Mountains around Lake Ṣaḍḍanta
From the Sāratthadīpanīṭīkā 1
Chaddantadahassa pana (jā. aṭṭha. 5.16.chaddantajātakavaṇṇanā) majjhe dvādasayojanappamāṇe ṭhāne sevālo vā paṇakaṃ vā natthi,
Furthermore, the middle of Lake Ṣaḍḍanta (Jātaka eight, 5.16 Commentary on the Ṣaḍḍanta Jātaka), for twelve yojanas in length, there stands śevala-duckweed, then paṇaka-water chestnut, then an empty-space,
maṇikkhandhavaṇṇaṃ udakameva santiṭṭhati, tadanantaraṃ yojanavitthataṃ suddhakallahāravanaṃ taṃ udakaṃ parikkhipitvā ṭhitaṃ,
With the colour of maṇiskandha, they stand within the water, and immediately after that, for a yojana in width, is established white-coloured kallahāras,
tadanantaraṃ yojanavitthatameva suddhanīluppalavanaṃ taṃ parikkhipitvā ṭhitaṃ,
Immediately after that is established a ring of clear nīla-coloured utpalas,
yojanayojanavitthatāneva rattuppalasetuppalarattapadumasetapadumakumudavanāni purimaṃ purimaṃ parikkhipitvā ṭhitāni,
Then for each subsequent yojana in width, there are established rings of lohita-coloured utpalas, white-coloured utpalas, lohita-coloured padmas, white-coloured padmas, and kumudas each encircling the last,
imesaṃ pana sattannaṃ vanānaṃ anantaraṃ sabbesampi kallahārādīnaṃ vasena vomissakavanaṃyojanavitthatameva tāni parikkhipitvā ṭhitaṃ,
Furthermore, away from these, there are established seven groves right each a yojana in width, with the first being a ring of kallahāras and then a variety of other groves,
tadanantaraṃ nāgānaṃ kaṭippamāṇe udake yojanavitthatameva rattasālivanaṃ,
Then after that is a lohita-coloured śāla grove of nāgas with water that reaches up to the waist,
tadanantaraṃ udakapariyante nīlapītalohitodātasurabhisukhumakusumasamākiṇṇaṃ khuddakagacchavananti imāni dasa vanāni yojanayojanavitthatāneva.
Then after that at the edge of that water are nīla-coloured, pīta-coloured, lohita-coloured petals of kusuma flowers strewn about by small groves of trees and each and every one of these ten groves are established a yojana in width.
Tato khuddakarājamāsamahārājamāsamuggavanaṃ, tadanantaraṃ tipusaeḷālukaalābukumbhaṇḍavallivanāni, tato pūgarukkhappamāṇaṃ ucchuvanaṃ,
Then, a grove of small haritākas and great haritākas, and immediately after that, a grove of tripusa-pumpkins, elāvāluka-cucumbers, alābu-calabashes, kumbhaṇḍa-gourd, and vallī-creepers, and then with a width of pūgavṛkṣa-palm, there is a grove of ucchu-canes,
tatohatthidantappamāṇaphalaṃ kadalivanaṃ, tato sālavanaṃ, tadanantaraṃ cāṭippamāṇaphalaṃ panasavanaṃ, tato madhuraphalaṃ ambavanaṃ, tato ciñcavanaṃ, tato kapiṭṭhavanaṃ, tato vomissako mahāvanasaṇḍo, tato veṇuvanaṃ, veṇuvanaṃ pana parikkhipitvā satta pabbatā ṭhitā,
Then for an elephant’s tusk in length is a grove of kadalī-banana trees, then a grove of śāla trees, and immediately after that, for the width of a cāṭi-pot of fruits is a grove of panasa-jackfruit trees, and then groves of sweet fruit ambala-mango trees, then a grove of ciñca-tamarind, then a grove of kapiṭṭha-woodapple trees, then a grove of a mix of great thickets of trees, and then a grove of venu-bamboo, and then encircling the grove of venu-bamboo, there stand seven mountains,
tesaṃ bāhirantato paṭṭhāya paṭhamo cūḷakāḷapabbato nāma, dutiyo mahākāḷapabbato nāma, tato udakapassapabbato nāma
Of those on starting from the furthest is the first one called Mt. Cūlakāla, the second is called Mt. Mahākāla, the next is called Mt. Udaka,
tato candapassapabbato nāma, tato sūriyapassapabbato nāma, tato maṇipassapabbato nāma, sattamo suvaṇṇapassapabbato nāma.
