大乘義章 7.8

7.8

次辨上下得報不同。如龍樹說「不善有三，謂下中上，下生餓鬼，中生畜生，上生地獄。善中亦三，謂下中上，下生修羅，中生人中，上生天生。」又更分別，「惡有四品，謂下中上及與上上，下生修羅，中生餓鬼，上生畜生，上上之者生地獄中。善中亦四，下者生人，中者生天，上品之者得二乘果，上上之者得無上果。」又《涅槃》中善分四品，下生欝單，中生弗婆，上生瞿耶，上上之者生閻浮提。蓋乃對道以分上下，彼欝單越不任受道下善生之，中上二品生處難解。若對道法，中品之善應生瞿耶，上生弗婆。但彼經中，中上兩品約報分耳。南閻浮提，受道中勝，上善生之。若對果報以分四品，下生閻浮，中生弗婆，上生瞿耶，上上之者生欝單越。三業之義，略辨如是。

Next, the differences in obtaining retribution as superior and inferior are discriminated. As Nāgārjuna says, "Unwholesome has three [grades], namely inferior, medium, and superior: the inferior is born as a hungry ghost; the medium is born as an animal; the superior is born in hell. Wholesome also has three [grades], namely inferior, medium, and superior: the inferior is born as an asura; the medium is born among humans; the superior is born in heaven." Furthermore, it is distinguished, "Unwholesome has four grades, namely inferior, medium, superior, and highest-superior: the inferior is born as an asura; the medium is born as a hungry ghost; the superior is born as an animal; the highest-superior is born in hell. Wholesome also has four: the inferior is born as a human; the medium is born in heaven; those of the superior grade obtain the fruit of the two vehicles; those of the highest-superior grade obtain the unsurpassable fruit." Furthermore, in the *Nirvāṇa [Sūtra]*, wholesome is divided into four grades: the inferior is born in Uttarakuru, the medium is born in Pūrvavideha, the superior is born in Aparagodānīya, and those of the highest-superior grade are born in Jambudvīpa. This is dividing superior and inferior in relation to the Path. That Uttarakuru is incapable of receiving the Path, so inferior wholesome [karma] leads to birth there; the places of birth for the medium and superior grades are difficult to explain. If contrasted with the dharma of the Path, medium wholesome [karma] should lead to birth in Aparagodānīya, and superior to birth in Pūrvavideha. However, in that sūtra, the medium and superior grades are merely divided in terms of retribution. Southern Jambudvīpa is supreme in receiving the Path, so superior wholesome [karma] leads to birth there. If dividing the four grades in relation to karmic retribution: the inferior is born in Jambudvīpa, the medium is born in Pūrvavideha, the superior is born in Aparagodānīya, and those of the highest-superior grade are born in Uttarakuru. The meaning of the three karmas is briefly discriminated in this way.