妙法蓮華經玄贊 2.56

2.56

The commentary: Below, the non-deva assemblies are explained, of which there are five: first, the assembly of nāgas. The first is named Joy (Nanda), the next is named Worthy Joy (Upananda); these two are brothers, who skillfully respond to human hearts: the wind does not rustle the branches, and the rain does not break clods of earth; the former can make people joyful, and the latter is virtuous by nature and makes people joyful, hence they are named after this. 'Sāgara' is the nāga of the salty sea. 'Vāsuki' means 'Nine Heads' here, who coils around Mount Meru and feeds on smaller nāgas and the like. 'Takṣaka' means 'Many Tongues' here, because he has multiple tongues, or is named 'Many Tongues' because of his fondness for talking. 'Anavatapta' means 'Without Heat and Affliction' here, the nāga of the Anavatapta Lake, because he is free from the three hot afflictions: first, not being scorched by burning sand; second, having no wind blow away clothes and expose the body; third, not being eaten by the garuḍa bird. Free from the fiery afflictions produced by these three, he is named 'Without Heat and Affliction'. The Avataṃsaka-sūtra says: 'A bodhisattva of the great bhūmis became the nāga of this lake, raising a great cloud of compassion to overshadow all sentient beings, gaining mastery in the Dharma door of leaving suffering, flowing forth myriad waters from between his scales day and night without exhaustion, aiding all sentient beings of Jambudvīpa.' 'Manasvin' means 'Benevolent Mind' here; the Avataṃsaka-sūtra says: 'When about to make rain fall, he first clouds over for seven days, waiting until everyone's affairs are completed before only then making it rain; therefore he is named Benevolent Mind.' 'Utpala' means 'Red Lotus Flower' here, named after dwelling in the pool.