धृतराष्ट्र उवाच नदीनां पर्वतानां च नामधेयानि संजय। तथा जनपदानां च ये चान्ये भूमिमाश्रिताः॥ प्रमाणं च प्रमाणज्ञ पृथिव्या मम सर्वतः। निखिलेन समाचक्ष्व काननानि च संजय॥
Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, O man learned in the measures of all things, tell me in detail the names of rivers and mountains and of provinces and all other things that are on earth and the dimensions of the whole earth and of the forest.
भूमेरेते गुणा: संजय उवाच पञ्चेमानि महाराज महाभूतानि संग्रहात्। जगतीस्थानि सर्वाणि समान्याहुर्मनीषिणः॥
Sanjaya said O king of kings, the wise call all things in the universe as equal in consequences of the presence of the five elements (in them).
भूमिरापस्तथा वायुरग्निराकाशमेव च। गुणोत्तराणि सर्वाणि तेषां भूमिः प्रधानतः॥ शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च रसो गन्धश्च पञ्चमः। प्रोक्ता ऋषिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः॥
These elements are the ether, air, fire, water, and earth. Their attributes are sound, touch, vision, taste and smell. Every one of these elements possesses the attributes and the attributes of things that come to it. Therefore the earth is the foremost of all, possessing as it does the attributes of all the other four. Thus say the Rishis who know the truth.
चत्वारोऽप्सु गुणा राजन् गन्धस्तत्र न विद्यते। शब्दः स्पर्शश्च रूपं च तेजसोऽथ गुणास्त्रयः।
O king, there are four attributes in water. It has no scent. Fire has three attributes, namely sound, touch and vision.
शब्दः स्पर्शश्च वायोस्तु आकाशे शब्द एव तु॥ एते पञ्च गुणा राजन् महाभूतेषु पञ्चसु! वर्तन्ते सर्वलोकेषु येषु भूताः प्रतिष्ठिताः॥
Air has only sound and touch whereas ether has sound alone. O king, these five attributes exist in the five principle elements.
हेमकूटात् परं चैव हरिवर्षं प्रचक्षते। अन्योन्यं नाभिवर्तन्ते साम्यं भवति वै यदा॥
On which depend all creatures in the universe for their existence. They do not depend on each other when there is equipoise.
यदा तु विषमीभावमाविशन्ति परस्परम्। तदा देहैर्देहवन्तो व्यतिरोहन्ति नान्यथा॥
When these (elements), not existing in the natural state, exist with one another, then all creatures without any deviation spring into life with various sorts of bodies.
अचिन्त्याः खलु ये आनुपूर्व्या विनश्यन्ति जायन्ते चानुपूर्वशः। सर्वाण्यपरिमेयाणि तदेषां रूपमैश्वरम्॥
The elements are destroyed in the order of the one succeeding the one that proceeds. They also spring into existence, one arising from one before it. All these are immeasurable, their forms being Brahma himself.
तत्र तत्र हि दृश्यन्ते धातवः पाञ्चभौतिकाः। तेषां मनुष्यास्तर्केण प्रमाणानि प्रचक्षते॥
Creatures consisting of the five elements are seen in the universe. Men try to know their proportions by exercising their reason.
भावा न तास्तर्केण साधयेत्। प्रकृतिभ्यः परं यत् तु तदचिन्त्यस्य लक्षणम्॥
Those matters that are inconceivable can never be solved by reason. What is above nature is an indication that it is inconceivable.
सुदर्शनं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्वीपं तु कुरुनन्दन। परिमण्डलो महाराज द्वीपोऽसौ चक्रसंस्थितः॥
O descendant of Kuru, I shall now describe to you the island called Sudarshana. O king, this island is circular like a wheel.
नदीजलप्रतिच्छन्नः पर्वतैश्चाभ्रसंनिभैः। पुरैश्च विविधाकारै रम्यैर्जनपदैस्तथा॥
It abounds in rivers and other waters, in mountains that look like masses of clouds, and in cities and in many charming provinces.
वृक्ष पुष्पफलोपेतैः सम्पन्नधनधान्यवान्। लवणेन समुद्रेण समन्तात् परिवारितः॥
It is full of trecs covered with flowers and fruits and with crops of various kinds and with many other rich things. It is surrounded on all sides with the salt sea.
यथा हि पुरुषः पश्येदादर्श मुखमात्मनः। एवं सुदर्शनद्वीपो दृश्यते चन्द्रमण्डले॥
As a man can see his face in a mirror, so is the island called Sudarshana seen in the lunar disc.
द्विरंशे पिप्पलस्तत्र द्विरंशे च शशो महान्। सर्वौषधिसमावायः सर्वतः परिवारितः॥
Two of its parts appear like a pipal tree, the two others look like a large hare. It is surrounded on all sides with the various kinds of plants.
आपस्ततोऽन्यो विज्ञेयाः शेषः संक्षेप उच्यते। ततोऽन्य उच्यते चायमेनं संक्षेपतः शृणु॥
Beside these portions, the rest is all water. I shall describe them to you shortly. Hear what I now describe in brief.