經律異相 49.20

49.20

As for the Eight Kings, they refer to the thirty-two guardian ministers of Śakra, the Great Kings of the Four Quarters, the Directors of Destiny (Siming) and Directors of Records (Silu), the Five Yama Great Kings, and the envoys of the Eight Kings. They all go forth, spreading out in the four directions, patrolling and inspecting. This also coincides with the memorials presented by the Four Kings on the fifteenth and thirtieth days, checking and examining the good and evil deeds enacted by the people. The hell king also dispatches his assisting ministers and lesser kings, who simultaneously go forth together and immediately record those who have transgressions. On the earlier fast days of the Eight Kings, if someone committed an offense but their merit was strong, they had relief, remained secure, and had no harm; using their merit, they were pardoned. When reaching the later fast days, if they offend again and their sins are numerous, their lifespan is shortened, their name is striken, and their death is scheduled. The year, month, day, and hour are dispatched down to the hells. Hell receives the document and immediately sends hell ghosts bearing the record of names to summon them. Hell ghosts have no compassion; even if the day of death has not yet arrived, they forcefully push them into evildoing so that their life is cut short. For those whose merit is abundant, their lifespan is extended and their allotment of years increased. Heaven dispatches good spirits to protect their bodies, and dispatches word down to hell to expunge their name from sins, eliminating death and establishing life, so that later they are born in heaven (from the *Jìngdù sānmèi jīng*).