Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 16:12-25

Book 5: Chapter 16

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 16: Verses 12-25 A description of the terrestrial world On these four (mountains) stand four big trees of mango, Jambu (rose-apple), Kadamba and banyan (respectively) looking like their flags, each possessing a height of one thousand and one hundred Yojanas (8,800 miles) and a diameter of a hundred Yojanas (800 miles) (at its trunk), and its branches extending within a diameter equal to its height. (Besides these trees) there are four lakes (as well) of milk , honey, sugar-cane juice and fresh water (respectively). The demigods (the Yaksas, Kinnaras and so on) who drink of these, O Pariksit (the foremost of the Bharatas), enjoy mystic powers as a natural consequence. There are also four celestial gardens, called Nandana, Caitraratha, Vaibhrajaka and Sarvatobhadra. In these gardens the foremost of gods, leading a bevy of most charming celestial beauties with them, carry on (their) sports, their glories being sung by hosts of demigods. From the top of the celestial mango tree, eleven hundred Yojanas high, standing on the bosom of Mount Mandara, drop down fruits as colossal as a mountain-peak and luscious as nectar. A river, Arunoda (lit., having red water) by name-so-called because of its carrying as water the most delicious, (naturally) fragrant and highly perfumed (with other scents), abundant and scarlet juice of these fruits bursting open (with the fall)flows from the summit of Mount Mandara and irrigates the eastern part of Ilavrta. The breeze perfumed by contact with the person of Yaksa ladies forming the retinue of Goddess Parvati (the divine Consort of Lord Siva) surcharges with fragrance the whole area about them as for as ten Yojanas (80 miles), (which is possible only) because of their drinking this water. Similarly a river, Jambu by name, emanating from the juice of rose-apples of the size of elephants and having very small seeds, burst open as a result of their fall from an exceedingly high level, falls from the summit of Mount Merumandara, ten thousand Yojanas high, on the earth (below) and waters the whole of (the southern part of) Ilavrta, standing to the south of that river. The clay on both the banks (of this river), getting saturated all over with that juice. and undergoing a chemical change under the joint action of the wind and the sun, is transmuted into (high-class) gold, known by the name of Jambunada, which ever serves to adorn the person of immortals. Indeed, as the tradition unmistakably points out, the gods and other heavenly beings (such as the Gandharvas) with their spouses wear this (on their person) in the shape of diadems, bangles, girdles and other ornaments. Five torrents of honey, each measuring five fathoms in diameter-that stream forth from the hollows of that great Kadamba tree which stands firmly rooted on Mount Suparswawhen falling from the summit of Suparswa, delight with their aroma (the region of) Ilavrta, lying to the west of those torrents. The breeze surcharged with the odour issuing from the mouth (breath) of (celestial) damsels drinking of those torrents perfumes an area of one hundred Yojanas (800 miles) all round. In the same way from the boughs of that banyan tree, Satavalsa by name (so-called because it has hundreds of boughs), which stands firmly rooted on Mount Kumuda, issue (a number of) streams-all flowing downward and capable of yielding the objects of one's desire, such as milk, curds, honey, clarified butter, jaggery, cereals and other edibles as well as raiment, beds, seats and ornaments-and, falling from the summit of Mount Kumuda, benefit the region of Ilavrta lying to the north of the said mountain. Afflictions of various kinds-such as wrinkles, grey hairs, fatigue, perspiration, foul smell, old age, disease, (untimely) death, (sensations of) cold and heat, pallor and (other) troubles are never experienced by those created beings that make use of these rivers; nay, they enjoy the greatest happiness throughout their life.