大通方廣懺悔滅罪莊嚴成佛經 3.36

3.36

佛告文殊。快哉快哉。快問是義。諦聽諦聽。及諸大眾。善思念之。吾當為汝。廣開分別。云何名為。阿鼻地獄。阿者言無。鼻者言間。間無暫樂。故言無間。阿者言無。鼻者言遮。阿者言無。鼻者言救。阿者言無。鼻者言不動。阿者言極熱。鼻者言極惱。阿者言不閑。鼻者言不住。不住不閑故。名阿鼻地獄。阿者言大火。鼻者言極熱。猛火入心故。名阿鼻地獄。

The Buddha told Mañjuśrī: "Excellent, excellent! Well have you asked about this meaning. Listen attentively, listen attentively, and all you in the great assembly, think carefully upon it! I shall broadly open and differentiate it for you. What is called the Avīci Hell? 'A' means 'without' (wu); 'vīci' means 'interval' (jian). In the interval there is not even a moment of joy; therefore it is called 'uninterrupted' (wujian). 'A' means 'without'; 'vīci' means 'obstruction' (zhe). 'A' means 'without'; 'vīci' means 'rescue' (jiu). 'A' means 'without'; 'vīci' means 'unmoving' (budong). 'A' means 'extreme heat'; 'vīci' means 'extreme distress'. 'A' means 'no respite'; 'vīci' means 'no resting'. Because there is no resting and no respite, it is called the Avīci Hell. 'A' means 'great fire'; 'vīci' means 'extreme heat'. Because raging fire enters the core, it is called the Avīci Hell."