु श्वेतस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु। वर्ष रमणकं नाम जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः॥ शुक्लाभिजनसम्पन्नाः सर्वे सुप्रियदर्शनाः। निःसपत्नाश्च ते सर्वे जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः॥ दश वर्षसहस्राणि शतानि दश पञ्च च। जीवन्ति ते महाराज नित्यं मुदितमानसाः॥
Sanjaya said On the south of the Shveta mountains and on the north of the Nishadha is the Varsha called Ramanaka. The men that are born there are all white. They are nobly born, and they are all handsome. They have no enemies.

दक्षिणेन तु नीलस्य निषधस्योत्तरेण तु। वर्ष हिरण्मयं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी॥
On the south of the Nishadha is the Varsha called Hiranmaya where flow the river Hiranvati.

यत्र चायं महाराज पक्षिराट् पतगोत्तमः। यक्षानुगा महाराज धनिनः प्रियदर्शनाः॥
o king, there lives the king of birds, Garuda. O king, the people there are all handsome and rich, they are all followers of the Yakshas.

महाबलास्तत्र जना राजन् मुदितमानसाः। एकादश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप॥ आयुः प्रमाणं जीवन्ति शतानि दश पञ्च च। शृङ्गाणि च विचित्राणि त्रीण्येव मनुजाधिप।॥
0 king, the men there possess great strength, and they are ever cheerful. O king, there length of life is eleven thousand and five hundred years. O lord of men, the Shringavat mountain has there beautiful peaks.

एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रोक्ममद्भुतम्। सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भवनैरुपशोभितम्॥
One of these (peaks) is made of gold, another is made of jewels and the other is made of all kinds of gems and adorned with large mansions.

तत्र स्वयंप्रभा देवी नित्यं वसति शाण्डिली। उत्तरेण तु शृङ्गस्य समुद्रान्ते जनाधिप॥
There always dwells the self luminous lady named Shandili. On the north of Shringavat and as far as the sea, O king,

वर्षमैरावतं नाम तस्माच्छृङ्गमतः परम्। न तत्र सूर्यस्तपति न जीर्यन्ते च मानवाः॥
Is the Varsha called Airavat. As there is this jewelled peak, therefore it is superior to all Varshas. The sun does not produce heat there and men are not subject to decay.

चन्द्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो ज्योतिर्भूत इवावृतः। पद्मप्रभाः पद्मवर्णाः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा:॥ पद्मपत्रसुगन्धाश्च जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः। अनिष्यन्दा इष्टगन्धा निरहारा जितेन्द्रियाः॥
The moon with the stars is the only source of light there. Possessing the radiance and complexion of the lotus and eyes that resemble lotus-petals, the men born there have the fragrance of the lotus. With winkless eyes and with charming fragrance, they move about without taking food. They are completely selfcontrolled.

देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे तथा विरजसो नृप। त्रयोदश सहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप॥१४॥ आयुःप्रमाणं जीवन्ति नरा भरतसत्तम। क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य तथैवोत्तरतः प्रभुः।
They have all descended from the land of the celestial. O king, they are all without sin of any kind. O best of the Bharata race, the length of their life is thirteen thousand years. On the north of the milky ocean the lord.

हरिर्वसति वैकुण्ठः शकटे कनकामये॥ अष्टचक्रं हि तद् यान् भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम्।
The eternal Hari lives on His golden chariot. That chariot is furnished with eight wheels. Innumerable supernatural creatures are placed there each having the fleetness of mind.

अग्निवर्णं महातेजो जाम्बूनदविभूषितम्॥ स प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां विभुश्च भरतर्षभ।
Its complexion is like that of the fire. It possesses great velocity and it is adorned with gold. O best of the Bharata race. He is the lord of all creatures and possesses every kind of prosperity.

संक्षेपो विस्तरश्चैव कर्ता कारयिता तथा॥ पृथिव्यापस्तथाऽऽकाशं वायुस्तेजश्च पार्थिव। स यज्ञः सर्वभूतानामास्यं तस्य हुताशनः॥
He is finite and He is infinite. He is the doer as well as the instrument of action. O king, He is earth, water, ether air and fire. He is the sacrifice of all creatures and fire is His mouth.

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त: संजयेन धृतराष्ट्रो महामनाः। ध्यानमन्वगमद् राजन् पुत्रान् प्रति जनाधिप॥
Vaishampayana said O king, having been thus addressed by Sanjaya, the illustrious king Dhritarashtra meditated long about his sons.

स विचिन्त्य महातेजाः पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वचः। असंशयं सूतपुत्र कालः संक्षिपते जगत्।॥
endued as he was with great energy he, having thus reflected, said these words to Sanjaya. "O Suta's son, there is no doubt that it is Time that destroys the universe.

सृजते च पुनः सर्वं विद्यति नेह शाश्वतम्। नरो नारायणश्चैव सर्वज्ञः सर्वभूतहत्॥ देवा वैकुण्ठमित्याहुनरा विष्णुमिति प्रभुम्॥
It is Time that again creates every thing. Nothing is ever-lasting in this world. It is omniscient Nara and Narayana that destroy all creatures. The celestial call Him Vaikuntha, men call Him the Lord Vishnu.