“I will now describe to thee the eastern side of Meru duly.  Of all the regions there, the foremost, O king, is called Bhadraswa, where there is a large forest of Bhadra-salas, as also a huge tree called Kalamra.  This Kalamra, O king, is always graced with fruits and flowers.  That tree again is a Yojana in height and is adored by Siddhas[53] and the Charanas.  The men there are all of a white complexion, endued with great energy, and possessed of great strength.  The women are of the complexion of lilies, very beautiful, and agreeable to sight.  Possessed of radiance of the moon,[54] and white as the moon, their faces are as the full-moon.  Their bodies again are as cool as the rays of the moon and they are all accomplished in singing and dancing.  The period of human life there, O bull of the Bharata’s race, is ten thousand years.  Drinking the juice of the Kalamra they continue youthful for ever.  On the south of Nila and the north of Nishadha, there is a huge Jamvu tree that is eternal.  Adored by the Siddhas and Charanas, that sacred tree granteth every wish.  After the name of that tree this division hath ever been called Jamvudwipa.  O bull of Bharata race, a thousand and a hundred Yojanas is the height of that prince of trees, which touches the very heavens, O king of men.  Two thousand and five hundred cubits measure the circumference of a fruit of that tree which bursts when ripe.  In falling upon the earth these fruits make a loud noise, and then pour out, O king, a silvery juice on the ground.  That juice of the Jamvu, becoming, O king, a river, and passing circuitously round Meru, cometh to the (region of the) Northern Kurus.  If the juice of that fruit is quaffed, it conduces to peace of mind.  No thirst is felt ever after, O king.  Decrepitude never weakens them.  And there a species of gold called Jamvunada and used for celestial ornaments, very brilliant and like the complexion of Indragopoka insects, is produced.  The men born there are of the complexion of the morning sun.

“’On the summit of Malyavat is always seen, O bull of Bharata’s race, the fire called Samvataka which blazeth forth at the end of the Yuga for the destruction of the universe.  On Malyavat’s summit towards the east are many small mountains and Malyavat, O king, measures eleven thousand[55] Yojanas.  The men born there are of the complexion of gold.  And they are all fallen from the region of Brahman and are utterers of Brahma.  They undergo the severest of ascetic austerities, and their vital seed is drawn up.  For the protection of creatures they all enter the sun.  Numbering sixty-six thousand, they proceed in advance of Aruna, surrounding the sun.  Heated with the sun’s rays for sixty-six thousand years, they then enter the lunar disc.’”

SECTION VIII

“Dhritarashtra said,—­’Tell me truly, O Sanjaya, the names of all the Varshas, and of all the mountains, and also of all those that dwell on those mountains.