佛頂尊勝陀羅尼經教跡義記 1.61

1.61

述曰：第四空聲告期。文中有二意：初定時，後告限。言定時者，即於此日初夜分也。告限者，却後七日命將欲盡。問曰：「此天自有光明不藉日月，云何經云初夜分時？」答曰：「此天當有光明，晝夜無異，不要日月，但以華開鳥鳴為晝，以華合鳥靜為夜。」言初夜分時者，即是華合鳥靜之時也。言告期者，即是却後七日命將欲盡也。問曰：「諸天欲死，有何相貌？」答曰：「有其兩種，一者小五衰相現，二者大五衰相現。言小五衰相者，《俱舍論》云：『一者衣服皆出非愛之聲，二者身光昧劣，三者水滴沾身，四者情滯一境，五者眼睛瞬動。』若此小五衰相現，未必定死；若大五衰相現，必當定死。大五衰相者，《大因果經》曰：『一者頭上華萎，二者腋下汗出，三者臭氣入身，四者不樂本座，五者眼睛瞬動。』此相現時，必定當死。此經雖無文，準義合有，應更詳之。

The commentary says: Fourth, a voice in the void announces the term. In the text there are two points: first, fixing the time; second, announcing the limit. As for fixing the time, it was in the first watch of the night on this day. As for announcing the limit, after seven days his life would come to an end. Question: "These devas possess their own radiance and do not rely on the sun and moon; why does the sūtra speak of the 'first watch of the night'?" Answer: "These devas indeed have radiance, so day and night are no different and do not need the sun and moon. However, they take the opening of flowers and the singing of birds as daytime, and the closing of flowers and the silence of birds as nighttime." The 'first watch of the night' refers to the time when the flowers close and the birds fall silent. 'Announcing the term' refers to [the statement that] after seven days his life would come to an end. Question: "When the devas are about to die, what signs appear?" Answer: "There are two kinds: first, the appearance of the five lesser signs of decay; second, the appearance of the five greater signs of decay. As for the five lesser signs of decay, the Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣya states: 'First, their garments emit unpleasant sounds; second, the radiance of their bodies becomes dim and faint; third, drops of water cling to their bodies; fourth, their affections become fixated on a single object; fifth, their eyes blink and flutter.' If these five lesser signs of decay appear, death is not yet certain. If the five greater signs of decay appear, death is definitely certain. As for the five greater signs of decay, the Mahāhetupratyaya Sūtra states: 'First, the flowers upon their heads wither; second, sweat issues from beneath their armpits; third, a foul odor enters their bodies; fourth, they take no delight in their original seats; fifth, their eyes blink and flutter.' When these signs appear, death will certainly follow. Although this sūtra lacks this text, in principle they should be present; this should be examined further."