法苑珠林 7.15

7.15

Sixth is the Burning Hell (Tapana). It is also surrounded by sixteen minor hells (their sizes being as previously described). Why is it called Burning? The sinners are taken and placed within an iron city; that city is on fire, glowing red both inside and out, burning the sinners. They are also placed upon iron towers; those towers are on fire, glowing red both inside and out. They are also thrown into great iron kilns; those kilns are on fire, glowing red both inside and out, burning the sinners. Their skin and flesh are scorched and rotten, and ten thousand poisons arrive all at once. Because the remainder of their sins is not yet exhausted, they are made not to die; hence it is called Burning. Having suffered torment for a long time, they exit the Burning Hell and proceed up to the Cold Ice Hell, after which their lives end. It is on account of burning sentient beings that one falls into the Burning Hell, suffering this agony of burning through the long night.