Relevant passage of the sutta:
``katamaa ca, raahula, aakaasadhaatu? aakaasadhaatu siyaa ajjhattikaa,
siyaa baahiraa.
"And what, Rahula, is the space element? The space element may be internal
or external.
katamaa ca, raahula, ajjhattikaa aakaasadhaatu? ya.m ajjhatta.m
paccatta.m aakaasa.m aakaasagata.m upaadinna.m,
And what, Rahula, is the internal space element? That, internally, and
individually, is space, empty, and clung to,
seyyathida.m --
ka.n.nacchidda.m naasacchidda.m²
namely: the orifice of the ear, nose, mouth.²
Ya.m ajjhatta.m paccatta.m aakaasa.m aakaasagata.m upaadinna.m,
That, internally, and individually, is space, spacious, and clung to,
seyyathida.m - ka.n.nacchidda.m naasacchidda.m mukhadvaara.m,
namely: the orifice of the ear, nostril, mouth,
yena ca asitapiitakhaayitasaayita.m ajjhoharati,
whereby (food that) is consumed having being tasted, drunk and eaten
is swallowed,
yattha ca asitapiitakhaayitasaayita.m santi.t.thati,
where (food that) is consumed having being tasted, drunk and eaten is
stored,
yena ca asitapiitakhaayitasaayita.m adhobhaaga.m nikkhamati..
and whereby (food) being tasted, chewed, drunk and eaten passes out of the
body lower down.
Commentary:
words:
paraama.t.tha : clung to (paraamasati)
sariira (n) : body
a.t.thi (n): bone
ka.n.na (n): ear
chidda (n): cavity, hole
chidda.t.thaana: hollow place, hollow tract
ma.msa (n): flesh
lohita (n): blood
samphu.t.tha: touched (samphusati)
vivara (n): cavity
ajjhoharati: he swallows
anto: inside
bandhana (n): connection, union, ligature
udara (n): stomach, belly
pa.talaa (f):membrane, lining (mucous membrane of stomach)
angula (n): inch, finger
vidatthi (f): a span, cube, 12 angulas or fingers.
vidatthicatura"ngula: one cube and four fingers
okaasa (m): open space, room, occasion
pati.t.thaati: stand up against, be established
parissaavana (n): filter
pa.ta (m): cloth
matta: consisting of, just like
adho: under
adhobhaaga (m): lower part
anta (n) : intestines
vanka: bent
sukhuma: subtle, refined
camma (n): hide, membrane, skin
loma (n): hair of body.
kuupa (m): cavity
lomakuupa: pore of skin.
Text:
aakaasadhaatuya.m aakaasagatanti aakaasabhaava.m gata.m.
With regard to the element of space, the expression, ³connected with space²
means: having the characteristic of emptiness.
upaadinnanti aadinna.m gahita.m paraama.t.tha.m, sariira.t.thakanti attho.
As to the expression, clung to, this means, clung to, grasped and
misapprehended. The meaning is that it refers to the bodily frame *.
ka.n.nacchiddanti ma.msalohitaadiihi asamphu.t.thaka.n.navivara.m.
As to the expression, cavity in the ear, this means, an opening in the ear,
not touched by flesh and blood, etc.
naasacchiddaadiisupi eseva nayo.
With regard to cavity in the nose etc. this is also according to the same
system of teaching.
yena caati yena chiddena.
As to the words ³and that by which² , this means: by which cavity.
ajjhoharatiiti anto paveseti,
As to the words, ³he swallows², this means, he makes it go inside.
jivhaabandhanato hi yaava udarapa.talaa manussaana.m vidatthicatura"ngula.m
chidda.t.thaana.m hoti.
From the base of the tongue as far as the mucous membrane of the intestines
of humans there is a hollow tract of one cube and four fingers length.
ta.m sandhaayeta.m vutta.m.
Now, this is said in this connection.
yattha caati yasmi.m okaase.
As to the words, ³And where², this means: at whichever occasion.
santi.t.thatiiti pati.t.thaati.
As to the expression, it remains, this means: it is established.
manussaana~nhi mahanta.m pa.taparissaavanamatta~nca udarapa.tala.m naama
hoti.
What is like a large filter for humans is called intestines.
ta.m sandhaayeta.m vutta.m.
Now, this is said in this connection.
adhobhaaga.m nikkhamatiiti yena he.t.thaa nikkhamati.
As to the words, it comes out at the lower part, this means: where it comes
out underneath.
dvatti.msahatthamatta.m ekaviisatiyaa .thaanesu va"nka.m anta.m naama hoti.
Here, the intestines have been referred to that are thirtytwo cubits (a
cubit being half a yard) in length and coiled in twentyone places **.
ta.m sandhaayeta.m vutta.m.
Now, this is said in this connection.
ya.m vaa pana~n~nampiiti
As to the words, or whatever else,
iminaa sukhumasukhuma.m cammama.msaadiantaragata~nceva lomakuupabhaavena ca
.thita.m aakaasa.m dasseti.
this means: by this he explains the very subtle space situated between the
inner skin and flesh and so on, which is like skin pores ***.
Here, the other words should be understood in the same way as what is said
with reference to the element of earth and so on ****.
*****
English:
With regard to the element of space, the expression, ³connected with space²
means: having the characteristic of emptiness.
As to the expression, clung to, this means, clung to, grasped and
misapprehended. The meaning is that it refers to the bodily frame *.
As to the expression, cavity in the ear, this means, an opening in the ear,
not touched by flesh and blood, etc.
With regard to cavity in the nose etc. this is also according to the same
system of teaching.
As to the words ³and that by which² , this means: by which cavity.
As to the words, ³he swallows², this means, he makes it go inside.
From the base of the tongue as far as the mucous membrane of the intestines
of humans there is a hollow tract of one cube and four fingers length.
Now, this is said in this connection.
As to the words, ³And where², this means: at whichever occasion.
As to the expression, it remains, this means: it is established.
What is like a large filter for humans is called intestines.
Now, this is said in this connection.
As to the words, it comes out at the lower part, this means: where it comes
out underneath.
Here, the intestines have been referred to that are thirtytwo cubits (a
cubit being half a yard) in length and coiled in twentyone places **.
Now, this is said in this connection.
As to the words, or whatever else, this means: by this he explains the very
subtle space situated between the inner skin and flesh and so on, which is
like skin pores ***.
Here, the other words should be understood in the same way as what is said
with reference to the element of earth and so on ****.
____________
* The subcommentary states: clung to by carving (tanhaa) and wrong view
(di.t.thi)
**See also Visuddhimagga VIII, 118-120, for the intestines, etc.
*** The Visuddhimagga VI, 89, states that there are ninety-nine thousand
pores.
**** The subcommentary refers to the ³Discourse on the Elephant¹s
Footprint².