Rich Men with Inexhaustible Resources – 2277
The seven entrances to the seven walls were guarded by seven Yakkha generals
with their armies: at the first gate, Yamakoḷi was in charge with 1,000 Yakkhas
under him; at the second gate, Uppala was in charge with 2,000 Yakkhas under
him; at the third gate, Vajira was in charge with 3,000 Yakkhas under him; at
the fourth gate, Vajirabāhu was in charge with 4,000 Yakkhas under him; at the
fifth gate, Kasakanda was in charge with 5,000 Yakkhas under him; at the sixth
gate, Kaṭattha was in charge with 6,000 Yakkhas under him and at the seventh
gate, Disāpāmukha was in charge with 7,000 Yakkhas under him.
King Bimbisāra Makes Jotika Royal Treasurer
When King Bimbisāra heard the news of the Jotika phenomenon comprising the
arising through the earth of the bejewelled seven-storied mansion, the seven
walls and its great gates, and the appearance of the four great gold jars, and so
on, he made him the Royal Treasurer, and had all the paraphernalia of the
office such as, the white umbrella, etc., sent to him. From that time, Jotika was
widely known as the Royal Treasurer.
The lady who had been Jotika’s partner in doing meritorious deeds in the past
now happened to be reborn in the northern island continent. The Devas took the
lady, named Sakulakāyī, from her native island continent and installed her in
Jotika’s seven-storied mansion. She brought with her a small measure of rice and
three crystals with heat potential in them. This quantity of rice and the three
stones provided all the cooked food throughout their lives. The small vessel that
contained the original rice could hold any quantity of fresh rice, even as much
as 100 cart-loads of them could be poured into it!
When the rice was to be cooked, it was put into a cooking pot and placed on the
three crystals, which served as a fireplace and which glowed with heat until the
rice became properly cooked and then the glow faded out. When curries and
other dishes were cooked, the three crystals worked for the same purpose. Thus
the Jotika couple never had the use of fire for cooking. For lighting as well, they
never used fire because they had emerald and rubies that glowed and gave
sufficient light.
The great opulence of Jotika became well-known throughout the whole of
Jambudīpa and people thronged to his mansion to admire it. Some came from
afar using carts and other vehicles. Jotika entertained them to the special quality
rice that grew only in the northern island continent which was cooked on the