法華義疏 1.354

1.354

八部之中無夜叉及摩睺羅伽者，以略故爾也。初列天眾，為二：前列欲界天眾，次色界天眾。然上來列眾多從勝至劣，今從劣至勝者可有二義：一者、顯小乘意，欲界天有初入聖道，色界天不能，即是從勝至劣。二者、欲天是佛檀越，為地住天，以去佛近故前說之。

Among the eight classes [of beings], the absence of yakṣas and mahoragas is merely due to brevity. First, listing the celestial assembly, which consists of two parts: first listing the celestial assembly of the desire realm, next the celestial assembly of the form realm. While listing the assemblies above mostly proceeded from superior to inferior, now proceeding from inferior to superior admits of two meanings: First, to manifest the meaning of the Hīnayāna: devas of the desire realm can initially enter the noble path, while devas of the form realm cannot, which is itself proceeding from superior to inferior. Second, the desire-realm devas are the Buddha's dānapatis (patrons) and are terrestrial devas; because they are close to the Buddha, they are spoken of first.