The next is called Mt. Candrapārśva, the next is called Mt. Sūryapārśva, the next is called Mt. Maṇipārśva, and the seventh is called Mt. Suvarṇapārśva.
So ubbedhato sattayojaniko chaddantadahaṃ parikkhipitvā pattassa mukhavaṭṭi viya ṭhito.
Its height is seven yojanas, and it encircles and establishes the bank of Lake Ṣaḍḍanta.
Tassa abbhantarimapassaṃ suvaṇṇavaṇṇaṃ, tato nikkhantena obhāsena chaddantadaho samuggatabālasūriyo viya hoti.
The innermost mountain slope has the colour of suvarṇa, and Lake Ṣaḍḍanta issues forth radiance that resembles the morning sun.
Bāhirimapabbatesu pana eko ubbedhato cha yojanāni, eko pañca, eko cattāri, eko tīṇi, eko dve, eko yojanaṃ.
With these exterior mountains one is the height of six yojanas, one is five yojanas, one is four yojanas, one is three yojanas, one is two yojanas, and one is one yojana.
Evaṃ sattapabbataparikkhittassa pana tassa dahassa pubbuttarakaṇṇe udakavātappaharaṇokāse mahānigrodharukkho,
Furthermore to the northeast of these Seven Encircling Mountains where the lake’s water hits an open-space, there is a Great Banyan Tree.
tassa khandho parikkhepato pañcayojaniko, ubbedhato sattayojaniko. Catūsu disāsu catasso sākhāyo chachayojanikā, uddhaṃ uggatasākhāpi chayojanikāva.
Each of its parts encircle five yojanas in circumference, with a height of seven yojanas, for the four directions there are four branches six yojanas in length, above there arises branch six yojanas in height.
Iti so mūlato paṭṭhāya ubbedhena terasayojaniko sākhānaṃ orimantato yāva pārimantā dvādasayojaniko aṭṭhahi pārohasahassehi paṭimaṇḍito muṇḍamaṇipabbato viya vilāsamāno tiṭṭhati.
Similarly, it has roots which are established within the ground thirteen yojanas deep, the branches from the nearest to the furthest are twelve yojanas in length, with eight sprouts by a thousand adorning it like the illustrious Mt. Muṇḍa and Mt. Maṇi.
Chaddantadahassa pana pacchimadisābhāge suvaṇṇapabbate dvādasayojanikā kañcanaguhā.
Furthermore, on the eastern direction of Lake Ṣaḍḍanta, there is Mt. Suvarṇapārśva twelve yojanas away with a kāncana cave.
Chaddanto nāgarājā vassāratte aṭṭhasahassanāgaparivuto kañcanaguhāyaṃ vasati, gimhakāle udakavātaṃ sampaṭicchamāno mahānigrodhamūle pārohantare tiṭṭhati.
There is a Nāga Elephant King called Ṣaḍḍanta, who during the rainy season and the winter, is accompanied by a retinue of eighty-four thousand nāga-elephants who dwell in the kāñcana caves, and during the hot season, they enjoy the air of water beside the roots of the Great Banyan Tree.
athassa ekadivasaṃ “mahāsālavanaṃ pupphita”nti taruṇanāgā āgantvā ārocayiṃsu.
Then comes a day when the Youthful Nāga Elephants are informed: “the Great Śāla Grove has bloomed”, and so they go there.
so saparivāro “sālakīḷaṃ kīḷissāmī”ti sālavanaṃ gantvā ekaṃ supupphitaṃ sālarukkhaṃ kumbhena pahari.
The retinue says “let us play at the śāla party”, and so having gone to the śāla grove, they spray mounds of blossoms of śāla tree flowers.
