In Praise of the Earth

1. Blessed is the Earth, whose greatness cannot be told. All the living beings live by her support alone.
2. Even entities that live in the sky are of the nature of Earth. Living beings cannot live without a body, which is inert in nature.
3. People burn, scorch, dig, plough, burrow, and excavate her. They make her dirty with feces, urine, and vomit.
4. Whatever is rotten, putrefied, and tattered has no place except the Earth. At the time of the death of the body, it returns only to her.
5. All that is labeled as being either good or bad has no place except the Earth. There are many metals and liquids that are found in the Earth.
6. One living being kills another, but both beings have their existence only on the Earth. Where can they go if they give up the Earth?
7. There are many forts, towns, cities, and countries that can be found by traveling, and there are many gods, demons, and human beings all residing on the Earth.
8. There are many gemstones, diamonds, philosopher’s stones, metals and minerals that are all hidden in the Earth. Without the Earth, they would not exist.
9. There are huge mountains like Mount Meru57, the Himalayas, and the various other mountain ranges, which are home to many species of birds, fish, and snakes, that all exist on the Earth.
10. There are many lands across the seas, many huge pieces of broken land, and many cliffs that exist on the Earth.
11. Among those places there are numerous hidden tunnels both large and small where pitch black darkness prevails.
12. The seas and oceans covering the Earth are very vast and are filled with various fish and huge aquatic animals.
13. All of that life is supported by the wind which is dense, thick, and solid. Because of wind, the water stays contained in the seas and is unable to break away on any side.
14. That wind is firmly supported by the pride in the sense of being separate from the unmoving Reality. Who can know everything about the expanse of things on the Earth?
15. There are mines of different kinds of metals, gems, wish-fulfilling stones, wish-fulfilling trees, and reservoirs of nectar that exist on the Earth.
16. There are many islands, continents and barren lands which exist on the Earth with many creatures living on them.
17. Around Mount Meru there are many huge cliffs that cast large shadows. In the midst of those shadows there some areas that receive sunlight and are the home to many species of thick trees.
18. Close to that is the Lokaloka mountain, and other mammoth mountains such as Chandra, Dronadri and Mainak that can be seen.
19. There are many places on Earth where stores of many different kinds of hidden stones and gems lie buried under soil and ashes.
20. The Earth contains innumerable jewels. How marvelous is this place called Earth where large amounts of precious things are spread around everywhere!
21. Who is there who has visited every place on the face of the Earth? There is no simile that adequately applies to the Earth.
22. There are many plants and crops that grow in various countries, each different from one another.
23. The three planes of existence, heaven, the mortal world, and the netherworld, all exist in relation to the Earth. The huge serpent Shesha lives below the netherworld as the support of the Earth.
24. There are a great many plants and crops that live on this huge Earth. Such an amazing and marvelous thing is this Earth that is the creation of the creator.
25. There are many attractive forts, castles, cities, towns and villages that are all the dwelling place of the one Lord of the Universe.
26. There were men of huge strength born on this Earth in the past who achieved great things, yet their power was never so great that they could become separate from the Earth.
27. It is improbable that there is another place in the universe as wondrous as this Earth where so many living beings and incarnations of God have appeared.
28. It is clearly evident without any need for speculation, that even in present times, a great variety of living beings exist only because of the support of the Earth.
29. Many people say that the land belongs to them, but in the end they die, and the Earth remains. So much time has passed, but the Earth remains as it is.
30. Such is the greatness of the Earth that no good simile can be given to it. The Earth is the support of all, including Lord Brahma and all of the other gods.