Part 31: The Antaradvīpas

The Mlecchas are free from (knowledge of) virtue and vice, and also those born in the Antaradvīpas. The 56 Antaradvīpas are as follows: Half of them are to the east and west of Kṣudrahimavat in the four intermediate directions, beginning with northeast. In the northeast at a distance of 300 yojanas in the Lavaṇa Ocean is the first Antaradvīpa, named Ekoru, of an equal (i.e., 300 yojanas) length and width. The people, beautiful in body and limbs, have the same name as the island. Not only in the case of Ekoru but also in the case of other islands to be mentioned later, the people have the same name as the island. In the southeast and other intermediate directions are the islands, Ābhāṣika, Lāṅgūlika, Vaiṣāṇika, respectively, at the same distance and with the same length and width (as Ekoru).

Beyond them at a distance of 400 yojanas and with an equal length and width, at the intermediate points, northeast, etc., are the Antaradvīpas, Hayakarṇa, Gajakarṇa, Gokarṇa, Śaṣkulīkarṇa, respectively.

Beyond them at a distance of 500 yojanas and with the same length and width are the 4 Antaradvīpas, Ādarśamukha, Meṣamukha, Hayamukha, and Gajamukha, in the northeast, etc., as before.

Then come Aśvamukha, Hastimukha, Siṃhamukha, Vyāghramukha, 600 yojanas in distance, length, and width.

At 700 yojanas in distance, with the same length and width are Aśvakarṇa, Siṃhakarṇa, Hastikarṇa, and Karṇaprāvaraṇa.

Then located at a distance of 800 yojanas across Lavaṇoda, with the same length and width are Ukāmukha, Vidyujjihva, Meṣamukha,^[1] and Vidyuddanta, in the northeast, etc., respectively.

After traversing 900 yojanas of Lavaṇa Ocean, 4 Antaradvīpas, named Gūḍhadanta, Ghanadantaka, Śreṣṭhadantaka, Śuddhadantaka, 900 yojanas in length and breadth, are situated in the respective intermediate points.

In this same way there are 28 at Mt. Śikharin. Added together, there are 56 in all.

Other continents and oceans:

On the other side of Mānuṣottara is the second half of Puṣkara. Surrounding Puṣkara is the Puṣkara Ocean twice as large. Then come the continent and ocean Vāruṇīvara; and beyond them the continent and ocean Kṣīravara. Then Ghṛtavara continent and ocean, and Ikṣuvara continent and ocean. Then comes the eighth continent, named Nandīśvara, which resembles heaven.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This should probably be emended to Meghamukha. Cf. K. p. 247.