法苑珠林 7.10

7.10

有說。捺落名人。迦名為惡。惡人生彼處。故名捺落迦。問何故最下大者名無間耶。答彼處恒受苦受。無喜樂間。故名無間。問餘地獄中。豈有歌舞飲食受喜樂異熟。故不名無間耶。答餘地獄中。雖無異熟喜樂。而有等流喜樂。如於施設論說。等活地獄中。有時涼風所吹血肉還生。有時出聲唱言等活。彼諸有情欻然還活。唯於如是血肉生時及還活時。暫生喜樂間苦受。故不名無間也。

Some say: *nara* means human, and *ka* means evil; evil humans are born in that place, hence it is called *nāraka*. Question: Why is the lowest and largest one called *avīci* (uninterrupted)? Answer: That place constantly experiences painful feelings without any interval of joy or pleasure, hence it is called uninterrupted. Question: In the other hells, could there be song, dance, food, drink, and the experience of joyous fruition, such that they are not called uninterrupted? Answer: Although in the other hells there is no joyous fruition, there is an outflow of joy. As stated in the *Prajñapti-śāstra*, in the Saṃjīva (Reviving) Hell, sometimes a cool wind blows and their flesh and blood regenerate; sometimes a voice calls out, saying 'revive!', and those sentient beings suddenly come back to life. Only at such times, when flesh and blood regenerate and when they come back to life, do they temporarily give rise to joy that interrupts the painful sensations; therefore it is not called uninterrupted.