"In the same way, in the Northern direction there
is the Thus Come One named Great Ray Shoulders,
the Thus Come One named Far-Reaching Sound, the
Thus Come One named Drumroll Sound, the Thus
Come One named Hard to Injure, the Thus Come
One named Sun Birth, the Thus Come One named
Net Light, and the Thus Come One named Emitting
Light."

   This lesson introduces the uttara "Northern
direction, citing the names of representative
Buddhas.  The North is the Karma Division, also
known as the Accomplishment Division, whose
Dharma Host is Amoghasiddhi "Accomplishment Not
In Vain" Buddha.  Just as the West is associated
with the element metal and the color white, the
North is associated with the element water and
the color black.  And just as the West stands
for the Autumn season, the North stands for the
Winter.

   Issues #141 and #146 explain the overall gram-
mar of this passage and its phrasing.  The make-
up of the Buddhas' names should be familiar from
previous lessons, which can be consulted.

   The name of the first Buddha is composed of
maha "great" + arcis "ray/flame" + skandha --c.f.
VBS #148 for discussion of this word whose usual
meaning is "shoulder."  The name of the second
Buddha is from vaisvanara "far-reaching,"  an
adjective formed from visva "all" and nara "hu-
man/mortal"--the idea being that of extending
to all humanity.  It is combined with nirghosa
"sound."  Then there is dundubhi "drum" + svara
another word meaning "sound."  But whereas nir-
ghosa refers   to vocal sounds and cries and
noise in general, avara can also have specialized
neanings such as "accent," "tune," "note," and
in this case can refer to the beat or rolling of
the drum.

   Continuing, there is duspradharsa "hard (dus-)
to injure," then aditya "sun" + sambhava "birth,"
and jaleni "net" + prabha "light"--shortening of
final -a was explained before.  Finally there is
the Buddha prabha "light" + -kara "making," i.e.
"emitting light,"  also the name of the Third of
the Ten Bodhisattva Grounds.