Cubibobi (Lang) asked: “Does anyone know the Pali breakdown of the word niraya?
The Pali root “ra” means “to enjoy.” For example, “rāga” comes from “ra” + “agga” where “agga” means foremost. Thus kāma rāga means putting a high-value on “kāma” or sensory pleasures.
Niraya comes from “ni” + “ra“, where “ni” indicates without. Thus niraya means “where any enjoyment is absent.”
– That is why niraya (hell) is the lowest realm. Even animals enjoy life sometimes. The animal realm is the “best” of the four. The preta (or peta) and the asura realms are in between (as far as suffering is concerned.)