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TATTVÄRTHA SUTRA
expressed in mathematical figures; they can be explained only by similes. For instance, we make a chasm of 512 cubic miles and tightly fill it with fine particles of hair or fiber. Now if one particle is removed from it every hundred years, the time taken to empty the chasm is equal to a Palyopam. Trillions of such Palyopams make a Sägaropam.
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Description of the middle world (Madhyalok) starts from 7th Sutra. The Shwetämbar version describes it within 12 remaining sutras. The Digambar version is slightly more detailed on account of 21 additional sutras. Tattvärthabhäshya and other commentaries of Tattvärtha Sutra give still more details of that area.
जम्बूद्वीपलवणादयः शुभनामानो द्वीपसमुद्राः ॥३-७॥ द्विर्द्विर्विष्कम्भाः पूर्वपूर्वपरिक्षेपिणोवलयाकृतयः ॥ ३-८ ॥
तन्मध्ये मेरुनाभिर्वृत्तो योजनशतसहस्त्रविष्कम्भो जम्बूद्वीपः ॥३-९॥ 3.7: Jamboodweeplavanädayah Shubhanämäno Dweep samudräh
3.8: Dwirdwirvishkambhäh Poorvapoorvaparikshepino Valayäkṛtayah
3.9: Tanmadhye Merunäbhirvṛutto Yojanshatsahasravishkambho Jamboodweepah
(There are consecutive land and water masses bearing the wholesome names like Jamboodweep and Lavansamudra. All those lands and seas are circular in shape lying in concentric circles and have double the diameter of the preceding one. Jamboodweep is the central island with a diameter of 1,00,000 Yojans, and the mountain Meru is in its center.)
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