<p><strong>Are there any equivalent numbers which can be written in Hindu-Arabic numerals for numbers used in Pali</strong></p>

<p>I found one here by Googling for "pali numerals": <a href="https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Textual-Studies/Grammar/Pali-Numbers.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Pali Numbers - Ancient Buddhist Texts</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This is a list of commonly found Pāḷi numbers which occur in the literature.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>What is the time period mentioned in ‘‘Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ, Chattiṃsatīṃ pañca ca abbudāni"</strong></p>

<p>The reference I cited above says,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>1 + 63 zeros: nirabbutaṁ</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://suttacentral.net/an4.3/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ven. Sugato's translation</a> of that sutta says,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>For more than two quinquadecillion years,<br>
  <em>Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ,</em></p>
  
  <p>and another five quattuordecillion years,<br>
  <em>Chattiṃsatī pañca ca abbudāni;</em></p>
</blockquote>

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

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-02T14:16:35.123Z
2019-02-02T14:16:35.123Z
ChrisW
<blockquote>
  <p>‘‘<strong>Sataṃ sahassānaṃ nirabbudānaṃ,<br>
  Chattiṃsatīṃ pañca ca abbudāni;</strong><br>
  Yamariyagarahī nirayaṃ upeti,<br>
  Vācaṃ manañca paṇidhāya pāpakan’’ti.  </p>
</blockquote>

<p>~ Cited from: Paṭhamakhatasuttaṃ, Bhaṇḍagāmavagga, Catukkanipātapāḷi, Aṅguttaranikāya, Tipitaka. (English translation: <a href="http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara2/4-catukkanipata/001-bhandagamavaggo-e.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Paṭhamakaṭasuttaṃ</a>)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>‘‘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, <strong>vīsati abbudā nirayā, evameko nirabbudanirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati nirabbudā nirayā, evameko ababo nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati ababā nirayā, evameko aṭaṭo nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati aṭaṭā nirayā, evameko ahaho nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati ahahā nirayā, evameko kumudo nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati kumudā nirayā, evameko sogandhiko nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati sogandhikā nirayā, evameko uppalanirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati uppalā nirayā, evameko puṇḍariko nirayo.</strong> Seyyathāpi, bhikkhu, <strong>vīsati puṇḍarikā nirayā, evameko padumo nirayo.</strong> Padume pana, bhikkhu, niraye kokāliko bhikkhu upapanno sāriputtamoggallānesu cittaṃ āghātetvā’’ti.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~ Cited from:  Kokālikasuttaṃ, Brahmasaṃyuttaṃ, Sagāthāvagga, Saṃyuttanikāya, Tipitaka (English translation: <a href="http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/3Samyutta-Nikaya/Samyutta1/06-Brahma-Samyutta/01-Kokalikavaggo-e.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kokāliko II –– The Bhikkhu Kokālika II</a>)</p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>My questions are:</p>

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

<pali-language>
Is there a defined counting system in Pali?
# Is there a defined counting system in Pali?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-28)

> ‘‘**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](http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara2/4-catukkanipata/001-bhandagamavaggo-e.html))

> ‘‘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](http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/3Samyutta-Nikaya/Samyutta1/06-Brahma-Samyutta/01-Kokalikavaggo-e.html))

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"**

**Tags:** pali-language


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-02-02. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

**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](https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/Textual-Studies/Grammar/Pali-Numbers.htm)

> 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](https://suttacentral.net/an4.3/en/sujato) 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!


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