大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 83.32

83.32

Regarding the commentary's remark that "The Māra kings are mostly great bodhisattvas": this refers to the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra, corresponding to the chapter on the "Inconceivable" in the second fascicle. On the occasion of explaining how the room accommodated the spacious seats, all due to the power of the inconceivable liberation, [Vimalakīrti] extensively explained inconceivable matters by means of upāya. After Kāśyapa finished lamenting in sorrow, Vimalakīrti then spoke to Mahākāśyapa, saying: "Virtuous one, those who act as Māra kings throughout the immeasurable asamyak-world realms of the ten directions are mostly bodhisattvas abiding in the inconceivable liberation, who, through the power of upāya to teach and transform sentient beings, manifest as Māra kings." This is the passage.