佛祖統紀 33.36

33.36

Offerings to the Devas: Dharma Master Huan, considering that the order of the ranks of the devas was disordered, once composed the 'Biographies of Devas'. He stated that Brahmā, Śakra, and the Four Heavenly Kings all possess the sovereign authority to issue decrees; Merit [Lakṣmī] is lodged in the northern sky, and Great Eloquence [Sarasvatī] is lodged in the mountains and marshes: this is the meaning of host and guest. Merit and Great Eloquence are female, while the devas Brahmā and Śakra are male: this is the meaning of male and female. Guhyapada and his retinue are all great bodhisattvas, which is the origin (ben), while their current manifestation as spirit images is the trace (ji): this has the meaning of origin and trace. Merit and Great Eloquence, dwelling as guest devas, manifest female forms yet are able to proclaim and extol the Buddha's transformation, which is termed 'manifest' (xian); the others, though present as influences, do not proclaim in speech and action, which is termed 'obscured' (hui): this has the meaning of manifest and obscured. Knowing these four principles, one may speak of the devas.