經律異相 3.68

3.68

The continent of Northern Uttarakuru is four hundred thousand li in circumference, length, and breadth. There are various mountains; along both banks of its rivers grow various trees and various flowers. In the water are boats made of the four precious substances. There is a bathing pool named Nanda; its water is cool and soft, and the sand on its bed is entirely of gold. Around it are stairs made of the four precious substances: gold steps with silver railings, silver steps with gold railings, lapis lazuli steps with crystal railings, and crystal steps with lapis lazuli railings. There are various lotus flowers; if a flower is broken, its juice flows forth like milk, sweet-tasting like honey. Its light shines for forty li, and its fragrance can also be smelled for forty li. East of the pool is a river named Yimi; south of the pool is a river named Xiujie; west of the pool is a river named Datu; north of the pool is a river named Shanzhong. The waters of all these rivers have flowering trees made of the four precious substances. East of the pool is a park named Xianshang; its balustrades and rows of trees are also made of the four precious substances. The incense trees in the park produce various kinds of fragrances. There are clothing trees and jewel necklace trees, which produce various kinds of garments and necklaces. There are musical trees, which produce various kinds of music. The trees are seven li tall, or six li, five li, four li, three li, or two li tall. South of the pool is a garden observatory named Yuxian. West of the pool is a garden observatory named Luoyue. North of the pool is a garden observatory named Changyouhua. What the various trees produce, as well as their heights, are just like those of the eastern park. In this northern continent, the branches of the trees interlace over the roads; heavenly beings live atop them, men and women dwelling in separate places. There is pure non-glutinous rice, which grows naturally without being planted, possessing every flavor. When they wish to engage in sexual desire, the thought arises and they look at one another without speaking; the man then walks in front and the woman follows behind. Having arrived together at a garden observatory, they take pleasure with each other, whether for two or three days or up to seven days; when satisfied, they part without being bound to one another. When a woman becomes pregnant, she gives birth in seven or eight days. She takes the child and places it at the crossroads. If people come from the four directions, they give it a finger to suckle, which exudes milk to nourish it. After seven days have passed, through its own merit it naturally grows up, like a person of Jambudvīpa at the age of twenty or twenty-five. All around on four sides there is a water named Anavatapta. In the late night, clouds arise and rain down water of eight flavors, like food and drink for the people; the ground is as if smeared with oil, so that no dust or dirt arises. Grasses and trees are perpetual; their flowers and fruits are all fragrant. When it is hot as if with incense, chaotic winds blow and sweep the Xianshang garden observatory; then an eraṇḍa wind arises and blows down fallen flowers up to a person's knees. The people of this continent all enter the park to play and take pleasure together, unbound by any attachment. When people wish to eat, they take the pure non-glutinous rice and cook it beneath the light of a flaming jewel; when the rice is cooked, people from the four directions come and eat it as they please, and the food is never exhausted.