Part 5 - The sun and sunshine

Q. 268. Bhante! In the Isle (Continent) of Jambu, is it a fact that at the time of rising, the two suns look near to each other though afar, at midday they look afar though near, and at the time of setting, they again look near though afar?

A. 268. Gautama! It is exactly like that, till at the time of setting, they again look near though afar.

Q. 269. Bhante! In the Isle of Jambu, is it a fact that at the time of rising, at midday and at the time of setting, the two suns are at the same altitude from all conceivable points?

A. 269. Gautama! They are so, till from all conceivable points?

Q. 270. Bhante! In the Isle of Jambu, if both the suns are at the same altitude from all conceivable points, then, why is it said that at the time of rising, the two suns look near though afar, till at the time of setting, they again look near though afar?

A. 270. Gautama! At the time of rising, they look near though afar because of the radiation of the rays of the two sum; at midday, they look afar though near because of the heat of their rays; at the time of setting, again, they look near though afar because of the radiation of their rays. Hence it is so.

Q. 271. Bhante! Do the two suns in the Isle of Jambu tend to move towards the region which is past, or which is present, or which is to be the future?

A. 271. Gautama! Not the region which is past, not that which is going to be the future, but only that which is present.

Q. 272. Bhante! Do the two suns in the Isle of Jambu tend to shine the region which is past, or which is present, or which is going to be the future?

A. 272. Gautama! Not the region which is past, nor that which is going to be the future, but only that which is present over which they shine.

Q. 273. Bhante! Do they shine what is touched, or what is not touched?

A. 273. Gautama! They shine what is touched, not what is not touched, and this, as a rule, in six directions.

Q. 274. Bhante! Do the two suns in the Isle of Jambu brighten the region which is past?

A. 274. As aforesaid, till, as a rule, brighten all the six directions. Likewise about warming up and making the region visible.

Q. 275. Bhante! Were the activities of the two suns in the Isle of Jambu effective in the region which is past, are they effective in the region which is present, or will they be effective in the region of the future?

A. 275. Not in the region of the past, nor of the future, but of the present only.

Q. 276. Bhante! Are these activities effective when touched, or when untouched?

A. 276. Gautama! They are effective when touched, not when untouched, and this, as a rule, in all the six. directions.

Q. 277. Bhante! In the Isle of Jambu, how many high regions are warmed up by the two suns, and how many low regions, and how many oblique (middle) regions?

A. 277. Gautama! They warm up regions 100 yojanas high, 1800 yojanas low and 47263 21/60 yojanas in the middle.

Q. 278. Bhante! Did the moons, the suns, planets, stars and other luminaries which are within the range of the Mānusyottara mountains have their genesis in the upper regions?

A. 278. As stated in the Jīvābhigama Sūtra (Pratipatti 3), without ommission, till the period of vacancy may be for six months in the maximum.

Q. 279. Bhante! What about those who are beyond the Mānusottara mountains?

A. 279. As stated in the Jīvābhigama Sūtra.

Q, 280. Bhante! What is the duration of the vacancy to the seat of Indra?

A. 280. Gautama! A unit of recountable time in the minimum, and six months in the maximum,

—Bhante! So they are. You are right.

Chapter Eight ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(There is no commentary available for this section).