[1107] Having developed the first jhāna to a limited degree, where do they arise? Having developed the first jhāna to a limited degree, they arise in companionship with the Brahmapārisajjā devas (Brahmā's Attendants). What is the measure of their lifespan? A third or a fourth part of an eon (kappa).
Having developed the first jhāna to a medium degree, where do they arise? Having developed the first jhāna to a medium degree, they arise in companionship with the Brahmapurohitā devas (Brahmā's Ministers). What is the measure of their lifespan? Half an eon.
Having developed the first jhāna to a superior degree, where do they arise? Having developed the first jhāna to a superior degree, they arise in companionship with the Mahābrahmā devas (the Great Brahmās). What is the measure of their lifespan? One eon.
Having developed the second jhāna to a limited degree, where do they arise? Having developed the second jhāna to a limited degree, they arise in companionship with the Parittābhā devas (of Limited Lustre). What is the measure of their lifespan? Two eons.
Having developed the second jhāna to a medium degree, where do they arise? Having developed the second jhāna to a medium degree, they arise in companionship with the Appamāṇābhā devas (of Infinite Lustre). What is the measure of their lifespan? Four eons.
Having developed the second jhāna to a superior degree, where do they arise? Having developed the second jhāna to a superior degree, they arise in companionship with the Ābhassarā devas (of Radiant Lustre). What is the measure of their lifespan? Eight eons.
Having developed the third jhāna to a limited degree, where do they arise? Having developed the third jhāna to a limited degree, they arise in companionship with the Parittasubhā devas (of Limited Aura). What is the measure of their lifespan? Sixteen eons.
Having developed the third jhāna to a medium degree, where do they arise? Having developed the third jhāna to a medium degree, they arise in companionship with the Appamāṇasubhā devas (of Infinite Aura). What is the measure of their lifespan? Thirty-two eons.
Having developed the third jhāna to a superior degree, where do they arise? Having developed the third jhāna to a superior degree, they arise in companionship with the Subhakiṇhā devas (of Steady Aura). What is the measure of their lifespan? Sixty-four eons.
Having developed the fourth jhāna — through diversity of object (ārammaṇa), diversity of attention (manasikāra), diversity of desire (chanda), diversity of aspiration (paṇidhi), diversity of resolution (adhimokkha), diversity of resolve (abhinīhāra), diversity of wisdom (paññā) — some arise in companionship with the Asaññasatta devas (non-percipient beings); some arise in companionship with the Vehapphala devas (of Great Fruit); some arise in companionship with the Aviha devas; some arise in companionship with the Atappa devas (the Serene); some arise in companionship with the Sudassa devas (the Beautiful); some arise in companionship with the Sudassī devas (the Clear-sighted); some arise in companionship with the Akaniṭṭha devas (the Supreme); some arise in companionship with the devas who have reached the Sphere of Infinity of Space (ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā); some arise in companionship with the devas who have reached the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā); some arise in companionship with the devas who have reached the Sphere of Nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatanūpagā); some arise in companionship with the devas who have reached the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagā).
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Asaññasatta devas and of the Vehapphala devas? Five hundred eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Aviha devas? A thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Atappa devas? Two thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Sudassa devas? Four thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Sudassī devas? Eight thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the Akaniṭṭha devas? Sixteen thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the devas who have reached the Sphere of Infinity of Space? Twenty thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the devas who have reached the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness? Forty thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the devas who have reached the Sphere of Nothingness? Sixty thousand eons.
What is the measure of the lifespan of the devas who have reached the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception? Eighty-four thousand eons.
Lifted up by the power of merit,
gone to a destination in the sense sphere and the form sphere,
or having reached even the summit of existence (bhavagga),
they go once more to a bad destination.
Beings of lifespan even so long
pass away when their span of life is exhausted;
no existence whatsoever is permanent —
thus it was said by the Great Seer.
Therefore the wise — prudent,
astute, ponderers of the goal —
develop the supreme path (magga)
for release from aging and death (jarāmaraṇa);
having developed the pure path,
which leads to immersion in Nibbāna,
having fully understood all taints (āsava),
free from taints, they attain final Nibbāna.
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English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.