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3. 1-6
Description of Hell
The description of mutual pains has been mentioned above. The third pain is intensely sinful. The first two pains are common in all seven realms. The third pain occurs only in the first three realms, as only in these realms are the highly sinful demons present. They possess a very cruel nature and are deeply engrossed in sin. Their categories include Amb, Ambarish, and others totaling fifteen types. By nature, they are so ruthless and inquisitive that they find joy in tormenting others. Therefore, they continuously afflict the souls in hell through various kinds of attacks. They make them fight among themselves like dogs, buffaloes, and wrestlers. They take great pleasure in witnessing the struggles and fights of the souls in hell. Even though they are a type of divine being in a certain sense, having attained many types of pleasures, their deep-rooted flaws from past lives bring them joy only in torturing others. The souls in hell, unfortunately, are powerless due to the karmic results, and they spend their entire lives experiencing intense pains. No matter how great the pain, there is no refuge for the souls in hell, and due to their indeterminate lifespan, life does not end quickly either.
Position of the Souls in Hell - The status (lifespan limit) of living beings is of two types: lowly and exalted. The lowly status is that which does not diminish, and the exalted is that which does not increase. Here, the instruction is specifically about the exalted status of the souls in hell. The description of the lowly status will be given later. In the first realm, the lifespan is said to be equal to one ocean, in the second realm it is three, in the third realm seven, in the fourth realm ten, in the fifth realm seventeen, in the sixth realm twenty-two, and in the seventh realm thirty-three oceans. Here, the general description of the lower realms is complete. There are two points to be particularly noted - the direction of movement (arrival) and the potential for islands and oceans.
Movement - Insensate beings can be born in the first realm after death. Creatures with limited movement can exist in the first two realms, birds can exist in three realms, lions in four realms, serpents in five realms, women in six realms, and fish and humans in the seventh realm. In summary, only tiryanch (non-human creatures) and humans can be born in hell; divine beings and hellish beings cannot. The reason is that they lack such resolve. Souls in hell do not immediately take birth again in the hellish realm nor in the divine realm. They can only be reborn in the tiryanch and human status.
Progress - The souls in hell from the first three realms can attain the status of Tirthankara by progressing to human status. The souls in hell from the four realms can also reach human status...