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The Jaina Antiquary
[ Vol. XVII
according to that Sutra by the Naga tribe. The Greek traditions, Assyrian mythology and the Indian Puranas also give the same place for the Naga tribe. We, thus. come to the conclusion that Ratna-prabha of the Jain Sutra must mean the Persian Gulf which is a part of the Arabian sea. The remaining six Prabhas are below the first (: one below the other). They are described as Bhumis or lands. The commentary below the third Sutra of the third Chapter mentions the colour or complexion of these people.
प्रथमद्वितीययोंः कापोतीलेश्या, तृतीयायामुपरिष्टात्कापोती, अधोनीला, चतुर्थ्यां नीला पंचम्यामुपरिनीला अधःकृष्णा, पष्ठ्यां कृष्णा सप्तम्यां परम कृष्णा
Prathama Dvitiyayoh Kapoteeleshya, Triteeyamuprishtāt kapotee Adhoneela, Chaturthyamneela Panchamyamupari neela Adhah Krishna, Shashtyam Krishna Saptamyām Param Krishnā.
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Meaning:-The complexion of the Narakas of the first and second lands is grey or dirty white. The upper part of the third is grey while that of the lower part is blue. The complexion of the beings in the fourth division is blue. The people of the upper part of the fifth land have blue complexion while those of the lower part of the land have dark complexion. The complexion of the inhabitants
of the sixth land is black and that of the seventh very black.
Southward one goes from the mouth of the Euphrates complexion of the people grows darker and darker.
The fifth Sutra of the Third Chapter of Tatwartha Sutra runs as under :
संक्लिष्टासुरोदीरितदुखाश्र प्राक्चतुर्थ्याः ||५||
Sanklishtäsurodeeritduhkhäsch Prak chaturthyam: /5/
Meaning:-The miseries of the people upto the fourth land are caused by the infuriated Asuras.
The Assyrian mythology contains stories that the Assyrian people had subjugated the first three of the seven lands which stood to the south of their country.
We take the following line from a verse in Manusmriti. आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता आपो वै नरसूनवः
Apo Nara iti procta apo Vai Narasoonvah Meaning:-Apa i.e. water has nārā as its equivalent: Waters are also called sons of Nara.
