法苑珠林 4.46

4.46

According to the Qishi jing: The Buddha told the monks, "The palace of the Sun Deva is precisely fifty-one yojanas in length and breadth, and the same from top to bottom. His palace is formed of two kinds of substance: square like a mansion, but appearing circular when seen from afar. What are the two? Namely, gold and crystal. On one side, two parts are formed of divine gold, which is pure and radiant. On one side, one part is formed of divine crystal, which is immaculate and radiant. There are five kinds of wind that blow, rotate, and move it along. What are the five? The first is named Upholding; the second is named Sustaining; the third is named Moving with the Flow; the fourth is named Pravāhaka; the fifth is named Advancing. Before that palace of the Sun Deva, there are separately immeasurable devas walking ahead of it; as they walk, they always experience bliss, and all are named Firm Walkers. (According to the Dīrgha Āgama, the walls and floor of the Sun Deva's palace are as thin as flower petals, and are upheld by the five winds.) Moreover, within the palace of the sun there is a magnificent carriage made of Jambūnada gold, sixteen yojanas high and eight yojanas square, splendidly adorned. The deva prince and his retinue abide in that carriage, fully experiencing pleasure through the five divine sensual desires. The Sun Deva's physical lifespan is five hundred years; sons and grandsons succeed one another, all ruling there. The palace endures for a full kalpa. The radiance of the Sun Deva's body shines forth upon the carriage; the carriage's radiance in turn shines upon the palace; and the radiances, joining together, shine forth and illuminate all four great continents and the various worlds. The Sun Deva's body, carriage, and palace possess one thousand rays of light: five hundred rays shine laterally, and five hundred rays shine downward. The Sun Deva's palace moves constantly without resting. For six months it travels north, gradually shifting northwards by six krośas in a single day (according to the Samyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra, this is five li), never departing even for a moment from the sun's path. For six months it travels south, also gradually shifting southwards by six krośas in a single day, not deviating from the sun's path. During the six months when the solar palace travels, the palace of the Moon Deva travels that same amount within fifteen days."