諸經要集 18.8

18.8

問曰。地獄多種或在地下。或處地上。或居虛空。何故並名地獄。答曰。舊翻地獄。名狹處局不攝地空。今依新翻經論。梵本正音名那落迦。或云捺落迦。此總攝人。處苦集故名捺落迦。又新婆沙論云。問何故彼趣名捺落迦。答彼諸有情。無悅無愛無味無利無喜樂。故名那落迦。或有說者。由彼先時造作增長。增上暴惡身語意惡行。往彼令彼相續故名捺落迦。有說彼趣以顛墜故名捺落迦。如有頌言。

Question: Hells are of many kinds: some are beneath the earth, some are on top of the earth, and some reside in empty space. Why are they all called 'hell' (diyu, earth-prison)? Answer: The old translations used 'earth-prison' (diyu); the name was narrow and the location restricted, failing to encompass the surface of the earth and the sky. Now, relying on newly translated sūtras and treatises, the correct Sanskrit pronunciation is naraka, or nalajia. This broadly encompasses beings; because it is a place where sufferings gather, it is called naraka. Furthermore, the New Vibhāṣā-śāstra says: Question: Why is that destiny called naraka? Answer: Because those sentient beings have no joy, no affection, no flavor, no benefit, and no gladness or delight, it is called naraka. Some say: because they previously created and increased extremely violent and evil actions of body, speech, and mind, going there causes them to continue in succession; hence it is called naraka. Others say: because in that destiny they fall headlong, it is called naraka. As a verse says: