法苑珠林 3.46

3.46

問曰。諸天眷屬多少云何。答曰。如論云。色界諸天不可說甚多。謂彼諸天非男非女無相匹配。生則化起。死還化滅。依正兩報宮殿自隨。以禪定為樂。不可說其眷屬多少也。欲界諸天則有男女相匹配。故大吉義呪經云。護世四王典領四方。提頭賴吒天王領乾闥婆眾。毘留博叉天王領究槃茶眾。毘留勒叉天王領諸龍眾。毘沙門天王領夜叉眾。此之四王各有九十一子。姿貌端正有大威力。皆名曰帝。此天王合有三百六十四子。能護十方。有釋提桓因典領四維。大梵天王典領上方。又智度論云。一切山河樹木土地城郭。一切鬼神皆屬四天王來。故皆隨從共來。是諸鬼神中有不得般若經卷者。是故來至般若波羅蜜處。供養禮拜亦為利益。其忉利天已上眷屬轉多。不可具說數也。如忉利天已下眷屬多者。如帝釋具有九十億那由他天女。并有千子。及有諸臣無量。共為眷屬。故經偈云。

Question: How numerous are the retinues of the devas? Answer: As the treatise states: The devas of the form realm cannot be described as having many [retinues], for those devas are neither male nor female and have no spousal pairing; at birth they arise through transformation, and at death they dissolve through transformation; their primary and secondary retributions and their palaces naturally accompany them; taking dhyāna concentration as their bliss, the size of their retinues cannot be stated. The devas of the desire realm, on the other hand, have male and female pairing. Therefore, the *Mahāmāṅgalikārtha-dhāraṇī-sūtra* states: 'The Four Heavenly Kings protecting the world govern the four directions: the Heavenly King Dhṛtarāṣṭra governs the gandharva hosts; the Heavenly King Virūpākṣa governs the kumbhāṇḍa hosts; the Heavenly King Virūḍhaka governs the hosts of dragons; the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa governs the yakṣa hosts. These four kings each have ninety-one sons, handsome in appearance and possessing great mighty power, all named Indra. These heavenly kings together have three hundred and sixty-four sons, able to protect the ten directions. Śakra Devānām Indra governs the four intermediate quarters, and the Great Brahmā Heavenly King governs the zenith.' Furthermore, the *Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra* states: 'All the mountains, rivers, trees, lands, cities, and all ghosts and spirits belong to the Four Heavenly Kings; therefore, they all follow and arrive together. Among these ghosts and spirits, there are those who have not obtained scrolls of the Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra; for this reason, they come to the place of the Prajñāpāramitā to make offerings, pay homage, and also seek benefit.' From the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven upward, retinues become increasingly numerous, beyond the ability to state their numbers. As for those with large retinues from Trāyastriṃśa downward: Śakra possesses ninety billion nayutas of celestial maidens, a thousand sons, and countless ministers, who together form his retinue. Therefore a sūtra verse says: