佛祖統紀 31.28

31.28

Śakra mounts the throne, flanked by sixteen deva kings seated on either side. There are two princes who are two great generals, seated to the left and right of the deva kings. Virūḍhaka, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and the others: the Heavenly King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with his ministers and troops, reverently honors the devas and sits by the east gate; the Heavenly King Virūḍhaka sits by the south gate; the Heavenly King Virūpākṣa sits by the west gate; and the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa sits by the north gate. These Four Heavenly Kings memorialize and report the good and evil of the world to Śakra and the deva kings. On the eighth day of the month, the ministers of the Four Kings travel throughout the world; on the fourteenth day, the princes of the Four Kings travel; and on the fifteenth day, the Four Kings personally travel to observe good and evil. If not many people uphold the precepts and practice generosity, Śakra hears the report and laments with sorrow, saying: 'The hosts of devas are decreasing, and the asuras are increasing day by day' (*Abhidharma-śāstra*). The first is the Deva of the Sudharmā Hall (that is, Śakra). The second is the Deva Dwelling on the Peak. Third, the Deva of the Mountain Summit. Fourth, the Deva of the City of Sudarśana. Fifth, the Pāśiti Deva. Sixth, the Deva Dwelling on the Mountain Top (Kūṭa). Seventh, the Deva of Diverse Halls. Eighth, the Deva of the Joyful Garden. Ninth, the Deva of Radiance. Tenth, the Deva of the Pārijāta Garden (that is, the Pārijāta Tree). Eleventh, the Deva of the Precipitous Cliff. Twelfth, the Deva of Diverse Precipitous Cliffs. Thirteenth, the Deva of the Jewel Treasury (Maṇi). Fourteenth, the Deva of Whirling Ground. Fifteenth, the Deva of the Secret Palace. Sixteenth, the Deva of Garland Shadows. Seventeenth, the Deva of Soft Ground. Eighteenth, the Deva of Diverse Adornments. Nineteenth, the Deva of Wish-Fulfilling Ground. Twentieth, the Deva of Subtle Conduct. Twenty-first, the Deva of Singing and Music. Twenty-second, the Deva of the Wheel of Majestic Virtue. Twenty-third, the Deva of Lunar Motion. Twenty-fourth, the Sāli Deva. Twenty-fifth, the Deva of Swift Motion. Twenty-sixth, the Deva of Illumination. Twenty-seventh, the Deva of Wisdom. Twenty-eighth, the Deva of Multitudinous Divisions. Twenty-ninth, the Deva Dwelling on the Wheel. Thirtieth, the Deva of Ascending Motion. Thirty-first, the Deva of Majestic Demeanor. Thirty-second, the Deva of the Wheel of Majestic Virtue. Thirty-third, the Deva of Purity (*Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra*). In formerly being human, he gave food, drink, lamps, and wealth, hence he is called Śakra Devānām Indra (translated here as 'Able Lord of Devas'). In formerly being human, his clan was Kauśika, hence he is called Kauśika. Because Śacī is his first consort, he is called Śacīpati. Because in a single sitting he could reflect upon a thousand meanings, he is called Thousand-Eyed (Sahasrākṣa). Because he is sovereign over the thirty-three devas, he is called Indra (*Madhyamāgama*; originally he has a thousand names, which the translation does not exhaust). Śakra possesses the strength of the vajra-scepter (*Mahāmāyūrī-sūtra*). When one is born in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, a flower appears in the hand of a devī; knowing herself that she has a child, she hands it to her husband. In seven days the deva is born, thoroughly understanding celestial laws. Walking through the palaces, if he sees a devī without a lord, she comes and says: 'Noble son, welcome! This is your palace; I have no husband or master, and now I offer myself to serve you' (*Biyaxianren jing*). When a deva is first born, he is like a child of twelve years old; he suddenly appears at his parents' place of birth, either between the two knees or upon the two thighs. Thereupon jeweled vessels containing celestial sudhā savor and celestial wine appear, which according to whether the merit is superior, middling, or inferior, are white, red, or black in color. When eating and drinking are completed, his body becomes equal in stature to the established men and women (*Qishi yinben jing*). By sole practice of the superior ten wholesome deeds, one is born in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven (*Sijiaoyi*).