SECTION XI

(Bhumi Parva)

“Dhritarashtra said,—­’Thou hast, O Sanjaya, duly described Jamvukhanda to me.  Tell me now its dimensions and extent truly.  Tell me also, O Sanjaya, of the extent of the ocean of Sakadwipa, and Kusadwipa, of Salmalidwipa and Kraunchadwipa, truly and without leaving anything and tell me also, O son of Gavalgani, of Rahu and Soma and Surya.’

“Sanjaya said,—­’There are, O king, many islands, over which the Earth extended.  I will describe to thee, however, only seven islands, and the moon, and the sun, and the planet (Rahu), also.  The Jamvu mountain, O king, extends over full eighteen thousand and six hundred Yojanas.  The extent of the salt ocean is said to be twice this.  That ocean is covered with many kingdoms, and is adorned with gems and corals.  It is, besides, decked with many mountains that are variegated with metals of diverse kinds.  Thickly peopled by Siddhas and Charanas, the ocean is circular in form.

“I will now tell thee truly of Sakadwipa, O Bharata.  Listen to me, O son of Kuru’s race, as I describe it to thee duly.  That island, O ruler of men, is of twice the extent of Jamvudwipa.  And the ocean also, O great king, is of twice the extent of that island.  Indeed, O best of the Bharatas, Sakadwipa is surrounded on all sides by the ocean.  The kingdoms there are full of righteousness, and the men there never die.  How can famine take place there?  The people are all endued with forgiveness and great energy.  I have now, O bull of Bharata’s race, given thee duly a brief description of Sakadwipa.  What else, O king, dost thou wish to hear?’"[66]

“Dhritarashtra said,—­’Thou hast given me, O Sanjaya, a description of Sakadwipa in brief.  O thou that art possessed of great wisdom, tell me now everything in detail truly.’

“Sanjaya said,—­’In that island, O king, there are seven mountains that are decked with jewels and that are mines of gems, precious stones.  There are many rivers also in that island.  Listen to me as I recount their names.  Everything there, O king, is excellent and delightful, The first of these mountains is called Meru.  It is the abode of the gods, Rishis, and Gandharvas.  The next mountain, O king, is called Malaya stretching towards the east.  It is there that the clouds are generated and it is thence that they disperse on all sides.  The next, O thou of Kuru’s race, is the large mountain called Jaladhara.[67] Thence Indra daily taketh water of the best quality.  It is from that water that we get showers in the season of rains, O ruler of men.  Next cometh the high mountain called Raivataka, over which, in the firmament, hath been permanently placed the constellation called Revati.  This arrangement hath been made by the Grandsire himself.  On the north of this, O great king, is the large mountain called Syama.  It hath the splendour of newly-risen clouds, is very high, beautiful and of bright body.  And since the hue of those mountains is dark, the people residing there are all dark in complexion, O king.’