妙法蓮華經玄贊 2.116

2.116

Regarding the explanation of names: 'six' is the name of a number, and 'destiny' (gati) means that toward which one proceeds. The place whereto a provisional person composed of the five aggregates tends upon generating afflictions and karma is designated by the name 'destiny'; it is an exegesis qualified by a numeral (dvigu). The Bodhisattvabhūmi (*Dhāraṇī-bhūmi) says: 'Because what is received is spontaneous, it is called god (deva).' The Abhidharmakośa says: 'Being radiantly pure, autonomous, and of divine efficacy is called god.' The Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'Because they deliberate much, they are called humans (manuṣya).' The Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya says: 'Because the mind is tranquil, they are called humans.' The Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya says: 'Because they seek from others, and are always hungry, empty, fearful, timid, and full of anxious thoughts, they are called hungry ghosts (preta).' The Abhidharmakośa says: 'Because they move horizontally, they are called beasts (tiryag-yoni).' Alternatively, they are called livestock (chùshēng); chù means the sense of rearing and maintaining: being the resources of humans and the creatures raised and nurtured by humans, they are therefore called livestock. In Sanskrit, it is called naraka, translated here as 'vessel of suffering', as previously explained. Nāraka, translated here as 'evil-doer': those who commit evil are born into this vessel of suffering, hence it is called a vessel of suffering. It does not bear the name 'earthly prison' (dìyù), for its location is not fixed, nor is it exclusively subterranean. The Bodhisattvabhūmi says: 'Supremely repulsive.' The Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya also says: 'Because it is not pleasurable, it is called hell.' In Sanskrit, it is called asura, translated here as 'non-god' (asura), which has already been explained previously.