2

‘‘Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ,
Chattiṃsatīṃ pañca ca abbudāni;

Yamariyagarahī nirayaṃ upeti,
Vācaṃ manañca paṇidhāya pāpakan’’ti.

~ Cited from: Paṭhamakhatasuttaṃ, Bhaṇḍagāmavagga, Catukkanipātapāḷi, Aṅguttaranikāya, Tipitaka. (English translation: Paṭhamakaṭasuttaṃ)

‘‘Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu vīsatikhāriko kosalako tilavāho. Tato puriso vassasatassa vassasatassa accayena ekamekaṃ tilaṃ uddhareyya; khippataraṃ kho so, bhikkhu, vīsatikhāriko kosalako tilavāho iminā upakkamena parikkhayaṃ pariyādānaṃ gaccheyya, na tveva eko abbudo nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati abbudā nirayā, evameko nirabbudanirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati nirabbudā nirayā, evameko ababo nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati ababā nirayā, evameko aṭaṭo nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati aṭaṭā nirayā, evameko ahaho nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati ahahā nirayā, evameko kumudo nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati kumudā nirayā, evameko sogandhiko nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati sogandhikā nirayā, evameko uppalanirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati uppalā nirayā, evameko puṇḍariko nirayo. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, vīsati puṇḍarikā nirayā, evameko padumo nirayo. Padume pana, bhikkhu, niraye kokāliko bhikkhu upapanno sāriputtamoggallānesu cittaṃ āghātetvā’’ti.

~ Cited from: Kokālikasuttaṃ, Brahmasaṃyuttaṃ, Sagāthāvagga, Saṃyuttanikāya, Tipitaka (English translation: Kokāliko II –– The Bhikkhu Kokālika II)

According to the above two texts which I have highlighted in bold, it seems there should be a counting system in Pali. Sometimes the lifespan of sentient beings in certain realms used as numbers.

My questions are:

  1. Are there any equivalent numbers which can be written in Hindu-Arabic numerals for numbers used in Pali (like Abbuda, Nirabbuda, Paduma, ...)?
  2. If there is a different counting system in Pali other than I've mentioned, please explain.
  3. What is the time period mentioned in ‘‘Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ, Chattiṃsatīṃ pañca ca abbudāni"

1 Answer 1

1

Are there any equivalent numbers which can be written in Hindu-Arabic numerals for numbers used in Pali

I found one here by Googling for "pali numerals": Pali Numbers - Ancient Buddhist Texts

This is a list of commonly found Pāḷi numbers which occur in the literature.

What is the time period mentioned in ‘‘Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ, Chattiṃsatīṃ pañca ca abbudāni"

The reference I cited above says,

1 + 63 zeros: nirabbutaṁ

Ven. Sugato's translation of that sutta says,

For more than two quinquadecillion years,
Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ,

and another five quattuordecillion years,
Chattiṃsatī pañca ca abbudāni;

I don't know if those are the same numbers; I can't count that high in English!

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .