法苑珠林 6.88

6.88

依新婆沙論。名為傍生。故問。云何傍生趣。答其形傍故行亦傍。故形亦傍。是故名傍生。有說。彼諸有情由造作增上愚癡身語意惡行。往彼生闇鈍。故名傍生。謂此遍於五趣皆有。如𭡠落迦中。有無足者。如孃矩吒蟲等。有二足者如鐵嘴鳥等。有四足者如黑駮狗等。有多足者如百足等。於鬼趣中。有無足者如毒蛇等。有二足者如烏鴟等。有四足者如狐狸象馬等。有多足者如六足百足等。於人趣三洲中。有無足者如一切腹行蟲。有二足者如鴻雁等。有四足者如象馬等。有多足者如百足等。於拘盧洲中。有二足者如鴻雁等。有四足者如象馬等。無有無足及多足者。彼是受無惱害業果處故。四天王眾天及三十三天中。有二足者如妙色鳥等。有四足者如象馬等。餘無者如前釋。上四天中。唯有二足者如妙色鳥等。餘皆無者。空居天處轉勝妙故。問彼處若無象馬等者如何為乘。亦聞彼天乘象馬等。云何言無。答由彼諸天福業力故。作非情數象馬等形。而為御乘自娛樂也。

According to the *New Vibhāṣā-śāstra*, they are named "tiryag-yoni" (crosswise-born). Thus it asks: What is the destiny of crosswise-born beings? It answers: Because their forms are crosswise, their walking is also crosswise; because their forms are crosswise, they are named crosswise-born. Some say: Because those sentient beings have performed bodily, verbal, and mental evil deeds of predominant delusion, they go there to be born in darkness and dullness; hence they are named crosswise-born. This means they are present throughout all five destinies. For instance, in the hells, there are footless ones such as the *nyakuṭa* worms and the like; two-footed ones such as iron-beaked birds and the like; four-footed ones such as black piebald dogs and the like; and many-footed ones such as centipedes and the like. In the ghost destiny, there are footless ones such as venomous snakes and the like; two-footed ones such as crows, kites, and the like; four-footed ones such as foxes, wildcats, elephants, horses, and the like; and many-footed ones such as six-footed and centipede insects. In the three continents of the human destiny, there are footless ones such as all belly-crawling worms; two-footed ones such as wild geese and swans; four-footed ones such as elephants and horses; and many-footed ones such as centipedes. In the continent of Kuru, there are two-footed ones such as wild geese and swans, and four-footed ones such as elephants and horses; there are no footless or many-footed ones, because that is a place where the karmic fruition of freedom from affliction and harm is experienced. Among the retinue of the Four Heavenly Kings and in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, there are two-footed ones such as birds of wondrous color, and four-footed ones such as elephants and horses; the absence of the rest is explained as before. In the four heavens above, there are only two-footed ones such as birds of wondrous color, and all the rest are absent, because the celestial places dwelling in the sky are increasingly superior and wondrous. Question: If there are no elephants, horses, and the like in those places, how do they serve as mounts? We have also heard that those devas ride elephants, horses, and the like; how can you say they are absent? Answer: Due to the power of the meritorious karma of those devas, they create forms of elephants, horses, and the like from insentient matter, which serve as mounts for them to drive and enjoy themselves.