A time-unit of innumerable years.
It is of two kinds- 1. Vyāvahārika (empirical), 2. Sukṣma (subtle).
Vyāvahārika Kṣetra Palyopama: There is a cylindrical pit (or vessel) measuring one Yojana each in length, breadth and height, and with a circumference of slightly more than three Yojanas. It is made cram-full with the billions of hair-tips of the children of the age of one day upto seven days. Every Samaya (the smallest time-unit) a single space-unit from the total number of space-units which are occupied by the total number of hair-tips is (imaginarily) taken out; the total period of time that elapses for emptying it completely is called Vyāvahārika Kṣetra Palyopama. It is of no use (purpose); only for the sake of propounding, it is propounded. Sukṣma Kṣetra Palyopama: a single space-unit from the total number of space-units of that cylinder, whether they are occupied or not occupied by the hairpieces, is (imaginarily) taken out. The total period of time that elapses for emptying it completely is called "Sukṣma Kṣetra Palyopama".
tattha nam jese vāvahārie, se jahānāmae palle siy ā-joyanam āyāma-vikkhambhenam, joyanam uddham uccattenam, tarn tigunam savise- sam parikkhevenam; se nam palle- Gāhā-
egāhiya-beyāhiya-teyāhiya, ukkosenam sattarattapariīdhānam. sammatthe sannicite, bharie vālaggakodīnam.
jam nam tassa āgāsapaesā tehim vālaggehim apphunnā, tao nam samae-samae egamevam āgāsapaesam avahāya jāvaienam kālenam se palle khīne nirae nilleve nitthie bhavai, se tam vāvahārie khettapaliovame. eehimvāvahāriyakhettapaliovamasāgarovamehim natthi kimcippaoyanam, kevalam pannavattham pannavijjai. se tam vāvahārie khettapaliovame..
se kim tam suhume khettapaliovame? suhume khettapaliovame, se jahānāmae palle siyā- joyanam āyāma-vikkhambhenam, joyanam uddham uccattenam, tam tigunam savisesam parikkhevenam; se nam palle- Gāhā-
egāhiya-beyāhiya-teyāhiya, ukkosenam sattarattaparūdhānam. samatthe sannicite, bharie vālaggakodīnam.
tattha nam egamege vālagge asamkhejjāim khamdāim kajjai, je nam tassa pallassa āgāsapaesā tehim bālaggehim apphunnā vā anapphu- nnāvā, tao nam samae-samae egamegam āgāsapaesam avahāya jāvaienam kālenam se palle khīne nīrae nilleve nitthie bhavai, se tam suhume khettapaliovame.
(Anu 434,436-438)