法苑珠林 3.50

3.50

Question: What are the nobility and baseness of the devas like? Answer: First, the six heavens of the desire realm all have noble and base, because there are distinctions between ruler, minister, commoner, wife, and concubine. For example, in Śakra's heaven, Śakra is the ruler, the thirty-two devas are ministers, and the remaining host of devas are commoners. Among women, Lady Yueyi (Pramodā) is queen, and the other celestial maidens are concubines. The other five heavens are all analogous to this. In the form realm, this is confined only to the three heavens of the first dhyāna having noble and base: Mahābrahmā is ruler, Brahmapurohita is minister, and Brahmapāriṣadya is commoner. From here upwards, the retributions of the devas are equal, with no further nobility or baseness.