Part 5 - sun-rise in Dhatakīkhaṇḍa and Puṣkarārdha

[Note 7: Encircling the Salt Sea, again like a bangle, is the isle (continent) called Dhātakī-khaṇḍa which is 4,00,000 yojanas square, and encircled by the Kāloda Sea. Encircling the Kāloda Sea is the isle (continent) named Puṣkara which is 16,00,000 yojanas square, again bangle-shaped, which has. running through its middle all along a mountain called Mānuṣottara, so that half the portion of the Puṣkara isle is inside the mountain wall and half of it is outside. In other words, sheltered within this rocky rampart are, to start with and stated in order, Jambū-dvīpa, Salt Sea, Dhātakī-khaṇḍa, Kāloda Sea and half of Puṣkara called Puṣkarārdha, in all two great seas and 2½ isles (continents). The inner half of Puṣkara is served by 72 suns and 72 moons. The mountain is called Mānuṣottara because it sets the boundary for human habitation. Beyond this mountain, there are isles and seas, but no human being. In other words, the sphere of man consists, of 2 seas and. 2½ isles, the entire floor-space being 245 lakh yojanas square. The outer half of Puṣkara shelters some low species of life, but no human being. Beyond Puṣkara and encircling it is a Sea, encircled by an island, a sea again, and again an island, and so on, till the last sea is Svayambhūramaṇa. Then, upto 12 yojanas all around Svayambhūramaṇa there are hulls of viscous water, viscous wind and light wind. Here space ends. The rest is non-space, aloka as it is called. In the 2½ isles, there are in all 132 suns and 132 moons. All of them have movement, and so there are nights and days. Thus time or kāla is relevant of 2½ isles only, and not of the entire space. There is no night and day beyond these 2½ isles.]

Q. 17. Bhante! In the isle named, Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, does the sun rise in the north-east, (and so on, repeat as before)?

A. 17. What has been stated about Jambūdvīpa is to be repeated about Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, difference being that different names are to be suitably inserted.

Q. 18. Bhante! When it is day in the south of the isle named Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, it is also day in the north; and when it is day in the north, then, is it night in the east and in the west of Mount Meru in the isle of Dhātakīkhaṇḍa?

A. 18. Yes, Gautama, it is so,...till it is night.

Q. 19. Bhante! When in the east of Mount Meru in the isle named Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, it is day, is it also day in the west; and when it is day in the west, then, in the north and in the south of the isle named Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, is it night?

A. 19. Yes, Gautama, it is so,...till it is night...till the rest is to be noted in this order.

Q. 20. Bhante! When in the south of the isle named Dhātakīkhaṇḍa, it is first avasarpiṇī, then in the north too, it is first avasarpiṇī; and when in the north, it is first avasarpiṇī, then, in the east and in the west of Mount Meru, no avasarpiṇī...till (a fixed time). Are they so?

A. 20. Yes, Gautama, they are so,...till (a fixed-time). What has been said of the Salt Sea is to be repeated about the Kālodadhi, difference being that the name of the Kālodadhi Sea has to be stated.

Q. 21. Bhante! In the inner half of Puṣkara (facing Dhātakīkhaṇḍa), does the sun rise in the north-east, (and so on, repeat as before)?

A. 21. What has been stated about Dhātakīkhaṇḍa is to be repeated about the inner half of Puṣkara, difference being that the inner half of Puṣkara is to be stated in place of Dhātakīkhaṇḍa,...till in the inner half of Puṣkara, in. the east and in the west of Mount Meru, there is neither avasarpiṇī nor utsarpiṇī, but a fixed time.

So they are. Bhante! Glory be to the Lord! So saying, Gautama paid homage and obeisance to Śramaṇa Bhagavān Mahāvīra and withdrew to his seat.

Chapter one ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(There is no commentary available for this section).