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THE ABODES IN THE INTERNAL REGIONS
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ghanāmbuvātākāśapratisthāḥ. All these earths (which comprise the infernal regions) are surrounded by the circle of humid atmosphere. The sheath of humid atmosphere is supported by the circle of dense air. The circle of dense air rests in thini air which rests in space. And space rests in itself, as it is itself the support and the supported. Each of these three circles (zones) is of the extent of twenty thousand yojanas.
The number seven is intended to exclude any other number. There are only seven earths, neither eight nor nine. These are one below the other and not transverse, parallel or horizontal.
Where are the abodes of infernal beings on these earths ? Are these everywhere or in some places ?
तासु त्रिंशत्पञ्चविंशतिपञ्चदशदशत्रिपञ्चोनैकनरक
शतसहस्राणि पश्च चैव यथाक्रमम Tāsu trimsatpañcavimsatipañcadaśadaśatripañconaika
narakaśatasahasrāņi pañca caiva yathākramam (2) 2. In these (earths) there are thirty hundred thousand, twenty-five hundred thousand, fifteen hundred thousand, ten hundred thousand, three hundred thousand, one hundred thousand less five and only five infernal abodes respectively.
In these earths, namely Ratnaprabhā and so on, the numbers of infernal abodes are mentioned respectively. There are in Ratnaprabhā thirty hundred thousand, in sarkarāprabhā twentyfive hundred thousand, in Vālukāprabhā fifteen hundred thousand, in Pankaprabhā ten hundred thousand, in Dhūmaprabhā three hundred thousand, in Tamah prabhā one hundred thousand less five and in Mahatamanprabhā five abodes. In the first earth (Ratnaprabhā) there are thirteen layers. Below that up to the seventh, the layers are less by two and two. Other details must be ascertained from special treatises such as Lokānuyoga.
Now what is the peculiarity of the infernal beings in these earths ?
1 thin: rarefied. 9 The infernal abodes are cavities or hollow places.
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