{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk08ch12.htm","path":"hin/db/bk08ch12.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk08ch12.htm","text":"THE EIGHTH BOOK\nChapter XII\nOn the narration of Plaksa, S\u2019\u00e2lmala and Kus\u2019a Dv\u00eepas\n1-37. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- The Jambudv\u00eepa has been described, how it is and what is its width. It is surrounded on all sides by the salt ocean. As Meru is surrounded by Jambudv\u00eepa, so the salt ocean is surrounded by Plaksadv\u00eepa, twice its size. As the ditch is surrounded by gardens, so the salt ocean is surrounded by gardens. As the Jambu tree exists in Jambudv\u00eepa, so the Plaksa tree exists in the Plaksa Dv\u00eepa and of the same size. The name Plaksa Dv\u00eepa is derived from the name of this Plaksa tree. This tree is of a golden colour. Fire exists at its bottom with form incarnate. This is, named Saptajihva. The Ruler of this island is Idhmajihva, the son of Priyavrata. He divided his island into the seven Varsas and distributed them, to each of his seven sons and he himself took refuge of the path of Yoga, so much liked by the Knowers of Self and he got the Bhagav\u00e2n V\u00e2sudeva. The names of those seven Dv\u00eepas are :-- S'iva, Yavas, Subhadra, S\u00e2nti, Ksema, Amrita, and Abhaya. Seven rivers and seven mountains exist respectively in the seven islands. The rivers are :-- Arun\u00e2, Nrimn\u00e2, Angiras\u00ee, S\u00e2vitr\u00ee, Suprabh\u00e2tik\u00e2, Ritambhar\u00e2, and Satyambhar\u00e2. The names of the mountains are Manik\u00fbta, Vajrak\u00fbta, Indrasena, Jyotism\u00e2na, Suparna, Hiranyasth\u00eeva, and Megham\u00e2la. The seeing and drinking the waters of these rivers take away all sins and all darkness due to ignorance. The four castes live here, Hamsa, Patanga, \u00dbrdh\u00e2yana, and Saty\u00e2nga, corresponding to the four castes Br\u00e2hmana, etc. The inhabitants of this Plaksa Dv\u00eepa live for one thousand years and all are of variegated wonderful appearances. They follow the customs\nand usages dictated by the Vedas and worship the God Sun for the attainment of Heaven. The mantra by which the worship is done is this :-- We take refuge unto that Sun, Who is the Body Manifest of the Ancient Person Visnu and Who is the Ordainer of Satya (Truth), Rit\u00e2 (Straight forwardness), Brahm\u00e2, Amrita (Immortality) and Mrityu (Death); O N\u00e2rada! All the persons here live long, of vigorous senses, energetic, powerful, intelligent, enthusiasts, and valorous; everyone gets extraordinary powers of themselves. Next to this Plaksa Dv\u00eepa is the Ikshu Ocean. This Iksu S\u00e2gara surrounds the Plaksa Dv\u00eepa. Next comes S'almala Dv\u00eepa. It is twice as large as Plaksa. This Dv\u00eepa is surrounded by Sur\u00e2s\u00e2gara (the ocean of wine). There is a tree named S'almal\u00ee in this island, which is as large as the Plaksa tree. The high-souled Garuda resides on that tree, Yaj\u00f1av\u00e2hu is the Ruler of this place. He was born of Priyavrata; he divided his Varsa into the seven parts and distributed each of them to his seven sons respectively. Now hear the names of these Varsas :-- Surochana, Saumanasya, Ramana, Deva Varsa, P\u00e2ribhadra, \u00c2py\u00e2yana, and Vij\u00f1\u00e2ta. Seven mountains and seven rivers exist there respectively. The names of the mountains are :-- Sarasa, S'atas'ringa, V\u00e2ma Deva, Kandaka, Kumuda, Puspavarsa, and Sahasra-S'ruti. Now hear the names of the rivers. Anumati, Sin\u00eeb\u00e2l\u00ee, Sarasvat\u00ee, K\u00fbhu, Rajan\u00ee, Nand\u00e2, and R\u00e2k\u00e2; these are the seven rivers. The people are divided into the four castes :-- S'rutadhara, V\u00eeryadhara, Vasundhara, Isundhara. These correspond to the Br\u00e2hmanas, etc. They worship the Bhagav\u00e2n Moon, the Controller of all and the Creator of all the Vedas. They offer food duly in the black and white fortnight to their Pitris. The mantra for their worship is :-- \u201cLet Soma, the King of all, be pleased.\u201d O N\u00e2rada! Next to Sur\u00e2s\u00e2gara is Kus'adv\u00eepa, surrounded by Ghritas\u00e2gara (the ocean of clarified butter). Its dimensions are twice as large. Here are blades of Kus'a grass, of a very resplendent colour. The name of the Dv\u00eepa is from this Kus'astamba. This bundle of Kus'a, illumines all the quarters with their gentle rays. The Ruler of the Dv\u00eepa is Hiranyaret\u00e2, the son of Priyavrata. He divided the Dv\u00eepa into seven parts and distributed each of them to each of his seven sons respectively. The names of the seven sons are :-- Vasu, Vasud\u00e2na, Dhridharuchi, N\u00e2bhigupta, Stutyavrata, Vivikta, and Bh\u00e2madevaka. There are seven mountains forming the seven boundaries and so are the seven rivers. Hear the names of these. The names of the mountains are :-- Chakra, Chatuhs'ringa, Kapila, Chitre Dev\u00e2n\u00eeka, K\u00fbta, \u00dbrdharom\u00e2 and Dravina. The names of the rivers are :-- Rasakuly\u00e2, Madhukuly\u00e2, Mitravind\u00e2, S'rutavind\u00e2, Devagarbh\u00e2, Ghrit\u00e2chyut, and Mantramalik\u00e2. The inhabitants of the Kus'adv\u00eepa drink the waters of these\nrivers. There are the four castes here Kus'ala, Kovida, Abhiyukta, and Kulaka corresponding to the Br\u00e2hmanas, etc. They are all powerful like Indra and the other chief Devas; and all of them are omniscient. They worship the Fire God and perform various good works in honour of Him. Their mantra is this :-- O Fire! Thou carriest the oblations direct to Para Brahm\u00e2. In the sacrifices of the Devas, Thou worshippest that Personal God and offerest to Him whatever are given in oblations, mentioning the respective limbs of His Body. Thus the inhabitants of that Dv\u00eepa worship the Fire God.\nHere ends the Twelfth Chapter of the Eighth Book on the narration of Plaksa, S'\u00e2lmala, and Kus'a Dv\u00eepas in the Mah\u00e2pur\u00e2nam, S'r\u00ee Mad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam, of 18,000 verses, by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Eighth Book: Chapter 12","type":"page"}