Dhoumya Instructs Yudhishthira on the Directions
At sunrise, the priest Dhoumya takes Yudhishthira's hand and turns him eastward. What follows is not a blessing but a map — of the four directions, the mountains that anchor them, the gods who guard them, and the sun's eternal circuit around Mount Meru that creates seasons, measures time, and sustains all life.
At sunrise, after the morning rituals were complete, Dhoumya arrived with the sage Arshtishena. The Pandavas bowed at the feet of both men and worshipped all the brahmanas present with joined hands.
Then Dhoumya grasped Yudhishthira by the right hand. He looked eastward and began to speak.
"O great king," he said. "Mandara, the king of mountains, grandly covers the earth right up to the frontiers of the ocean. This direction, adorned with mountains, forests, and groves, is protected by Indra and Vaishravana. Learned rishis, knowledgeable in dharma, have said that this is the abode of Mahendra and King Vaishravana. Beings worship the sun because it rises from there — as do rishis, siddhas, sadhyas, and gods."
He turned Yudhishthira south.
"King Yama, with dharma in his soul and the lord of all living beings, presides over the southern direction — the path followed by those who have died. This is sacred Samyamana, extraordinary to behold, full of great prosperity. This is the abode of the king of the dead."
He turned him west.
"The learned ones call this king of the mountains Asta. On attaining it, the sun is established in truth. Dwelling on this king of mountains and in the great ocean, King Varuna protects all beings."
He turned him north.
"The great and famous Mount Meru is established in radiance in the northern direction and is the auspicious refuge of those who know the brahman. Brahma's sacrificial site is there, and Prajapati — the soul of all beings, the creator of everything mobile and immobile — resides there. The great and auspicious Meru, free from disease, is also the abode of Brahma's mental sons, the seventh being Daksha. Every day, the seven devarshis, Vasishtha being the foremost, rise and set there."
Dhoumya's voice deepened as he spoke of what lay beyond.
"Beyond Brahma's abode is the supreme region of the supreme lord Narayana — without beginning, without end, the first cause of all beings, the true origin of all nature. Even the gods cannot see that divine and auspicious region without great endeavour. Because of its own radiance, brighter than the sun and the fire, the region of the great-souled Vishnu is difficult for gods and danavas to see. When they reach there, all the stars no longer shine — the lord, whose soul is never subdued, outshines them through his own brilliance. Through their devotion, combined with supreme austerities and perfected with pious deeds, accomplished in yoga and devoid of darkness and delusion, great-souled ascetics go there. Having gone there, they never return to this world."
He paused. "O immensely fortunate Yudhishthira. This region is eternal. It has no deterioration and no decay. This is the lord's region. Bow down before it."
Then he spoke of the sun.
"The illustrious Aditya, the dispeller of all darkness, attracts all the stars and circumambulates Meru. On reaching Asta and passing through evening, the sun traverses a northern course. Always devoted to the welfare of all beings, the sun circles Meru and reappears in the east. In a similar way, the illustrious moon divides the months into many parvasandhis (junctures of the lunar phases) and travels with the stars. Thus continuously circling the great Meru, the nourisher of all beings returns to Mandara."
He described the sun's seasonal journey. "When he desires to create the winter season, he takes a southern course, and winter descends on all beings. Then, returning, he uses his own energy to sap up the energy of all beings, mobile and immobile. Because of perspiration, tiredness, lassitude, and exhaustion, all men are affected, and so are other beings. They are always inclined towards sleep. Thus the sun traverses a path that cannot be determined. The illustrious one creates rains, reviving all beings. Having prospered all beings with pleasant rains, winds, and warmth, the immensely energetic one resumes his course."
He concluded: "Thus the sun continuously traverses his course, following the wheel of time and attracting all beings. His course is eternal. He never stands still. Taking energy from beings, he returns it again. He measures out the deeds of all beings. The eternal lord creates night and day, kala (time) and kashtha (a unit of time)." Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 457