法苑珠林 2.24

2.24

長阿含經云。佛告比丘。閻浮提人有三事。勝拘耶尼人。何等為三。一者勇猛強記能造業行。二者勇猛強記勤修梵行。三者勇猛強記佛出其土。拘耶尼人有三事勝閻浮提人。何等為三。一者多牛。二者多羊。三者多珠玉。閻浮提有三事勝弗于逮。何等為三。一者勇猛強記能造業行。二者勇猛強記能修梵行。三者勇猛強記佛出其土。弗于逮有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者其土極廣。二者其土極大。三者其土極妙。閻浮提有三事勝欝單越。何等為三。一者勇猛強記能造業行。二者勇猛強記能修梵行。三者勇猛強記佛出其土。欝單越復有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者無所繫屬。二者無有我所。三者壽定千歲。閻浮提人亦以上三事勝餓鬼趣。餓鬼趣有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者長壽。二者身大。三者他作自受。閻浮提人亦以上三事勝金翅鳥。金翅鳥復有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者長壽。二者身大。三者宮殿。閻浮提以上三事勝阿須倫。阿須倫復有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者宮殿高廣。二者宮殿莊嚴。三者宮殿清淨。閻浮提人以上三事勝四天王天。復以三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者長壽。二者端正。三者多樂。閻浮提人亦以上三事。勝忉利天焰摩天兜率天化樂天他化自在天。此諸天復有三事勝閻浮提。何等為三。一者長壽。二者端正。三者多樂。

The *Dīrghāgama-sūtra* states that the Buddha addressed the monks: 'The people of Jambudvīpa surpass the people of Godānīya in three things. What are the three? First, they are courageous, of strong memory, and able to perform karmic actions. Second, they are courageous, of strong memory, and diligently practice the holy life (brahmacarya). Third, they are courageous, of strong memory, and Buddhas appear in their land. The people of Godānīya surpass the people of Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, they have many cattle. Second, they have many sheep. Third, they have many pearls and jewels. Jambudvīpa surpasses Pūrvavideha in three things. What are the three? First, they are courageous, of strong memory, and able to perform karmic actions. Second, they are courageous, of strong memory, and able to practice the holy life. Third, they are courageous, of strong memory, and Buddhas appear in their land. Pūrvavideha surpasses Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, its land is extremely extensive. Second, its land is extremely vast. Third, its land is extremely wondrous. Jambudvīpa surpasses Uttarakuru in three things. What are the three? First, they are courageous, of strong memory, and able to perform karmic actions. Second, they are courageous, of strong memory, and able to practice the holy life. Third, they are courageous, of strong memory, and Buddhas appear in their land. Uttarakuru also surpasses Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, they have no attachments or bonds. Second, they have no sense of "mine" (mamatā). Third, their lifespan is fixed at one thousand years. The people of Jambudvīpa also surpass the destiny of hungry ghosts in the above three things. The destiny of hungry ghosts surpasses Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, long lifespan. Second, large bodies. Third, experiencing [retribution] for what others have done. The people of Jambudvīpa also surpass garuḍas in the above three things. Garuḍas also surpass Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, long lifespan. Second, large bodies. Third, palaces. Jambudvīpa surpasses asuras in the above three things. Asuras also surpass Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, lofty and broad palaces. Second, adorned palaces. Third, pure palaces. The people of Jambudvīpa surpass the heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings in the above three things; [that heaven] also surpasses Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, long lifespan. Second, handsome appearance. Third, abundant pleasure. The people of Jambudvīpa also surpass the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, Yāma Heaven, Tuṣita Heaven, Nirmāṇarati Heaven, and Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven in the above three things. These heavens also surpass Jambudvīpa in three things. What are the three? First, long lifespan. Second, handsome appearance. Third, abundant pleasure.'