Lake Anavatapta and its Rivers
From Majjhimapaṇṇa Aṭṭhakathā (Ch. 4)
evaṃ me sutanti potaliyasuttaṃ. tattha aṅguttarāpesūti aṅgāyeva so janapado, mahiyā panassa uttarena yā āpo, tāsaṃ avidūrattā uttarāpotipi vuccati.
Thus have I heard, the Patalya Sūtra. There in the country of Anguttara, in the province of Campā, there flows water out of Mahī River from the north, and due to not being far from this, it is called Uttarāpa village.
kataramahiyā uttarena yā āpoti, mahāmahiyā. tatthāyaṃ āvibhāvakathā – ayaṃ kira jambudīpo dasasahassayojanaparimāṇo.
How many Mahī waters flow from the Great Mahī River? From here it is explained:
This Jambudvīpa is said to be a daśasahasra yojana in measure.
tattha ca catusahassayojanappamāṇo padeso udakena ajjhotthaṭo samuddoti saṅkhaṃ gato.
There it also has an area of water four thousand yojanas in measure, which is submerged by samudra-ocean that comes from a śaṅkha-shell.
tisahassayojanappamāṇe manussā vasanti.
Three-thousand yojanas is where humanity dwells.
tisahassayojanappamāṇe himavā patiṭṭhito ubbedhena pañcayojanasatiko caturāsītikūṭasahassapaṭimaṇḍito samantato sandamānapañcasatanadīvicitto,
Three thousand yojanas stands Mt. Himavān with a height of five-hundred yojanas, adorned with eighty-four thousand kūṭa-peaks, surrounded by five-hundred varieties of flowing rivers,
yattha āyāmavitthārena ceva gambhīratāya ca paṇṇāsapaṇṇāsayojanā diyaḍḍhayojanasataparimaṇḍalā anotattadaho kaṇṇamuṇḍadaho rathakāradaho chaddantadaho kuṇāladaho mandākinīdaho sīhapapātadahoti satta mahāsarā patiṭṭhitā.
Wherein, with an extent in breadth and depths, fifty by fifty yojanas respectively, with one and a half yojanas by a hundred, there are firmly established the Seven Mahasara-Bodies of Water: Lake Anavatapta, Lake Karṇamuṇḍa, Lake Rathakāra, Lake Ṣaḍḍanta, Lake Kuṇāla, Lake Māndākinī, and Lake Siṃhapapāta.
tesu anotattadaho sudassanakūṭaṃ citrakūṭaṃ kāḷakūṭaṃ gandhamādanakūṭaṃ kelāsakūṭanti imehi pañcahi pabbatehi parikkhitto.
That Lake Anavatapta is encircled by these Five Mountains: Sudarśanakūṭa, Citrakūṭa, Kālakūṭa, Gandhamādanakūṭa, and Kailāśakūṭa.
tattha sudassanakūṭaṃ sovaṇṇamayaṃ dviyojanasatubbedhaṃ antovaṅkaṃ kākamukhasaṇṭhānaṃ tameva saraṃ paṭicchādetvā ṭhitaṃ.
There, Sudarśanakūṭa is made of suvarṇa, it is two-yojanas by a hundred in height, it curves inwards, shaped like the beak of a crow, and there, it stands above the lake.
citrakūṭaṃ sabbaratanamayaṃ. kāḷakūṭaṃ añjanamayaṃ.
Citrakūṭa is made of all of the jewels.
Kālakūṭa is made of añjana.
gandhamādanakūṭaṃ sānumayaṃ abbhantare muggavaṇṇaṃ, mūlagandho sāragandho pheggugandho tacagandho papaṭikagandho rasagandho pattagandho pupphagandho phalagandho gandhagandhoti imehi dasahi gandhehi ussannaṃ nānappakāraosadhasañchannaṃ, kāḷapakkhauposathadivase ādittamiva aṅgāraṃ jalantaṃ tiṭṭhati.
