On the shore of the Southern sea there is a mount named Trikūta. On its brow is a beautiful and broad city built by Viśvakarmā, named Lankā, resembling the city itself of Indra the great, designed for the abode of Rākşasas, like to the Amaravati of Indra. There in Lanka, do you, forsooth, reside. That romantic city is surrounded with a golden wall and a moat, and is furnished with engines and weapons, and has gateways of gold and lapises.
दक्षिणस्योदधेस्तीरे त्रिकूटो नाम पर्वतः। तस्याने तु विशाला सा महेन्द्रस्य पुरी यथा॥ लङ्का नाम पुरी रम्या निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा। राक्षसानां निवासार्थं यथेन्द्रस्यामरावती॥ तब त्वं वस भद्रं ते लङ्कायां नात्र संशयः। हेमप्राकारपरिखा यन्त्रशस्त्रसमावृता॥ रमणीया पुरी सा हि रुक्मवैदूर्यतोरणा।