Chapter 162

Vaisampayana continued, “Then, O represser of foes, at sunrise, havingfinished his daily devotions, Dhaumya came unto the Pandavas, withArshtishena. And having bowed down unto the feet of Arshtishena andDhaumya, they with joined hands paid homage unto all the Brahmanas. ThenDhaumya taking Yudhishthira’s right hand, said these words, looking atthe east, ‘O mighty monarch, this king of mountains, Mandara lieth vast,covering the earth up to the ocean. O Pandava, Indra and Vaisravanapreside over this point graced with woods and forests and mountains. And,O child, the intelligent sages versed in every duty, say, that this(region) is the abode of Indra and king Vaisravana. And the twice-bornones, and the sages versed in the duties, and the Sidhas, and theSadhyas, and the celestials pay their adorations unto the Sun as heriseth from this point. And that lord of all living beings, king Yama,conversant with duty, presideth over yonder southern region whither comethe spirits of the departed. And this is Sanyamana, the abode of the lordof departed spirits, sacred, and wonderful to behold, and crowned withprime prosperity. And the intelligent ones call that monarch of mountains(by the name of) Asta. Having, O king, arrived at this, the Sun everabideth by the truth. And king Varuna protects all creatures, abiding inthis king of mountains, and also in the vast deep. And, O highlyfortunate one, there illumining the northern regions, lieth the puissantMahameru, auspicious and the refuge of those knowing Brahma, where is thecourt of Brahma, and remaining where that soul of all creatures,Prajapati, hath created all that is mobile and immobile. And the Mahameruis the auspicious and healthy abode even of the seven mind-born sons ofBrahma, of whom Daksha was the seventh. And, O child, here it is that theseven celestial rishis with Vasishtha at their head rise and set. Beholdthat excellent and bright summit of the Meru, where sitteth the greatsire (Brahma) with the celestials happy in self-knowledge. And next tothe abode of Brahma is visible the region of him who is said to be thereally primal Cause or the origin of all creatures, even that prime lord,god Narayana, having neither beginning nor end. And, O king, thatauspicious place composed of all energies even the celestials, cannotbehold. And the region of the high-souled Vishnu, by its nativesplendour, exceeding in effulgence the sun or fire, cannot be beheld bythe gods, or the Danavas. And the region of Narayana lieth resplendent tothe east of the Meru, where, O child, that lord of all creatures, theself-create primal Cause of the universe, having manifested all beings,looketh splendid of his excellent grace. O child, not to speak of theMaharshis–even Brahmarshis have no access to that place. And, O best ofthe Kurus, it is the Yatis only who have access to it. And, O Pandu’sson, (at that place) luminaries cannot shine by him; there that lord ofinconceivable soul alone shineth transcendental. There by reverence, andsevere austerities, Yatis inspired by virtue of pious practices, attainNarayana Hari. And, O Bharata, repairing thither, and attaining thatuniversal Soul–the self-create and eternal God of gods, high-souledones, of Yoga success, and free from ignorance and pride have not toreturn to this world. O highly fortunate Yudhishthira, this region iswithout beginning, or deterioration, or end for it is the very essence ofthat God. And, O son of the Kurus, the Sun and the Moon every day goround this Meru, coursing in an opposite direction. And, O sinless one. Omighty monarch, the other luminaries also go round this king of mountainsin the self-same way. Thus the worshipful Sun who dispelleth darkness,goeth round this (mountain) obscuring other luminaries. Then having set,and passed the evening, that Maker of day, the Sun, taketh a northerlycourse. Then again nearing the Meru, the divine Sun (ever) intent on thegood of all beings, again courseth, facing the east. And in this way, thedivine Moon also together with the stars goeth round this mountain,dividing the month unto several sections, by his arrival at the Parvas.Having thus unerringly coursed round the mighty Meru, and, nourished allcreatures, the Moon again repaireth unto the Mandar. In the same way,that destroyer of darkness–the divine Sun–also moveth on thisunobstructed path, animating the universe. When, desirous of causing dew,he repaireth to the south, then there ensueth winter to all creatures.Then the Sun, turning back from the south, by his rays draweth up theenergy from all creatures both mobile and immobile. Thereupon, men becomesubject to perspiration, fatigue, drowsiness and lassitude; and livingbeings always feel disposed to slumber. Thence, returning through unknownregions, that divine effulgent one causeth shower, and thereby revivethbeings. And having, by the comfort caused by the shower, wind, andwarmth, cherished the mobile and the immobile, the powerful Sun resumethhis former course. O Partha, ranging thus, the Sun unerringly turneth onthe wheel of Time, influencing created things. His course is unceasing;he never resteth, O Pandava. Withdrawing the energy of all beings, heagain rendereth it back. O Bharata, dividing time into day and night, andKala, and Kashtha, that lord, the Sun, dealeth life and motion to allcreated things.'”