法華經義記 1.97

1.97

今且就列天之中自有兩段：第一先列欲界諸天，第二列色界諸天也。列欲界天中又不盡，唯列初二天、後二天，合有四天，略無中間二天也。又不次第。「釋提桓因」者，此是欲界第二天，是佛天上檀越，故在前列。外國名謂釋提桓因，譯言能為天主也。下「名月、普香、寶光」等，皆是帝釋輔臣，故次第下列之也。「四天王天」，此則倒列欲界第一天，即是須彌四埵頭首，亦各有眷屬也。「自在天子」者，是欲界第五化樂天，諸有所須能自化作也。「大自在天子」者，即是欲界第六天他化自在天，明諸所須皆是他人化作也。略不列第三炎魔天、第四兜率他天，既列前後四天，中間二天可知也。

Now, taking the listing of the devas, it contains two sections: first, the devas of the desire realm are listed, and second, the devas of the form realm are listed. Within the listing of the devas of the desire realm, it is also not exhaustive: it lists only the first two heavens and the last two heavens, making four heavens in all, while omitting the middle two heavens. They are also not in order. 'Śakra Devānām-indra' is the second heaven of the desire realm; he is the Buddha's heavenly dānapati (patron), and is therefore listed first. In foreign languages he is called Śakra Devānām-indra, which translates as 'able to be lord of devas'. Below, 'Candradeva, Gandhadeva, Prabhāpāla', and so forth, are all imperial ministers assisting Śakra, and are therefore listed in order below him. 'The devas of the Four Heavenly Kings': this is an inverse listing of the first heaven of the desire realm; these are the leaders of the four stepped terraces of Mount Sumeru, and each also has their retinue. 'Suniścita Devaputra' is the fifth heaven of the desire realm, the Heaven of Transforming with Pleasure (Nirmāṇarati), where whatever is required can be created by oneself. 'Mahāśrutasoma Devaputra' is the sixth heaven of the desire realm, the Heaven of Mastery over Transformations of Others (Paranirmitavaśavartin), which indicates that whatever is required is all transformed by others. The third heaven, Yāma, and the fourth heaven, Tuṣita, are omitted and not listed; since the four heavens before and after are listed, the middle two heavens can be known.