諸經要集 18.7

18.7

問曰。云何名地獄耶。答曰。依立世阿毘曇論云。梵名泥黎耶以無戲樂故又無喜樂故。又無行出故。又無福德故。又因不除離惡業故。於中生。復說。此道於欲界中最為下劣。名曰非道。因是事故。故說地獄名泥黎耶。如婆沙論中。名不自在。謂彼罪人。為獄卒阿傍之所拘制。不得自在。故名地獄。亦名不可愛樂。故名地獄。又地者底也。謂下底。萬物之中地最在下。故名為底也。獄其局也。局謂拘局不得自在。故名地獄。又名泥犁者梵音。此名無有。謂彼獄中無有義利。名無有也。

Question: Why is it called hell (diyu)? Answer: According to the Lokasthiti-abhidharma-śāstra, its Sanskrit name is Niraya because there is no sport or joy, nor is there any gladness or delight; furthermore, there is no stepping forth from it, and there is no merit; moreover, beings are born therein because they have not eliminated or abandoned evil karma. It is also said: among the desire realm (kāmadhātu), this destiny is the most inferior and vile, and is called 'non-path'. On account of these reasons, hell is called Niraya. As in the Vibhāṣā-śāstra, it is named 'lack of autonomy', meaning that those sinful people are restrained and controlled by the hell-wardens and ox-headed demons (Āpāṅgas) and do not obtain autonomy; hence it is called hell (diyu, earth-prison). It is also called 'unlovely and unenjoyable'; hence it is called hell. Furthermore, 'di' (earth) means 'di' (bottom), that is, the very bottom. Among all things, the earth is the lowest; hence it is called the bottom. 'Yu' (prison) means confinement; confinement means being restricted and restrained without obtaining autonomy; hence it is called hell (diyu). Furthermore, the name Nili (Niraya) is a Sanskrit word, which here means 'non-existence', signifying that within that hell there is no benefit or profit; hence it is named 'non-existence'.