維摩經略疏 2.11

2.11

問：勝天甚多，何故別出梵王帝釋？答：梵王是世界主天，帝是地居天主，皆是請佛轉法輪主。又並是佛檀越，故先別列，證經親故。

Question: There are very many superior devas; why are only the Brahmā kings and Śakra singled out? Answer: The Brahmā king is the lord of the world, and the heavenly lord [Śakra] is the lord of the ground-dwelling devas; both are lords who request the Buddha to turn the wheel of the Dharma. Moreover, both are the Buddha's dānapatis; hence they are listed separately first, because their connection to the sūtra is intimate.