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P 2`l1

64   ANTIQUITIES OF INDIAN TIBET   [VoL. Il

earth) the receptacle of living beings. Such is for living beings the cause of activity.

Thus, at the time when in the beginning the ether had remained empty for twenty kalpas

(fabulous periods), in the period of rest, the moving atmosphere gave support from

below ; the joyful sphere of the waters collected all together, the sphere of fire [that

is] of knowledge and action brought down heat ; and the bright sphere of the sky

opened the door : the powerful golden earth was levelled out in vast extent. It

was spanned by the endless blue dome of the sky.   It was • pressed down in

the middle by Mount Lhun-po (Sumeru), the king of mountains, of unchangeable

colour. The four continents, which never transgress their limits, the treasure-houses

of the five elements, were planted. They were surveyed by the four queens of the

four unchanging seasons and the hours. [Then] the living beings [down to the

inhabitants of the] hells came into existence.

At the time when in Hdzam-bu-glin (Jambudvipa) life was 100 x 10,000 years

a being was born in hell. At the time of the thus coming into existence of

primitive creatures [the world ?] had lingered for nineteen periods. An account of

the occasion, origin, and measure of them (the creatures) and the four or eight

continents will be learned from the Mnon pahi-mdzod (the Abhidharma-koSa). Now

the manner how the outer vessel of the world grew upwards from below ; the creatures

of the inner essence [of the world] sank downwards from above. When the life of the

gods of light (Abhásvára) and their authority became less, it is said that there existed

a god Nam-kyer-rgyal-po, who was also called Ye-mkhyen-chen-po (Mahájnána ?).

His son was the god Srid-ber-chen-po ; his son was the god Nam-ber-chen-po ; his

son was the god Hod-gsal ; his son was the god Khar-gsal (Trisúla) ; his son was the

god Char-byed (Rain-maker) ; his son was the god Bar-lha-bdun-tshigs. His son was

called the god Rgyal-srid. To him eight sons were born [as follows] :-

The elder brothers (who were) of the morning were the god Skar-chen (Great

Star) and Skar's companion, these two ; they descended to Lus-hphags-po of the East

(Púrva-Videha, the eastern continent). After them came Hod-then (Great Light) and

Hod's companion, these two ; they descended to Sgra-mi-snan of the North (Uttara-Kuru).

After them came Sman-bu (Little Medicine) and Sm a,n's companion, these two ; they

descended to Ba-glair-spyod of the West (Avara- or Pascima-Godá,niya). On the next

morning, on the south side of Mount Ri-rab (Sumeru), covered with the light of the blue

lapis lazuli (vaiçlürya), there descended the god [G]sed-can (Manu) and [G]sed's companion

with joyful hearts praising the town of Rdo-rje-gdan (Vajrá,sana), where the Li-tsa-tsi

(Litsabyi ?), including a thousand cakravartins, walk on the road to Nirvana

(muktimárga), the temple of Rdo-rje-gdan, which is the heart of Bodhi (Bodhimanda),

appearing in the shape of a cart, the heart of continents, the place where are bony

the Sugatas of the three times.

At that time men were endowed with the ten accomplishments : (1) their bodies

possessing a light of their own, the names of day, and night did not yet exist ; (2) the

bodies of men being free from illness, their lifetime was exceedingly long ; (3) they

did not look for the food (4) nor the clothing of this sensual world ; (5) they were