法苑珠林 5.84

5.84

夫論脩羅道者。生此一途偏多諂曲。或稱兵鬪亂興師相伐。形容長大恒弊飢虛。體貌麁鄙每懷瞋毒。稜層可畏擁聳驚人。並出三頭重安八臂。跨山蹋海把日擎雲。天上求餐海中釀酒。如斯之類悉為歸依。經是阿須輪王。睒婆利等。毘摩質多之眷屬。佉羅騫馱之朋流。乃至婆稚羅睺之等侶。舍脂跋陀之氣類。並願除憍慢習離諂曲心。殿堂光明蘭藉豐滿。休兵息刃止恚防貪。無復兩刃之苦。永絕藕絲之痛。樂聞正法渴仰大乘。捨離弊惡之身。受端嚴之質。任持國境擁護邦家。興建法城。弘益慧日也。

Now, in discussing the path of the asuras: those born into this single destiny are exceedingly prone to flattery and deceit. They mobilize troops in battle and turmoil, raising armies to attack one another. Their forms are gigantic, yet they are constantly afflicted by hunger and emptiness; their features are coarse and base, and they ever harbour toxic rage. Layered and fearsome, towering and terrifying, they sprout three heads and have eight arms attached; they stride across mountains, tread the oceans, grasp the sun, and lift the clouds. In heaven they seek food, and in the ocean they brew liquor. May all such kinds take refuge! In the sūtras, these are the asura kings: Śambara and the rest, the retinue of Vemacitrin, the companions of Kharaskandha, up to the peers of Bali and Rāhu, and the kin of Śacī and Bhadrā. May they all vow to eliminate habits of arrogance, abandon minds of flattery and deceit, have halls of brilliant light, and cushions of thoroughwort in abundance; may they cease warfare, put down weapons, quell wrath, and guard against greed; may they no longer suffer the pain of the two blades, and forever sever the agony of the lotus thread; may they delight in hearing the saddharma, thirst for and revere the Mahāyāna, abandon vile and degenerate bodies, and receive upright and dignified forms, sustaining the realms of kingdoms, protecting states and lands, establishing citadels of the Dharma, and broadly enhancing the sun of wisdom!