ABSTRACT
We shall now describe Saka-Dv~pa. It has, according to the Matsya-Pu1"alfJa, seven great rivers, one of which equals the Ganges in purity. In the first ocean there are seven mountains adorned with jewels, some of which are inhabited by Devas, others by demons. One of them is a golden, lofty mountain, whence the clouds rise which bring us the rain. Another contains all the
Page 126. medicines. Indra, the ruler, takes from it the rain. Another one is called Soma. Regarding this mountain they relate the following story :-
The story of Kasyapa had two wives, Kadru, the mother of the Kadrn and V· A h Vinata. snakes, and inata, t e mother of the birds. Both Garuda Ifbe-1· a : 1· h h h H rates 'his 1ve In a paIn were t ere was a grey orse. ow-
~~:~:l~~lhe ever, the mother of the snakes maintained that the Amrtta. horse was brown. Now they made the covenant that
she who was wrong should become the slave of the other, but they postponed the decision till the following day. In the following night the mother of the snakes sent her black children to the horse, to wind themselves round it and to conceal its colour. In consequence the mother of the birds became her slave for a time.
