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TATTVĀRTHA SUTRA: NETHER AND MIDDLE WORLDS : 41
CHAPTER–3 NETHER AND MIDDLE WORLDS
Nhe second chapter had a mention of four types of births of
living beings – the hellish beings (Nāraka), the human
beings (Manusya), the sub-human beings (Tiryanca) and the heavenly beings (Deva). In this chapter the venerable author describes the first three that live in the nether (Naraka) and the middle universe (Prth vi or Jambudvīpa) respectively.
The Nether World - • Ratnaśarkarābālukāparkadhūmatamomahātamah
prabhābhūmayo ghanāmibuvātākāśapratisthāh saptādho`dhah prthutarāh || 1 |||
Tāsu narakāḥ || 2 || The seven grounds known as Ratnaprabhā, sarkarāprabhā,
Bālukā-prabhā, Parikaprabhā, Dhūmaprabhā, Tamahprabhā, and Mahātamahprabhā are situated on the strata of dense water (vapours), air and void or space. They are (situated one under the other and are more spreadout as we go downwards. The hells are (located) therein. (1-2)
• Nityāśbhataraleśyāparināmadehavedanāvikriyāh || 3 || These hells are ever characterized by increasingly inauspicious
Lesya (colourations), Parinama (change of state), Deha (bodies), Vedana (tactile feeling), and Vikriya (self wrought bodily transformations). (3)
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