The following is from THE MAHAVASTU Vol. I Chapter 'Visits to Other Worlds'.
Visit to Cāturmahārājika Haven
The venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana often
went on a visit to the Cāturmahārājika devas who are virtuous, mighty, long-lived, beautiful, enjoying great
well-being. They have the devas span of life, their bliss, their sway, their retinue, and their form, voice, smell, taste, touch, garments and ornaments. The ornaments they wear in
front are seen from behind, those they wear behind are seen from the front. They cast no shadows. They are self-luminous. They travel through the air, going wheresoever they wish. In the
bejewelled mansions of the devas they have plenty of food, abundant meat and drink. They are endowed and gifted with the five modes of sensual pleasure, and disport, enjoy and amuse themselves.
But the elder saw this prosperity end in adversity. For when the self-luminous ones pass away from the realm of the Cāturmahārājika devas, they are reborn in hell and in the world of
brutes, ghosts, or Asuras.
When he had seen this evil vicissitude of the Cāturmahārājika devas, the elder exclaimed, "Ah, what a hard lot!" And he came to the Jeta Grove where he described it at length to the four
assemblies.
"Thus," said he, "are beings reborn among the Cāturmahārājika devas as a maturing of their good karma. There they enjoy the bliss of devas. But when they pass away thence they are reborn
in hell, or as brutes, ghosts and Asuras. Of a truth, the devas are transient, unstable and subject to change. Therefore we should strive after knowledge, win it, be enlightened, be fully
enlightened, perform the right deed, live the holy life, and commit no sin in this world. Thus I declare." When they had heard the elder, many thousands of beings, devas and men, won Nibbana.
Visit to Trāyastrimśa Devas
The venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana often went on a visit to the Trāyastrimśa devas who are virtuous, mighty, long-lived, beautiful, enjoying great well-being.
They have the devas span of life, their strength, their bliss, their sway, their retinue, and their form, voice, smell, taste, touch, garments and ornaments.
The ornaments they wear in front are seen from behind, those they wear behind are seen from the front. They cast no shadows. They are self-luminous. They travel
through the air, going wheresoever they wish.
They are self-luminous. They travel through the air, going wheresoever they wish. They have plenty of food, abundant meat and drink. In the bejewelled mansions of the
devas, in the eight great parks, Vaijayanta, Nandāpuskarinī, Paripātrakovidāra, Mahāvana, Pārysyaka, Citraratha, Nandana, and Miśrakāvana, and in other bejewelled mansions,
endowed and gifted with the five modes of sensual pleasure, they disport, enjoy and amuse themselves. Śakra, too, lord of the devas, attended by eight thousand Apsarases (The nymphs of Indian Mythology),
and endowed and gifted with the devas' five modes of sensual pleasure, disports, enjoys and amuses himself in his palace Vaijayanta.
The elder Mahā-Maudgalyāyana saw all this prosperity of the Trāyastrimśa devas, their deva bliss, their fair deva city, the seven-jewelled splendour of the fair deva city,
and the holy assembly hall of the devas all radiant with the sparkle of beryl and extending a thousand yojanas. There the Trāyastrimśa Devas and the Śakra, the lord of the Devas)
abide and dwell together immersed in the affairs of devas, and are seen from outside in the assembly hall of the devas. The Trāyastrimśa devas, too, as they dwell in their sacred
assembly-hall look out on the whole of the fair deva city.
When he had seen all this prosperity of the Trāyastrimśa devas, the elder came to the Jeta Grove and described it at length to the four assemblies. "Thus," said he, "do beings who
are reborn among the Trāyastrimśa devas, as a maturing of their good karma, attain the bliss of devas. But this bliss, also, is impermanent, unstable, and liable to change. For
when they pass away fro that state these beings are reborn in hell and as brutes and ghosts. Therefore one must strive after knowledge, wit it, be enlightened, be fully enlightened,
perform the right deed, live the holy life, and commit no sin in this world. Thus I declare."
Visit to Yāma devas, the Tusita devas, the Nirmānarati devas, the Paramirmitavasśvartin devas and
the devas of the Brahmā worlds including the Śuddhāvāsa devas.
The venerable Mahā-Maudgalyāyana often went on visit to Yāma devas, the Tusita devas, the Nirmānarati devas, the Paramirmitavasśvartin devas and
the devas of the Brahmā worlds including the Śuddhāvāsa devas. He saw the Śuddhāvāsa devas, how they are virtuous, mighty, long-lived,
beautiful, and enjoying great well-being.
They are self-luminous, travel through the air, have pleasant food, live happily, and go wheresoever they wish. They are free from passion.
They are deva arhans who win release in the middle of their sojourn in heaven (the devas of the "Pure Abodes"), are not subject to return to this world, and are free from all
association with the ignorant and average worldling.
When the elder had seen all this prosperity of the devas he came to the Jeta Grove, and described it at length to the four assemblies. "Thus," said he, "do beings, as a maturing of
their good karma, attain the bliss of devas among the devas. But this, too, is impermanent, and liable to sorrow and change.
The whole world is fraught with peril. The whole world is on fire; the whole world is ablaze. The whole world is quaking.
But the dharma which the Buddhas preach for the attainment of the ultimate goal, and which is not practised by the average worldling, is immovable and unshakeable.
Therefore we must strive after knowledge, wit it, be enlightened, be fully enlightened, perform the right deed, live the holy life, and commit no sin in this world. Thus I declare."
When they had heard the elder, many thousands of beings, devas and men, won immortality (Nibbana).
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