經律異相 40.35

40.35

梵志兄弟四人。各得五通。却後七日皆當命盡。自共議言。五通之力反覆天地。手捫日月移山住流。靡所不能。寧當不能避此死對。一人言。吾入大海。上不出現下不至底。正據其中。無常殺鬼安知我處。一人言。吾入須彌山中。還合其表令無際現。無常殺鬼安知吾處。一人言。吾當輕舉隱虛空中。無常殺鬼安知吾處。一人言。吾當藏入大市之中。無常殺鬼趣得一人何必求吾。四人議訖。相將辭王。吾等壽算餘有七日。今欲逃命。冀當得脫還乃親省。唯願進德。於是別去。七日期滿各各命終。猶果熟落。市監白王。有一梵志卒死市中。王乃寤曰。四人避對一人已死。其餘三人豈得獨免。王即嚴駕往至佛所。作禮却坐白言。近有梵志。兄弟四人各獲五通。自知命盡皆共避之。不審今者能得脫不。佛告大王。人有四事不可得離。一者在中陰不得不受生。二者生不得不受老。三者老不得不受病。四者病不得不受死（出法句經第三卷）。

There were four brahmacārin brothers, each of whom had attained the five supernormal knowledges. In seven days, their lives were all to come to an end. They conferred among themselves: 'With the power of the five supernormal knowledges, we can overturn heaven and earth, touch the sun and moon with our hands, move mountains, and halt streams. There is nothing we cannot do. How could we be unable to avoid this retribution of death?' One said: 'I will enter the great ocean, neither emerging above nor reaching the bottom, but staying right in the middle. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will enter Mount Sumeru and seal its exterior behind me so that no trace appears. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will rise lightly and conceal myself in empty space. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will hide inside the great marketplace. The killing demon of impermanence, taking whatever person it finds, will not necessarily seek me.' When the four had finished conferring, they went together to bid farewell to the king: 'Only seven days remain of our lifespans. We now wish to flee for our lives, hoping to escape, after which we will return to pay our respects to you. We only wish that you cultivate virtue.' Thereupon they parted and departed. When the seven days were completed, each of them died, like ripe fruit falling. The market supervisor reported to the king: 'A brahmacārin has suddenly died in the marketplace.' The king was awakened [to the truth] and said: 'Four people sought to avoid their retribution, and one is already dead. How could the other three alone escape?' The king immediately prepared his carriage and went to the Buddha's place. Having paid homage and sat back, he said: 'Recently there were four brahmacārin brothers, each having attained the five supernormal knowledges. Knowing their lives were at an end, they all sought to avoid it together. I wonder whether they were able to escape or not?' The Buddha told the great king: 'Humans have four things from which they cannot escape: first, in the intermediate state, one cannot but take birth; second, having been born, one cannot but undergo old age; third, having aged, one cannot but undergo illness; fourth, having fallen ill, one cannot but undergo death.' (Extracted from the Dharmapada, fascicle 3)