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104
THE REGIONS OF LABOUR
and the cuckoo, those between the corners of the northern Vijayārdha like the elephant and the mirror, those between the corners of the southern Vijayārdha like the cow and the ram. Those with single thighs reside in caves and live on clay. The rest dwell on trees and live on flowers and fruits. All of them live for one palyopama.
All these twenty-four isles are one yojana high from the water level. On the outer circumference of the Salt Ocean also there are twenty-four midisles. Similarly in Kāloda or the Black Ocean. Those born in these isles are the barbarians of the midisles. The barbarians in other parts of the world of labour are the savage tribes, the Ionians, the mountaineers, the foresters and so on.
Which are the regions of labour ? ·
भरतैरावतविदेहाः कर्मभूमयोऽन्यत्रदेवकुरूत्तरकुरुभ्यः ॥ ३७ ॥ Bharatairāvatavidehāḥ karmabhūmavo
anyatradevakurūttarakurubhyah (37) 37. Bharata, Airūvata, and Videla excluding Derakuru and Uttarakuri, are the regions of labour.
Bharata, Airāvata and Videha are five each. All these are described as the regions of labour. The inclusion of Videha would imply the inclusion of Derakuru and Uttarakuru. In order to exclude these, it is mentioned except Devakiri and Uttarakur u. Devakuru, Uttarakira, Haimavatı, Hari, Ramyaka, Hairanyavata and the midisles are called lands of paradise (i. e. regions of enjoyment).
Why are these called the regions of labour ? This is because these are the seats of good and evil deeds. But do not the three worlds constitute the seat of activity? Yes. Still these must be understood to be the seats of plenty of activity. For instance, demerit capable of plunging a being in the seventh infernal region is acquired only in Bharata etc. Similarly, merit which leads to the highest celestial state such as Sarvārthasiddhi devas is also acquired in the same regions only. Similarly, the six kinds of occupations such as agriculturo along with gifts to the worthy obtain in these regions only.
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