Now listen, O people of good understanding: in the northern direction there is a mountain -- its exceedingly beautiful peak is known by the name Himachal (the Himalaya).
In it are beautiful, deep caves that shine like fine dwellings; within them shine rows of gems like lamps.
Silvery and delightful, and in places truly dark-hued, its peaks like Mount Sumeru shine forth in wondrous splendor.
In every direction flow rivers and streams, covered with rippling waves, their beautiful waters shining abundantly.
There grow trees of many kinds -- hear all their names: mango, kadamba, pomegranate, and many others -- palm, tamala, and more.
Parijataka, various fig and pipal trees, pilu, jackfruit, punnaga, patala, and many other varieties, bilva, citron, borsari,
gamal, gundi, betel-nut, gulchhada, four-o'clock flowers, salar and sagwan, teak trees, pine, custard-apple, betel-nut palms,
shalmali and shemal-cotton trees, the eternal banyan, the udumbara fig, wood-apple trees, kanavarna, catechu, palash, date palms,
soap-nut, fig, tamarind, beautiful rani and rohida trees, karambi and ketaki flowers, kesar, kaniyar, and screw-pine,
karni, arni, champak, sandalwood, fragrant sandal, pomegranate, and more -- neem and its fruit, myrobalan, dhavda, licorice, madder, and jorbani,
guava, almond, jambu, and fine tamarind trees, tarala, arala, tamarind vines, coconut and banana --
vagra, mandara, vikala, aal, asundra, rohini, and countless other kinds of forest trees too numerous to count,
bordi, savan, sisham, red-flowering coral trees, and bamboo and many other shrubs -- with all these the snowy mountain shines forth.
Grapevines, dates, sugar cane, nutmeg and clove vines, cardamom and betel-leaf creepers -- flowers blooming in beautiful colors,
marigold, rose, gera, fragrant jasmine and sevanti, jai and juhi and jasmine clusters, madhavi, mallika, and malati,
kunda, kesar, palash, kumbhi, chrysanthemum and hibiscus, champa, jasmine, and countless other flowers blooming in abundance.
Sweet, tender roots and tubers -- whoever sees them wishes to eat; abundant, delicious, ample fruits are found there in every season.
Sharabha deer, lions, hares, and shemar, monkeys, deer, and antelope, elephants, wild boar, buffalo -- and there roam the nilgai and cow of plenty,
elephants, lions, tigers, monkeys, and cattle all play together there -- creatures who are natural enemies elsewhere, here none tames another, yet none harms another.
Parrots, cranes, swans, and mynahs, cuckoos singing joyfully, peacocks, chakoras, chatakas, chakwa birds, and the blue-throated Shiva-bird all cry out,
chatakas and vaitakas, peahens, doves and pigeons of many kinds, herons, partridges, crows, mynahs, quails, bees, and weaver-birds --
all sing in sweet voices, birds perched upon the trees, making such boundless joyous clamor that it seems the forest itself is conversing.
A gentle, fragrant, cool breeze blows beautifully through that forest; whoever is touched by it feels their body turn cool.
The birds swing and frolic, calling out in deep resonant voices, as though performing a dance of many forms, singing in melody.
The branches of the trees sway together in the wind, and among them the beautiful cuckoo sings sweetly,
the birds call out in chorus, as if the sages themselves were saying: come, eat these tender roots, fruits and flowers, and be joyful.
Moreover, in that mountain there is the constant sound of rivers and streams; the splendor there, resounding with the song of elephants, birds, and celestial musicians (Gandharvas), cannot be described in new words.
Beautiful gems, diamonds and jewels -- many mines of them lie within that mountain; it is served by Shiva, Brahma, and other gods, and it is the king of all mountain peaks.
And descending from Brahmaloka, the Ganga flows there in seven true streams -- hear all their names, which I shall now describe with care:
Vasvokasara, Nalini, Pavani, and Sarasvati, Jambu, Sita, Ganga, and Sindhu -- these seven streams, most excellent of all.
A meritorious, pure, and beautiful river -- where the deep Ganga flows, whoever bathes there becomes pure, and their sins and afflictions remain no more.
In that mountain sit Nar and Narayan together, at the foot of Badri, the root of happiness, the full moon, shining with abundant radiance.
A host of sages, roots of bliss, sit before them in great numbers; from the mouth of Narayan, all listen to the beautiful story.
At that gathering came many other sages too, gathered at that tirtha-loving hermitage, sages who came together.
Eager in their hearts to behold Nar-Narayan, I shall tell in brief, listen, the names of those sages.
Great and eminent sages came together to that hermitage; hear their names, all of you, with affection.
Thus ends the fourth chapter, named 'The Description of the Himalaya,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.