[654] *Adhideve abhiññāya* ("having directly known those beyond the devas"): "devas" — there are three kinds of devas: devas by convention (sammatideva), devas by rebirth (upapattideva), and devas by purification (visuddhideva).
Which are the devas by convention? Kings, princes, and queens — these are called devas by convention.
Which are the devas by rebirth? The devas of the realm of the Four Great Kings (Cātummahārājikā), the Tāvatiṃsa devas … the devas of Brahmā's retinue, and those devas above them — these are called devas by rebirth.
Which are the devas by purification? The disciples of the Tathāgata — arahants whose taints (āsava) are destroyed — and the Paccekabuddhas: these are called devas by purification.
The Blessed One, having directly known (abhiññāya) the devas by convention as "beyond the devas (adhideva)," having directly known the devas by rebirth as "beyond the devas," having directly known the devas by purification as "beyond the devas" — having known, weighed, judged, clarified, and made evident — therefore it is said: "having directly known those beyond the devas."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.