法苑珠林 3.52

3.52

Question: What are the wealth and poverty of the devas like? Answer: As the *Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra* states: From the Yāma Heaven upward all the way through the devas of the form realm, wealth and poverty are entirely equal. From Trāyastriṃśa downward, retributions differ in thickness and thinness, wealth and poverty. For those whose merit is abundant, everything is fully provided and their karmic retribution is more than ample. For those whose merit is meager, although they have clothing and palaces of the seven treasures, their food is constantly insufficient. Therefore that sūtra states: There were once devas of meager merit who, suffering from hunger, came down to this world among the humans of Jambudvīpa to pick wild jujubes to eat. People saw their extraordinary appearance and questioned them in astonishment, to which they answered: 'I am not a human. I am a deva of meager merit; although I have palaces and superior fine clothes, my food is constantly insufficient. Therefore I have come here to pick and eat jujubes; you need not be astonished.' It is broadly as explained in the sūtra (this was because they previously practiced precepts and patience, but failed to practice giving).