法苑珠林 47.14

47.14

Moreover, the Udāna-sūtra says: In the past there were four brothers who were brahmacārins, all of whom had attained the five supernormal knowledges. Knowing that their lifespans were short and that they would surely die within seven days, the brothers conferred, saying: "We brothers have sovereign supernormal powers; by supernormal strength we can overturn heaven and earth, manifest an immense hand to touch the sun and moon, and move mountains and halt currents—there is nothing we cannot accomplish. How could we be unable to avoid this disaster?" The first brother said: "I will enter the great ocean, right in the middle between top and bottom; how could the murderous demon of impermanence know my whereabouts?" The second brother said: "I will enter into the interior of Mount Sumeru and seal its surface so that no boundary appears; how could the murderous demon of impermanence know my whereabouts?" The third brother said: "I will dwell in empty space, concealing my form without a trace; how could the murderous demon of impermanence know my whereabouts?" The fourth brother said: "I will conceal myself in the great market among the milling crowd, where people do not know one another; the murderous demon of impermanence will just seize someone at random, why must he take me?" After the four had finished conferring, they went together to bid farewell to the king, and said to him: "We calculate that our remaining lifespan is daily growing short; we each wish to flee to seek abundant blessings." The king then told them: "Advance well in your virtue." Thereupon they took their leave, each going to his intended place. When the seven-day period was fulfilled, each died in his respective place. With his divine eye, the Buddha saw that the four brahmacārins, fleeing impermanence to seek deliverance from the world, had all passed away, and he spoke a verse, saying: