一切經音義 6.263

6.263

羅剎娑 (Rākṣasa): Sanskrit word for a class of ghosts. The syllable [sa] is pronounced with a rolled tongue and a prolonged sound. In older translations it was simply rendered as 羅剎 (rākṣasa). Ghost-spirits of this kind possess karmic supernormal powers; they fly through the air at will and devour the flesh and blood of living beings, being most ferocious and evil. Their rākṣasīs have a separate realm, dwelling on islands in the great sea; through their supernormal powers they transform into beautiful, seductive appearances to bewitch humans, cunningly luring them so as to eat them—all of which is as expounded in the Abhiniṣkramaṇa-sūtra (Fo benxing jing).