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THE MINIMUM LIFETIME OF INFERNAL BEINGS
Sānaikumāra and Mahendra is a little over seven sāgaropamas. And that is the minimum in Brahma and Brahmottara. Similarly with regard to the rest.
The maximum lifetime of infernal beings has been described. The minimum has not been mentioned in the sutra. Nor is it the subject under consideration. Yet it is described here for the sake of brevity.
- नारकाणां च द्वितीयादिषु Nārakānām ca dvitiyādişu
(35) 35. The same with regard to infernal beings from the second infernal region onwards.
What for is 'ca' used ? . It is for taking over the rule just mentioned. What is it? The maximum of the immediately preceding is the minimum of the next one. From this the following meaning is inferred. The maximum lifetime of infernal beings in the first earth Ratnaprabhā is one sägaropama. That is the minimum in the second earth SarkaraPrabhā. The maximum lifetime of infernal beings in the second earth is three sāgaropamas. And that is the minimum in the third, namely Välukāprabhā.
Thus the minimum life time from the second earth onwards has been mentioned. What is the minimum in the first ?
दशवर्षसहस्राणि प्रथमायाम
Daśavarşasahasrāni prathamāyām (36) 36. Ten thousand years in the first.
"The minimum lifetime' is supplied. The minimum lifetime in the first earth is ten thousand years. What is the minimum lifetime of the Residential devas ?
भवनेषु च Bhavanesu ca
(37) 37. In the Residential regions also.
What does 'ca' signify? It is intended to include the present subject. Therefore, it follows that the minimum lifetime of the Residential devas is also ten thousand years.
If so what is the minimum of the Peripatetic devas?
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