beings, king _Yama_,
conversant with duty, presideth over yonder southern region whither come
the spirits of the departed. And this is _Sanyamana_, the abode of the
lord of departed spirits, sacred, and wonderful to behold, and crowned
with prime prosperity. And the intelligent ones call that monarch of
mountains (by the name of) Asta. Having, O king, arrived at this, the
Sun ever abideth by the truth. And king _Varuna_ protects all creatures,
abiding in this king of mountains, and also in the vast deep. And, O
highly fortunate one, there illumining the northern regions, lieth the
puissant Mahameru, auspicious and the refuge of those knowing _Brahma_,
where is the court of _Brahma_, and remaining where that soul of all
creatures, _Prajapati_, hath created all that is mobile and immobile.
And the _Mahameru_ is the auspicious and healthy abode even of the seven
mind-born sons of _Brahma_, of whom _Daksha_ was the seventh. And, O
child, here it is that the seven celestial _rishis_ with Vasishtha at
their head rise and set. Behold that excellent and bright summit of the
Meru, where sitteth the great sire (_Brahma_) with the celestials happy
in self-knowledge. And next to the abode of _Brahma_ is visible the
region of him who is said to be the really primal Cause or the origin of
all creatures, even that prime lord, god Narayana, having neither
beginning nor end. And, O king, that auspicious place composed of all
energies even the celestials, cannot behold. And the region of the
high-souled _Vishnu_, by its native splendour, exceeding in effulgence
the sun or fire, cannot be beheld by the gods, or the Danavas. And the
region of Narayana lieth resplendent to the east of the _Meru_, where, O
child, that lord of all creatures, the self-create primal Cause of the
universe, having manifested all beings, looketh splendid of his
excellent grace. O child, not to speak of the _Maharshis_-even
_Brahmarshis_ have no access to that place. And, O best of the Kurus, it
is the _Yatis_ only who have access to it. And, O Pandu's son, (at that
place) luminaries cannot shine by him; there that lord of inconceivable
soul alone shineth transcendental. There by reverence, and severe
austerities, Yatis inspired by virtue of pious practices, attain
Narayana Hari. And, O Bharata, repairing thither, and attaining that
universal Soul--the self-create and eternal God of gods, high-souled
ones, of _Yoga_ success, and free from ignorance and pride have not