法苑珠林 3.26

3.26

As the Lokasthitābhidharma-śāstra states: At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Gods, leading the multitude of devas, wished to play and amuse himself in the park and went to the Hall of the Good Dharma. The devas surrounded him and respectfully entered the park. In the very centre of the Hall of the Good Dharma, beside a pillar, was a lion throne. Śakra mounted the throne, and sixteen deva kings sat in rows to his left and right respectively. The rest of the devas sat in order according to their rank. At that time, Śakra, Lord of the Gods, had two princes: one named Candana and the other named Suvīra. They were the two great generals of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, and sat to the left and right of the Thirty-Three Gods. At that time, the Deva King Dhṛtarāṣṭra sat by the eastern gate, and together with his ministers and military host, revering the devas, was permitted to enter and sit inside. At that time, the Deva King Virūḍhaka sat by the southern gate, and together with his ministers and military host, revering the devas, was permitted to enter and sit inside. At that time, the Deva King Virūpākṣa sat by the western gate, and at that time the Deva King Vaiśravaṇa sat by the northern gate (both as before were also permitted to enter and sit inside). These Four Heavenly Kings in the Hall of the Good Dharma reported the good and bad deeds of the world to Śakra and the Trāyastriṃśa devas. At that time the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, spoke of such matters: On the eighth day of the month, the ministers of the Four Heavenly Kings travel throughout the world and observe in succession whether today, in greater or lesser numbers, people uphold the eight precepts, whether in greater or lesser numbers they all practice dāna, whether in greater or lesser numbers they cultivate deeds of merit, and whether in greater or lesser numbers they show reverence to parents, śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, and family elders. The fourteenth and fifteenth days are also like this. If not many people uphold the eight precepts, practice dāna, and show reverence, the Four Kings then proceed to the Dharma Hall to consult Śakra and speak of such things. At that time, the devas and Śakra, having heard this, give rise to worry and grief in their hearts, saying: 'This is not good. The elders and retinues of the gods in households that are not according to Dharma are bound to decline, while the companions of the asuras will increase day by day.' If people uphold the eight precepts, practice dāna, cultivate merit, and revere śramaṇas, elders, and so forth, when the Four Kings report this, the devas and Śakra rejoice in their hearts, saying: 'This is most excellent! The retinues of the devas who accord with Dharma will increase day by day, and the companions of the asuras will gradually diminish.' Therefore, quoting the Buddha's spoken geya verse: