Part 4 - On time-cycle

Four koṭākoṭi sāgaropamas make one suṣama-suṣamā ārā (bracing-bracing era).
Three koṭākoṭī sāgaropamas make one suṣamā ārā (bracing era).
Two koṭākoṭi sāgaropamas make one suṣama-duḥṣamā ārā (bracing-non-bracing era).
One koṭākoṭi sāgaropamas minus 42,000 years make one duḥṣama-suṣamā ārā (non-bracing-bracing era).
21,000 years make one duḥṣamā ārā (non-bracing era).
21,000 years make one duḥṣama-duḥṣamā ārā (non-bracing non-bracing era).
(This is about the avasarpiṇī or descension phase of the time-cycle).

Again, in the utsarpiṇī (ascension) phase, 21,000 years make the duḥṣama-duḥṣamā ārā, another 21,000 years...till four koṭakoṭī [koṭākoṭī?] sāgaropamas make one suṣamā-suṣamā ārā, Thus ten koṭākoṭi sāgaropamas make one avasarpiṇī or descension phase and another ten koṭākoṭi sāgaropamas make one utsarpiṇī or ascension phase. (Thus a total of) twenty koṭākoṭī sāgaropamas make one avasarpiṇī-utsarpiṇī (complete time-cycle).

Q. 117. Bhante! In the suṣama-suṣamā ārā of the descension phase of great merit, in the land of Bharat, in this isle named Jambūdvīpa, what forms and looks did appear?

A. 117. Gautama! The land surface being very even, it was charming. It was like the surface of a hand-drum. The whole description of Uttarakuru is to be repeated here,... till sit (like that) and lie (like that). At that time, in Bhāratavarṣa, at those places, in these regions, there existed from previous times luxuriant uddālaka trees...till many other faunas with their roots free from kuśa and vikuśa (harmful grasses)... till six types of human beings. They were with the fragrance of lotus, with the fragrance of musk, free from ‘mine’-ness (attachment), with great vigour, with great patience, and with slow pace.

Bhante! So they are. Glory be to the Lord! So saying, Bhagavān Gautama paid his homage and obeisance to the Lord and having done so, he withdrew to his seat.

Chapter Seven ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(There is no commentary available for this section).