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Chapter III The Lower and middle worlds
Pri&'køj k&ckydk&i d&/kve&rekkegkre% Hkk Hkre; ks
?kukEcokrkdk'k&i fr"B I Irk- /kks /K% III.1 Ratna- arkar -b luk -pamka-dh ma-tamo-mah tamah prabh Bh mayo
Ghan mbu - v t ka a-pratisth h Sapt (a)dho(a)dhah
vFk%
j Rui Hkk]' kØjki Hkk]ckydki Akk] i di Hkk] /ke i Hkk] re% Hkk vkg egkre% Hikk &;s I kr&Hkfe; ka?ku] VEcq] ‘okr’ Vk “vkdk'k' ds I gkjs Øe is uhp&uhps fLFkfr gå The lower world consists of seven 'lands' one below the other, surrounded by three kinds of strata (of light and dense air and space).
Meaning:
Q.III.1.1 A.III.I.1
How many 'lands / layers' (bhum )' are there in hell? There are seven 'lands'or layers of hell, namely: Ratnaprabh,
arkar prabh, B luk prabh, Pamkaprabh, Dh maprabh , Tamah prabh and Mah tamah prabh . These seven lands exist in the downward order (one below the other) with Ratnaprabh being the topmost supported by the cushions of humid atmosphere (ghana), dense air/water (ambu), which rests in a ring of thin / rarified air (v ta) resting in space (ka).
Q.III.1.2 A.III.1.2
Why has the word hue 'prabh 'been used in the aphorism? Each 'land' of hell has a hue (prabh ), which is an attribute of light. Hence this word is associated with each of the seven lands.
Q.III.1.3 A.III.1.3
What is the meaning of Ratnaprabh and arkar prabh ? That land which is gem-hued is called Ratnaprabh . That land which is pebble-hued ( arkar ) is called arkar prabh .
Q.III.1.4 A.III.1.4
What is the meaning of B luk prabh and Pamkaprabh ? That 'land' which is sand-hued (b luk ) is called B luk prabh . That ‘land' which is mud-hued is called Pamkaprabh .
Q.III.1.5 A.III.1.5
What is the meaning of Dh maprabh ? That 'land' which is smoke-hued is called Dh maprabh.
Q.III.1.6 A.III.1.6
What is the meaning of Tamah prabh and Mah tamah prabh ? That 'land' which is dark-hued is called Tamah prabh . That'land' which is pitch-dark-hued is called Mah tamah prabh .
Q.III.1.7 A.III.1.7
What is meaning of ghana, ambu and y ta? Ghana means thick or humid; ambu means dense or a mix of water and air, and v ta means air.
Q.III.1.8 A.III.1.8
What are ghana, ambu and y ta? These are cushions which form the support systems of the 'lands' filling the inter layer spaces.
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