Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
[151
-3118368 ]
The third chapter is about the Tanuvatavalaya, which is supported by the Akasha. The Akasha is self-supported, as it is both the base and the supported. These three Valayas are each twenty thousand yojanas thick. The word 'Sapta' (seven) is used to negate other numbers. There are only seven Bhumi, not eight or nine. The word 'Adho'adhah' (below and below) is used to negate the possibility of them being situated horizontally.
8368. To determine whether the Narakas reside everywhere in these Bhumi or only in certain places, the sutra mentions 'Ghanambhu Matakashapratiṣṭhāḥ'. All these Bhumi are supported by the Ghanodadhivatavalaya. The Ghanodadhivatavalaya is supported by the Dhanavatavalaya. The Dhanavatavalaya is supported by the Tanuvatavalaya. The Tanuvatavalaya is supported by the Akasha, and the Akasha is self-supported, as it is both the base and the supported. These three Valayas are each twenty thousand yojanas thick. The word 'Sapta' (seven) is used to negate other numbers. There are only seven Bhumi, not eight or nine. These Bhumi are not situated horizontally. The word 'Adho'adhah' (below and below) is used to negate this possibility.
Special Note: There are two types of Akasha - Alokaakasha and Lokakasha. Lokakasha is situated in the middle of Alokaakasha. It is naturally formed, without beginning or end, and is filled with six substances. It is seven rajus wide in all directions, from north to south and from below to above. It is seven rajus wide from east to west. Then, it gradually narrows down to one raju wide at a height of seven rajus on both sides. Then, it gradually widens to five rajus wide at a height of ten and a half rajus on both sides. Then, it gradually narrows down to one raju wide at a height of fourteen rajus on both sides. From east to west, the shape of the Lokakasha appears like a human standing with both hands on the hips and legs spread out. The lower part appears like a seat, the middle part like a border, and the upper part like a crown. It has three parts - Adholok, Madhyalok, and Urdhvalok. In the middle of Madhyalok is the Meru mountain, which is one hundred and forty thousand yojanas high. The lower part of the Meru is Adholok, the upper part is Urdhvalok, and the middle part is Madhyalok, which is spread out diagonally in straight lines. Madhyalok is also called Tiryalok because of its diagonal spread. The current sutra discusses Adholok. It has seven Bhumi, which are situated one below the other, but they are not touching each other. There is an immeasurable distance of yojanas between each Bhumi. The names of these Bhumi are given in the sutra in order. These are their descriptive names. Ghamma, Vansa, Megha, Anjana, Arishta, Maghavi, and Madhavi are their proper names. The first Bhumi is one hundred and eighty thousand yojanas thick. The second is thirty-two thousand yojanas thick, the third is thirty-three thousand yojanas thick, the fourth is twenty-four thousand yojanas thick, the fifth is twenty thousand yojanas thick, the sixth is sixteen thousand yojanas thick, and the seventh is eight thousand yojanas thick. All these seven Bhumi are supported by Ghanodadhi, Dhanavat, Tanuvat, and Akasha. That is, each Bhumi is supported by Ghanodadhi, Ghanodadhi is supported by Dhanavat, Dhanavat is supported by Tanuvat, Tanuvat is supported by Akasha, and Akasha is self-supported.
$368. To determine whether the Narakas reside everywhere in these Bhumi or only in certain places, the next sutra says...