[CHAPTER LXXI.]
The prince's reply to the first question of the Vetála.
Arguments:—Answer to the first question regarding the Prime cause of all, shows the infinite worlds to be the trees and fruits of that original root.
VASISHTHA related:—The Rájá smiled at hearing these questions of the Demon, and as he opened his mouth to give the reply, the lustre of his pearly teeth, shed a brightness on the white vault of the sky. (This shows how much the early Hindus prized their white teeth, though latterly they tinged them with blue vitriol).
2. This world was at first a rudimentary granule (in the Divine mind), and was afterwards encrusted by a dozen of elemental sheaths as its pellicles, skin and bark. (Does it mean the component elements or layers Bhúta-tatwa or Bhú-tatwa).
3. The tree which bears thousands of such fruits, is very high also with its equally out stretching branches, and very long and broad leaves likewise.
4. This great tree is of a huge size and very astounding to sight; it has thousands of prodigious branches spreading wide on every side.
5. There are thousands of such trees, and a dense forest of many other large trees and plants in that person.
6. Thousands of such forests stretch over it, abounding in thousands of mountains with their elevated peaks.