Viyahapannatti 13.4.569

13.4.569

"How many earths, Venerable Sir, are declared?"
"Gautama! Seven earths are declared, namely: Ratnaprabhā down to the seventh below."
"Venerable Sir! On the seventh earth below, five unsurpassed, exceedingly large great hells are declared, namely: Kāla, Mahākāla, Roruka, Mahāroruka, and Apratiṣṭhāna. Are those hells larger, more extensive, of greater space, and with more vacant space than the hells of the sixth earth, Tamā, but not with greater entrance, nor more crowded, nor more turbulent, nor with less space? Are the inhabitants of hell in those hells burdened with more karma, more activity, more karmic influx, and more suffering than the inhabitants of hell of the sixth earth, Tamā, and not with less karma, less activity, less karmic influx, and less suffering; and having less supernatural power and less radiance, and not having greater supernatural power and greater radiance?"
"[Gautama! Yes, they are.]"
"On the sixth earth, Tamā, ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-five hell abodes are declared. Are those hells not larger, more extensive, of greater space, and with more vacant space than the hells of the seventh earth below, [yet] with greater entrance, more crowded, more turbulent, and with less space? Are the inhabitants of hell in those hells burdened with less karma, less activity, less karmic influx, and less suffering than the inhabitants of hell of the seventh earth below; and not with more karma, more activity, more karmic influx, and more suffering; having greater supernatural power and greater radiance; and not having less supernatural power and less radiance?"
"[Gautama! Yes, they are.]"
"Are the hells on the sixth earth, Tamā, larger, more extensive, of greater space, and with more vacant space than the hells of the fifth earth, Dhūmaprabhā; and not with greater entrance, nor more crowded, nor more turbulent, nor with less space? Are the inhabitants of hell in those hells burdened with more karma, more activity, more karmic influx, and more suffering than the inhabitants of hell of the fifth earth, Dhūmaprabhā; and not with less karma, less activity, less karmic influx, and less suffering; having less supernatural power and less radiance; and not having greater supernatural power and greater radiance?"
"[Gautama! Yes, they are.]"
"On the fifth earth, Dhūmaprabhā, three hundred thousand hell abodes are declared." Just as was stated for the sixth, so should all seven earths be stated in relation to one another down to Ratnaprabhā, down to: "not having greater supernatural power and having less radiance."