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## 220 [Jivajivaabhigamsutra, O Bhagavan! (As you said) it is so, it is so / Thus, the first Nairyika Uddeshaka is complete.
**Discussion:** This Sutra raises questions regarding the relative equality, superiority, or inferiority, or the numerical superiority or inferiority, in terms of the external size and extent of the Naraka-Prithvis.
**Doubt:** It may be doubted that since the external size of the Naraka-Prithvis has been explained in the previous Sutras, this information is already known, so what is the use of these questions? This doubt is valid, but the solution is that these questions are asked to dispel the ignorance of others who are slow-witted, even though the speaker already knows the answers.
**Types of Questions:** There are two types of questions - one is a Gya-Prashna (question for knowledge) and the other is an Agnya-Prashna (question for ignorance). A question asked with the intention of explaining to others, even though the speaker already knows the answer, is a Gya-Prashna. A question asked out of one's own curiosity is an Agnya-Prashna.
**The Question:** The question asked above is a Gya-Prashna, asked for the benefit of the slow-witted. How can we say it is a Gya-Prashna? Because the question that follows is for self-realization.
**The Question and Answer:** The Sutra asks whether the Ratnaprabha-Prithvi is equal in thickness, superior, or numerically superior to the other Naraka-Prithvis. The answer is that it is not equal, it is superior, but not numerically superior. This is because the thickness of Ratnaprabha is one lakh eighty thousand yojanas, and the thickness of the other Sharkara-Prithvi is one lakh thirty-two thousand yojanas. There is a difference of forty-eight thousand yojanas between the two.
**Explanation:** Due to this difference, only superiority occurs, not equality or numerical superiority. We will list the thickness of all the Prithvis here so that it becomes clear that the first Prithvi is superior in external size to the second, the second is superior to the third, the third is superior to the fourth, and so on, until the sixth Prithvi is superior in thickness to the seventh.
**Thickness of the Prithvis:** The thickness of the first Prithvi is one lakh eighty thousand yojanas. The thickness of the second Prithvi is one lakh thirty-two thousand yojanas. The thickness of the third Prithvi is one lakh twenty-eight thousand yojanas. The thickness of the fourth Prithvi is one lakh twenty thousand yojanas. The thickness of the fifth Prithvi is one lakh eighteen thousand yojanas. The thickness of the sixth Prithvi is one lakh sixteen thousand yojanas. The thickness of the seventh Prithvi is one lakh eight thousand yojanas.
**Conclusion:** Therefore, in terms of external size, each preceding Prithvi is superior to its preceding Prithvi, not equal or numerically superior. In terms of extent, each preceding Prithvi is inferior to its preceding Prithvi, not equal or numerically inferior. As the area of the Ratnaprabha increases due to the growth of the Pradesh, etc., the area of the Sharkaraprabha, etc., also increases proportionally. Therefore, only inferiority occurs.