觀彌勒上生兜率天經贊 1.64

1.64

The Commentary says: Third is the assembly of the eight classes [of beings]. As for the eight classes: first, devas; second, nāgas; third, yakṣas, formerly called yecha; fourth, gandharvas, formerly called gandapo; fifth, asuras, formerly called axiuluo; sixth, garuḍas, formerly called jialouluo; seventh, kiṃnaras, formerly called jinnaluo; eighth, mahoragas, formerly called mohouluojia. Yakṣas are here called 'the valiant' or 'the violent and fierce'; they fly in the air and devour living beings, and also encompass terrestrial rākṣasas. Rākṣasa is here called 'terrible'. Gandharvas are here called 'those who proceed seeking fragrance'. Among the gods who make music there are these kinds; hence in the Western Regions itinerant musicians are called gandharvas. They do not engage in productive livelihoods; they seek out the fragrance of food, making music to beg. Asuras are here called 'non-gods'. 'A' means 'non', and 'sura' means 'god', which is another name for deva. They mostly practice flattery and deceit, lacking the conduct of those gods; hence they are called 'non-gods'. Garuḍas are fine-winged birds. Their wings and feathers are magnificent and adorned with varied colors, distinctly extraordinary among flocks of birds, the largest among birds; formerly called golden-winged birds, all flying birds are encompassed by them. Kiṃnaras are here called 'gods of song'. Mahoragas are here called 'large bellies'; species such as field frogs, toads, and pythons are all encompassed by them. Here only the head of each class is cited, but within each there are immeasurable diverse kinds of physical forms. All such assemblies of great multitudes, beholding the Buddha's light, all came and gathered. Because the Buddha's wisdom and compassion broadly guide and transform, all conscious beings rushed forward, hoping for the rain of Dharma to moisten their sprouts and longing for the medicine of wisdom to remove their myriad sufferings, just like returning to a loving father or turning to a king of physicians, simply because [his] equal compassion and kindness extend to both the animate and the inanimate.