經律異相 49.22

49.22

Question: What are the hells? Answer: They refer to the cold, hot, and border [hells]. There are immeasurable varieties; now I shall explain them briefly. As for the cold hells, there are those with distinct cries, indistinct cries, and no cries. There are these three marks of utterly terrible wailing. Those with distinct cries are three: first, Arbuda; second, Nirarbuda; third, Aṭaṭa (Apapo). In the Arbuda hell, due to the cold, swellings like boils arise on their bodies. In the Nirarbuda hell, the wind blows and causes them to swell fully. In the Aṭaṭa hell, the extremely cold wind blows and strips the skin and flesh from their bodies until all falls away; they all urgently shudder and utter wailing sounds. These three can be distinctly understood.