Thereupon Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly-King, the Protector of the World, said to the Buddha … and Thereupon World-Holding Heavenly-King, accompanied by thousands of billions of nayutas of gandharvas who were surrounding him respectfully, came to the Buddha…

Vaiśravaṇa is the heavenly king (mahārāja) of the North, primarily commanding the two demons, yakṣa and rākṣasa. The mahārāja controlling the East (Dhritarāshtra) has two demons under him: gandharva and piśācāh. The mahārāja of the South rules over two demons: kumbhāṇḍa and hungry ghost. The mahārāja of the West controls all [the remaining] dragons (nāgas) and kinnaras. Each of the four mahārājas thus is in charge of his own territory.