妙法蓮華經文句 2.125

2.125

"Takṣaka", translated here as "Displaying Poison", also called "Many Tongues", or called "Divided Tongues". Originally he abides in the Dharma approach of unhindered eloquence in delightful discourse, while his traces show many tongues. "Anavatapta" takes his name from the lake, translated here as "Without Heat". Regarding the Lake Without Heat, the *Dīrghāgama*, fascicle 18, says: "At the summit of the Snowy Mountains there is a lake named Lake Anavatapta, wherein there is a hall with five pillars. It is named after the lake, and the nāga king constantly dwells within it. The various nāgas of Jambudvīpa have three afflictions: first, hot wind and hot sand strike their bodies, scorching flesh, skin, and marrow to their distress; second, violent winds suddenly arise and blow away their palaces, so that losing their jewel-adorned garments and the like, their nāga bodies are exposed to their distress; third, when the various nāgas are amusing themselves, garuḍas enter the palace, seize newly born nāga young, and eat them, bringing fright and scorching agony. This lake is free from these three afflictions; if a bird conceives the thought to go there, it immediately dies; hence it is called the Lake Free from Scorching Agony." Originally he abides in cool permanence, bliss, self, and purity, while his traces dwell in the cool lake. As for contemplation: the wondrous wisdom of the threefold contemplation purifies the troublesome bites of the five entrenchments and avoids the hot sand of the two types of death (and so forth).