सुपर्ण उवाच यस्मादुत्तार्यते पापाद् यस्मान्निःश्रेयसोऽश्नुते। अस्मादुत्तारणबलादुत्तरेत्युच्यते द्विज॥
Suparna said Since a man is absolved from his sins in this quarter and since he attains salvation here, it is called North (Uttara), O twice born one, from its power of absolution (uttarana).
उत्तरस्य हिरण्यस्य परिवापश्च गालव। मार्गः पश्चिमपूर्वाभ्यां दिग्भ्यां वै मध्यमः स्मृतः॥
And since the north, which is the region of gold (and other treasures) stretches between the west and the east therefore is it called the central region.
अस्यां दिशि वरिष्ठायामुत्तरायां द्विजर्षभ। नासौम्यो नाविधेयात्मा नाधर्मो वसते जनः॥
In this region, the north, which is the best, O best among the twice born, none that is not tranquil, none that has not brought his soul under control and none that is vicious, lives.
अत्र नारायणः कृष्णो जिष्णुश्चैव नरोत्तमः। बदर्यामाश्रमपदे तथा ब्रह्मा च शाश्वतः॥
Here lives Narayana, the ever victorious Krishna, that best among men in the hermitage of Badri and so does Brahma.
अत्र वै हिमवत्पृष्ठे नित्यमास्ते महेश्वरः। प्रकृत्या पुरुषः सार्धं युगान्ताग्निसमप्रभः॥
Here on the breast of the Himayat mountain even lives Maheshvara who is endued with effulgence like that of the fire which blazes at the termination of each Yuga, like Purusha in company with Prakriti.
न स दृश्यो मुनिगणैस्तथा देवैः सवासवैः। गन्धर्वयक्षसिद्धैर्वा नरनारायणादृते॥
He is invisible by the group of Munis as also by the gods along with Vasava and by the Gandharvas and Yakshas who have attained salvation, indeed by all save by Nara and Narayana.
अत्र विष्णुः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रचरणोऽव्ययः। सहस्रशिरसः श्रीमानेकः पश्यति मायया।॥
Here lives the eternal Vishnu of a thousand eye, a thousand feet and a thousand heads who appears one with the aid of illusion.
अत्र राज्येन विप्राणां चन्द्रमाश्चाभ्यषिच्यत। अत्र गङ्गां महादेवः पतन्तीं गगनाच्च्युताम्॥
Here was the moon entrusted with the kingship over regenerate persons and here Mahadeva let fall the Ganga, which descended from the sky,
प्रतिगृह्य ददौ लोके मानुषे ब्रह्मवित्तम। अत्र देव्या तपस्तप्तं महेश्वरपरीप्सया॥
After receiving her on his head, to the world of men, O you best among those that know Brahma; here was asceticism practiced by the goddess (Uma) with the desire of getting Maheshvara for her husband.
अत्र कामश्च रोषश्च शैलचोमा च सम्बभुः। अत्र राक्षसयक्षाणां गन्धर्वाणां च गालव॥ आधिपत्येन कैलासे धनदोऽप्यभिषेचितः। अत्र चैत्ररथं रम्यमत्र वैखानसाश्रमः॥
Here were born Kama (the god of love) Rosha (the ire of Shiva), the Kailasa mountain as also Uma; and here, O Galava, over the Rakshasas and Yakshas and Gandharvas, was the giver of wealth (Kubera) anointed king in the Kailasa; here is suitable the pleasure garden of Kubera-the enchanting Chaitraratha and here is situate the hermitage of the class of Rishis known as Vaikhanas.
अत्र मन्दाकिनी चैव मन्दरश्च द्विजर्षभ। अत्र सौगन्धिकवनं नैर्ऋतैरभिरक्ष्यते॥
Here are situate the Mandakini (river) and the Mandara (mountain) O best among the twice born and here is the wood named Saugandhanika which is guarded by Rakshasas.
शाद्वलं कदलीस्कन्धमत्र संतानका नगाः। अत्र संयमनित्यानां सिद्धानां स्वैरचारिणाम्॥
Here are plains covered with green grass and groups of plantain trees and the celestial trees, the Santanakas and in this quarter the Siddhas, who have ever their passions under control and who always roam about at their pleasure,
विमानान्यनुरूपाणि कामभोग्यानि गालव। अत्र ते ऋषयः सप्त देवी चारुन्धती तथा॥
Have their abodes resembling the heaven and replete with all objects of enjoyment; and here live the seven Rishis and also the Goddess Arundhati.