經律異相 50.21

50.21

鐵網地獄者。八十九重諸鐵羅網。一一網間百億鐵針。一一鐵針施五關[撼-咸+巳]。以邪心諂曲妖媚惑人。心懷讒賊晝夜惡念。臨命終時身體搔痒。即作此念。得一束針攙刺不亦快乎。作是念時獄卒化為良醫。手執利針唱言。治病。罪人心喜氣絕命終生鐵網間。𢫫身下過眾[撼-咸+巳]皆動。無量諸針射入毛孔。如是婉轉諸鐵網間。如剎那頃死生。罪畢乃出生於邊地無佛法處。亦不聞說世間善語何況正法。雖生人中三惡道攝。後遇善知識雖得聞法心不解了。

As for the Hell of the Iron Net: There are eighty-nine layers of iron netting. Between each net are one hundred billion iron needles, and on each iron needle are set five release mechanisms. Because of a depraved mind of crooked flattery and enchanting people with sorcery, harboring slander and malice in the heart, with evil thoughts day and night, when [such a person] is about to die, his body itches. He then forms this thought: 'If I could get a bundle of needles to prick and pierce me, would that not be pleasant?' When he forms this thought, a hell warden transforms into a skilled physician holding sharp needles and calling out: 'I cure diseases!' The sinner's heart rejoices; his breath ceases and his life ends, and he is born amid the iron nets. Crawling down through them, all the mechanisms move, and countless needles shoot into his pores. Tossing and turning amid the iron nets in this way, he dies and is born as in a kṣaṇa. When his penalty is finished, he emerges to be born in borderlands where there is no Buddhadharma, nor does he hear wholesome worldly speech, let alone the true Dharma. Although born among humans, he is subsumed under the three evil destinies. Later, when he meets a good spiritual friend, although he gets to hear the Dharma, his mind does not comprehend it.