續一切經音義 2.36

2.36

地獄 (The second character is pronounced with the fanqie *y-*, [yu], from 虐 and 錄. The *Shiji* states that Gaoyao first established prisons. Du Yu's commentary on the *Zhouli* states: 'Disputes over wealth are called litigation (訟); disputes over crimes are called trials/prisons (獄).' The *Fengsu tong* states: 'The Three Kings instituted prisons: Xia called it the Xia Terrace, the Yin called it Youli, and the Zhou called it the Lingyu. From the Qin and Han onward, they were universally called prisons (獄).' The *Shuowen* states: 'It takes 犾 and 言; two dogs biting each other and speech used to litigate it. It is an associative compound character.' Now, when the sūtras speak of 'earth prisons' (地獄, naraka), it means subterranean; because they are beneath Jambudvīpa, they are called 'earth prisons'. Thus the *Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣya* states: 'Descending twenty thousand [yojanas] beneath this, the depth and breadth of Avīci are the same as the seven narakas above; the eight supplementary [hells] each have sixteen,' as fully explained in the treatise.)