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CHAPTER IV
THE CELESTIAL BEINGS
The word 'celestial being' has been used several times in the previous chapters in such sutras as, 'Clairvoyance originating from birth is possessed by the celestial and infernal beings'. But who are celestial beings or how many kinds of celestial beings are there? The author explains these things in this
chapter.
देवाश्चतुर्णिकायाः Devāscaturnikāyāḥ
1. The celestial beings are of four orders (classes). The celestial beings (devas) are those who roam freely and derive pleasure in several parts of the terrestrial world, the mountains and the oceans surrounding them, on the rise of karmas leading to the celestial state. They are endowed with magnificence, splendour and extraordinary powers.
It is proper to use the singular in the sutra instead of the plural. For instance, 'The celestial being is fourfold.' A collective noun denoting a class implies the plural. But the use of the plural is intended to indicate the subdivisions. For instance, there are different ranks among celestial beings such as kings, their equals, etc. There are other differences also among them based on duration of life and so on. On the common basis of the rise of karmas leading to the celestial state, the celestial beings are grouped in classes in spite of individual differences. Thus there are four orders of celestial beings. Who are they? They are the Residential (Bhavanavāsi), the Peripatetic (Vyantara), the Stellar (Jyotiska) and the Heavenly (Vaimānika) beings.
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The next sutra is intended to determine the colouration of their thoughts.
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