“’These then, O great king, are the seven Varshas of the world as they are divided.  Diverse creatures, mobile[49] and immobile, are placed in them all.  Diverse kinds of prosperity, both providential and human, are noticeable in them.  They are incapable of being counted.  Those desirous, however, of their own good believe (all this), I have now told thee of that delightful region (of land) of the form of a hare about which thou hadst asked me.  At the extremities of that region are the two Varshas, viz., one on the north and the other on the south.  Those two also have now been told to thee.  Then again the two islands Naga-dwipa and Kasyapa-dwipa are the two ears of this region of the form of a hare.  The beautiful mountains of Maleya, O king, having rocks like plates of copper, form another (prominent) part of Jamvudwipa that having its shape resembling a hare.’”

SECTION VII

“Dhritarashtra said,—­’Tell me, O Sanjaya, thou of great intelligence, of the regions to the north and the east side of Meru, as also of the mountains of Malyavat, in detail.[50]

“Sanjaya said,—­’On the south of the Nila mountain and the northern side of Meru are the sacred Northern Kurus, O king, which are the residence of the Siddhas.  The trees there bear sweet fruits, and are always covered with fruits and flowers.  All the flowers (there) are fragrant, and the fruits of excellent taste.  Some of the trees, again, O king, yield fruits according to (the) will (of the plucker).  There are again some other trees, O king, that are called milk-yielding.  These always yield milk and the six different kinds of food of the taste of Amrita itself.  Those trees also yield cloths and in their fruits are ornaments (for the use of man).  The entire land abounds with fine golden sands.  A portion of the region there, extremely delightful, is seen to be possessed of the radiance of the ruby or diamond, or of the lapis lazuli or other jewels and gems.[51] All the seasons there are agreeable and nowhere does the land become miry, O king.  The tanks are charming, delicious, and full of crystal water.  The men born there have dropped from the world of the celestials.[52] All are of pure birth and all are extremely handsome in appearance.  There twins (of opposite sexes) are born and the women resemble Apsaras in beauty.  They drink the milk, sweet as Amrita, of those milk-yielding trees (already mentioned).  And the twins born there (of opposite sexes) grow up equally.  Both possessed of equal beauty, both endued with similar virtues, and both equally dressed, both grow up in love, O monarch, like a couple of chakrabakas.  The people of that country are free from illness and are always cheerful.  Ten thousand and ten hundred years they live, O king, and never abandon one another.  A class of birds called Bharunda, furnished with sharp beaks and possessed of great strength, take them up when dead and throw them into mountain caves.  I have now described to thee, O king, the Northern Kurus briefly.