Viyahapannatti 12.9: Uddeśaka 9: deva

“How many kinds of gods, Venerable Sir, are taught?”
“Gautama, five kinds of gods are taught, namely: future-substance gods, human gods, Dharma-gods, gods above gods, and actual gods.
For what reason, Venerable Sir, is it said: ‘future-substance gods, future-substance gods’?”
“Gautama, whatever five-sensed animal or human being is destined to be reborn among the gods. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: ‘future-substance gods, future-substance gods’.
For what reason, Venerable Sir, is it said: ‘human gods, human gods’?”
“Gautama, these kings, the universal monarchs ruling the four directions, who have obtained the supreme cakra-jewel as foremost among all jewels, masters of the nine treasures, with full treasuries, followed by thirty-two thousand noble kings, rulers of the earth girdled by the great oceans, indras among men. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: ‘human gods, human gods’.
For what reason, Venerable Sir, is it said: ‘Dharma-gods, Dharma-gods’?”
“Gautama, these homeless ascetic Lords who are mindful in deportment, up to guarded celibates. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: ‘Dharma-gods, Dharma-gods’.
For what reason, Venerable Sir, is it said: ‘gods above gods, gods above gods’?”
“Gautama, these arhat Lords who possess arisen knowledge and vision, worthy, conquerors, kevalins, knowers of the past, present, and future, omniscient, all-seeing. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: ‘gods above gods, gods above gods’.
For what reason, Venerable Sir, is it said: ‘actual gods, actual gods’?”
“Gautama, these Bhavanapati, Vāṇamantara, Jyotiṣka, and Vaimānika gods who experience karma consisting of god-destiny name and status. For that reason, Gautama, it is said: ‘actual gods, actual gods’.”

"Venerable Sir, from where are potential substance-gods born? Do they come from inhabitants of hell? Do they come from animals, humans, [or] gods?"
"Gautama, they come from inhabitants of hell, and they also come from animals, humans, [and] gods. The division is as in [the chapter on] transmigration: they should be brought to be born in all, up to the anuttara-celestials, with the exception of those having an incalculable number of years of lifespan, those born in the non-action-lands, those born in intermediate islands, and those in the Sarvārthasiddha [realm]; they come from deities up to the Aparājita deities."
"Venerable Sir, from where are human-gods born? Do they come from inhabitants of hell?"—[so goes] the inquiry.
"Gautama, they come from inhabitants of hell, not from animals, not from humans, and they also come from gods."
"If they come from inhabitants of hell, do they come from inhabitants of hell of the Ratnaprabhā earth up to inhabitants of hell of the Adhaḥsaptamī earth?"
"Gautama, they come from inhabitants of hell of the Ratnaprabhā earth, not from inhabitants of hell of the Śarkarāprabhā earth up to not from inhabitants of hell of the Adhaḥsaptamī earth."
"If they come from gods, do they come from Bhavanavāsin gods, or do they come from Vāṇamantara, Jyotiṣka, [or] Vaimānika gods?"
"Gautama, they also come from Bhavanavāsin gods, from Vāṇamantara gods; likewise they should be brought to be born from all gods according to the distinctions of transmigration up to Sarvārthasiddha."
"Venerable Sir, from where are Dharma-gods born? Do they come from inhabitants of hell?"—[so goes] the inquiry.
"Likewise, according to the distinctions of transmigration, they should be brought to be born in all up to Sarvārthasiddha, with the exception of [the earths] Tamaḥprabhā and Adhaḥsaptamī, fire-bodied beings, wind-bodied beings, those having an incalculable number of years of lifespan, those born in the non-action-lands, and those born in intermediate islands."
"Venerable Sir, from where are gods of gods born? Do they come from inhabitants of hell?"—[so goes] the inquiry.
"Gautama, they come from inhabitants of hell, not from animals, not from humans, and they also come from gods."
"If from inhabitants of hell?"
"Thus they come from three [hell-]earths; the remaining ones are to be excluded."
"If from gods?"
"They come from all Vaimānikas up to Sarvārthasiddha; the rest are to be excluded."
"Venerable Sir, from where are actual gods born?"
"Thus, as the birth of Bhavanavāsins is stated in [the chapter on] transmigration, so it is to be stated."

"Venerable Sir, how long is the lifespan duration of potential substance-gods declared to be?"
"Gautama, at the minimum an antarmuhūrta, at the maximum three palyopamas."
Inquiry regarding human-gods.
"Gautama, at the minimum seven hundred years, at the maximum eighty-four hundred thousand pūrvas."
Inquiry regarding Dharma-gods.
"Gautama, at the minimum an antarmuhūrta, at the maximum a pūrvakoṭi less a fraction."
Inquiry regarding gods of gods.
"Gautama, at the minimum seventy-two years, at the maximum eighty-four hundred thousand pūrvas."
Inquiry regarding actual gods.
"Gautama, at the minimum ten thousand years, at the maximum thirty-three sāgaropamas."

