法苑珠林 48.28

48.28

As the Sūtra on King Yama's Five Messengers states: The Buddha told the monks: When people living in the world are unfilial to parents, disrespectful to śramaṇas, do not practice benevolence and righteousness, do not study the scriptures and precepts, and do not fear the afterlife—when such persons die, they fall into hell. The wardens seize and bring them to King Yama, reporting their offenses: 'This person has committed various faults such as unfilial conduct, has no merit, and had no fear of death. May the king alone punish them.' King Yama always first speaks calmly with upright words, manifesting the five messengers, and questions them: 'First: did you not see that when a person in the world is an infant, lying flat in feces and urine, unable to protect themselves, their mouth unable to speak, knowing neither good nor bad? Did you see this or not?' The person answers, 'I saw it.' The king says, 'Did you think you alone were not like that? Yet when human consciousness follows its deeds, at the end of life there is rebirth. Though you had not yet seen it, you should have constantly practiced good and straightened your three modes of action. How could you let your mind loose, indulge your desires, and commit offenses?' The person answers, 'I was ignorant and blind, and did not know.' The king says, 'You yourself were foolish, indulging your mind to commit evil; it was not the fault of your parents, teachers, elders, sovereign, gods, śramaṇas, or practitioners of the Way. The offense originated solely with you. How could you not enjoy it [before]? Now you must receive [its retribution].' This is King Yama revealing the first divine messenger.