法苑珠林 62.35

62.35

Furthermore, the Sūtra on the Samādhi of Pure Deliverance says: "On the days of the Eight Kings, the gods and Śakra, with his thirty-two guardian ministers, the Great Kings of the Four Quarters, the Directors of Destinies, the Directors of Records, King Wuluo, and the messengers of the Eight Kings, all go forth and disperse in the four directions to inspect conduct. This coincides with the memorials presented by the Four Kings on the fifteenth and thirtieth days, examining the good and evil deeds practiced by the people. The kings of the hells also dispatch their assisting ministers and lesser kings, who set forth together at the same time: whenever there are sins, they record them. If someone committed transgressions prior to the fast of the Eight Kings, but their merit is strong and brings rescue, they will be safe and free of trouble, pardoned by means of their merit. If by the subsequent fast day they have repeatedly accumulated a greater number of sins, their lifespan will be reduced, their name will be listed, their death determined, and the year, month, day, and hour transmitted down to the hells. The hells receive the document and immediately send hell-demons carrying the register of names. The hell-demons have no mercy; even if the day of death has not yet arrived, they forcefully inflict evil to hasten the end of their life. For those whose merit is plentiful, their lifespan is increased and their years extended; the heavens dispatch good spirits to guard and protect their bodies, and notice is sent down to the hells to erase their names of guilt, eliminating death, determining life, and causing them later to be born in heaven."