Gandhamādanakūṭa is made of fine soil and extends across a plateau, with the colour of Harītaka. Mūla-root gandha-incense, Sāra-trunk gandha-incense, Phalgu-branch gandha-incense, Tvaca-bark gandha-incense, Prapāṭikā-sprout gandha-incense, Rasa-juice gandha-incense, Patra-leaf gandha-incense, Puṣpa-flower gandha-incense, Phala-fruit gandha-incense, Gandha-fragrance gandha-incense, these ten fragrant-incense are abundant there and there it is covered with many varieties of medicinal herbs. On the waning half moon upoṣadha days, it blazes like the burning embers of the sun.
kelāsakūṭaṃ rajatamayaṃ.
Kailāśakūṭa is made of rūpya.
sabbāni sudassanena samānubbedhasaṇṭhānāni, tameva saraṃ paṭicchādetvā ṭhitāni.
All of them are beautiful and are the same height and shape.
tāni sabbāni devānubhāvena nāgānubhāvena ca vassanti, nadiyo ca tesu sandanti.
They all have, born from the rains of devas and nāgas, rivers which circulate there.
taṃ sabbampi udakaṃ anotattameva pavisati.
Each of their waters enter into Lake Anavatapta.
candimasūriyā dakkhiṇena vā uttarena vā gacchantā pabbatantarena tattha obhāsaṃ karonti, ujuṃ gacchantā na karonti, tenevassa anotattanti saṅkhā udapādi.
The sun and moon, from the south or the north traverse across these mountains and illuminate them, and from above where their rays are unable to reach, there arises Lake Anavatapta from a Śankha-shell.
tattha manoharasilātalāni nimmacchakacchapāni phalikasadisanimmaludakāni nhānatitthāni supaṭiyattāni honti, yesu buddhapaccekabuddhakhīṇāsavā ca iddhimanto ca isayo nhāyanti, devayakkhādayo uyyānakīḷakaṃ kīḷanti.
There, the ground is made of wondrous stone, it is without fish and turtles, it has water resembling clear spaṭhika-crystal, and has a bathing-bank that is well-formed. The Buddha, Pratyekabuddhas, and Śrāvakas, as well as ṛddhimāns and ṛṣis, bath there, while the devas, yakṣas, and so on, amuse themselves in its pleasure udyana-parks.
tassa catūsu passesu sīhamukhaṃ hatthimukhaṃ assamukhaṃ usabhamukhanti cattāri mukhāni honti, yehi catasso nadiyo sandanti.
On its four sides are four gates, these gates are the siṃha-lion gate, the hasti-elephant gate, the āssa-donkey gate, and the uśa-ox gate, from out of these four, four rivers flow.
sīhamukhena nikkhantanadītīre sīhā bahutarā honti.
By the siṃha-lion gate, there flows a river, with great siṃha-lions there.
hatthimukhādīhi hatthiassausabhā.
From the hasti-elephant gate, and so forth, there are the foremost of the hasti-elephants and the foremost assa-donkeys, and so on.
puratthimadisato nikkhantanadī anotattaṃ tikkhattuṃ padakkhiṇaṃ katvā itarā tisso nadiyo anupagamma pācīnahimavanteneva amanussapathaṃ gantvā mahāsamuddaṃ pavisati.
From its eastern direction, a river flows out from Lake Anavatapata and circumambulates around three times while avoiding the other three rivers, and on the eastern side of Mt. Himavān, it travels past the path of the non-human beings, and enters into the Great Ocean.
pacchimadisato ca uttaradisato ca nikkhantanadiyopi tatheva padakkhiṇaṃ katvā pacchimahimavanteneva uttarahimavanteneva ca amanussapathaṃ gantvā mahāsamuddaṃ pavisanti.
On its western direction and the northern direction it also have rivers that flow out from them and in the same way they circumambulate to the west of Mt. Himavān and to the north of Mt. Himavān, while passing by the paths of the non-human beings, and enters into the Great Ocean.
dakkhiṇadisato nikkhantanadī pana taṃ tikkhattuṃ padakkhiṇaṃ katvā dakkhiṇena ujukaṃ pāsāṇapiṭṭheneva saṭṭhiyojanāni gantvā pabbataṃ paharitvā vuṭṭhāya parikkhepena tigāvutappamāṇā udakadhārā ca hutvā ākāsena saṭṭhiyojanāni gantvā tiyaggaḷe nāma pāsāṇe patitā, pāsāṇo udakadhārāvegena bhinno.
