經律異相 49.31

49.31

The sentient beings therein grow iron claws on their hands and become mutually enraged. Clamouring with their claws to tear each other, flesh drops away beneath their grasp, and they think they are dead. Furthermore, the sentient beings therein harbour thoughts of malice; brandishing knives and swords in their hands, they hack and stab one another, skinning, slicing, and carving up their bodies into fragments scattered on the ground, and they speak of one another as dead. When a cold wind blows, they instantly revive and rise again, saying to themselves, “We are alive now!” Having endured their punishments for a long time, they exit the Saṃjñā hell. In panic, seeking salvation, without realising it they suddenly arrive at the Black Sand hell. A violent hot wind arises, blowing hot black sand to adhere to their bodies; burning through the skin down to the bones, flames arise from within their bodies, swirling back onto their forms and scorching them to charred rot. Because their retribution is not yet exhausted, it makes them not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Black Sand hell and arrive at the Boiling Excrement hell. Iron pellets of boiling excrement spontaneously fill the space before them; driving and compelling the sinners, [the wardens] make them embrace the iron pellets, burning their bodies and hands, and further make them pick them up and put them into their mouths. Passing entirely through from the throat to the belly and out below, there is nothing that is not charred and rotten. There are iron-beaked worms that nibble the flesh down to the marrow, bringing immeasurable agonizing torment; yet because their retribution is not yet finished, they still refuse to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Boiling Excrement hell and arrive adjacent to the Iron Spikes hell. The wardens fling them down prone onto hot iron, stretch out their bodies, and nail their hands and feet with spikes; all across their bodies they exhaust five hundred spikes. Crying out in agonizing torment, they still do not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Iron Spikes hell and arrive at the Hunger hell. They are immediately flung onto hot iron, and molten bronze is poured into their mouths; passing entirely through from the throat to the belly and out below, there is nothing that is not charred and rotten. Because their remaining retribution is not yet exhausted, they still do not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Hunger hell and arrive at the Thirst hell. They are immediately flung onto hot iron, and hot iron pellets are placed into their mouths, burning their lips and tongues and passing entirely through and out below, with nothing that is not charred and rotten, weeping in agonizing torment. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Thirst hell and arrive at the Single Bronze Cauldron hell. With glaring eyes, the hell-wardens seize the sinners by the feet and plunge them headfirst into the cauldron. Surging and boiling with the scalding broth, they swirl up and down; their bodies ruined, scalded, and cooked, myriad afflictions arrive at once, yet it makes them not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Single Bronze Cauldron and arrive at the Many Bronze Cauldrons hell. Seizing the sinners by the feet, they plunge them headfirst into the cauldrons; surging and boiling with the scalding broth, they swirl up and down, their entire bodies ruined and scalded. [The wardens] take them with iron hooks and place them into other cauldrons. Wailing in agonizing torment, they are made not to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Many Bronze Cauldrons and arrive at the Stone Mill hell. Seizing those sinners, they fling them onto hot stones, stretch out their hands and feet, and crush down upon their bodies with large hot stones; turning and grinding them, flesh and bones are reduced to pulp. In sharp agonizing pain, they are made not to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Stone Mill hell and arrive at the Pus and Blood hell. Pus and blood boil and surge; the sinners dash about back and forth within it, their bodies scalded and their heads and faces rotted away. They also take the pus and blood to consume; it passes entirely through and out below, unbearable in its agonizing torment, yet it makes them not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they then exit the Pus and Blood [hell] and arrive at the Measuring Fire hell. There is a great blaze whose flames burn fiercely; driving and compelling the sinners, [the wardens] make them hold iron pecks in their hands to measure the mass of fire. It burns all over their bodies in agonizing, scorching pain; moaning and howling, they are made not to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they exit the Measuring Fire hell and arrive at the Ash River hell, five hundred yojanas across in breadth, length, and depth. The boiling ash broth surges and roils, foul vapours billowing, churning waves beating together with terrifying clamour. From bottom to top, iron thorns crisscross; on the riverbanks there is a forest of sword-leaf trees whose branches, leaves, blossoms, and fruit are all knives and swords. The sinners enter the river, rising and falling with the waves, tumbling and sinking down; iron thorns pierce their bodies, penetrating through inside and out, so that pus and blood flow forth. With myriad kinds of bitter torment, they are made not to die. Then they exit the Ash River and reach the bank; sharp swords cut and pierce, injuring and destroying their bodies. Furthermore, jackals and wolves come to bite the sinners, eating their flesh raw. Running up the sword-leaf trees, the sword blades point downwards; when descending the sword-leaf trees, the sword blades point upwards. Grasping with hands, the hands are severed; treading with feet, the feet are cut off; skin and flesh drop away, leaving only white bones connected by sinews and veins. At that time, upon the sword-leaf trees there are iron-beaked crows that peck their heads and eat their brains; screaming in agonizing torment, they are made not to die. They fall back into the Ash River, sinking with the waves; iron thorns pierce their bodies with myriad agonizing torments, skin and flesh rotten, pus and blood flowing forth, leaving only white bones floating on the surface. When a cold wind blows, they instantly rise and stand. Dragged by their past karmic retribution, without realising it they suddenly reach the Iron Pellets hell. There are hot iron pellets that the hell-demons drive them to throw; their hands and feet rot and break down, and their whole bodies burst into flames. Myriad afflictions arrive together, yet it makes them not die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they then exit the Iron Pellets [hell] and arrive at the Adze and Axe hell. Seizing these sinners, they fling them onto hot iron, chopping their hands, feet, ears, noses, and bodies with hot iron adzes and axes; crying out in agonizing torment, they still do not die. Having endured retribution for a long time, they exit the Adze and Axe hell and arrive at the Jackal and Wolf hell. Packs of jackals and wolves vie to bite and chew them; flesh drops away, bones are fractured, and pus and blood flow forth. With myriad kinds of bitter pain, they are made not to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they then exit the Jackal and Wolf [hell] and arrive at the Sword-Leaf Tree hell. Entering that sword forest, a violent wind arises, blowing the sword leaves down onto their bodies; their heads, faces, and bodies are all injured and ruined. Iron-beaked crows peck out both of their eyes; wailing in bitter pain, they are made not to die. Having endured suffering for a long time, they then exit the Sword-Leaf Trees and arrive at the Cold Ice hell. A great cold wind blows upon their bodies, freezing and injuring their entire forms, so that skin and flesh drop away. Screaming in agonizing torment, only then does their life come to an end. Committing evil with the body, and likewise with speech and mind: thus does one fall into the Saṃjñā hell, terrified, with hair standing on end.