Part 5 - On the hot-spring at Rājagṛha

Q. 47. Bhante! Heretics so say, maintain, declare and establish that outside the city of Rājagṛha, at the foot of the Vaibhāra hill, there is a large reservoir of water, whose dimensions (length and breadth) extend over many yojanas, whose other extreme is covered with many trees, and is exceedingly charming,...till pleasing to the visitors’ eyes; that many big clouds are formed in it, they give shower to it and mix with it; that when the reservoir is full to the brim, there is a steady outflow of hot water from it.

Bhante! How is it so?

A. 47. Gautama! What the heretics say,...till establish is incorrect. Repeat all (as said by Gautama). Now, Gautama, I say, ordain, declare and establish that outside the city of Rājagṛha, in the proximity of the Vaibhāra hill, there is a spring named Mahātapopatīra-prabhava³⁰ which is 500 dhanuṣas square (i.e., on each side), and whose other extreme is decorated with many species of trees, which is beautiful, delightful, worth-seeing, graceful and pleasing to the eyes of all visitors. Souls capable of living in hot region and matter together take shape (therein) as water-bodies, and they also die there, and undergo transformation and assimilation (there). When it is full, there is a steady outflow of water from it. That is a spring named Mahātapopatira-prabhava, and that is the implication (full story) of this spring named Mahātapopatīra-prabhava.

Bhante! So it is. Glory be to the Lord! So saying Gautama paid homage and obeisance to the Lord and withdrew to his seat.

Chapter five ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

30. Etymologically, the name should mean mahātapa+upatīra+prabhava, i.e., one which is born near a hot region.