692 Pdli Buddhistical Annals. [Aug. 



regenerated in the BrahmaUko. Even creatures expiating their sins (in this world) 

 ■while yet in health, expire, as soon as the seven suns (which ultimately manifest 

 themselves) shine on the creation. As they are not endowed with Jh&nan they 

 are not (at once) reproduced in the BrahmaUko. How then are these to be 

 reproduced (ultimately there) haviug died of the misery they were enduring, without 

 yet being able to attain Jh&nan ? By the gift of Jh&nan to be acquired by their 

 (intermediate) reproduction in the Diwaluko (which is inferior to the BrahmaUko)." 



Here follows a specification of the means by which those, who do 

 not possess the jhdnan requisite for immediate regeneration in the 

 BrahmaUko, acquire it intermediately in the Dewaloko, to which they 

 are admissible without that sanctification. The Atthakathd proceeds. 



" At a certain period after rain has ceased (to fall) a second sun appears. After 

 the appearance of the second sun, there is no longer any limitation to, or 

 distinction of, night and day. When one sun sets the other sua rises, keeping up a 

 constant sun shine. Nor is that sun like the ordinary one, in ordinary times. There 

 is neither cloud nor mist, to intercept its rays, but it is as clear as a looking glass. 

 The five great rivers (of the world) together with all the small streams are then 

 dried up. 



'• From the second to the fifth sun, the lakes and inland seas and the great ocean 

 dry up progressively. At the appearance of the sixth sun, the whole Chakkaioal&ni are 

 involved in one mass of smoke. After the lapse of a considerable period, the 

 seventh sun appears. By its manifestation the whole of the Chakkawal&ni, 

 together with the hundred thousand kotiyo of worlds, become involved in one 

 column of fire." 



Here follows an account of the extension of the flames to the six 

 DJwaldkd, and from thence to the lower Brahmalokd, till they reach 

 the Apassaro Brahmaloko. The fire then subsides, without leaving 

 even the ashes unconsumed of the worlds that had been destroyed, 

 leaving the universe, above and below the consumed regions, involved 

 in total darkness. 



" After the lapse of a long period, a mighty cloud rising, sprinkles a slight shower 

 in drift, which by degrees increasing to streams of the size of the lotus stalk, a 

 beam, the pestle of a rice pounder, and the trunk of a palmira tree, pours down on 

 all the Chakkawaldni, and submerges the whole of them that had been destroyed by 

 fire. The power of the wind below and around, prevents the escape of the waters, 

 which are concentrated resembling a drop of water on the leaf of a lotus flower. 



** By what means is it that so great a body of water (ultimately) acquires the 

 properties of solidity ? By making apertures in various places, access to that 

 body (of water) is afforded (to the wind). Thus by the effect of the wind, it (the 

 water) becomes further concentrated, and acquires further consistency. It then 

 begins to evaporate, and gradually subsides. 



** When the flood has subsided to the point where Brahmaloko had stood, six 

 D&waUk& are reproduced. On its subsiding to the point where this world had 

 stood, furious storms prevail, and confine it (the subsiding flood) as the water in 

 a basin covered with a lid is confined. 



11 On this fresh water gradually drying up, on the surface (of the human world) a 

 delicious coating of earth is formed, like unto the curds on the surface of rice 

 boiled exclusively in milk, without any water, excellent in color, in fragrance and 

 taste. 



