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148 AŅUOGADDĀRĀIM
SUTTAS 396 and (the practical number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of an ocean ? Of the practical (number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of a store and the practical number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of an ocean, there is no purpose; (it is) explained only for the general explanation (of its definition).
This is the practical (number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of a store.
396. Then what is the conceptual (number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of a store ?! The practical (number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of a store is (as follows) :
(Suppose) there is a particular (circular) store (of corns), which is (by ussehamgula) one joy ana in length and breadth and one joyana in depth, and its surrounding wall (that is, circumference) is three times (of one joyaņa, that is, three joyaņas) and extra-plus. That store is completely filled, made tight and packed with many kotis of hair-tips grown in one day, two days, three days, up to seven days in the maximum. There each hair-tip is cut into innumerable parts. Each such (part of) hair-tip is (equal to) an innumerablth part of visible (particle), and is also (equal to) innumerable times the bodily occupation of micro-organic moss (which is finer than the part of hair-tip mentioned above). The fire cannot burn, the wind cannot blow away nor putrefy, nor damage nor can quickly make these hair-tips emit bad smell. The space-points of that store, which are pervaded or not pervaded by the hair-tips, are taken out one at each instant; the instants required till that store becomes empty, free from dust, without defilement (of hair-tips) and clean (gives an idea of the conceptual 'number').
This that is, the number of time-instants required for emptying the store) is the conceptual (number indicated by standard) through the simile of emptying the space-points of a store.
397. At this, a questioner asked the teacher: Are there the spacepoints of the store, which are not pervaded by these hair-tips? Yes, there are. (Question) : What is the example in point ?
(Answer) : (Suppose) there is a particular granary, full of gourds, and there the citron fruits are inserted, these also are accommodated. Again the Billa fruits are inserted, and these also are accommodated.
1. Vide supra, sutta No. 392.