Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
## Translation:
**[374]** In the *Prajñāpanā Sūtra*, the two sūtras (453, 454) that discuss the infinite *paryāyas* (cycles) of *vāṇavyantara*, *jyotiṣka* and *vaimānika* devās (celestial beings), present the *catur-sthāna-patita* (four-fold difference in status), *ṣaṭ-sthāna-patita* (six-fold difference in status) and *tri-sthāna-patita* (three-fold difference in status) of these beings to explain their infinite *paryāyas*.
The *vāṇavyantara* devās are *catur-sthāna-patita* (four-fold difference in status), while the *jyotiṣka* and *vaimānika* devās are *tri-sthāna-patita* (three-fold difference in status). The *vāṇavyantara* devās have a lowest status of 10,000 years and a highest status of one *palya-upam* (a unit of time). Therefore, they can also be *catur-sthāna-patita* (four-fold difference in status). However, the *jyotiṣka* and *vaimānika* devās only have a *tri-sthāna-patita* (three-fold difference in status) because their lowest status is one-eighth of a *palya-upam* and their highest status is one lakh years more than a *palya-upam*. Therefore, they cannot have an infinite increase or decrease in their status.
The *vaimānika* devās have a lowest status of one *palya-upam* and a highest status of thirty-three *sāgara-upam* (a unit of time). One *sāgara-upam* is equal to ten *koṭa-koṭi* *palya-upam*. Therefore, the *vaimānika* devās also cannot have an infinite increase or decrease in their status. This is why the *jyotiṣka* and *vaimānika* devās are only *tri-sthāna-patita* (three-fold difference in status) in their status.
**[455]** The *paryāyas* (cycles) of the *nāraka* (hell beings) with different levels of *avagāhana* (absorption) are as follows:
**[1]** "O Gautama! How many *paryāyas* (cycles) are there for the *nairaika* (hell beings) with *jaghanya-avagāhana* (lowest absorption)?"
"O Gautama! There are infinite *paryāyas* (cycles)."
"O Gautama! Why is it said that there are infinite *paryāyas* (cycles) for the *nairaika* (hell beings) with *jaghanya-avagāhana* (lowest absorption)?"
"O Gautama! A *nairaika* (hell being) with *jaghanya-avagāhana* (lowest absorption) is equal to another *nairaika* (hell being) with *jaghanya-avagāhana* (lowest absorption) in terms of *dravya* (substance), *pradeśa* (space), and *avagāhana* (absorption). However, they are *catur-sthāna-patita* (four-fold difference in status) in terms of *sthiti* (status) and *ṣaṭ-sthāna-patita* (six-fold difference in status) in terms of *varṇa* (color), *gandha* (smell), *rasa* (taste), *sparśa* (touch), *jñāna* (knowledge), *ajñāna* (ignorance), and *darśana* (perception)."
**[2]** "O Gautama! How many *paryāyas* (cycles) are there for the *nairaika* (hell beings) with *ukkośa-avagāhana* (highest absorption)?"
"O Gautama! There are infinite *paryāyas* (cycles)."
"O Gautama! Why is it said that there are infinite *paryāyas* (cycles) for the *nairaika* (hell beings) with *ukkośa-avagāhana* (highest absorption)?"