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तीसरा अध्याय
CHAPTER III
SUTRA 1
रत्नशर्कराबालुकापकधूमतमोमहातम : प्रभाभूमयोवनाबुवाका प्रतिष्ठा. सप्ताधो ऽधः ॥ १ ॥
RatnasarkaravalukaPankadhumatamomahatamah prabhabh
umayoghana.mbuvatakasha pratisthah saptadhoadhah.
[NOTE. To understand this chapter it is necessary to consider maps I and II of Loka () and the 23 Dvipas (7) with their explainations]
There are 7 carths, lying parallel to each other and with an intervening space separating one from the other Beginning from the earth which we inhabit, these earths are situated, each one lower than the other. (Each one is surrounded and) supported by (3 atmospheres) of.
a Ghana vata, gross air atmosphere; Ambuvata, vapour atmosphere.
aga, Tanvata, tnin air atmosphere.
(and is enveloped by) space (These) 7 earths (are)
1.
Ratna prabha, in hue like jewels (16 varieties of which are found in it as diamond, ruhy, etc etc)
Sharkara prabha, in hue like sugar. valuka prabha, in hue like sand
2
3.
4.
panka prabha, in huc like mire 5. धूमप्रभा Dhuma prabha in hue like smoke
6. : Tamah prabha,in hue like darkness.
7
1.
Mahatamah prabha, in huc like pitch darkness
The , vata valayas, or atmospheres are each 20,000 a,yolanas thick at the bottom of the Universe
Each one of these earths is separated from the next by an interval of one rajju.
In each of these intervals there are the 3 atmospheres also supporting the upper earth.
Ratna Prabha is 1,80,000 yojanas thick It has 3 parts. The uppermost, khara bhaga is 16,000 yojanas thick. The 16 kinds of jewels, diamonds, etc., are found in it. In the middle 14,000 yojanas of these 16,000, there live all the 10 kinds of Residential (Bhavanavası) celestial beings except the Asura Kumara, and all the 8 kinds of