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Likewise, a life-span of less than a hundred years was equally unsuitable. For, when life-span was very short, it had the dominance of malice and attachment, and in such a situation, all words of wisdom fell as if on deaf ears. Just as a line drawn in water with the help of a stalk dipped in it disappears in no time, so good counsel would get lost (with people who had a very short life). So this period also was not suitable.
Most favourable was the period when life-span was less than one lakh years and more than a hundred. (He saw that) the current time was like that. So (he was statisfied that) it was the proper time for the birth of a Buddha. Considering next the isles (continents), he gazed at the four isles with their peninsulas. Apara-goyana, Purvavideha and Uttara-kuru, these three were not suitable for the birth of a Buddha; he could be born only in the Jambudvipa. So he decided in favour of this isle (18).
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Now, (in the Buddhist tradition), the Jambu-dvipa is of the size of 10,000 yojanas. So while thinking of the region (suitable for the Buddha's birth, he looked at the central part (of the Jambu-dvipa). In the eastern part of this region, there was a village named Kajangala; beyond that, there was a forest of grown-up sala trees. Between the two (i. e., the village and the forest) flowed the river Salalavati. In the south, there was a village named Setakannika, and in the west, a Brahmana village named Thuna. In the north, there was the mountain Uşiradhvaja which was 300 yojanas in length, 250 yojanas in breadth and 900 yojanas in circumference. It was this region that was most suitable for the birth of a Buddha, a Pratyeka-Buddha, Agra - śravaka (leadingmost disciple), Mahasravaka, 80- Mahaśravaka, Cakravarti rulers, and the most powerful and affluent among the Ksatriyas, the Brahmanas and the Vaisyas. The city of Kapilavastu was located in this very region. So he decided to be born in this city.
Considering next the parental line, he took the following decision about it:
'A Buddha is never born among the Vaisyas or the Sudras. He may be born either in the Brahmana or in the Ksatriya caste which are revered by the peo