經律異相 1.19

1.19

The Trāyastriṃśa heaven is situated on the summit of Mount Sumeru, having thirty-three heavenly palaces. The king is named Śakra Devānām Indra (in Liang language: Able to Act as King of Gods). His body is one yojana tall; his garments are two yojanas long and two yojanas wide, weighing six zhu. The lifespan of the gods is one thousand celestial years, with few exceeding and many falling short. When about to die, five signs appear: first, their clothes become soiled; second, the flowers on their heads wither; third, their bodies emit a foul smell; fourth, sweat flows from their armpits; fifth, they take no pleasure in their original seats. Seeing these five things, their minds experience great distress, like the torment of hell. Their eating, drinking, and marriage are just like those of the Four Heavenly Kings; their bodies draw close, and through air they accomplish sexual intercourse (the *San fadu lun* says they engage in desire like humans). Through wholesome deeds of body, speech, and mind, they are born into Trāyastriṃśa heaven, spontaneously appearing by transformation upon the lap of a god like a three-year-old child. The god then acknowledges it, saying: 'This is my son, my daughter.' They spontaneously remember the generosity and precept-keeping of their previous lives. When they desire food and drink, golden vessels are filled accordingly; merit has depths and food has gradations, just as in the Cāturmahārājakāyika heaven. The city is eighty thousand yojanas in length and breadth (the *Loutan jing* says three million two hundred thousand li wide and long). Its city has sevenfold walls with nine hundred and ninety-nine gates, each gate guarded by sixty blue-robed yakṣas (the *Dīrghāgama* says: 'It is sixty yojanas high; five hundred yojanas apart there is a gate, and each gate is guarded by five hundred spirits'). In the thirty-three heavens, there are golden walls with silver gates, and silver walls with golden gates; thus the seven treasures alternately form the walls and gates. Multi-storied towers and pavilions surround them on all sides; gardens, groves, bathing ponds, and precious flowers are interspersed; jewel trees stand in rows with luxuriant blossoms and fruits; fragrant breezes arise from the four quarters, gladdening people's hearts; and countless wondrous birds of different kinds sing in harmony. In the four gardens there are two stone mounds in each, each fifty yojanas in length and breadth, made of the seven treasures and as soft as heavenly garments (the account in the *Loutan jing* is similar; the extensive text is omitted here). Between the Pāruṣyaka Garden and the Nandana Garden there is Lake Nanda, one hundred yojanas in length and breadth, its water clear and pure; its sevenfold jewel moats produce four kinds of flowers: blue, yellow, red, and white, with mixed shades of pink and light green. Their fragrance diffuses everywhere and is smelled for one yojana; their roots are like chariot hubs, their juice is white as milk, and their taste is sweet as honey. Furthermore, between the Miśraka Garden and the Mahāsaṃharṣa Garden there is a tree named Pārijāta, seven yojanas in circumference and one hundred yojanas high, its branches and leaves spreading fifty yojanas in four directions, and its fragrance carried against the wind for one hundred yojanas. South of the Trāyastriṃśa palace there is yet another tree, named Pāricchatra, four thousand li high, its branches and leaves spreading two thousand li, the wind blowing the flower fragrance against the wind so that it is smelled for two thousand li. When the tree blossoms, the gods sit together beneath it for delight, roaming and amusing themselves for one hundred and twenty celestial days. Śakra has thirty-two ministers, hence they are called the thirty-three heavens. Each has a palace, all inside the city. When amusing themselves in the gardens, it always takes seven days. As for the 'Pāruṣyaka' (Rough) Garden: when entering this garden, their bodies become rough. As for the 'Citra' (Variegated) Garden: when entering this garden, their bodies naturally assume various colorful hues to delight each other. As for the 'Miśraka' (Mixed) Garden: on the eighth, fourteenth, and fifteenth days of the month, the palace maidens are always released to mingle and roam with the gods, while Śakra alone remains in one place with Śacī; hence it is called 'Mixed'. As for the 'Mahāsaṃharṣa' (Great Joy) Garden: when entering this garden, their minds experience great joy (from fascicle 20 of the *Dīrghāgama*, and also from the *Loutan jing*, the *Da zhidu lun*, the *Avataṃsaka*, and the *Nirvāṇa*).