Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Third Multiplicity of Statements
**[271] How can hell beings touch all three realms when they are situated only in the lower realm, and how are they the fewest?**
The solution is that those who are born in the hell of fish, etc., residing in the pools on the peak of Mount Meru or on the peaks of Anjan, Dadhimuka, etc., at the time of death, spread their self-regions through the force of karma, touching all three realms. At that time, they are called hell beings because their birth in hell is imminent, and they experience the suffering of the hell life. Such hell beings are few, hence they are called the fewest.
**Compared to the hell beings who touch all three realms, there are countless times more hell beings in the lower realm and the intermediate realm.** This is because countless beings with five senses, residing in countless islands and oceans, when born in hell, touch these two realms. Therefore, they are countless times more than the hell beings who touch all three realms, because their region is countless times larger.
**The region of countless islands and oceans is countless times larger than the region of Mount Meru, etc.**
**(2) The fewest beings in the intermediate realm are those who are in the upper realm of the intermediate realm and the lower realm of the upper realm.** Compared to them, there are more beings in the lower realm and the intermediate realm, which are the upper realm of the lower realm and the lower realm of the intermediate realm. Compared to these, there are countless times more beings in the intermediate realm, the three realms, and the upper realm, respectively, in ascending order.
**Compared to the beings who touch all three realms, there are countless times more beings in the upper realm (in the realm called the upper realm).** Compared to these, there are more beings in the lower realm.
**The fewest female beings in the intermediate realm are those who touch the upper realm.** This is because there are female beings with five senses in the pools of Mount Meru, etc. Their region is small. Therefore, they are called the fewest. Compared to them, there are countless times more female beings in the upper realm and the intermediate realm (those who touch the two realms of the upper realm and the intermediate realm). This is because gods up to the Sahasrar Devaloka can be born in the wombs of female beings with five senses, and beings with the remaining bodies can also be born in them.
**When gods up to the Sahasrar Devaloka or beings with the remaining bodies are about to be born in the intermediate realm as female beings with five senses from the upper realm, they experience the lifespan of the female being.** In addition, when female beings with five senses in the intermediate realm are about to be born in the upper realm as gods or in any other form, they spread their self-regions to their place of birth through the force of karma at the time of death. By doing so, they touch both the aforementioned realms. At that time, they are called female beings of the intermediate realm, hence they are called countless times more. Compared to them, there are countless times more female beings in the three realms, those who touch all three realms.
**When beings from the lower realm, such as those who dwell in houses, those who live in the intermediate realm, those who are in hell, and those with other bodies, are born in the upper realm as female beings with five senses, or when a god, etc., from the upper realm is born in the lower realm as a female being, and they spread their self-regions in the form of punishment through the force of karma, they touch all three realms.**
**Such beings are many, hence it is appropriate to say that there are countless times more female beings in the three realms.**
**Compared to them, there are countless times more female beings of the intermediate realm who touch the lower realm and the intermediate realm.** Many beings in hell, etc., are born in the intermediate realm as female beings with five senses without experiencing the force of karma. Similarly, beings from the intermediate realm are born in the villages of the lower realm as female beings. At that time, they touch the aforementioned two realms and experience the lifespan of the female being. Therefore, they are called countless times more. Compared to them, there are countless times more female beings in the lower realm, i.e., in the realm of the lower realm.