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## Shadow
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**Translation:** You may have heard about the river Vaitarani, which has a sharp edge like a razor. That river is very difficult to cross. It is very difficult to even go near it. The beings of hell, tormented by sharp arrows, iron thorns, and weapons with sharp points like spears and tridents, jump into that river in fear.
**Study of Hell Divisions**
If you have heard about this Vaitarani, which is difficult to cross and has a current as sharp as a razor. Those who are tormented by weapons and spears, jump into that difficult to cross Vaitarani.
**Commentary:** Sudharmaswami says to Jambuswami - As the Bhagavan has said, if you have heard about the river Vaitarani, which is a river of saline, hot, and blood-like water, and is difficult to cross, and causes suffering. And, just as a razor is sharp, so are its currents, which are sharp enough to cut off body parts. Those beings of hell, who have left behind the earth, which is like burning coals, and are thirsty, jump into that terrifying Vaitarani to relieve their suffering. How are they? They are tormented by arrows, spears, and weapons, and they jump into that terrifying Vaitarani. Here, the seventh case ending is used in the third case.
**Commentary Meaning:** Shri Sudharmaswami says to Jambuswami that the Bhagavan Mahavira has said about the river Vaitarani, which has saline, hot, and blood-like water. Just as the edge of a razor is very sharp, so is the current of that river. The beings of hell suffer greatly when they touch that current. Therefore, it is very difficult to cross, and it causes suffering. The beings of hell, who are burning and thirsty, leave behind the earth, which is like burning coals, and jump into that terrifying river to bathe and relieve their suffering. How are they? They are tormented by arrows, iron thorns, or spears, and they jump into that terrifying Vaitarani. Here, the seventh case ending is used in the third case.
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**Om Om Om**
They pierce with nails, those who have done bad deeds, they do not get on the boat, they are devoid of memory. Others, however, are pierced with spears and tridents, they are made to suffer by being pierced with long weapons. || 9 ||
## Shadow
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They pierce with nails, those who have done good deeds, they do not get on the boat, they are devoid of memory. Others, however, are pierced with spears and tridents, they are made to suffer by being pierced with long weapons.
**Translation:** The beings of hell, tormented by the suffering of Vaitarani, start to get on the boat, then the hellish deities who are already there pierce the necks of those unfortunate ones with nails. Those who have already lost their senses due to the suffering of Vaitarani, have lost their minds. Those beings of hell are further distressed by this suffering. Some other hellish deities, for their own amusement, pierce the beings of hell with spears and tridents and throw them on the earth.
**Commentary:** Those beings of hell, who are tormented by the saline, hot, and foul-smelling water of Vaitarani, approach the boat, which is full of nails. The 'Asadhu Karma' (those who have done bad deeds), who are very righteous, pierce them in their necks with nails. Those who are being pierced, tremble and shake.
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