S5Q AN ESSAY ON THE 



bow. Tliese are four districts remarkable for their 

 length, between them is Ilctorata. The division 

 of the surface behind Nishadlia is called the 

 Southern division : the division beyond Nila is 

 called the Northern one. South of Nila, and 

 North 0? Nishad' ha length-wise, and towards the 

 East is Mahfavan a thousand Yojanas: high, like 

 NUa Rn(\ Nis/iad'ka, Its length is 34,000 Yojanas, 

 West of it is the mountain of Gand^hamadana- 

 Its length and breadth like Mdlyavdnas. In the 

 middle of a sort of circle, is Meru high, and of 

 four colours ; of four sides is this golden mountain, 

 the greatest of all. 



o 



These four sides are remarkable, as they are the 

 four paths of the five affections of the mind, from 

 which, as they answer to the fae elements J are pro- 

 duced all living beings. 



The great God, the great, omnipotent, omni^ 

 scient one, the greatest in the world, the great 

 Lord, who goes through all the worlds, incapable 

 of decay, and without body, is born a moulcfed 

 body, of flesh and bones, made, whilst himself was 

 not made. His wisdom and power pervades all 

 hearts ; from his heart sprung this Padma Lotos 

 like world in times of old. It was then in this, 

 that appeared, when born, the God of Gods with 

 four faces, the Lord of the Lords of mankind, who 

 rules over all, the Lord of the world : when this 

 flower was produced by Vishnu, then from his 

 navel sprang the worldly Lotos, abounding with 

 trees, and plants : then the dimensions of this 

 worldly Lotos became obvious to the sight. 



Round it are four great islands or countries : in 

 the mitklle hke tliC germ is Meru thus called; 

 » great mountain of various colours all round, 



