法苑珠林 63.22

63.22

As the *Treatise on Distinguishing Merit* states: Both devas and nāgas can cause rain to fall. How are they distinguished? Rain from devas falls as fine mist; rain from nāgas falls as coarse drops. Furthermore, when the asuras fight with the devas, they can also cause rain to fall, which is of two kinds: there is rain of joy, and rain of anger. If the rain is harmonious and temperate, it is rain of joy; if there is thunder and lightning strikes, it is rain of anger. (Clouds, rain, thunder, and lightning besides these are all as explained previously in the chapter on the Sun and Moon.)