*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 20.*
_Plaksha Dvipa_
Jambu Dvipa is surrounded by the salt ocean on all sides. That ocean
extends over Laksha Yojanas. That salt ocean is again surrounded on all
sides by Plaksha Dvipa, which extends over 2 laksha of Yojanas.
There is one golden Plaksha tree in that Dvipa as high as the Jambu tree
in Jambu Dvipa and the Dvipa itself takes its name from that tree. There
Fire is seven tongued,
Idhmajihva son of Priyavrata ruled over this Dvipa. He divided the Dvipa
into seven Varshas and named them after his seven sons each of whom
ruled over the Varsha of his name.
Siva, Vayasa, Subhadra, Santa, Kshema, Amrita and Abhoya are the
Varshas.
Manikuta, Vajrakuta, Indrasena, Jyotishmat, Subarna, Hiranyasthiva and
Meghmala are the seven chief mountains.
Aruna, Nrimana, Angirasi, Savitri, Supravata, Ritambhara and Satyambhara
are the seven great rivers.
Hansa, Patanga, Urdhayana and Satyanga are the corresponding castes.
The dwellers of the Dvipa live for one thousand years. They look like
Devas and procreate after Deva fashion. They worship the Surya (Sun-god)
of the Vedas.
(The Mantra is given)
In Plaksha, Salmali, Kusa, Krouncha and Saka, the inmates have their
age, Indriyas, strength, power and Budhi by their very birth and not by
Karma.
The Dvipa is surrounded by the Sugar cane juice ocean which extends over
2 laksha of Yojanas.
_Salmali Divpa:_ -- Twice as large as Plaksha Dvipa. The ocean of wine
surrounding it is equally large.
_Tree:_ -- Salmali (Bombax Malabaricum) as high as the Plaksha tree said
to be the seat of Garuda.
_King:_ Yajna-vaha son of Priyavrata.
_Seven Varshas and seven sons of Yajnavaha:_ -- Surochana, Soumanasya,
Ramanaka, Devvarha, Paribhadra, Apyayana and Abhijhata.
_Seven principal mountains:_ -- Surasa, Sata Sringa, Vamadeva, Kunda,
Kumuda, Pushpa Varsha and Sahosra.
_Seven great rivers:_ -- Anumati, Sinivati, Sarasvati, Kuhu, Rajani,
Nanda and Raka.
_Divisions of people:_ -- Srutidhara, Viryadhara, Vasundhara, and
Ishundhara.
_Presiding deity:_ -- The Moon.
_Kusa Dvipa:_ -- Twice as large as Salmali Dvipa surrounded by an ocean
of clarified butter equally large.
_Tree:_ -- Clusters of Kusa grass glowing and glittering.
_King:_ -- Hiranyaretas son of Priyavrata.
_Seven Varshas:_ -- Vasu, Vasudana, Dridharuchi, Nabhigupta, Satyavrata,
Bikranama, and Devanama.
_Seven mountains:_ -- Babhra, Chatur-Sringa, Kapila Chitra Kuta,
Devanika, Urdharomau and Dravina.
_Seven Rivers:_ -- Raaskulya, Madhukulya, Mitravinda, Srutavinda, Deva
Garbha, Ghutachynta, and Mantramala.
_Divisions of People:_ -- Kusala, Kovida, Abhiyukta and Kulaka.
_Presiding Deity:_ -- Agni (Fire-god).
_Krouncha Dvipa:_ -- Twice as large as Kusa, surrounded by an ocean of
milk equally large. Named after the Krouncha Mountain. The Krouncha
Mountain was attacked by Kartikeya and injured too. But the Milk Ocean
and the presiding deity Varuna saved it.
_King:_ -- Ghritaprestha son of Priyavrata.
_Seven Varshas:_ -- Atma, Madhuruha, Meghapristha, Sudhawan, Bhrajistha,
Lohitarna, Vanaspati.
_Seven Mountains:_ -- Sukla, Vardhaman, Bhajana, Upavarhaha, Nauda,
Nandana and Sarvato-bhadra.
_Seven Rivers:_ -- Abhoya, Amritougha, Aryuka, Tirthavati, Rupavati,
Pavitravati and Sukla.
_Divisions of people:_ -- Purasha, Rishabha, Dravina and Devaka.
_Presiding Deity:_ Apas (Water-God.)
_Saka Dvipa:_ -- 32 laksha Yojanas. Surrounded by an ocean of curds --
equally extensive.
_Tree:_ -- Saka (Teak wood tree) very fragrant.
_King:_ -- Medhatithi, son of Priyavrata.
_Seven Varshas:_ -- Purojava, Manojava, Vepamana, Dhumranika,
Chitrarepha, Bahurupa and Visva-dhara.
_Seven Mountains:_ -- Isana, Uru Sringa, Balabhadra, Sata Kesara,
Sahasra-srotas, Devapala and Mohanasa.
_Seven Rivers:_ -- Anagha, Ayurda, Ubhayaspriti, Aparajita, Punchapadi,
Sahasra Sruti and Nijadhriti.
_Division of people:_ -- Ritavrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata.
_Presiding Deity:_ -- Vayu (Wind-god).
_Puskkara Dvipa:_ -- Twice as large as Saka Dvipa surrounded by an ocean
of pure water -- equally extensive: There is a big Pushkara or Lotus
plant with thousands of golden leaves. The Lotus is known as the seat of
Brahma.
Standing between two Varshas, eastern and western, is the Manasattara
Mountain ten thousand Yojanas high. On the four sides of this Mountain
are four abodes of the Lokapalas = Indra and others.
Over these abodes the Sanvatsava or Uttarayana Dakshinayana wheel
(_chakra_) of the Sun's chariot moves in its course round Meru.
Vitihotra, Son of Priyavrata, is the king of this Varsha.
His two sons Ramanaka and Dhataka are the lords of two Varshas named
after them.
The people of those Varshas worship Brahma by Yajna performances.
Beyond the Ocean of pure water is the Lokaloka (Loka and Aloka)
Mountain, dividing Loka, the regions lighted by the sun, from Aloka or
the regions not lighted by the sun.
As much land as there is between Manasottara and Meru, so much golden
land is there on the other side of the pure water ocean. It is like the
surface of the mirror. If any thing is thrown on that land, it is not
regained. It is therefore forsaken by all beings. [The land between
Manasottara and Meru is one krore and a half _plus_ seven and a half
lakhs. There is as much land on the other side of the Pure Water Ocean.
There are living beings in that land. Beyond that is the golden land.
That land is eight krores and thirty nine laksha yojanas wide. It is
thus that the distance between Meru and Lokaloka comes to be 12 1/2
krores as mentioned below. This is also said in the Siva Tantra.
Two krores 53 lakshas and 50 thousand this is the measure of the seven
Dvipas with the Oceans. Beyond that is the golden land which is 10
Krores of Yojanas. This is used by the Devas as their play-ground.
Beyond that is Lokaloka. The ten krores include the previously mentioned
land, "Forsaken by all beings" -- this is to be understood with the
exception of the Devas, for it is mentioned as the play-ground of the
Devas. _Sridhara._]
In order to understand the commentary of _Sridhara_, let us examine the
figures.
Jambu Dvipa with Ocean on one side of Meru:
... ... 150,000 Yojanas
Plaksha Dvipa with Ocean on one side of Meru:
... ... 400,000