"Venerable Sir, are potential substance-gods able to transform into a single form? Are they able to transform into multiple forms?"
"Gautama, they are able to transform into a single form, and they are also able to transform into multiple forms. Transforming into a single form, [they transform into] a one-sensed form or up to a five-sensed form; transforming into multiple forms, [they transform into] one-sensed forms or up to five-sensed forms; and they transform into forms that are numerable or innumerable, joined or unjoined, similar or dissimilar; and having transformed, they then carry out their desired activities. So too for human-gods, and so too for Dharma-gods."
Inquiry regarding gods of gods.
"Gautama, they are able to transform into a single form, and they are also able to transform into multiple forms; however, in actuality, they have never transformed, do not transform, and will not transform."
Actual gods are as potential substance-gods.

"Where, Venerable Sir, do potential substance-gods (bhavya-dravya-deva) go immediately upon passing away? Where are they reborn—are they reborn among the inhabitants of hell up to among the gods?"
"Gautama! They are not reborn among the inhabitants of hell, nor among animals, nor among humans; they are reborn among the gods."
"If they are reborn among the gods, are they reborn among all gods up to Sarvārthasiddha?"
"[Yes, up to Sarvārthasiddha.]"
"Where, Venerable Sir, do king-gods (naradeva) [go] immediately upon passing away?—The question."
"Gautama! They are reborn among the inhabitants of hell; they are not reborn among animals, nor among humans, nor among gods."
"If they are reborn among the inhabitants of hell, [in which hells are they reborn]?"
"They are reborn in all seven earths."
"Where, Venerable Sir, do Dharma-gods (dharmadeva) [go] immediately upon passing away?—The question."
"Gautama! They are not reborn among the inhabitants of hell, nor among animals, nor among humans; they are reborn among the gods."
"If they are reborn among the gods, are they reborn among the Bhavanavāsin gods?—The question."
"Gautama! They are not reborn among the Bhavanavāsin gods, nor among the Vāṇamantāra gods, nor among the Jyotiṣka gods; they are reborn among the Vaimānika gods. They are reborn among all Vaimānika gods up to the Sarvārthasiddha Anuttaropapātika Vaimānika gods; some attain liberation, up to making an end to all suffering."
"Where do god-of-gods (devātideva) go immediately upon passing away? Where are they reborn?"
"Gautama! They attain liberation, up to making an end to all suffering."
"Where, Venerable Sir, do actual gods (bhāvadeva) [go] immediately upon passing away?—The question."
"Just as the passing away of the Asurakumāras is explained in the [Prajñāpanā chapter on] Descent (Vakrānti), so it is to be stated."
"Venerable Sir, how long in terms of time does a potential substance-god remain a potential substance-god?"
"Gautama! At minimum, an antarmuhūrta; at maximum, three palyopamas. In this way, whatever is the lifespan duration, that itself is the continuity [of that state] up to actual gods; with this difference: for a Dharma-god, at minimum, one samaya; at maximum, one pūrvakoṭi less [an antarmuhūrta]."
"Venerable Sir, how long is the interval for a potential substance-god?"
"Gautama! At minimum, ten thousand years plus an antarmuhūrta; at maximum, infinite time—the period of plant-life (vanaspati-kāla)."
"Regarding king-gods—the question."
"Gautama! At minimum, slightly more than one sāgaropama; at maximum, infinite time—slightly less than half a pudgala-parāvartana."
"Regarding Dharma-gods—the question."
"Gautama! At minimum, a plurality of palyopamas; at maximum, infinite time up to slightly less than half a pudgala-parāvartana."
"Regarding god-of-gods—the question."
"Gautama! There is no interval."
"Regarding actual gods—the question."
"Gautama! At minimum, an antarmuhūrta; at maximum, infinite time—the period of plant-life."

"Among these, Venerable Sir—potential substance-gods, king-gods, Dharma-gods, god-of-gods, and actual gods—who is fewer, more, equal, or specifically greater compared to whom?"
"Gautama! King-gods are the fewest of all; god-of-gods are countably times more; Dharma-gods are countably times more; potential substance-gods are uncountably times more; actual gods are uncountably times more."
"Among these actual gods, Venerable Sir—Bhavanavāsins, Vāṇamantara, Jyotiṣka, and Vaimānika: Saudharmaka up to Acyutaka, Graiveyaka, and Anuttaropapātika—who is fewer, more, equal, or specifically greater compared to whom?"
"Gautama! Anuttaropapātika actual gods are the fewest of all; upper-Graiveyaka actual gods are countably times more; middle-Graiveyaka are countably times more; lower-Graiveyaka are countably times more; gods in the Acyuta heaven are countably times more up to gods in the Ānata heaven are countably times more; gods in the Sahasrāra heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Mahāśukra heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Lāntaka heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Brahmaloka heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Māhendra heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Sanatkumāra heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Īśāna heaven are uncountably times more; gods in the Saudharma heaven are uncountably times more; Bhavanavāsin gods are uncountably times more; Vāṇamantara gods are uncountably times more; Jyotiṣka actual gods are uncountably times more."
"That is so, Venerable Sir! That is so, Venerable Sir!"