Devindatthao Devendrastava

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 96

DEVENDRASTAVA : 5
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THIRTY-TWO INDRAS 7. She (the wife of the Śrāvaka- the lay follower of the faith)
says to her husband, “Pray explain, in detail, about the thirty-two Kings of heavenly gods (Indras), that are said to be there, for the sake of satisfying my curiosity to know about them”. “Which are those thirty-two Indras? Where does each of them live? What is each's life-duration? (and) What are the details of each one's palaces and wealth?”
10.
“How many are each one's celestial planes? How many are the palaces and cities? How much is the thickness of the celestial land on which each one lives? What are the heights and the colours of their celestial bodies?” “How much food does each take during the maximum, medium and minimum period? What is the system of each one's respiration and how much extra-sensory clairvoyant perception does each have?” (On listening to these questions) and dispensing all formality and ceremony, the husband, in all seriousness, replies to her free and frank questions thus – “O beautiful one ! please listen”.
12.
ANSWERS ABOUT THE THIRTY-TWO INDRAS
"In reply to your questions, please listen to the names etc of the (thirty-two) Indras from the analysis that is available (on this subject) in the sacred canonical literature (of our faith).”