[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Buddhist Sanskrit literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit) › [Āgama sūtras of the mainstream schools](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama) › [Dīrghāgama (Dharmaguptaka)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama) › [長阿含經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas) › 5.19 # The Long Āgama Sūtra 5.19 長阿含經 5.19 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5.19) 「婆悉吒！今當為汝說四姓本緣。天地始終，劫盡壞時，眾生命終皆生光音天，自然化生，以念為食，光明自照，神足飛空，其後此地盡變為水，無不周遍。當於爾時，無復日月星辰，亦無晝夜年月歲數，唯有大冥。其後此水變成大地，光音諸天福盡命終，來生此間。雖來生此，猶以念食，神足飛空，身光自照，於此住久，各自稱言：『眾生！眾生！』其後此地甘泉涌出，狀如酥蜜。彼初來天性輕易者，見此泉已，默自念言：『此為何物？可試甞之。』即內指泉中，而試甞之，如是再三，轉覺其美，便以手抄自恣食之，如是樂著，遂無厭足，其餘眾生復效食之，如是再三，復覺其美，食之不已，其身轉麤，肌肉堅䩕，失天妙色，無復神足，履地而行，身光轉滅，天地大冥。 > “Vāsiṣṭha, now I will explain the dependent origination of the four castes for you. > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) > “When the eons from the beginning to the end of heaven and earth came to an end, the lives of sentient beings ended, and they were born in the Ābhāsvara Heaven. They were born there spontaneously. Thought served as their food, they were naturally radiant, and they had the miraculous ability of flying in the air. > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) > “After that, the Earth was destroyed, changing into water which became ubiquitous. At that point, there was no longer a sun, moon, or stars. There were no days, nights, months, or years, only a great darkness. > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) > “After that, the water formed into an Earth. The merits of the Ābhāsvara gods came to an end, and they were born here when their lives ended. Although they were born here, thought still served as their food, they had the miraculous ability to fly, and their bodies were naturally radiant. After a long time, they called each other ‘sentient being, sentient being.’ > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) > “After that, a sweet spring welled up from the Earth, which was like yoghurt or honey in form. Those gods who first arrived had shallow dispositions. When they saw this spring, they thought to themselves, ‘What substance is this? I’ll give it a taste.’ They dipped a finger into the spring and tasted it. They did this three times until they realized that it was delicious. They indulgently consumed it in this way, and thus became attached to enjoying it without tire. > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) > “The other sentient beings emulated them by consuming it three times in this way, and they also realized it was delicious. They didn’t stop consuming it, and their bodies became crude with skin, flesh, and hard parts. They lost their sublime heavenly forms and no longer had miraculous abilities. They walked on the ground, the radiance of their bodies gradually disappeared, and then heaven and the earth fell into total darkness. > — Charles Patton, The Long Discourses (selected sūtras) - [Previous: 5.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5.18) - [Next: 5.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5.20) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5) ## Translations (2) - [The Long Discourses (selected sūtras)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas~en-patton.5.p26) — Charles Patton, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas~en-mt.5.19) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [Aggaññasutta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.theravada.sp.digha.27.10.1-6) — Pāli --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.agama.dirghagama*zh-buddhayasas.5.19) · Pramāṇa