Chapter 7

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

“Sanjaya said,–‘On the south of the Nila mountain and the northern sideof Meru are the sacred Northern Kurus, O king, which are the residence ofthe Siddhas. The trees there bear sweet fruits, and are always coveredwith fruits and flowers. All the flowers (there) are fragrant, and thefruits of excellent taste. Some of the trees, again, O king, yield fruitsaccording to (the) will (of the plucker). There are again some othertrees, O king, that are called milk-yielding. These always yield milk andthe six different kinds of food of the taste of Amrita itself. Thosetrees also yield cloths and in their fruits are ornaments (for the use ofman). The entire land abounds with fine golden sands. A portion of theregion there, extremely delightful, is seen to be possessed of theradiance of the ruby or diamond, or of the lapis lazuli or other jewelsand gems.[51] All the seasons there are agreeable and nowhere does theland become miry, O king. The tanks are charming, delicious, and full ofcrystal water. The men born there have dropped from the world of thecelestials.[52] All are of pure birth and all are extremely handsome inappearance. There twins (of opposite sexes) are born and the womenresemble Apsaras in beauty. They drink the milk, sweet as Amrita, ofthose milk-yielding trees (already mentioned). And the twins born there(of opposite sexes) grow up equally. Both possessed of equal beauty, bothendued with similar virtues, and both equally dressed, both grow up inlove, O monarch, like a couple of chakrabakas. The people of that countryare free from illness and are always cheerful. Ten thousand and tenhundred years they live, O king, and never abandon one another. A classof birds called Bharunda, furnished with sharp beaks and possessed ofgreat strength, take them up when dead and throw them into mountaincaves. I have now described to thee, O king, the Northern Kurus briefly.

“I will now describe to thee the eastern side of Meru duly. Of all theregions there, the foremost, O king, is called Bhadraswa, where there isa large forest of Bhadra-salas, as also a huge tree called Kalamra. ThisKalamra, O king, is always graced with fruits and flowers. That treeagain is a Yojana in height and is adored by Siddhas[53] and theCharanas. The men there are all of a white complexion, endued with greatenergy, and possessed of great strength. The women are of the complexionof lilies, very beautiful, and agreeable to sight. Possessed of radianceof 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 allaccomplished in singing and dancing. The period of human life there, Obull of the Bharata’s race, is ten thousand years. Drinking the juice ofthe Kalamra they continue youthful for ever. On the south of Nila and thenorth of Nishadha, there is a huge Jamvu tree that is eternal. Adored bythe Siddhas and Charanas, that sacred tree granteth every wish. After thename of that tree this division hath ever been called Jamvudwipa. O bullof Bharata race, a thousand and a hundred Yojanas is the height of thatprince of trees, which touches the very heavens, O king of men. Twothousand and five hundred cubits measure the circumference of a fruit ofthat tree which bursts when ripe. In falling upon the earth these fruitsmake a loud noise, and then pour out, O king, a silvery juice on theground. That juice of the Jamvu, becoming, O king, a river, and passingcircuitously round Meru, cometh to the (region of the) Northern Kurus. Ifthe juice of that fruit is quaffed, it conduces to peace of mind. Nothirst is felt ever after, O king. Decrepitude never weakens them. Andthere a species of gold called Jamvunada and used for celestialornaments, 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, thefire called Samvataka which blazeth forth at the end of the Yuga for thedestruction of the universe. On Malyavat’s summit towards the east aremany small mountains and Malyavat, O king, measures eleven thousand[55]Yojanas. The men born there are of the complexion of gold. And they areall fallen from the region of Brahman and are utterers of Brahma. Theyundergo the severest of ascetic austerities, and their vital seed isdrawn 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 thousandyears, they then enter the lunar disc.'”