The southern direction has a flowing river too, but after circumambulating three times and reaching the south, it moves forward upon the surface of stone for sixty yojanas, before reaching a mountain, and having hit it, it resides there encircling it three krośas in circumference, before falling down in the air (like a waterfall) for sixty yojanas and arriving at Lake Triyargala. There it falls onto the stone ground and splits open the stone due to the velocity of the water.
tattha paññāsayojanappamāṇā tiyaggaḷā nāma pokkharaṇī jātā, pokkharaṇiyā kūlaṃ bhinditvā pāsāṇaṃ pavisitvā saṭṭhiyojanāni gatā.
There, five yojanas in length, it gives birth to the puṣkariṇī-pond in Lake Triyargala, and from there it travels away through the stone embankment of the puṣkariṇī-pond for sixty yojanas.
tato ghanapathaviṃ bhinditvā umaṅgena saṭṭhiyojanāni gantvā viñjhuṃ nāma tiracchānapabbataṃ paharitvā hatthatale pañcaṅgulisadisā pañcadhārā hutvā pavattanti.
Having shattered through the solid earth, it passes through its newly formed tunnel for sixty yojanas and before hitting the mountain with animals called Mt. Viñju, where it continues on in five streams, resembling the palm of a hand with five fingers.
sā tikkhattuṃ anotattaṃ padakkhiṇaṃ katvā gataṭṭhāne āvaṭṭagaṅgāti vuccati.
Thus, three times it circumambulates Lake Anavatapta before reaching the next area, this is called “The Winding Ganga”.
ujukaṃ pāsāṇapiṭṭhena saṭṭhiyojanāni gataṭṭhāne kaṇhagaṅgāti, ākāsena saṭṭhiyojanāni gataṭṭhāne ākāsagaṅgāti, tiyaggaḷapāsāṇe paññāsayojanokāse ṭhitā tiyaggaḷapokkharaṇīti, kūlaṃ bhinditvā pāsāṇaṃ pavisitvā saṭṭhiyojanāni gataṭṭhāne bahalagaṅgāti, umaṅgena saṭṭhiyojanāni gataṭṭhāne umaṅgagaṅgāti vuccati.
And in the same way, it travels on a surface of stone for sixty yojanas, before reaching the next area, this is called “Dark Ganga”; it travels through the air for sixty yojanas, before reaching the next place, this is called the “Air Ganga”; it falls through the air for fifty yojanas onto the stone surface of Lake Triyargala, where it establishes Lake Triyargala’s Puṣkariṇī-pond, and before reaching the next area through this bank along the stone, this is called the “Thick Ganga”; it passes through a channel for sixty yojanas, before reaching the next place, this is called the “Tunnel Ganga”.
viñjhuṃ nāma tiracchānapabbataṃ paharitvā pañcadhārā hutvā pavattaṭṭhāne pana gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahīti pañcadhā saṅkhaṃ gatā.
Having struck the mountain of animals called Mt. Viñju, it separates into five streams and so gives rise to the Ganga’s five Yamunā, Acirāvati, Sarabhū, and Mahīti rivers, from a śaṅkha-shell.
evametā pañca mahānadiyo himavantato pabhavanti. tāsu yā ayaṃ pañcamī mahī nāma, sā idha mahāmahīti adhippetā.
And so, the Five Great Rivers arise from Mt. Himavān. Each of these are the names of the Five Mahīs, from which flow from the Great Mahīti River.
tassā uttarena yā āpo, tāsaṃ avidūrattā so janapado aṅguttarāpoti veditabbo. tasmiṃ aṅguttarāpesu janapade.
From its north there is water, and because the county is close to it, it is known as Anguttarāpa. That is the county of Anguttarāpa.
Saddharmatā 