Part 3 - Lokāntika devas

In the eight hulls separating the aforesaid eight kṛṣṇarājis from one another, there are stated to be eight vimānas of the Lokāntika gods, which are: arci, arcimālī, vairocana, prabhaṅkara, candrābha, sūryabha, śukrābha and supratiṣṭābha. Riṣṭābha vimāna is in the centre.

Q. 93. Bhante! Where is stated to be the arci vimāna?

A. 93. Gautama! In the north-east.

Q. 94. Bhante! Where is stated to be the arcimālī vimāna?

A. 94. Gautama! In the east. State (the rest) in this order.

Q. 95. Bhante! Where is stated to be the riṣṭa vimāna?

A. 95. Gautama! In the very centre of them all. In these eight vimānas dwell eight species of lokāntika gods, who are, Sārasvata, Āditya, Vaṇhi, Varuṇa, Gardatoya, Tuṣita, Avyābādha, Āgneya. Riṣṭa deva dwells in the centre.

Q. 96. Bhante! Where do the Sārasvatas dwell?

A. 96. Gautama! They dwell in the arci vimāna.

Q. 97. Bhante! Where do the Ādityas dwell?

A. 97. Gautama! In the arcimālī vimāna. And like this is to be stated in order.

Q. 98. Bhante! Where do the Riṣṭas dwell?

Q. 99. Bhante! Among the Sārasvatas and the Ādityas, how many are the master-gods and how many are the members of their families?

A. 99. Gautama! Among the Sārasvatas and the Ādityas, 7 are the master-gods and the members of their families are 700. Among the Vaṇhis and the Varuṇas, 14 are the master-gods and the members of their families are 14,000. Among the Gardatoyas and the Tuṣitas, 7 are the master-gods and the members of their families are 7,000. Among the Avyābādhas, the Āgneyas and the Riṣṭas, 9 are the master-gods and the members of their families are 900.

Couplet:

First two have 700 each, second two 14,000 each,
Third two have 7,000 each, remaining three 900 each.

Q. 100. Bhante! On what are the lokāntika vimānas stated to rest?

A. 100. Gautama! (They are) stated to rest on air. To be noted are the bases of all the vimānas, their description, height, location, etc. These are similar to the description of Brahmaloka in the Chapter on the Devas in the Jīvābhigama Sūtra...till, oh Gautama! (prāṇas etc., have been so born) many times and an infinite number of times, but not as gods in the lokāntika vimānas.

Q. 101. Bhante! How long is stated to be the span of existence (of the denigens) in the lokāntika vimānas?

A. 101. Gautama! (It is stated to be as much as 8 sāgaropamas.

Q. 102. Bhante! (As the crow flies,) how far is the distance of the end of the sphere from the lokāntika vimānas?

A. 102. Gautama! The end of the sphere is stated to be at a distance of an uncountable (number of) thousand yojanas.

Bhante! So they are. Glory be to the Lord! So saying, Bhagavān Gautama paid his homage and obeisance to the Lord, and having done so, he withdrew to his seat.

Chapter Five ends.

Notes (based on commentary of Abhayadeva Sūri):

(There is no commentary available for this section).