法苑珠林 5.20

5.20

依新婆沙論云。諸天中將命終位。先有二種五衰相現。一小。二大。云何名為小五衰相。一者諸天往來轉動。從嚴身具出五樂聲。善奏樂人所不能及。將命終位此聲不起。有說。復出不如意聲。二者諸天身光赫奕晝夜相照。身無有影。將命終時身光微昧。有說。全滅身影便現。三者諸天膚體細滑入香池浴。纔出水時水不著身。如蓮華葉。將命終位水便著身。四者諸天種種境界悉皆殊妙漂脫諸根。如旋火輪不得暫住。將命終位專著一境。經於多時不能捨離。五者諸天身力強盛眼甞不瞬。將命終時身力虛劣。眼便數瞬。云何為大五衰相。一者衣服先淨今穢。二者華冠先盛今萎。三者兩腋忽然流汗。四者身體欻生臭氣。五者不樂安住本座。前五衰相現已或可轉。時天帝釋以有五種小衰相現。不久當有大衰相現。心生怖畏作是念言。誰能救我如是衰厄。我當歸依。便自了知。除佛世尊無能救護。尋詣佛所求哀請救。佛為說法。便得見諦。令彼衰相一時皆滅。故於佛前歡喜踊躍。作諸愛語說此伽他曰。

According to the *New Vibhāṣā-śāstra*, when the devas are about to reach the end of life, two kinds of five signs of decay first appear: first, minor; second, major. What are the five minor signs of decay? First, as the devas move about, five musical sounds issue from their bodily adornments, surpassing what skilled musicians can achieve; when approaching the end of life, these sounds no longer arise. Some say disagreeable sounds issue instead. Second, the bodily radiance of the devas is brilliant, illuminating day and night, and their bodies cast no shadow; when approaching the end of life, their bodily radiance becomes dim and faint. Some say it is extinguished completely, and a bodily shadow then appears. Third, the skin and bodies of the devas are delicate and smooth, so that when bathing in fragrant pools, as soon as they emerge from the water, water does not cling to their bodies, like lotus leaves; when approaching the end of life, water clings to their bodies. Fourth, the various sense-spheres of the devas are all exquisite, sweeping along their sense faculties like a whirling wheel of fire without pausing even briefly; when approaching the end of life, they cling exclusively to a single sense-sphere, unable to abandon it for a long time. Fifth, the physical strength of the devas is robust and their eyes never blink; when approaching the end of life, their physical strength becomes deficient and weak, and their eyes blink frequently. What are the five major signs of decay? First, their clothing, formerly clean, now becomes soiled. Second, their floral crowns, formerly flourishing, now wither. Third, sweat suddenly flows from both armpits. Fourth, their bodies suddenly produce a foul odor. Fifth, they take no pleasure in staying in their original seats. After the previous five signs of decay appear, they may perhaps be averted. At that time, because the five minor signs of decay appeared, Śakra, Lord of the Devas, knew that the major signs of decay would soon appear. Terror arose in his heart, and he thought: 'Who can save me from such decay and distress? I must take refuge.' He then understood on his own: 'Except for the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, none can rescue me.' He immediately went to the Buddha's place to plead for mercy and seek rescue. The Buddha preached the Dharma for him, and he was able to see the truth, causing those signs of decay to be extinguished all at once. Therefore, before the Buddha, leaping with joy, he spoke affectionate words and uttered this gāthā: