Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.120

v2.c36.120

The later books contain a good deal of additional information regarding Sakka. His city extends for one thousand leagues, and its golden streets are sixty leagues long; his palace Vejayanta is one thousand leagues high; the Sudhammā-hall covers five hundred leagues, his throne of yellow marble (Paṇḍukambalasilāsana) is sixty leagues in extent, his white umbrella with its golden wreath is five leagues in circumference, and he himself is accompanied by a glorious array of twenty-five million nymphs.³¹ Other features of his heaven are the Pāricchattaka-tree, the Nandā-pokkharaṇī and the Cittalatāvana.³² His body is three gavutas in height³³; his chief conveyance is the marvellous elephant Erāvaṇa (q.v.), but he goes to war in the Vejayanta-ratha (q.v.). Reference is often made to his throne, the Paṇḍukambalasilāsana (q.v.), composed of yellow stone. It grows hot when Sakka’s life draws towards its end; or his merit is exhausted; or when some mighty being prays; or, again, through the efficacy of virtue in recluses or brahmins or other beings, full of potency.³⁴