法苑珠林 63.30

63.30

As the *New Mahāvibhāṣā* states: In this Jambudvīpa there are four great rivers, each having four tributaries, flowing in their respective directions toward the great ocean. That is to say, right here in this Jambudvīpa there is a great lake named Anavatapta. First, it issues four great rivers: the first is named Gaṅgā, the second is named Sindhu, the third is named Vakṣu, and the fourth is named Sītā. First, the Gaṅgā River issues from the golden elephant mouth on the eastern side of the lake, circumambulates the lake once to the right, and flows into the eastern sea. Next, the Sindhu River issues from the silver ox mouth on the southern side of the lake, circumambulates the lake once to the right, and flows into the southern sea. Next, the Vakṣu River issues from the vaiḍūrya horse mouth on the western side of the lake, circumambulates the lake once to the right, and flows into the western sea. Finally, the Sītā River issues from the sphaṭika lion mouth on the northern side of the lake, circumambulates the lake once to the right, and flows into the northern sea. The great river Gaṅgā has four tributaries: the first is named Yamunā, the second is named Sarayū, the third is named Aciravatī, and the fourth is named Mahī. The great river Sindhu has four tributaries: the first is named Vipāśā, the second is named Airāvatī, the third is named Śatadru, and the fourth is named Vitastā. The great river Vakṣu has four tributaries: the first is named Varaṇā, the second is named Vaitaraṇī, the third is named Vaṅkṣu, and the fourth is named Kumbhā. The great river Sītā has four tributaries: the first is named Sārī, the second is named Bhīmā, the third is named Nadī, and the fourth is named Vidyutprabhā. These are spoken of merely as the ones with great names. However, the four great rivers each have five hundred tributaries, which, combined with the originals, make two thousand and four rivers, flowing in their respective directions toward the great ocean. Could anyone prevent these stated two thousand and four rivers from entering the ocean before they reach it? There is no such thing. Even if someone, either by spiritual power or by spells, extensively so... down to causing someone not to enter into the direct realization of the noble truths, that is impossible.