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Chapter IV The Celestial beings (deva)
nok' pr. kdk;% IV.1 Devcaturnik y h
VFk% Meaning:
‘noki ds pkj &fudk; gkss A The celestial beings (gods) are of four orders/classes.
Q.IV.1.1 A.IV.1.1
Who are the celestial beings (deva)? The living beings born due to the rise of their celestial-body-makingkarma and who roam freely in several parts of the celestial world and derive pleasure from it are called celestial beings.
Q.IV.1.2 A.IV.1.2
How many classes of celestial beings are there? They are divided in four classes.
Q.IV.1.3 A.IV.1.3
What are the names of the four classes? These classes are called residential (bhavanav s ), peripatetic or forest (vyantara), stellar / luminous (jyotis ) and heavenly / empyrean (vaim nika). Literally all celestial beings have either a palace or a vehicle and are free to roam around at will.
Q.IV.1.4 A.IV.1.4
What is the nature of the celestial beings? The nature of these divine beings is to have a divine body and to possess 8 types of extraordinary body transforming powers, like transforming their body into smaller size etc and who continue to roam and indulge in various pleasures (auspicious and inauspicious) in the celestial world.
Q.IV.1.5
What is meant by extraordinary power to transform their body into smaller stature (anim -rddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which one can transform his body into smaller stature.
A.IV.1.5
Q.IV.1.6
What is meant by extraordinary power to transform their body into bigger stature (mahim -rddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which one transforms his body into bigger stature like a mountain.
A.IV.1.6
Q.IV.1.7
What is meant by extraordinary power to transform their body into lighter body (laghim -rddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which one makes his body light like air.
A.IV.1.7
Q.IV.1.8
What is meant by extraordinary power to transform their body into a heavier body (garim -rddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which one transforms is body into a heavier body like a rock.
A.IV.1.8
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