諸經要集 18.10

18.10

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 that nara means 'man' and ka means 'evil'; because evil people are born in that place, it is called naraka. Question: Why is the lowest and largest one called Avīci (uninterrupted)? Answer: That place continually experiences painful sensations without any interval of gladness or delight; hence it is called Avīci (Uninterrupted). Question: In the other hells, could there be singing, dancing, food, and drink, so that they experience the vipāka (maturation) of gladness and delight, and for that reason are not called Avīci? Answer: Although in the other hells there is no vipāka of gladness and delight, there is an outflow (niṣyanda) of gladness and delight. As stated in the Prajñapti-śāstra: In the Sañjīva (Reviving) Hell, sometimes a cool wind blows and their flesh and blood regenerate; sometimes a voice sounds calling out 'Revive!', and those sentient beings suddenly come back to life. Only at such times when the flesh and blood regenerate and when they come back to life do they temporarily produce gladness and delight, interrupting the painful sensations; therefore it is not called Avīci.