Hell - Naraku

It means hell. It is a transliteration of the Sanskrit naraka, and is also written as naraka, na-rakuka, or naraka. In Chinese, it is translated as hell, evil path, impossible happiness, no salvation, misconduct, and darkness. A synonym is niraya (muddy plow, muddy plow). It refers to an underground prison where those who committed evil deeds in life are punished after death and atone for their sins. By extension, it is used to mean the lowest point or dead end of something, and also refers to the underground area under the stage or runway of a theater.

[Takao Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

地獄の意。サンスクリットのナラカnarakaの音訳語で、那落迦、捺落迦、那羅柯とも記す。漢訳では地獄のほか、悪道、不可楽、不可救済、非行、闇冥(あんみょう)と訳す。同義語にニラヤniraya（泥犂、泥黎耶）がある。生前に悪業(あくごう)をなした者が、死後その報いとして呵責(かしゃく)を受け罪を償う地下の牢獄(ろうごく)をいう。転じて、物事のどん底、どん詰まりの意に用い、また、劇場の舞台や花道の下に設けられた地下部分をもいう。

［丸山孝雄］

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