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## 246] Why is there a difference between the Narakas with Maha-sharira (great body) and others?
Those Narakas who have Maha-sharira consume a lot of Pudgalas (matter) compared to those with smaller bodies, because their bodies are larger. It is common knowledge in the world that elephants, which have large bodies, consume more food than rabbits, which have smaller bodies. However, this statement should be understood in terms of the majority, because some humans, despite having large bodies, are light eaters, and some, despite having small bodies, are heavy eaters. Here, too, smallness and greatness should be understood relatively.
Naraka beings, due to the arising of Asata-vedaniya (unpleasant) experience, contrary to the experience of Sata-vedaniya (pleasant), are, as it were, those with Maha-sharira, experiencing extreme suffering and intense desire for food, and thus they consume a lot of Pudgalas and transform a lot of Pudgalas. Transformation happens according to the Pudgalas consumed as food. Here, even though there is no question about the result, it has been explained because it is the function of food.
Similarly, due to having Maha-sharira, they inhale and exhale a lot of Pudgalas. Those who have large bodies (giant) inhale and exhale much more than those of their kind with smaller bodies, and they also suffer more. Therefore, such Narakas are said to suffer more.
Due to the difference in time related to food, etc., those with Maha-sharira are seen to consume food more frequently and repeatedly than those with smaller bodies. When they eat frequently, they also transform frequently, and they inhale and exhale frequently. The point is that Maha-kaya Narakas, due to having Maha-sharira and experiencing extreme suffering, continuously perform the actions of inhalation, etc.
Those Narakas who have relatively smaller bodies consume fewer Pudgalas than Maha-kaya Narakas, transform fewer Pudgalas, and inhale and exhale fewer Pudgalas. They may eat, but not always. The implication is that the interval between meals for Maha-kaya Narakas is less than that for the smaller Narakas. Because they eat less frequently, they may transform less frequently, not always. Similarly, they may inhale and exhale, but not always. Because smaller Narakas experience less suffering than Maha-kaya Narakas, they do not continuously perform the actions of inhalation and exhalation, but do so with intervals.
Or, due to having a smaller body, they do not eat as much as they would like to in a given time, and due to not having enough time for inhalation and exhalation, they do not inhale. In other times (sufficient time), they eat and inhale.
**Difference in Karma, Varna (caste), and Leshya (temperament) between Narakas born earlier and later:**
Those Narakas who have already been born have less Karma, because more time has passed since their birth. They have already experienced a lot of Naraka-ayu (life in hell), Naraka-gati (path to hell), and Asata-vedaniya, etc.