In one instance in the "Ramayana", Surabhi is described to live in the city of Varuna – the Lord of oceans – which is situated below the earth in Patala (the netherworld). Her flowing sweet milk is said to form "Kshiroda" or the Kshirasagara, the cosmic milk ocean. In the "Udyoga Parva" book of the "Mahabharata", this milk is said to be of six flavours and has the essence of all the best things of the earth. The "Udyoga Parva" specifies that Surabhi inhabits the lowest realm of Patala, known as Rasatala, and has four daughters – the "Dikpali"s – the guardian cow goddesses of the heavenly quarters: Saurabhi in the east, Harhsika in the south, Subhadra in the west and Dhenu in the north.