20.4 Of Animals in Heaven

Controverted Point: That animals may be reborn among the devas.

Theravādin: Do you then imply that conversely devas are reborn as animals? Or that the deva-world is an animal kingdom? That there may there be found moths, beetles, gnats, flies, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, earthworms? You deny all this. Then you cannot maintain your proposition … .

Andhaka: But is not the wondrous elephant Erāvaṇa there, the thousand-wise yoked celestial mount?

Theravādin: But are there also elephant and horse stables there, and fodder and trainers and grooms? … .