釋迦譜 5.31

5.31

The Buddha said: "In this country of Mathurā, in a future age, there will be a merchant's son named Gupta. Gupta will have a son named Upagupta. One hundred years after my extinction, he will perform Buddha-work and be foremost among instructors. After one hundred years, on Mount Urumuṇḍa, there will be the Naṭabhaṭikā āraṇyaka, which will be foremost. The Buddha thought to himself: 'If I entrust the true Dharma to humans and devas, my teachings will remain unshaken for a thousand years.' He then told Śakra Devānām Indra and the four heavenly kings, 'After my nirvāṇa, protect and maintain the true Dharma in your respective quarters. When a thousand years have passed, unlawful phenomena will arise: in Jambudvīpa there will be violent winds and torrential rains, with many calamities; the people will suffer famine, and all things will be worn away; food and drink will lose their flavor, and rare jewels will sink and vanish. In the west there will be a king named Palhava (Pahlava); in the north there will be a king named Yavana; in the south there will be a king named Śaka; in the east there will be a king named Tuṣāra. These four kings will all have many followers. They will kill bhikṣus, destroy stupas and monasteries, and the four quarters will be thrown into complete chaos. At that time, all the bhikṣus will gather in the Central Realm. In the country of Kauśāmbī, the king named Mahendrasena will have a son born whose hands seem smeared with blood and whose body seems clad in armor, possessing great valor and strength. Five hundred ministers will also have sons born on the same day, all with blood-stained hands and armored bodies. At that time, blood will rain in Kauśāmbī for a single day. Seeing this evil omen, the king will be terrified and consult a physiognomist."