法苑珠林 3.19

3.19

Question: What is the meaning of the abodes of the various devas? Answer: As stated in the Vibhāṣā, although there are thirty-two heavens, their abodes comprise only twenty-eight tiers. Because the four formless [heavens] are entirely free from physical retribution, they have no separate places; they permeate the desire and form realms. Merely, as sentient beings of the desire and form realms accomplish the formless karma of the four immaterial states, they immediately receive the retribution of that formless realm wherever they die; hence there is no separate place, unlike the Mahāyāna teaching that there is form. As for the twenty-eight tiers: from the base of Mount Sumeru on the ground, ascending 4,000 yojanas above the earth, encircling the mountain for an extent of 10,000 yojanas, this is where the Shield-in-Hand (Karahatta) Devas abide. Ascending double that height again, encircling the mountain for 8,000 yojanas, is where the Garland-Bearer (Mālādhāra) Devas abide. Ascending double that height again, encircling the mountain for 4,000 yojanas, is where the Ever-Intoxicated (Sadāmatta) Devas abide. Ascending double that height again, encircling the mountain for 4,000 yojanas, is where the Devas of the Sun, Moon, and Stars abide. Ascending double that height again, encircling the mountain for 4,000 yojanas, is where the Cāturmahārājakāyika Devas abide (within this, because there are seven golden mountains, the cities and villages of the Four Heavenly Kings are all situated therein). Ascending again 40,000 yojanas to the summit of Mount Sumeru, which measures 40,000 yojanas in extent, therein is the City of Sudarśana, 10,000 yojanas in extent, with a thousand gates on each face; the Trāyastriṃśa Devas abide therein. Ascending 40,000 yojanas into the open sky from this mountain, there is a place like clouds formed of the seven jewels, resembling the great earth; this is where the Yāma Devas abide. Ascending double that height again, there is ground like clouds formed of the seven jewels; this is the Tuṣita Heaven. Ascending double that height again, there is ground like clouds formed of the seven jewels; this is the Nirmāṇarati Heaven. Ascending double that height again, there is ground like clouds formed of the seven jewels; this is the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven. In this manner, up to the Akaniṣṭha Heaven of the Form Realm, all have ground like clouds formed of the seven jewels, their distances doubling consecutively; it is not necessary to speak of them in detail. According to the Nyāyānusāra: The Trāyastriṃśa Heaven is on the summit of Mount Meru. The four sides of its summit are each twenty thousand [yojanas]; if calculated by circumference, it amounts to eighty thousand. Other masters say each side is eighty thousand, no different in measure from the four sides of the lower base. The four corners of the summit each have a peak, each 500 in height and breadth. There is a yakṣa spirit named Vajrapāṇi who abides therein, guarding the devas. In the center of the mountain summit is a palace named Sudarśana, two and a half thousand [yojanas] on each face, and ten thousand yojanas in circumference. The golden walls are one and a half yojanas high. Its ground is flat and level, also formed of genuine gold, adorned and decorated throughout with one hundred and one varied jewels. The touch of the ground is soft, like cotton; when stepped upon, it yields and rises with the foot. This is the great capital city of Śakra, King of the Gods. The city has a thousand gates, magnificent and stately in ornamentation; at each gate are five hundred blue-clad yakṣas, brave, handsome, and one yojana in height, each equipped with armor and weapons to guard the city gates. In the city there is the Vaijayanta Palace, fully adorned with various wonderful gems, surpassing celestial palaces, hence named Vaijayanta. It is 250 [yojanas] on each face and 1,000 yojanas in circumference. These are the delightful things in the city. Outside the city on its four sides, four parks serve as adornments, which are the places where the devas frolic together: first is the Chariot-Assembly Park (Caitraratha), where various chariots manifest according to the devas' meritorious power; second is the Harsh Park (Pāruṣyaka), where armor, weapons, and the like manifest as needed when the devas wish to battle; third is the Mixed Forest Park (Miśraka), where upon entering, whatever the devas enjoy is the same, together producing supreme joy; fourth is the Joyful Forest Park (Nandana), where the most wondrous sensual pleasures and diverse sights arrive together, so that viewing them brings no satiety. These four parks differ in their cardinal directions, each being 1,000 yojanas in circumference. In each there is a Wish-Fulfilling Pond, each 50 yojanas on a side, filled to the brim with water of eight virtues. As desired, the four parks are adorned with flowers, birds, and fragrant forests, the differences of their karmic fruit being inconceivable celestial merits. In the southwest corner outside the city is the great Hall of Good Dharma (Sudharmā), where the Trāyastriṃśa Devas gather at times to examine and debate the subjugation of the asuras and matters that are according to or contrary to the Dharma.