法苑珠林 7.8

7.8

Question: Why are they called 'hells'? Answer: According to the *Lokasthitābhidharma-śāstra*, the Sanskrit name is *niraya*. It is so called because there is no sport or amusement; because there is no joy or pleasure; because there is no leaving or escaping; because there is no merit; and because it is born into due to not abandoning evil karma. It is also said: among the desire realm, this destiny is the most inferior and is called the non-path. For these reasons, hell is called *niraya*. As stated in the *Vibhāṣā-śāstra*, it is named 'unfree,' meaning that the sinners are restrained by the hell-wardens (*apāma*) and cannot be free, hence the name 'hell'; it is also named 'unlovely and unpleasant,' hence 'hell.' Furthermore, *di* (earth) means bottom, referring to the lowest depth; among the ten thousand things, earth is at the very bottom, hence it is called 'bottom.' *Yu* (prison) means confinement, referring to being restrained and unable to be free, hence it is called 'earth-prison' (hell). Moreover, the name *nili* is a Sanskrit sound, which here means 'non-existent,' meaning that in that hell there is no beneficial purpose, hence it is called 'non-existent.' Question: There are many kinds of hells—some under the earth, some on the earth, and some in empty space; why are they all called 'earth-prisons' (hells)? Answer: In the old translations, the name 'earth-prison' was narrow in scope and confined in location, not encompassing those on earth or in space. Now, according to the newly translated sūtras and treatises, the correct sound of the Sanskrit text is *naraka*, or *nāraka*. This comprehensively includes all places and states of suffering, and is thus called *nāraka*. Hence the *New Vibhāṣā* states: 'Question: Why is that destiny called *nāraka*? Answer: Those sentient beings have no joy, no love, no savor, no benefit, and no joy or pleasure; therefore it is called *naraka*. Some say: because they formerly created, increased, and intensified exceedingly fierce evil bodily, vocal, and mental actions, going there and causing them to continue, it is called *nāraka*. Some say: because in that destiny they fall headlong, it is called *nāraka*.' As a verse says: