________________
142
TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA
On each daństrā there are located seven regions populated by human beings. Inasmuch as these regions lie within the confines of the Lavaņa-ocean they are known as antardvīpa or intermediate continents. Such antardvīpas are 56 in all and in them toc there reside the human beings born as a doublet. 9-11.
The Continent Dhātakikhanda and Inner Half of the Continent Puskara :
As compared to Jambūdvīpa the number of Merus, Varşas and Varsadharas found in Dhātakikhanda is double; that is to say,
latter contains 2 Merus, 14 Varsas and 12 Varsadharas. But they bear the same name; that is to say, the same names that are borne by the Meru, Varsadharas and Varsas situated in Jambūdvīpa are also borne by those situated in Dhātakīkhanda. The braceletshaped Dhātakıkhanda is divided into two parts—viz. an eastern half and a western half. The division into an eastern half and a western half is executed through two mountains which run from North to South and are işvākāra or arrow-like—that is to say, which run straight like an arrow. In each half there is one Meru, seven Varsas and six Varaşadharas. That is to say, whatever rivers, regions, mountains etc. there are in Jambūdvīpa are also in Dhātakīkhanda but double in number. There are two mountains, running from north to south and arrow-like-which divide Dhātakīkhanda into an eastern half and a western half, while in
half there are six Varsadhara mountains that run from east to west. All these mountains touch the Lavana-ocean on one side and the Kālodadhi-ocean on the other. If the six Varsadharas situated in the eastern half and six situated in the western half are likened to the spokes inserted in the nave of a wheel then the regions Bharata etc. resulting from the separation caused by these Varşadharas should be likened to the blank space lying in between those spokes.
Whatever is the number of Merus, Varşas and Varsadharas situated in Dhātakīkhanda is also that of those situated in the inner half of the continent Puskara. That is to say, in the latter too there are found 2 Merus, 14 Varșas and 12 Varșadharas
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
